Even if “self-catering” is an unfamiliar term to you, you may at least be familiar with the concept. The idea became mainstream in the 2006 movie “The Holiday,” however; self-catered travelling has actually been around in one form or another for decades.
Thanks in large part to the Internet’s ability to considerably shrink geographical distances and make communication and the trading of services faster and easier, self-catered vacations have seen a tremendous surge in popularity in the last decade. Tourists who choose this style of travel forego the tradition of making vacation arrangements through a travel agent, who would normally perform services like booking a hotel, reserving a sight-seeing package, etc.
Instead, travelers book accommodations directly from a private owner or from a specialist villa holiday company who will put vacationers up in a home or condominium/apartment. As often than not, vacationers find their contacts through an Internet listing.
So why is the self-catered holiday the new ticket to a great vacation? The trend continues to catch fire with travellers worldwide for a number of reasons, including:
* Flexibility: Dealing directly with a private owner often means travelers get a better pick of travel dates. It’s also easier to negotiate deals when it comes to length of stay, inclusiveness of a package and other things that wouldn’t be possible with a hotel stay. It’s also a great way to accommodate large families or groups of travelers without having to separate groups.
* Privacy: Choosing self-catered accommodations means not having to worry about nosy neighbors in close proximity or the sound of the ice machine down the hall at 2:00 am. Your accommodations are yours and yours alone. You also get a much more “homey” feeling than you might with a hotel room.
* Freedom: There’s no need to worry about meal schedules because you’re cooking for yourself, or you can simply choose a local restaurant at your own convenient time.
* Cost efficiency: This is one of the biggest reasons that travellers choose self-catered holidays. Dealing with a private owner almost always means you get a better rate than you would in a hotel. Places such as Mallorca, where many of the best hotels are close to the coast, travelers will pay a prime rate for beachfront property. However, if you go inland to a self-catered private home or condominium, you’re much more likely to find a better rate; without having to sacrifice quality. Chances are, you’ll still be only minutes from major amenities, shopping and sightseeing destinations.
Since your accommodation includes a kitchen facility, you have the option of saving money by cooking at least some of your own meals during your stay. Even if you choose to eat out, you’ll probably be paying less for meals than you would at a hotel restaurant or with room service. Sometimes you can negotiate a better rate with a private owner, especially if you plan to stay for an extended period of time (a week or more). Plus, you get an entire residence for the duration of your stay rather than just one or two rooms and a restroom.
And don’t think that your choices are limited just because you’re choosing a non-traditional hotel vacation. There are self-catered accommodations all over the world with added features like a swimming pool, home gym, games room, entertainment center and many extras. Whatever kind of vacation you want, you’re sure to find accommodations that suit your desires.
Just what kind of impact self-catered holidays are having on the hotel and hospitality industry is difficult to determine. The hotel industry in Spain continues to grow, despite the rising number of travellers who are choosing self-catered accommodations.
However, since the number of vacationers who have opted out of hotel stays for their holidays has also grown over the last several years, it may be a safe assumption that the tourism industry in Spain as a whole is growing. In fact, it’s quite possible that the number of recreational tourists in Spain is on the rise because vacationers have so many options when it comes to accommodation and more people can now afford to travel than ever before. Whatever the case, it appears that self-catered holidays will continue to be a desirable and affordable way to travel and the tourism industry will be benefitted, rather than hurt, by this trend.
Karalynn
Beijing 5-Star Hotel, Beijing 4-Star Hotel, Beijing 3-Star Hotel, Beijing Budget Hotel, Apartment, Holiday Villas, or a room with 1bed that belongs to the native Beijing People. If all these are not, which would you prefer?
Oneida
Spanish holiday villas are highly prized accommodations. With Spain reclaiming its popularity as a holiday destination in recent years, villa rentals are harder to find. That’s why it’s important to get a reservation as early as possible to have the perfect little palace in Spain for your holiday. Besides that, all you have to do is decide where you want to stay in the country. There’s a little something for everyone, from the playboy’s paradise to perfect family vacation destination. Check out the country’s rich locations and see for yourself where the ideal vacation is for you.
An increasingly popular location is La Manga, which has the best of both worlds. La Manga is located on a tiny strip of land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Mar Menor. This is just one of the beautiful, natural features of La Manga. The beaches are world renowned, as are the golf courses. In fact, the term La Manga is often used to refer to a specific championship golf course in the region. At the end of La Manga, you’ll find the famous yacht club Tomas Maestre located in a lighthouse. It’s one of the most celebrated areas in La Manga to stop and have a bite to eat.
The Costa Brava region offers another view of Spain. Costa Brava is roughly translated as “wild coast,” and the area lives up to its name. It’s full of tiny fishing villages and beach resorts, combining the best of old and new Spain. The resort areas of the Costa Brava are very popular, and tourism thrives in these areas, but the region’s hidden gems are what make this area legendary. Not all of the region gave way to development, and many of the tiny villages remain for tourists to enjoy. Small beaches are tucked away in coves, making swimming and sunbathing more of a private time. This is great for travelers seeking adventure, quiet and relaxation. Some of the popular small villages are located at the foothills of the Pyrenees, a range of mountains separating Spain and France. These mountains are excellent for skiing and other winter sports. A holiday villa in the Costa Brave region ensures that you never have a dull moment or a lack of variety.
There are many other regions of Spain where holiday villas are available for rental. The Costa Blanca area has the popular city of Benidorm, which is divided into two halves by rocks. Benidorm is popular as a tourist destination. In fact, there are sections of the city where Spanish is rarely heard. The three major beaches of the city have been given the blue flag, which indicates the highest quality according to the European Union. Benidorm is popular with both working class and wealthy tourists, and it has something to offer everyone.
Spanish holiday villas are perfect for vacationers seeking a private stay in a grand country. They are sometimes a less expensive option than resorts and hotels, and they provide many more features. Some have private pools to enjoy the weather without the distraction of the public.
Etheline
I need your help! The View Talay Villas Holiday Resort in Pattaya, which cheated me & my friend by sending emails in black & white saying offerring us a complimentary staying for a week. But after only one night staying, the resort manager Ross Gould (tel: 66-038-756-422 & mobile: 01-524-1376) come to the door of the room & saying he didn’t want to waste his time if we are not interested in buying a membership card in a very rude manner (at that moment, my friend & i are totally having no clues about what he is saying). Then, he is threatning us he is calling a police & about to kick us out. But he didn’t after we showed him what we had at hand, the black & white email, not even mentioning the thing at all! Then i phoned tourism polices & local polices came too. But after hours of arguing, he insisted he has the right to do so. I am looking for some legal advisement here, also looking for a lawyer to sue him & the resort what they have done to us. I need your help urgently, as i got
thank you guys. it’s a totally corrupted place to me now. I , as a female got beaten up twice by the staff and with the poice on the site, who’s nick name is JAB. I was staying with hard rock hotel now. it’s not only about the money, the time, the all imagination about having the vacations. i just can’t belive Thailand or Pattaya would be corrusted like this. I went to city hall this morning & ask for help & get the full name of the police. they accompanied with me to the police station, which i don’t trust anymore, one mean officer said good bye right away & tried to cover up for his colleague. I’ve been waiting until one Press, editor in chief, Pattaya Daily, starting interview & taking pictures, the big boss of the police station starts taking it seriously. Sad! they finally give me the full name of the so-called JAB, & called View Talay Ross Goulder & got the answer he is NOT coming to the police station & the police can do nothing about it! AND we are not going to View TALAY eithe
There is definetely not any small print at all. It’s a simple email & that’s why they would hit me only by the staff. I just can’t belive the police was there all day & seeing me beaten up by some ones badly. I even asked them to put me in handcuff & send me back to my country, which might save me a lot of money, which i’ve already spent in Thai! They just CAN’t DO THAT! Simply becaused they knew the VIEW TALAY IS DOING SOMETHING WRONG & CHEATING FORIGNERS! apprently i am not the first victim! why don’t the police shut them up? & keep corruptst with them? I got no replies from the Thai Tourism Beaura YET, & the OSAC told me they only serve for Americans! Guys! don’t fo to Thailand, if you are not AMERICANS!!!!!
The press, Patta Daily reposes are as follows: OShttp://www.pattayadailynews.com/index.php
The reply from OSAC is as follows:
Dear yin825:
Thank you for your interest in the Department of State’s Overseas
Security Advisory Council (OSAC). OSAC was created in 1985 to promote
security cooperation between the State Department and the American
private sector overseas. One of the Council’s initiatives has been
the OSAC web site.
By U.S. Government charter, OSAC is only able to support U.S. private
sector enterprises and/or any enterprise incorporated in the United
States doing business abroad.
If you are an American citizen, you may wish to contact the Office of
American Citizens Services at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok regarding
this issue. The telephone number for the U.S. Embassy is
66-2-205-4000.
Sincerely,
Overseas Security Advisory Council
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
U.S. Department of State
i just want to let you guys know i’m safe back to my country with only few injureded i got in pattaya. I spent the last three nights at Hard Rock Hotel. Although it costs a lot, but i feel safe & back to the normal & civialized places.
Regarding a few answers about the the small prints, i want to make it clear there is no small prints AT ALL. That’s why i would call them a cheating groups. I don’t mind if they would inform us earlier in small prints. My professionalism is marketing & I worked with many top AAAA advertisinig agencies. I know i shall pay attentions to samll prints. BUT THERE ARE NONE! I feel disappointed about how Thailand polices corrupted this way. They don’t even dare to give me their names!!!!! Guys, if you want to enjoy a safe vocation, just go to Thailand! No one there can protect you, not the polices (tourism polices, local polices, charity polices, or polices from city hall). They are all working together to cheat foreigners money. Be careful! guys!
Kate D, are you serious? be careful! but there are View Taly Villas & View Talay condo, which are different. The one i stay is View Talay Villas. Let me know if you need any assistances. I got the mobile phone of the local police leader. He seems a g
sorry. haven’t finished. he seems a good guy, though he already know i am staying at hard rock hotel for my rest of journey, which is not his terriorty. One more advice, if they did get police, they could still be fake ones or corrupted polices. Go to the nearby police station would be better. Can’t even trust tourism police, either.
Cherey
