So, you are planning your next vacation. This means that you have many decisions to make. Where and when to go, what to do, where to stay… hotel or holiday home? We hope these points help you to take another look at the positive aspects of choosing the vacation home option…
I’ve enjoyed far more vacations at individual self-catering properties than hotels, so maybe I’m biased, but objectively it seems like the best option, and here are a few reasons why;
– Shared facilities. There is something essentially more pleasant about having vacation facilities for you and your family or friends. It means you don’t have to share your well-deserved vacation with people you don’t know and don’t necessarily like. I know, I know, it’s a great way to meet people and you can make ‘holiday friends’… but can’t you do this when you go out to eat, or better yet, take your friends with you? ? Holiday acquaintances are, in most cases, quite transient, so why not stay in a self-catering property and have an experience truly all your own? I defy anyone who says they don’t want to wake up in their own vacation villa and share a day by their own private pool in the sun with their family, friends or significant other.
– Freedom. That’s right, along with private facilities comes your own freedom! You don’t have a cleaner coming in at a certain time, you don’t have to ‘check in’ and you don’t always have to go out and cook a meal. You can get up late, or early, and wander around your own private home, head to the local market for breakfast, and plan your day on your terms.
– A personalized vacation. It follows that a vacation rental is generally much more personal than a hotel room. In most cases, a hotel is much colder and less homely, and more often than not all the rooms are identical except for a difference in size. A hotel is designed with tourists and unknown visitors in mind, and often you won’t find a welcome basket. A vacation home tends to be more hospitable, probably for the obvious reason that it’s a real home. Most homeowners also tend to get the right balance between a personal property and the right environment for visitors. A vacation is more yours when it is not the same as your neighbor lives in the next room.
– cultural benefits. And in addition to creating a more personalized vacation, a rental home offers a better chance to see the local culture. A holiday home in France, for example, is better for this reason than a hotel. The hotel is designed for the visitor so you get your carbon copy room and regulated breakfast whereas with your holiday home you can choose where, what facilities you have and explore at your own pace. Your next-door neighbors may be locals, the supermarket you walk to gives you a taste of everyday country life, and the restaurants you find on your own, rather than through the hotel concierge, are sure to create a better memory and a Greater sense of the local way of life.
– Cost. And before you say it, no, these kinds of facilities and freedom don’t have to cost you extra. In fact, a holiday home can often be cheaper than a hotel, and you get much more than a room with a private shower room. This is the main reason why I personally choose this type of accommodation over hotels. I once stayed in a beautiful apartment in the center of Edinburgh with a four-poster bed, separate bathroom, kitchen and living room, for a fraction of the price of an average hotel. I’m still my case.
After making these points, I’ll admit it; there is certainly an appeal to staying in a hotel. Ideas of comfort and luxury come to mind. But, realistically, these are outweighed by the benefits of staying in your own vacation home. Whether it’s a city apartment, a cozy country house or a poolside villa, a holiday home offers much more flexibility, more freedom, plenty of facilities to yourself and often at a much better price. compared to a hotel. So for your next vacation, why not plan a stay in a self-catering vacation rental?
