Often, people will look only at hotels when planning to visit a vacation destination. Sometimes this is because hotels tend to invest more in marketing and people are therefore more aware of their offerings. However, in recent years, there has been a definite travel trend towards staying in guesthouses, cottages and vacation homes. There are many reasons for this trend and many of them are linked to the benefits that cottages offer over hotels. Here are some of the reasons that are often given by travelers.

Cottages Are More Affordable Options

If you have a family, you will know how quickly all the hotel extras add up. Sometimes hotels offer that children stay for free or half-price but then they have to share the same room. What you end up with is a cramped space where everyone is tripping over each other. There is also little privacy, if any at all, and it can end up in family conflict and ruin your family vacation. Cottages are generally offered on a per-unit rate and many of them are large enough to accommodate families in multiple bedrooms. Often, when you compare the rates of a cottage to hotels, the cottages come out offering far better value in terms of cost and what you are getting.

Cottages Offer More Privacy

When you stay in a hotel, you typically have a room and bathroom to yourself and that’s it. All dining, lounge and recreational facilities are communal. This means that if you are traveling in peak season, you are likely to encounter crowds wherever you go. In a cottage, you have an entire house to yourself. You can walk around and enjoy breakfast in your pajamas if you wish. You can curl up on the couch in front of the fireplace with your fluffy slippers and a face mask because you have the privacy of the entire cottage. Often, cottages have private swimming pools, hot tubs or decks where you can relax and spend your vacation days. If you want to socialize, you can do so by heading out to one of the local restaurants or resorts in the area.

Cottages Offer More Flexibility and Freedom on Vacation

Because of the nature of their operations, hotels generally have set meal times for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Many resort hotels have a standard buffet each day for breakfast and dinner. While the buffets offer quite an assortment, after a while the food can end up tasting pretty similar. In addition, if you plan to spend a lot of your time out and about sightseeing, you need to work your schedule around the hotel meal times. Otherwise, you may end up losing out on value that you are paying for. In a cottage, you have much more flexibility and freedom. You have the choice of catering for yourself or eating out at the local cafs and restaurants. If you want to sleep late and only get up at midday, you can do that without thinking you are missing out on holiday value.

Cottages Are Frequently More Spacious

As mentioned, cramped conditions can result from using the benefit offered by hotels that kids stay for free. At the end of the day, a vacation is not much fun if everyone is getting grumpy because you are constantly tripping over each other. Cottages are often designed to accommodate families. Typically, they will have two or three bedrooms leading off a main living area. Sometimes they even have private en-suite bathrooms. In addition, cottages generally have living areas which are made up of a lounge and dining area as well as a kitchen. This means that if your daughter wants to quietly read a book while the rest of you are playing games, there is more than enough space to do this. Often, cottages also have private decks or gardens where you can enjoy some outdoor recreation in the summertime.

Cottages Have a Home-away-from-Home Feel to Them

If there is one thing that differentiates cottages from hotels, it’s that cottages have an individual feel about them. There is a distinctive personal touch that makes cottages feel much more home-like. Often, cottages are decorated in specific themes that blend well with the surroundings. Furnishings like this help visitors to relax and really be able to enjoy their vacation time. Often, it feels like you are at home, even though you are at your vacation destination.

CottageCountry.com is the premier online destination for people looking to enjoy the great lifestyle of Cottage Country. With many cottage rentals available you’re sure to find the one you are looking for. Listings include Muskoka cottages, Stony Lake Cottages, Kawartha Highlands Cottages to name a few. Visit us online today and you will know you have come to the right place.