There are a variety of different types of self-catering properties for long weekend breaks including:
• Cottages, the standard form of self catering accommodation for self catering holidays within the UK and Ireland is usually in holiday cottages, also known as holiday homes.
• Apartments, self-catering holiday apartments are to be found both in the UK and Ireland and also overseas.
• Villas, villa accommodation tends to be found abroad, usually in hotter climates. Some villas have additional facilities like swimming pools.
• Unusual Self Catering Accommodation includes unique self catering options such as houseboats, castles, luxury tents, windmills, watermills and even self-catering lighthouses and converted chapels.
Self catering accommodation tends to appeal to those looking for a home from home environment and to those who like the flexibility of staying in a self-contained apartment or house where you have cooking facilities and can come and go as you please. Self catering accommodation for large groups or families can also work out as excellent value for money when compared to a traditional hotel stay. Cooking at your home from home can be really convenient and can also really help when it comes to saving money on expensive meals out. Of course when staying in a holiday home if you want to enjoy meals out once in a while you of course have the flexibility to do so.
Hotel Stays
Staying in hotel accommodation when taking a long weekend break is probably the usual choice. Many people enjoy the convenience that hotels offer. The idea of just getting up in the morning and have someone else prepare your breakfast for you can be attractive. Larger hotels in particular can have a large choice when it comes to breakfast options and many enjoy the service that comes with hotels. When booking a hotel for a long weekend break one of the biggest choices may be what star accommodation to opt for. 5 star or luxury hotels can be an attractive option but there is usually an associated price tag to match. Depending on your budget and expectations, you may be perfectly happy with a budget hotel stay, it very much depends on what you have in mind and the type of environment you enjoy. Some people view hotels as simply a bed for a night and so don’t mind if they stay in a 1, 2 or 3 star accommodation. Others go for a hotel stay for the overall experience where room quality, hotel facilities and service are more important. If quality furnishings and fittings and having facilities in the room like a mini bar or tea and coffee making facilities is important to you then you may well be best booking in to a luxury hotel if your budget allows it.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Bed and Breakfast accommodation is a type of accommodation most typically found in the UK and Ireland. A stay in a British Bed and Breakfast establishment usually entails a cooked breakfast with the typical bacon, sausages and eggs. Some places offer a continental breakfast as an alternative but cooked breakfasts are still the norm. Overseas you can find guest houses, which are in some countries called Pensions. Not all such places abroad offer a breakfast service like traditional British Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Essentially some pensions and guest houses overseas are basically rooms to rent within a family home.
Bed and breakfast or guest house accommodation can very often work out better value than typical hotel room stays. However, the price has to be balanced with the fact that with such accommodation you are usually staying within the owner’s own home. Some people simply adore the feel that you get from more homely bed and breakfast or guesthouse accommodation whereas others find that it doesn’t offer them the level of privacy that they require.
Staying with friends or relatives
When taking long weekend breaks some people like to stay with family or friends. The ability to stay with friends or family is obviously dependent on having friends or family living in the area you intend to visit. If you are lucky enough to have relatives or friends living in a beautiful area or city you want to visit then why not save on expenses and enjoy a free stay? Some people find it only polite to take a gift to thank your family or friends for putting you up. It can be great fun to catch up with friends and family and to spend fun times together. The only flip side can be that it can at times be difficult to fully do your own thing if you are staying with relatives or friends and you may have to balance your expectations with those you are staying with. Frank discussions and consideration on both sides usually go a long way.
If you really don’t want to spend that much with the friends or family you plan to stay with, you may be best off booking in to a hotel. Particularly if you have a romantic break planned you may be best off booking in to a hotel or booking a holiday cottage where you should be able to get much more privacy than you would with a B&B or kipping over with family or friends.