There is an Alternative to Hotels for your next Vacation

Villas, B & B, Inns, Guesthouses, Pubs that are just a whole lot better.

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There are alternatives to hotels you may not have considered. They are terrific, and they are very different to what you might think

This article will take you all over the world, and out first alternative to hotels takes us the delightful little Caribbean Island of Bequia in the Caribbean

 Julie's Guesthouse is an old fashioned Caribbean Inn on the island of Bequia in the Grenadines. You just don't find old fashioned inns like this any more in the Caribbean. What you get here is simple accommodation on a lovely island. If you are looking for the real Caribbean with incredible hospitality, and wonderful food then this guesthouse is the place for you. The rooms are simple with a balcony that runs round the building, and the prices are incredibly reasonable. Julie's is a legend amongst the sailors in the Grenadines for her food, and her McIntosh family famous for their rum punch. The menu changes daily, and the emphasis is on seafood, and wonderful soups. One of the great things here is that you are out of the resort bubble and in with real local people. Such a great alternative to hotels More information about Julie and Isola's Guesthouse CLICK HERE

 Bed and breakfast accommodation as an alternative to hotels may not seem a very attractive proposition, but in the Caribbean, it very often means gourmet food, and we move now to New Providence in the Bahamas for our second alternative to hotels

A Stone's Throw Away  is on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas, and is a Bed and Breakfast establishment with a slight difference in that it is definitely a gourmet B & B.
Called a Stone's Throw Away because that is how close it is to the beach, airport, and the town. The accommodation which is very comfortable indeed for twenty guests excludes children. To look at A Stone's Throw Away gives the impression of an old colonial building made of wood, high up above the sea, with verandahs all the way around, when in fact it was built in the 21st century.
This is a peaceful place and an appreciation of quality cooking makes this the best place to stay on New Providence. Although essentially a B & B, lunch is available, and in the evening dinner can be ordered too, but it is the gourmet breakfasts that are raved about by all. Finally, not an expensive place to stay. A Stone's Throw Away is a really romantic place to stay, and is highly recommended as an alternative to hotels.

CLICK HERE for more information about A Stone's Throw Away as an alternative to hotels

 If you can get a fully staffed villa, then this can be a very good alternative to hotels. It does tend to be very expensive in Europe, but in a place like Bali where we are going for our third alternative to hotels, the value for money is exceptional

 Villa Kamboja is one of the best Bali Rental Villas, but is only an example of another alternative to hotels you should look closely at.  is a wonderful five bedroom Bali rental villa just outside Seminyak in Batu Belig, and comes complete with a staff of five, and a chauffeur with a large air conditioned vehicle. 

It has buildings on all four sides, surrounding a floodlit pool in the centre, and at the far end the sitting room, and dining area. The design of the villa had two bedrooms in a separate bungalow on the left, and the other bedrooms upstairs on the right, where there was two huge balconies, and a huge indoor bar/sitting room. Downstairs apart from a well equipped kitchen, dining sitting room, there was a separate TV room which is a refuge from the heat and humidity. The pool is a jolly good size, and at the end opposite the dining area was a room laid out like a hall reception area with beautiful furniture, then in one corner a bale, which is a large open on all four sides sitting area, where the ladies had massages regularly. In the other corner was a jacuzzi hidden behind luscious green foliage.  The rental for a family of five compares very favourably with the cost of hotel accommodation at around USD425 per day including a chef. When you consider that the chef does the shopping, and that will come to less than £40 for  food, and drink, including ample beers, breakfast lunch and dinner, you may begin to realise why a Bali resort villa is such good value for money. You will be waited on literally hand and foot.
The whole service element was incredible, and if you need more detail as an alternative to hotels CLICK HERE for Villa Kamboja

 We travel to India to Calcutta for our fourth alternative to hotels. It is all to easy to immerse yourself in five star luxury but you never get any idea of what a place is really like at all. Our choice in Calcutta takes you right into rhe centre of the city

 Fairlawn Calcutta is like staying in Kolkata at the time of the British Empire. Whilst strictly speaking it is a small hotel, it is so far removed from the concrete and glass monstrosities of the 21st century it has been included as an alternative to hotels. Sufficient to say there are a few people to know about the well guarded secret that is Fairlawn, and amongst them it is a legend. here you will be able to immerse yourself in the real Calcutta, as opposed to looking from the outside. In some respects Fairlawn is like a museum, from its furniture, to the pictures on the wall, you could be living 100 years ago. Not only is there the legendary owner, but the old fashioned courtesies, long gone and mostly forgotten, but not here.

The Fairlawn Calcutta sits like an oasis of calm in a noisy street close to Central Market, so right in the middle of where tourists go, which makes it a safe haven as well. The atmosphere is a cross between a weekend house party, and staying with an aged relative, and you will be made to feel very comfortable.
For more information on Fairlawn and why it is an alternative to hotels of the 21st century CLICK HERE  

 We now journey to England to the Yorkshire dales for out fifth alternative to hotels, a wonderful old fashioned English Pub with lovely accommodation, and food.

The Fairfax Arms Gilling East is a classical English Pub with rooms, and is to be found in a delightful village called Gilling East in Yorkshire.It is a great place to go if you want to spend a few days in a beautiful part of England, close to many historic places, and it is so much nicer than any of the local hotels. What makes the Fairfax Arms so special is a combination of the historical building, the quality of the accommodation, the food in the restaurant, and the outstanding staff. You don't need the trappings of a five star hotel when you can get the level of personal care on offer here. You are getting a level of comfort you won't find in many places never mind an English pub. This kind of quintessentially English place should be a magnet for any visitor to the UK.  For more information about the Fairfax Arms as an alternative to hotels CLICK HERE

We have already discussed villas, but no alternative to hotels would be complete without a visit to the Indian Ocean. Our sixth alternative to hotels is a staffed villa in Kenya overlooking the Indian Ocean 

Alfajiri Villas Staffed villas as an alternative to hotels has to be a great solution, especially if you have a large family. The Alfajiri Villas in Kenya is very much upmarket, but bears investigating for the sheer quality it brings to the market.
This has to be one of the absolute top destinations in Kenya in fact probably anywhere on the Indian ocean. It is expensive but Alfajiri Villas has just about everything from the very best quality staff, to rooms that are quite beautifully furnished to a position overlooking a superb beach and an indescribably beautiful turquoise sea.
It is in fact three villas which can be booked individually or for an extended group of family or friends.
You will be looked after by butlers, nannies if required, chefs, and a huge range of complimentary activities. In fact you can eat and drink pretty well anything you want, and all freshly sourced. You will very quickly feel as if you own Alfajiri. For more information about Alfajiri Villas CLICK HERE

 Don't shy away from a Guest House, because you will get a far higher level of personal service and get much closer to reality. This is especially true in Goa where we go for our seventh alternative to hotels

 Bougainvillea Guest House shows that five star resorts aren't required for a brilliant vacation. Surely you don't want to come to Goa with all the excitement sounds, smells, and colours and then hide away in a resort. At the Bougainvillea Guest House you can really see what is the real Goa, even almost feel and touch it, and certainly smell it. The Bougainvillea which is such a quaint little guest house built to resemble Portugese Colonial style, is not on the coast but has an idyllic position in a quiet area with a nice garden and a great view of the hills. It is run in a very personal way, where guests are made to feel part of the family. The service is quite superb, the whole place is pristine, and the accommodation consists of only six very stylish suites. There is no pool or restaurant, thus making sure the guests get out and explore, although you will be given helpful advice about where to go what to do, and where to eat. To summarise how good the staff are would be to say that nothing is too small for them to care about, and they make a nice little Guest House into brilliant. For more information about why the Bougainvillea Guest House is a great alternative to hotels.CLICK HERE

Hopefully you have enjoyed our selection of alternatives to hotels, and don't forget to click on any of the blue links for more information. If you feel there is an alternative to hotels which merits inclusion then please email isgs@worldwidevacationspots.com