Apartments, Villas and Hotels, Oh My!

Choosing the perfect place

to rest your head on vacation

Villa...Just the word harkens images of endless sunflower fields and historic homes with perfectly crooked iron gates begging you to come in for a visit.

Hotel...Conjures thoughts of merry staff tending to your every desire while you rest yourself in impeccable, unique rooms on beds that feel like a cloud.

Apartment...Brings a daydream of experiencing the best cities in the world the way its own citizens would, with all the excitement of having your own space in the middle of the action.

Which statement is true? All of them and more, of course! There are endless ways to have the perfect holiday experience depending on the type of holiday that you need. The Italian Concierge can help you determine the best way for you to stay and craft a trip incorporating any or all of these accommodation styles.

Since every option is the perfect option for some clients, it is vitally important to balance expectation with reality, so that you can make the right choices for you. While villas have gained enormous popularity in the past decade as the ideal vacation experience, many clients do not realize that most villas require a full week's rental. If you want a private home base for exploring a region, this is a great idea. For clients wanting to move around a country, this can leave you feeling tied to one place. Also, the idea that a villa is a bargain compared to hotels is sometimes true but not always. Lastly, and possibly most importantly...when considering a villa, consider the level of service you wish to have for your holiday. Unless you plan to pay significantly higher prices to staff a villa, a villa stay will be much like your home. This is wonderful if you want a home away from home. This can disappointing if you wish someone else was doing the cooking and cleaning on your holiday. If you are traveling with the family, the appeal of a villa cannot be overstated, in terms of the combination of privacy while having common space to spend time together. If your family plans to tour much, consider your transportation needs, as villas will certainly require a car. Sometimes this can also mean that the whole family must do everything, at the same time, together, which can be difficult for multi-generational families. Villas are fairly common with 2-5 bedrooms, although larger options are certainly available. One bedroom is quite rare in a freestanding environment.

Apartments have become a great option for many clients, particularly in cities. For many clients who prefer a villa stay in the countryside, an apartment is a way to bring that type of experience to the tighter quarters of a city. Some apartments require a 7 day rental, but not all. The realities of self -catering that are true in a villa are typically true in an apartment. The difference in a city is that many sites are walkable, so it is easier than a villa to return for nap time, or let young adults stay out later than the rest of the family. Like villas, apartments are typically owned by private individuals making each rental process unique. This also means that the décor, personality and standard of every apartment and villa is unique. This can make it possible to find exactly what you like, but also means that finding the perfect unit is best left to professionals who can track and visit these properties often, as standards can change quickly and more often than hotels. The Italian Concierge knows many of these great properties, and works closely with some of the best villa and apartment experts throughout Europe.

Hotels are the "old standby" with good reason. But it can be exactly that which drives some clients to look for the sense of adventure that a villa or apartment can invoke. In a hotel, there is a staff, whose sole purpose it is to serve you. This can be an invaluable resource when you find yourself in a new area, and want to make efficient use of your time to have the best experiences. This is also priceless should you have unexpected needs during your stay. Many of the hotels that The Italian Concierge loves are very small and historical, so that you do not sacrifice on charm to have staff. Many do not even feel like hotels. These properties can be perfect for clients who are nervous about being "on their own," but really want the feeling of a villa or apartment. If you know that you enjoy "white glove" service, a hotel, and sometimes a large hotel, is perfect for you. These are properties where you can have a beautiful room and lobbies, along with amenities like restaurants, spas, fitness centers, etc.   Hotels are often more likely to have the exactly location that you want in a city or town, where apartments or villas could be more readily available if you really want to get off the tourist route.

All of this leads to another, often overlooked style of property. There are properties in some areas that are more like a hybrid of the above options. These are accommodations that have hotel style services or staff (sometimes limited), but have accommodations that include apartments, or even free standing cottages or villas. This is often a great option for a party that does not wish to rent for a full week, or wants a villa that is smaller than is available on its own. For larger families you can also consider a small hotel take over, rather than a villa. This option is available only in certain hotels and requires advance coordination but gives your family exclusive access, like a villa, but with all the services of a hotel without paying extra for staffing. This is most common for hotels from 5-10 rooms.

As you consider your holiday, spring break, or summer 2012 travel, please keep in mind how you wish to stay on your trip, or if you'd like to try something new for your next trip. Maybe you would like to try some of everything? We hope that this information gives you the knowledge to better understand what will help you return from your holiday relaxed and refreshed. Or maybe this makes you consider something you never thought of before? The Italian Concierge is excited to begin planning for the upcoming season with you!