Renting a holiday home may not be as fancy as hotels, but they’re comfortable and fun too, writes ALLAN OLINGO
For many travellers, the thought of renting out a place tends to be intimidating and filled great anxieties. Here are tips on making your stay comfortable:
New Friends
Make friends with the travellers you meet at these places. This will ease your stay as you listen to their stories. You’ll usually enjoy and also share a bottle of wine with them, which is cheaper than buying wine by the glass!
On most instances, you will find people talking, reading, or checking their emails in the restaurants or common areas. Most will be more than happy to have a stranger join their conversation. So don’t be shy, open up and have fun.
Bring the extras
The idea of staying at a holiday home is to give you a personalised homely feel. Carry your own towels, soap and other personal effects. They might not be a guaranteed provision.
You can also carry your own drinks and food as they have a kitchen where you can prepare it. Get to have information of what you can leave in the fridge as most hostels have house cleaning services and they might trash some of the food, without prior instructions.
Valuables
Do not leave your money, wallets, handbags and other valuables lying around in your room. Most of these facilities offer a locker or a safe, so use it. Get to know the details of the area and emergency response action. Find out what they expect from you like curfews, bringing in guests, and what’s not permitted. This will help you avoid incidences that might cause a breach in security.
Interact
You will usually always find people talking, reading, or having a conversation in the common area such as the restaurant, gym or even the swimming pool area. Most will be more than happy to have a stranger join their conversation, so don’t be shy.
Introduce yourself and share something with them. Hostels are the best places to meet other people, make friends and share valuable moments.
Holiday Home Details
Immediately after checking in, get the information of the location of the holiday home. If possible, get a map and take note of landmarks that would help you locate yourself should you get lost.
When going out at night and you might need to take a taxi or even drive yourself back to your staying home, write the address and holiday home name on a piece of paper and keep in your pocket. It could come in handy if you lose direction.
Internet Facilities
Most of these amenities provide Internet access, which sometimes, is free.? Many have wireless Internet and this should always be free, but you’ll need your laptop.?Stick to the rules of surfing to avoid altercations with the management.
Social areas
Holiday homes rentals have social areas and some have their own bars.? These social places are a great way to have fun, make friends, and experience the highlights of your stay.?
It’s important to respect other people using these places. Dress and act appropriately so that you don’t offend others. In these places, you’ll find games, books, and information about the area.?
Some of these homes also offer activities such as walking tours, city visits, fishing, boat rides, visits to museums and such.? These activities are a great way to have fun, make friends, and experience the highlights of a city or region.
