BOUTIQUE HOTELS
Getting away from the crowds this summer
There is still a fear among travelers when it comes to trying out a bed & breakfast or a so-called boutique hotel. Such establishments don’t have names that are attached to a recognizable branch, like Sheraton or Ritz. They are usually small establishments run by a family, and many don’t provide as many amenities as big hotels do, such as a mini bar, cable TV or 24-hour room service.
But the more seasoned travelers will be better acquainted with the pros and cons of a boutique hotel, and the first thing such a learned traveler will tell you is that these smaller establishments make up for having simpler amenities.
The true differences between boutique hotels and large hotel chains lie in the small details. Hearty breakfasts, friendly company, quaint décor, a quiet ambiance and helpful hosts will assure you a peaceful stay. And that is precisely what boutique hotel fans expect.
Then there are self-catering properties, ideal for a large family or group of friends. Self-catering properties aren’t just cottages located in the rural interior. You can also find apartments in large cities, cabanas by the beach, a chalet by a ski slope or a mountain cabin hidden away by a rolling hill.
In the countryside, you will find all sorts of properties available for short-term rent, from small castles to farm-barns, decorated in a traditional style or adapted to a more modern, city-type style. Some properties allow you to bring your pets, while other prohibit the four-legged ones. Some may not rent out to smokers; others will even prohibit children below a certain age.
This is why it is important to get in touch with the property owner or agent to get concise information on these snippets of detail that, however small or seemingly unimportant, can ruin your stay if not properly discussed prior to your arrival. So a little homework must be done.
Finding the right property on the internet.
Property Information
Pictures aren’t always as realistic as they seem and the location of the property must be studied carefully. That’s why booking over the internet is an invaluable source of information. You can sift through a myriad of agents, visit the property’s own website, and look up location maps in Maporama, Mapquest, Yahoo or Google.
Photographs on a brochure or a webpage may conjure up images of a cozy, friendly-looking property only 3 steps away from the beach. You will be disappointed then, upon your arrival, to find an empty reception hall, dirty bed-linen and no room-service in a property located in the red-light district. OK, so maybe this may be a little far-fetched.
Avoid disappointment - do your homework before you leave home
Travel Forums are the best source of information
The best way for you to know what you’re getting into before you pay for a booking is to ask other travelers. And the best place to find them is in Travel Forums. There are literally thousands of Travel Forums on the internet. Simply choose a few, sign up (its free), place your query and wait for others to submit their feedback for you. Travel Forums are an invaluable source of information for anyone planning to travel, and there are more and more travelers waking up to it.
Related links : The C Channel Travel Forum
Making your booking
Bed & Breakfasts
Large agents will generally pick one or two properties per region, while, in reality there are likely to be 100s of properties to look through. Also, larger agent websites will minimize the amount of detail made available per property. So, find a contact for the property owner or innkeeper and get in touch with them directly.
Your best bet is to go to the website of the local Tourism Board. From there you will almost certainly find a link to a regional association of Bed & Breakfasts or a local agent who will provide a concise directory of all local properties.
Self-catering properties
The same applies for self-catering properties. It is always advisable to find a source that is regional. There will be more properties to choose from per region, plus, if you have trouble while you’re there, you are more likely to get some help from an agent that is on location, than if you were to rely on a large agent over the phone.
Before confirming the rent, be sure to check what’s included. Normally you will be charged for the use of such things as the linen, electricity, logs or cots for babies. When making your booking you may well be charged a fee to cover cancellation insurance.
Tips
The property’s website should provide concise information about the property as well as the services and amenities provided. If pricing is not readily available, find an email address to contact the owners or agents. The website should also provide up-to-date information. Outdated information is a giveaway.
As soon as you arrive, be sure to check out the property before unpacking your bags.
- Make sure it is clean.
- Check you have the basics such as bed-linen or a baby-cot.
- The electricity, gas and water should be on.
- If the owner or agent left a food-hamper or wines for you, check if they will be charged as extra or if they were left out as a complimentary gift.
- Check if accessibility of the property is as you were informed.
You should also have a contact readily available for you should you require assistance. If you arrive at the property and are not satisfied with what you find, the agent should be readily willing to assist you, whether it is to clean a dirty property, or to invite you to move to an alternative property if your chosen property disappoints you. Discuss this with the booking agent prior to confirming your booking.
The best thing to do at all times is to request all information in writing. This way, you will have something to fall back on should you need it.
Rural holidays
Whether you are planning a long break or a quick weekend getaway, a rural retreat gives you the chance to get away from your day-to-day habitat while providing the comforts of a home away from home.
If you select a mountain cabin, you are likely to not see another human being during your stay, and the number of things you can do are multiple – you can do some hiking, bird-watching or take a pallet and paints to try out your qualities as an artist. A picnic in an empty field scented with flowers in bloom is your own little nirvana, and is a refreshing change from the chaos awaiting your return back in the city.
A farm-barn may even give you the opportunity to do some farm-work.
Choosing to stay at a village bed & breakfast can also be rewarding. It will give you the chance to feel as a member of the local community, and a simple visit to the local market or breakfast at the local café is an opportunity to interact with the local people and learn more about their way of life.
Antique homes, heritage inns, or private castles give guests the opportunity to take in the local heritage. You can catch up on your reading in peace, as you sit by the fireplace in a grand old room, teeming with relics of another time.
Fundamentally, boutique hotels or self-catering accommodation are for the traveler in a class of his own. Such a traveler is a more refined traveler, who seeks to discover a place and its people in a more intimate fashion.
If tour groups, busy hotel lobbies, and crowded breakfast halls are the antonym to what you truly seek, join this higher class of traveler and try something different this Summer.
Been there? Planning to go?
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