"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
Kalamazoo taxi o'hare .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareRooms for rent! No, not the kind where you are... Read More
The home away from home but a little bit more... Read More
Going away on a vacation brings numerous benefits. It refreshes... Read More
For many decades Gatlinburg has been a favorite resort getaway... Read More
The county of Dorset on England's south coast is a... Read More
An Award Winning Vacation, Golf, Tennis and Beach ResortIf you... Read More
Punta Cana Beaches are among the most beautiful in the... Read More
The typical scenario goes something like this: your casual mention... Read More
If a vacation, as defined by a dictionary is: 'leisure... Read More
When it comes to shopping for something on-line, we tend... Read More
The Algarve, and particularly the areas around Carvoeiro, Albufeira, Praia... Read More
The real secret to cheap family vacations is to be... Read More
Maui is one of the islands found in Hawaii. It... Read More
Timeshare presentations are tricky animals. They can either be an... Read More
The Amazonat Jungle Lodge is offering in addition to her... Read More
Before finding the answer to this dilemma, let's take an... Read More
The DeLaunay House, located 185 N. Pioneer in Ashland is... Read More
Whether you've saved up for years for a fun family... Read More
Planning a family beach vacation? Looking for destinations with family... Read More
RV rental vacations aren't cheap, but they do contain loads... Read More
What is the meaning of a "dream vacation"? What is... Read More
I had always been told that if you wanted to... Read More
Taking the plunge from average vacationer to vacation property owner... Read More
I have a 17-year-old daughter who is finishing up a... Read More
Disneyland became the very definition of a theme park and... Read More
Chicago charter limousine service Hickory Hills ..Cheap vacations can still be relaxing, fun and whatever else... Read More
The main difference between North and South Lake Tahoe is... Read More
Going away on a vacation brings numerous benefits. It refreshes... Read More
In November, 2004, my wife Terry and I visited Paris... Read More
What makes certain styles of pants so popular? One reason... Read More
The first words that come to mind when people think... Read More
Cambodia is a land on the mend. From 1977 through... Read More
Whether you've saved up for years for a fun family... Read More
Most of us take vacations for the express purpose of... Read More
Enjoy your own luxurious lifestyle in our beautifully furnished, air... Read More
What kind of traveler are you? Do you want everything... Read More
Edinburgh and beyondRoadtrips around BritainIt's hard to overstate the poetry... Read More
Pigeon Forge is rapidly becoming one of the major tourist... Read More
Five Affordable World Travel Destinations Locations That Offer... Read More
Have you ever done something spontaneous? Are you in love... Read More
South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals are particularly in demand with... Read More
Shropshire is England's forgotten county, but it is well worth... Read More
Making the decision to dive into the world of timeshares... Read More
Many people believe that the first thing you should do... Read More
For most of us, the basis of a car rental... Read More
Traveling with children will be a memorable event ? the... Read More
If you are thinking about renting a condo in the... Read More
The Costa del Sol has long been one of the... Read More
As a resident, business owner and frequent skiier at Whistler,... Read More
Everybody knows someone who has been on one and an... Read More
Vacation Rental |