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Holiday Ideas - Accommodation
- What to consider in holiday accommodation - Hotels
- Holiday accommodation - villas and cottages
- Holiday accommodation - apartments and condos
- Holiday accommodation - Caravans and Camping
- More articles on holiday accommodation from Findholidays4U
- Not sure what you want from a holiday: Find your Ideal holiday profile
- More holiday ideas
What should I consider when choosing accommodation?
There are two main elements that will determine if you have a brilliant holiday or whether it will end up falling short of your expectations. The first is what you want to do and the next is where to stay. What about the location? Well yes, but this is often an easy choice depending on the first two, and is heavily influenced by the type of weather we want. As for the weather, ultimately that is not in our control. We went to Mallorca for the May half term and it rained nearly all week which was totally uncharacteristic.
So we need to find out what our style is to choose the right accommodation. Critical for many people will be is it baby friendly or child friendly?
Hotels
The great thing about hotels is that they do everything for you. Make the beds, clean the room, give you as many meals as you want. Often there will be laundry services if you want them, which at the very least can be handy in an emergency (more likely if children are involved!). Hotels are also more likely to ride to your rescue with cots, cot bumpers, high chairs, new mattresses, etc making them more child friendly.
This means that staying in a hotel really moves you one step further away from the daily drudge of domestic life. As a child my family never had the money to stay in hotels or to eat out much (strictly once in 2 week holiday). This meant that my mother would tidy up, make breakfast, clear away, spend an hour every morning making a packup lunch. Then after a day out, she would have to come back to prepare an evening meal, etc. Well a great holiday was had by us the kids, but apart from the change of scene I am sure my parents got much less out of it.
If one of your concerns about hotels is what to do with young children in the evening consider the following (we’ve used all of them)
- Is there a Baby listening or sitting service
- Take your baby monitor - the range could reach the bar or restaurant or enable you to sit outside
- Get a balcony
- Where is you room - could you sit outside if it is on one of the lower floors?
- Do they have maisonette style apartment blocks or bungalows.
Another downside is that paying for separate rooms for older children pushes up the price. However getting inclusive meals can save you lots of money, and you can still eat out if you want.
If you do a DIY hotel booking you are unlikely to get a baby sitting service. This is one area where travel or activity companies can score, by providing this as an amenity. Look for child friendly ratings but check what this means! Ready to take your free profile and generate lots of fresh holiday ideas?
Villas / cottages
Renting Villas appear to be gaining ground in popularity at the moment. Especially those that have a private pool. There are two main advantages over hotels, you don’t have to share rooms with your children, because of the cost. Second you have private use of the pool without lots of other annoying tourists!
However the major downside is it’s a DIY environment. I know that staying in villas or apartments we end up eating out a lot (when often the original plan was to cook!), and also spending lots of time visiting supermarkets for breakfast things and when we do decide to cook. Unless you do lots of your own catering you will not pay less and could pay more than an equivalent star hotel.
You wont have access to a baby sitting service unless you go with a group! Beware also that any baby friendly equipment you need is provided (ie high chairs).
This is going to sound paranoid but even where you rent through a reputable company they are still acting as middle men for private landlords, and their inspection systems may not be what they could. Therefore you should carry out your own risk assessment when you arrive. My son had a very nasty burn requiring hospital treatment from a faulty night storage heater. Also be aware of the danger from pools with no lifeguards.
Ready to take you profile and get some great new holiday ideas?
Apartments / condos
The upside is that you should be able to have separate bedrooms from the kids and be able to come /go and have meals as you please. Of course this means the downside is still all the shopping, tidying, washing up and so forth. Cheaper than the other options so far.
Again if you do a DIY apartment booking you are unlikely to get an extra services. Transfers and baby sitting will probably be down to you and your group/family. Don’t forget to pack a sharp knife and decent tin opener!
Camping is probably far and away the cheapest alternative, and is can be a whole alternative way of living. The sheer novelty of living under canvas and trekking to do your washing, washing-up and trying to cook over a disposable BQQ and a small gaz stove can be a buzz. The attractions goes downhill as fast as the weather in my experience. Not generally baby friendly - especially for everyone else! Too much to pack.
Static caravans seem to offer a good blend, with their own shower rooms and toilets. Your own detached property but no private pool!. However they are surprisingly expensive for glorified tents. Their main selling point are the activities offered by the holiday company to make things child friendly, like creches, play groups, and sitting services. Check against prices of cheap hotels.
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