The quiet lane outside our apartment in Old Town, Arezzo, is a far from the hustle and bustle of the larger and more well known towns and cities of Tuscany.
I scroll through the emails in my “inbox” luring me to spend money and time in luxurious spas, hotels and resorts at truly affordable rates offering inclusions and options too good to knock back. I stare dreamily at the screen seeing myself lying back on a sun lounge by the pool reading my favourite book in one of these exotic destinations.
It doesn’t take long to be shaken back into reality! Who am I kidding? Two days of this type of holiday and I will literally be running out of the place!
Advertising and rigorous competition amongst hotels and resorts make it easy to be convinced that we need to get away from our hectic daily lives. It is easy to be convinced into making travel decisions which include being pampered so we can relax and rejuvenate in accommodation which include offers to indulgent gourmet meals and luxurious facilities. It is no wonder that we can easily be swayed to incorporating this type of accommodation with our travel.
For the simple traveller, it is more about what the world has to offer; an opportunity to see the many natural and historic wonders, experience different cultures, traditions and food, interact with people who live in the countries which are different from ours and observe people in their daily lives.
Travelling simply has allowed us to experience all of the above and more by choosing to stay in accommodation where we become part of the local community, even for a short time. This does not mean that we compromise our comfort or the facilities available to us. We often save a few days for indulgence at the end of a holiday but make the most of the rest of our time away to really experience what our destination has to offer.
From past experience, choosing to see a country by travelling as part of a tour group doesn’t provide room for choice. The decisions are often already made for you. The only dilemma you may on occasion be faced with is the choice of which “star” of accommodation you want to pay for if this option is even offered. You’ll generally have breakfast and dinner in the hotel, eat lunch on the run between stops at places of interest with the occasional themed group dinner giving you an opportunity to test the local cuisine.
Making the conscious decision to avoid hotel accommodation as much as possible by staying in self-catering style accommodation has provided us with a feeling that we are truly seeing a city, region or country. Not to mention, leaving us with many unique memories and connections along with an abundance of stories to tell.
Choosing to stay in apartments doesn’t mean that you will self-cater every day by cooking and eating the same type of meals that you would have at home. It does mean that you stay in local neighbourhoods, have the opportunity to eat and drink where the locals do, watch the locals go about their daily lives, and option to sometimes shop at the local fresh food markets to try some of the delicacies in the comfort of your apartment when you’ve had enough of eating at restaurants and cafes and are craving for some simple food.
Booking an apartment has become so much easier in recent times. A large number of websites and apps are available to do the research for you providing comparisons and deals at a “click”. Apartments are plentiful, more often than not providing all the luxuries of a hotel room with the added benefit of extra space.
The smart thing to do is choose a neighbourhood in the city area where the sights you wish to visit are within walking distance or accessible by public transport. Stay for a few days or longer if you’re lucky enough to spare the time to give you the opportunity to really feel like you are a local and drink in the atmosphere. Take the time to make expeditions into neighbouring towns and areas off the beaten track. This is what will make your holiday truly memorable.
If the travel aim is to rush from one sight to another ticking them off your “Bucket List”, this style of travel may not suit. Take a tour which will take you from sight to sight, and join the throngs of other tourists on the same tour plan. See the same tourists from the last hotel you stayed at as they step off their tour bus into your hotel and join them for dinner in the same restaurant.
What you will miss out on is meeting the people of the country you are wanting to see, eating where the locals eat which is often an experience in itself as well as a chance to observe and create your own view of the people.
Don’t get me wrong; not all of our accommodation choices have ended up being as good as they appeared in the photos. Hotel chains have high standards to live up to and apartment owners are not accountable to anyone. However, if you take note of reviews and make a little time to diligently research the property and area you wish to stay in you will be rewarded with wonderful hosts, lovely accommodation and a chance to live like a local.
The highlight of choosing to stay in smaller, localised accommodation is the interesting local people you will meet who give you an insight into their locality. Often, this starts with your hosts who are a mine of knowledge and advice on when and where to eat, unique places to visit, special activities or events taking place around the local area and the best place to shop! A great number of our hosts have gone out of their way to obtain tickets to events, provide us with detailed information on what to see and do, assisted and recommended places to stay in onward destinations. One has even vacated and provided their own home to us for our stay when all their apartments have been “booked out”.
There is no real dilemma: there is little excuse to stay in hotels if you want to really want to have an authentic travel experience.
