"I'm coming home. I've been away too long. Been away so long. I'm coming home" ? Ian Thomas, in Coming Home
I still recall my road warrior days. It seemed like every other week, I was hopping on a plane for Orlando or Vancouver or Palm Springs or Washington or Chicago or Toronto.
It might not be Rome, Paris, and Monte Carlo, but Washington, Toronto and Orlando are pretty classy places. I went to crucial meetings. I was an important person. I was a frequent flyer.
However, after a while, all the towns begin to look the same. One airport hotel looks amazingly like another. Surely the taxi driver in Washington and the taxi in Orlando were twins separated at birth. I was yearning to just stay put. I had had enough of hotels and restaurants
Traveling sounds glamorous until you have to do it over and over and over. Especially when you have a family, you want to spend some time at home between the episodes of jet lag. Comfort becomes a much bigger deal, and you want every place to feel like home.
You just can't do that in a hotel. Not in a Marriott. Not in a Sheraton. Not in a Hilton.
I wish I knew then about two other options.
Private Vacation Homes (or rental villas)
Private vacation homes, known also as holiday homes or villas are essentially houses that rent on a weekly basis. They are not much help for fly-in meetings. For those, only an airport hotel will do.
But if you plan to be in town for the better part of the week, there is nothing like kicking back in your own private home ? a rental home, of course.
"Hotel rooms are cramped; a villa is spacious with room to walk about. Hotel rooms have a TV and desk in the bedroom; a villa has surround sound TV and stereo with comfortable couches and chairs in various parts of the home. A hotel has a public pool; a villa has a private pool," says Florida villas rental agent Stewart Granville. "It's private. It's comfortable. It's like a home away from home."
Mr. Granville notes that a vacation home rental also serves as an office away from home, with one room dedicated to the office. "In a villa, you don't have to sit on your bed when you type those memos. And what a great way to entertain business contacts."
Mr. Granville specializes in villas in America's vacation heartland: Orlando, Florida. Business travelers often bring their family along to enjoy Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and other famous theme parks. The family plays while the business traveler works. When the meetings are over, they all head for Disney together, perhaps for another week. With family in tow, a private rental home makes much more sense than a crowded hotel room.
Bed and Breakfasts
Bed and Breakfasts are also an option. Although they do not offer the same privacy and space as villas, they are warmer and more homey than a hotel. And like a hotel, they rent by the night, not by the week.
Is a bed and breakfast for you? If a relaxing atmosphere is more important to you than room service, a bed and breakfast is for you, yes. They are comfortable and relaxing, so the business traveler can walk confidently into his meeting free from stress and worries.
Bed and Breakfasts are growing more popular for weekend getaways in the country, but most major urban centers have bed and breakfasts right in the heart of the city...and these are ideal for road-weary business travelers.
So forget about room service and the mint on the pillow. For a stay of several days, the business traveler can rent a spacious, private vacation villa. And for just a night or two, it's a warm and comfortable bed and breakfast.
About The Author
David Leonhardt is a freelance writer, and an online and offline publicity specialist. Contact him at: mailto:info@thehappyguy.com
or visit his website at: mailto:info@thehappyguy.com
For Florida vacation villa rentals: mailto:info@thehappyguy.com
For Orlando vacation home rentals: mailto:info@thehappyguy.com
Airbnb cleaning service Highland Park ..The largest barrier island on the Atlantic coast between New... Read More
Today, we as travelers have a ton of options to... Read More
Punta Cana is an affordable destination in a magnificent tropical... Read More
There are a few patterns to consider when looking for... Read More
Two visits to Budapest. Two apartments, walking distance from downtown.... Read More
Did you ever worry when traveling about the weather? Most... Read More
Thailand is a popular golf paradise and home to many... Read More
Many vacationers on Hilton Head Island have discovered a simple... Read More
Everybody knows someone who has been on one and an... Read More
If you're thinking about planning a great winter vacation, think... Read More
What kind of traveler are you? Do you want everything... Read More
Because many people want to live in or near Lake... Read More
Love the outdoors, looking for adventure, a romantic getaway, or... Read More
Choosing a condo in Maui is definitely a great investment.... Read More
Three major cascades at Havasu Creek create a landscape that... Read More
Tip #1 : Buy a beach front Caribbean villa! ... Read More
Shropshire is England's forgotten county, but it is well worth... Read More
Maui is one of the islands found in Hawaii. It... Read More
Gloucestershire, pronounced Glostershire, is a pretty English county located south... Read More
Bahamas vacation resorts are great places to look into if... Read More
Are you thinking about a great place to go for... Read More
The county of Dorset on England's south coast is a... Read More
You have your tickets, your hotel or vacation rental reservations,... Read More
More than one million tourists visit Costa Rica each year.... Read More
The Costa del Sol has long been one of the... Read More
reliable maid service Bannockburn ..Visiting the best Orlando timeshare resorts: a report on my... Read More
People often ask me why we keep returning year after... Read More
Family Vacation in Costa RicaYou will not have any problem... Read More
I had always been told that if you wanted to... Read More
Bahamas vacation resorts are great places to look into if... Read More
Motels became prominent in the United States after the advent... Read More
Lake Tahoe cabin complexes rangein size from small, six-unit, luxury... Read More
Did you ever worry when traveling about the weather? Most... Read More
Have you ever wanted to travel to far away places... Read More
Welcome to Washington, DC - The nation's capital is a... Read More
Traveling is a great way to escape the rat race... Read More
Considering a romantic or family Costa Rica vacation? You're choosing... Read More
If you're planning a visit to Australia, then you'll be... Read More
Vancouver will receive a lot of attention as the 2010... Read More
Families have flocked to Hilton Head, South Carolina as long... Read More
Bahamas vacation villas are the way to go if you... Read More
Choosing a condo in Maui is definitely a great investment.... Read More
Most of us take vacations for the express purpose of... Read More
Gloucestershire, pronounced Glostershire, is a pretty English county located south... Read More
Sunscape The Beach Punta Cana is located on the north... Read More
The Bahamas serve as the perfect relaxation destination. With pristine... Read More
A chalet is a traditional Swiss style house with a... Read More
Lodging Hotels in Davenport, FLThere are numerous choices for lodging... Read More
More than one million tourists visit Costa Rica each year.... Read More
The secret treasure of Davenport's and Kissimmee's townhouses.Though usually Orlando... Read More
Vacation Rental |