Finding a Country or Rural Vacation Destination. It's Easier Than You Think.

There are a few extra things to be considered if you are planning a vacation in a country or rural setting so put on your vacation detective trench coat and start detecting!
In the UK and Europe, vacation accommodations are often either "catered" or "self catering." What does this mean?
Think of the word "cater", meaning to provide; give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance - and you'll know what a catered vacation accommodation means.
Catered lodging is more a hotel or resort-type experience. Along with the roof over your head are all the sheets and towels, soap and shampoo, a telephone, internet access - quite possibly high-speed or wireless, and maybe even an iron and a hair dryer. Meals are either provided as part of your reservation/booking fee or, area readily available as is maid and daily room cleaning service.
A concierge may be reached via phone, sometimes 24/7, for any little thing you happen to need. Dry cleaning and tourism services and information may also be at your disposal. Some catered hotels and resort lodges now offer pet-sitting - along with childcare or babysitting service.

Self-catering accommodations are a little more tricky...
... particularly when trying to reserve mountain cabins or beach cottages.
A mistake or lack of clear understanding of expectations at this stage can have very negative results on your vacation.
The villa shown to the right, the Castello di Montalto in the Chianti area of Tuscany, is self-catered. As part of the estate, a particular villa has access to a swimming pool, a tennis court, an ample library, laundry facilities, private gardens and extensive woods for pleasant walks and jogging.
However, there is not much information provided on the web site as to amenities, and meals are not included. There may or may not be a washer and dryer and if you are coming from the US, your plug-in applicances like hair dryers may not work at your villa. Yikes!! I'm at my villa without my hair dryer!
Be your own vacation detective....
This is just one example to show that a little extra detective work is required when considering a resort or lodge that is listed as self-catering. Mountain cabins may have fireplaces, but are you required to pay extra for wood to burn? Beach cottages may have stunning views with quick walks to the ocean, but are beach chairs and umbrellas part of the offering or do you pay extra?
These may seem like trivial inconveniences to some...but if you are staying in the country or in a rural or out-of-the-way location, "trivial" and "inconvenient" may take on a whole new meaning.

What if the nearest grocery store is 25 miles away? And it is a small, local grocer, not Whole Foods...and they have almost nothing you are used to eating?
What if you are staying for a full week and there are no laundry facilities? If you are staying at a resort with many cabins, maybe there will be a clubhouse of sorts with communal washers and dryers but if not, how far will you have to go to do some laundry? Pounding my Levis on a rock by the creek wouldn't cut it for me.

Make sure you don't end up here because you didn't ask enough questions.
This is no time to be vague about the details!
Most of those offering country vacation accommodations do try to make sure you'll have what you need to get by - but they can't possibly forecast YOUR every need. This can be a non-issue as long as you make sure you have full understanding of what is and is not provided when making your country vacation or resort reservation.

Perfect Places is a good place to start!
Each rental listing gives you enough information about the property to book with confidence.
Need to know size of property?, availability of internet access?, are pets allowed, can you smoke - or not?, are there appliances available and what kind?, are there restaurants and activities within walking distance?, is there maid service available?
You'll have these questions answered and also get a description of the specific property and some good scoop on the local area. I searched below in the Gustavia area of St. Bart's...

Clicking on any of the links above will show you the rental property's page with all this info and more. You can also move on from there and research over 50,000 listings in 98 countries. Instant quotes and secure online booking make this one of the easiest steps of your vacation tasks. Take advantage!
Maybe taking one of the vacation personality quizzes will prove helpful in planning your next vacation. They're free and instant so what could it hurt to gain a little insight?
Don't let yourself fall into a vacation rut.
Working farm tours, vacations spent on a ranch, Xperience Days, spa days, rustic B & Bs, and luxury accommodations are all showcased to get you thinking about your perfect vacation...Enjoy!
As you are beginning to think about your next vacation - don't forget to make a list - and look into the current state of your luggage. Isn't it time you upgraded? Will your home and property be protected while you are away? And, will you be safe while traveling?

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