With a plethora of travel options these days it’s no surprise that the alternative and slow travel movements are making a come back. Now coupled with the technological innovation of smart phones and the internet this different way of traveling is now even more accessible. So quit booking the pricy and disappointing hotels and crowded backpackers, and switch over to holiday rentals, which offer a luxurious experience at an affordable price.

Renting an apartment or house can be one of the more rewarding aspects of contemporary travel. It is especially worth while for a longer term stay. And if you’re staying a week or more, the price can drop dramatically which means you and your loved ones can enjoy a better holiday, for longer.

Besides the price, renting an apartment has some key advantages.

The first and most obvious of which is it gives you the option to do as the locals do. Escaping the typical tourist places really allows for a sense of cultural immersion you otherwise would not have.

You’ll also experience a degree of comfort and privacy you won’t find at a hotel. Rented apartments are literally a home away from home.

They usually include:

– Your own full kitchen will allow you to cook your own meals, and thus keep the cost of food down.
– Instead of being stuck in one room you’ll have a living space that will allow you to relax and luxuriate. You’ll actually be able to live and avoid the hotel California blues.
– You’ll have a sense of quiet and privacy a busy hotel won’t be able to give you.

Some of the better travel experiences I’ve had have been in short stay apartments. In Paris last year, the two week rental in Montemarte gave me the opportunity to live in a traditional walk up apartment block and talk with the locals. I got to experience the atmosphere of a Parisian inner city summer and truly soak up it’s subtleties. All of this without having to pay a cent for a touristy ‘cultural tour’.

If this sound good to you, you can start by checking out some of the more popular alternative travel sites, most famous is airbnb.com, for a uniquely Australian focus head to stayz.com.au and don’t forget housetrip.com.

 Boat Accessories Australia offer an extensive range of Boat Parts and Accessories for your next water based adventure.

On top of this, the increased popularity of cycling holidays is set to threaten golf tourism and Africa has been named the top surfing spot. Peer to peer dining with home meals, cooking lessons or guided food tours will be all the rage in Europe and hotel chains will increasingly offer reward schemes set up to encourage positive reviews or photos on social media.

The Middle East is also repositioning itself with design tourism to attract creative minds, India’s rail network should increase in online and mobile bookings, WeChat, the world’s 2nd largest global messaging service will emerge as a viable sales channel for Chinese travel companies.

Two of the biggest takeaways from the study are ‘poshtels’ and braggies’, reflecting tourism operators’ response to a change in lifestyle shifts and consumer habits. A ‘poshtel’ is a hybrid between a hotel and hostel and is targeted towards the growing clientele of budget travellers looking to save a few dollars while also enjoying a more glamorous hotel experience. Many hostels are now offering restaurants, twin en-suite rooms, free Wi-Fi and breakfast as part of their package in order to compete with boutique hotels.

‘Braggies’ is also a new term to look out for. This involves taking pictures and uploading it to social media in order to brag about their exotic holiday experience. Look at any Facebook or Instagram page and you’d be hard-pressed to not find any such photos. Hotels have capitalised on this trend to offer customers free perks and rewards if they post their photos to the accommodation’s Facebook or Instagram accounts.

This article was brought to you by Urban Hotels Melbourne, luxurious, convenient and affordable accommodation ideal for those who value designer chic and modern comfort. 

Poolside Bar at Kimberley Klub

It’s that time of year again. Australia’s legendary Summer is approaching and people from the Northern Hemisphere are flocking down under, desperate to escape the winter and keen to experience an unforgettable adventure.

For those daring backpackers who have bought a one-way ticket and plan to stay here until the money runs dry, hostels are your best option. It’s where you get to meet people from around the world and experience the more chilled Aussie lifestyle.

Here’s a few things to look for when picking a suitable hostel.

A Bar

There’s nothing worse than coming to a country (alone or with only one other friend) and staying at a fancy hotel where the only person you meet is the concierge (who is paid to be nice to you).

Here in Australia, our social setting usually involves bumming around with mates and a few beers. A hostel with an open environment  and a bar (rather than isolated rooms and no shared space) are the perfect places to make new friends and meet fellow travellers who also want to see the sites.

Organised Events and Activities

If you’re the kind of person that struggles to strike up a conversation with that person sitting on the other side of the bar, try to find a hostel with organised events! Joining events like dress-up parties, quiz nights, bingo, and pool competitions will share the love and create unforgettable memories.

Swimming Pool

It’s Australia and it’s summer. Almost every Australian you meet is likely to live in the water. Swimming, tanning and going to the beach are huge parts of Australian culture. It’s a scientific fact that Australians are happier in the sun. But remember to slip, slop, slap (at least SPF 30 sunscreen) because the suns rays are especially harsh out here.

Shuttle Service

Australia is huge. And if you’re planning on scaling some of the more remote parts of Australian outback, public transport is not always going to be available. A hostel that has a shuttle service helps to relieve the stress of trying to navigate foreign roads.

Most backpackers come to Australia to meet people, party, and gaze at Australia’s wondrous landscapes. A hostel with these four things is sure to offer just that.

This article was brought to you by Kimberley Klub, a backpackers hostel located in Broome, Western Australia. 

Image from the Hotel Urban: www.tripadvisor.com.au

Everyone wants to enjoy their stay at a hotel. But we all live in the real world – things go wrong. And when things go wrong there are usually a variety of responses. These responses fall into two categories: Emotional and non-emotional. Emotional responses usually hijack us and focus our energies on how we feel about what went wrong rather than on doing anything constructive about it.

Unfortunately it’s usually the staff at the front desk who bear the brunt of hotel complaints. If food and beverage department are the stomach of a hotel, concierge is the back, then the front Office staff are the face. They are the ones through whom just about everything is channeled. They are the ones asked to ‘do something about it’. And they are the ones usually held responsible (whether or not they actually are).

When problems arise the goal should be to rectify them rather than to vent. With that in mind, here are some tips for dealing with front office staff should things go awry during your next stay:

1. Be specific about your complaint. As much as possible know the time, place and details of the incident. This will allow staff to get moving towards a solution faster and more effectively.
2. Try to remember names. Especially remember the name of the staff member to whom you made the initial complaint. Sometimes, with shift changes for example, information gets lost. Knowing the name of the person actioning your complaint gives incoming staff a central resource.
3. Always feel comfortable asking to speak to management if you’re unhappy with how things are progressing. That’s what they are there for. Even though staff will be doing all they can to rectify your problem, sometimes they either lack the authority or reach to do so.
4. Remember you are dealing with people, not lackeys. The people at the front desk are often the most highly qualified and busy people in the building; so don’t talk down to them or be dismissive.
5. As an adjunct to the above, don’t start by asking to speak to a manager because you think front office staff are incapable. With their considerable responsibility comes far-reaching powers, you’d be surprised what these people can do on their own initiative.

Staff at the front office want you to be happy. Being angry, disappointed or dismissive neither helps you, nor helps them to help you. Next time things go wrong during your hotel sojourn remember these five suggestions – and have a good stay.

This article was brought to you by Hotel Urban – a unique Melbourne Hotel perfect for business or pleasure.

Image: www.photograph-melbourne.com