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UNIT 3 ► Types of accommodation ►Backpacker Hostel: A hostel (or backpacker) establishment is aimed at the budget traveller and generally attracts a younger clientele. Bedrooms are in a dormitory style (shared) and bathrooms are shared, although private bedrooms may be available. Light meals may be available in addition to the room rate. Bedrooms are in a dormitory style (shared) and bathrooms are shared, although private bedrooms may be available. ►Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs) provide hotel style rooms. A Bed and Breakfast (B&B) is a private home in which guests can be accommodated at night in private bedrooms (which may or may not have private bathrooms). The owner or manager lives in the house or on the property. The public areas of the house, such as kitchen and lounge have either limited access for guests, or are shared with the host family to some degree. Bed and Breakfasts are found both inside and out of major centers. Many market themselves as providing a "quiet escape". ►Guest House: A guesthouse is generally a private home which has been converted for the dedicated and exclusive use of guest accommodation. The public areas of the establishment are for the exclusive use of the guests. The owner or manager either lives off-site, or in an entirely separate area within the property. A Guesthouse offers a wider range of services than a B&B, and usually caters for all meals. ►Hotels: A hotel is generally the largest of all accommodation types. There is typically a common reception area, and rooms generally open directly onto a hallway. A wide range of guest services is available. Hotels are often members of larger hotel groups, and a similar accommodation experience may be available in different establishments within the group. They range from very basic budget-style to extremely luxurious accommodation. ► Boutique Hotel: A boutique hotel is a 5 star establishment providing all the features and facilities of a normal hotel, in a unique and exclusive style. These properties are generally small, feature top class service and are marketed to the affluent. ►Capsule hotels: A capsule hotel is a cheap form of accommodation in Japan, usually more or less similar to a dorm bed in a hostel, in terms of pricing. The "rooms" are little more than small one-person capsules with only a mattress, radio, and TV (which usually boasts a variety of Japanese porn channels). Note that most capsule hotels are segregated by gender, while many, if not most, don't accept female guests at all. ►Lodge: A lodge is an accommodation facility which is located and designed to optimize the feeling of being closely in touch with nature. Lodges are usually rural, nature-dominated settings (e.g. national parks) or exotic places (e.g. the African wilderness). The building style should feature natural materials such as wood, stone and thatch. An outdoor experience should be offered at the lodge, such as guided walks, hiking, game drives etc. ►Resort: A resort caters primarily to leisure travelers. Generally found in four environments: at
the beach, near ski areas, in the desert and near (or even in) theme parks and attractions. A spread out collection of single or double story accommodation units. Similar to a hotel in that it offers a wide range of facilities. Units may be rented and available on time-share. A camping area may be included in the resort. ► Motel A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a type of hotel consisting of a single building of connected rooms whose doors face a parking lot and, in some circumstances, a common area; or a series of small cabins with common parking. It is a hotel designed for motorists and they are located along highways. Usually do not have full dining facilities or provide luggage assistance.
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► home stay network (Hospitality exchange) is an organization that connects travelers with local residents in the cities they're visiting. Travelers can get room and sometimes board in the place they're visiting for free or at a deep discount. Network size goes from a few thousands to a hundred thousands, and most networks are growing steadily. ►Car camping, Caravanning this form of camping involves carrying your equipment in your motor vehicle, which you drive right to your campsite. Caravan parks tend to have two or three types of accommodation: powered sites to put your caravan and car; caravans owned by the park that you can stay in; and small cabins with a bit more space. Caravan parks are usually located in medium sized towns and cities, or in very popular tourist spots. ►Camping is do-it-yourself accommodation: you carry your roof and your bedding in your backpack or your car. It's often the only choice of accommodation you have when you're travelling off the beaten track, but there are also very popular sites for camping holidays. ►Luxurious/historic/Exotic hotels: ►castle and palace hotels in Europe offer history and fantasy, memories and inspiration. ►literary and historic hotels: Pera Palace (Istanbul), Ritz Hotel (Madrid), Savoy Hotel (London), Hotel de Inglaterra (Cuba), Old Cataract Aswan (Egypt), ►boat hotels: Holland, Hungary ►in sandstone caves: Goreme (Turkey), Oia (Santorini, Greece) Some of these cave dwellings were transformed into ►in rock caves: Matala (Greece), Tunicia, ►on trees: Rafter's Retreat in Kitulgala (Sri Lanka); tree houses in Çıralı (Turkey) ►on rock cliffs: Santorini, Greece, Spain, ►ice hotels: Jukkasjärvi (Sweden), Norway, Canada, Finland and Romania ►island hotels: Sveti Stefan (originally a fishers village) ►underwater hotels: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (Maldives) ►salt hotels: Uyuni, Bolivia ► Self catering accommodation ►Villas: If you are looking to get away from it all and relax with your family in privacy, a holiday villa would be the ideal choice for you. By renting a private villa you will have your own kitchen, living/dining room, bedroom and in many cases your own private swimming pool. More economical option rather than staying at a small hotel room. ►Vacation rentals: Many residents of popular tourist destinations lease their houses and apartments to vacationers. The guests will have full use of the residence, usually with utilities included but no servicing or meals. ►House Sitting. While traveling many people use house sitting as a form of accommodation. House sitting involves an agreement between the house sitter and the home owner. The house sitter will occupy the house while the home owner is away. Generally the house sitters will be responsible for minor household responsibilities (e.g. keep house clean, bring in post etc). Often House Sitters will also need to care for the home owners pets as part of the agreement.