"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
post construction cleaning Bannockburn ..Punta Cana Beaches are among the most beautiful in the... Read More
Three major cascades at Havasu Creek create a landscape that... Read More
Destinations such as Aruba, Cancun, St. Thomas, and Bahamas have... Read More
What makes certain styles of pants so popular? One reason... Read More
Punta Cana is an affordable destination in a magnificent tropical... Read More
Within Volusia County, Florida, the small community of Ormond Beach... Read More
Welcome to Washington, DC - The nation's capital is a... Read More
When staying in Orlando, you really do have a lot... Read More
The rental market and Vacation Home sale market is unsustainable.... Read More
The typical scenario goes something like this: your casual mention... Read More
The county of Dorset on England's south coast is a... Read More
Sunscape The Beach Punta Cana is located on the north... Read More
The first words that come to mind when people think... Read More
If your vacation time is coming up and you are... Read More
Seasoned travelers often tire of the standard routine of airplane,... Read More
Hilton Head Island's mild climate, slow pace, and beautifully forested... Read More
You've thought and dreamed about it for months, planning each... Read More
Motels became prominent in the United States after the advent... Read More
The home away from home but a little bit more... Read More
There are many wonderful resorts with tons of activity in... Read More
Most of the time, when an individual is planning a... Read More
I have a 17-year-old daughter who is finishing up a... Read More
Gatlinburg cabin rental options range from old-fashioned rustic "log cabins"... Read More
How to find a Town Houses that will make your... Read More
If you're planning a visit to Australia, then you'll be... Read More
eco-friendly cleaning service Deerfield ..When staying in Orlando, you really do have a lot... Read More
Two visits to Budapest. Two apartments, walking distance from downtown.... Read More
Italy is a popular vacation destination for families because it... Read More
Each year, over two million people find their way to... Read More
Rooms for rent! No, not the kind where you are... Read More
Have you ever wanted to travel to far away places... Read More
Hotels are a large component of Pigeon Forge lodging. As... Read More
Stay a week or stay a lifetime, the Emerald Coast... Read More
Today, we as travelers have a ton of options to... Read More
Sunscape The Beach Punta Cana is located on the north... Read More
Five Affordable World Travel Destinations Locations That Offer... Read More
At the heart of Central Florida lies one of the... Read More
Turning your dream to Reality?Buying in the CaribbeanBuying a home... Read More
Traveling with children will be a memorable event ? the... Read More
A Fabulous Guide to Florida's Best Rentals: Condos for rent,... Read More
Disney Area Lodging DealsThe Orlando area communities of Lake Buena... Read More
Cairns Rainforest Retreat is ideally located for your unique rainforest... Read More
I have a 17-year-old daughter who is finishing up a... Read More
Scam artists pose as potential renters everyday on many different... Read More
Surrounded by the romantic and beautiful Smoky Mountains, a Gatlinburg... Read More
Those looking to invest in real estate should not overlook... Read More
The real secret to cheap family vacations is to be... Read More
Condo hotels, also known as condotels, are a relatively new... Read More
Work-rate, health and even personal relationships may be affected if... Read More
Timeshare presentations are tricky animals. They can either be an... Read More
Vacation Rental |