Tourists travel to various places from all nooks and corners of the world, and there are different types of holiday accommodations catering to their needs. This Vacayholics post attempts to take a basic inventory of them.
Want your dog to accompany you on a vacation?
Opt to stay in one of the pet-friendly hotels, which will have numerous state-of-the-art facilities, such as special menus and grooming sessions for your furry friend.
A holiday accommodation, also known as lodging, is a kind of residential accommodation, meant for travelers who need to stay away from their homes for more than one day or overnight. An ideal holiday accommodation generally provides shelter, safety, and a place to store one’s baggage and belongings. Apart from these basic things, many of them also cater to needs such as food, laundry, and other household functions. There are numerous varieties of these lodgings available in all parts of the world, and a person can choose his/her lodging according to personal preferences and budget.
Various Types of Lodgings
Lodgings are available the world over, in a wide range of varieties. Many of them are often found catering to the needs of specific niches of people. From the cheapest to some of the most exotic kinds, this Vacayholics article brings you a list of some of the major types of holiday accommodations, found all across the world.
Hostels
Also sometimes referred to as youth hostels (though there is no upper age limit), these are low-budget accommodations, meant for people traveling on meager budgets. They feature more dormitories than individual rooms, and offer very basic facilities, such as beds and bathrooms, to the lodgers. However, some of them also provide food to the occupants.
Hotels
Hotel is a very broad term that encompasses a wide range of budgets. These lodgings provide travelers with specially designed serviced rooms, which have all the required facilities. Apart from catering to individual needs, hotels also cater to the needs and necessities of families.
Capsule Hotels
The concept of a capsule hotel first took root in Japan in 1979, but now they are also found in China and Singapore. These are very low-budget lodgings that feature modular plastic or fiberglass blocks stacked one over the other. These blocks are in the form of small capsules, which can house only one person at a time. Meant primarily for an overnight stay, these provide very basic facilities, like a sleeping mattress and television set.
Bed and Breakfasts
Commonly called the B&Bs, these are ideally small residences, in which hotel-style rooms are provided to the guests. One of the most popular forms of accommodations in the West, these are cheaper than most hotels, safe, and provide a home-like atmosphere. Plus, the guests get an opportunity to interact with the other occupants as well as the owners of the residence.
Motels
A short form of motor hotels, motels are lodges that are meant specially for motorists. The rooms are generally connected to each other, and the front doors open right in the parking lot. More often than not, these are privately owned and are usually cheaper than hotels.
Guest Houses
The term ‘guest house’ is very broad, and encompasses different things in different parts of the world. In some parts, it is taken as being similar to a hostel, B&B, or an inn. In still others, they are considered to be similar to hotels, but are their much inexpensive cousins. In yet some others, a guest house is a private home, converted into a guest accommodation. The owner generally stays within the property, but in a separate area.
Resorts
Located primarily in or near tourist locations, such as beaches, deserts, theme parks, ski areas, etc., resorts cater mainly to people traveling for the purpose of leisure. Resorts generally offer state-of-the-art amenities, apart from numerous recreational facilities such as swimming pools, golf courses, tennis courts, ballrooms, and so on. Some resorts are so huge that they tend to cover many acres of land.
Timeshares
A timeshare is a property, the right to use of which is shared by different people at different times of the year. These shelters are usually resort condominium units that are given out on ‘right to use’, ‘lease’, or ‘partial ownership basis’, wherein people get to use the property during the time of the year that is allotted to them. At this point, they are also responsible for the upkeep and security of the property.
Hospitality Exchange
This is a very interesting type of holiday accommodation, wherein travelers are connected personally by an organization, with the local residents of the place they are traveling to. The visitors then either stay in the house of the local people, free of cost, or get very heavy discounts. Also known as youth exchange in some parts of the world, this service is often used by youngsters traveling with frugal means, but needing a good place to stay.
Caravanning
Also known as RV camping or car camping, it involves carrying all the necessities in one’s motor vehicle. It is an admixture of traveling and staying, both at the same time. Some of these vehicles are large enough for a person to sleep, and to offer other household comforts as well.
Camping
Perhaps the most popular type amongst the youngsters, this is a DIY accommodation, in which one carries his/her shelter (tent), bedding, and other necessary equipment in the backpack. Camping destinations have come to the forefront these days, mainly owing to their adventure quotient and exotic locations.
Cottages/Villas
For families looking for a peaceful retreat away from the everyday buzz, cottages or villas are among the best options to try out. Much larger than a hotel room and fitting in more or less the same budget, these can accommodate at least four people at a time. These also impart a lot of privacy to the guests by giving them their own kitchen, dining room, bedroom(s), and so on, thus, also making them more cost-effective than hotels.
Dude Ranches
These are extremely unique, often seasonal accommodations, found primarily in the United States. They display “the feeling of nostalgia for bygone days of the American West”. Often located within the premises of big resorts, these dude ranches feature cowboy-style activities, such as horseback riding and cattle roundups. Some of them also cater specifically to hunters, and are known as hunting ranches. These are located in the vicinity of forests and allow hunters to hunt the native game.
Vacation Rentals
Another cost-effective type of holiday accommodation, a vacation rental involves renting out an entire house or apartment to the vacationers. Generally, people traveling with families and/or large groups opt for such accommodations as they get to use the entire house all for themselves. Such shelters are either specifically purchased by the owners to be given as vacation rentals, or are converted into the same for a period for which the owners are away.
House Sitting
This is a type of free holiday accommodation that involves a written agreement between the house owner and the house sitter. This agreement generally states that while the owner is away, the house sitter (the vacationer who occupies the house) can use the house free of cost, but he/she has to undertake minor responsibilities, such as cleaning, gardening, looking after the pet(s), and so on.
Exotic Hotels
While speaking of the different kinds of holiday accommodations, it is extremely difficult to dismiss hotels, which appeal to the tourists due to their unique and exotic locations. Situated in seemingly bizarre places, such as under the water, in the caves, on treetops, exotic islands, cliffs, and so on, these make for some of the most expensive holiday accommodations. However, they seem to be always worth a deal, as staying at these hotels is indeed a one-of-its-kind experience.
The world’s tourism industry has come a long way today. The plethora of choices that it offers to tourists is indeed unmatched. The competition is really, really tough out there, and hoteliers are coming up with new ideas in order to make the entire experience unique for their guests. So, if you think that you have explored all possible types of holiday accommodations, think again. You never know what new type of concept you may come across the next time you are on your trip!
