Self-catering accommodation can often be the best option for your holiday – making your stay more relaxed, comfortable and fun. Matt Richardson, from self-catering specialist Lagrange Holidays, tells us why…
1. Self-catering isn’t what it used to be
Long gone are the days when self-catering meant a sparsely furnished, pokey studio flat with uncomfortable sofa-beds. Today’s self-catering residences are made up of spacious apartments with well-equipped kitchen areas, separate bedrooms and comfortable furnishings.
2. Excellent facilities
As well as the apartments, most self-catering residences now have excellent communal facilities to help you get the most out of your stay. These include swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms, communal lounges and even spa centres. Great for relaxing after a long day of walking, cycling or climbing.
3. Very affordable
As you are not paying for hotel meals or services that you do not use, self-catering offers great value for money. Prices are also per apartment or chalet, which means that you do not have to pay extra if more people decide to join your group.
4. Manage your own budget
By staying in a self-catering residence for your holiday, rather than going on an all-inclusive package, you can manage your own spending whilst you are away. You can decide how much you want to spend on food, activities or additional services when you are in the resort.
5. Manage your meals
As you are not bound by the set menu and meal times of a hotel, you can eat what you like, when you like. You can cook with fresh local produce, get takeaways, and still make the most of the region’s fantastic cuisine by eating out.
6. Great for families
Especially if you have young children, it can be useful to stick to your own family routine, such as meal times, and helps make the apartment or chalet a home away from home. Plus you can spread out more than if you are stuck in one hotel room; the kids can run around without fear of disturbing other guests.
7. You can take the pets with you
Taking the dog on holiday with you is great if you are planning to do some walking, but it can often be a nightmare finding a hotel that will accept them. Most self-catering properties are happy to accept pets in their accommodation with normally only a small additional fee.
8. Relax with friends
If you are planning to travel as a big group or with friends, then a self-catering apartment or chalet is ideal as you can take it in turns to cook for each other and spend time together in the residence’s communal areas, making it a more sociable sojourn.
9. Live like a local
Pop out for croissants for breakfast, pick up fresh ingredients for lunch at the market, and enjoy life as a local.
10. Freedom
Above all, choosing self-catering for your next trip gives you the freedom to do what you like, when you like and where you like; something I’m sure we all look for in a holiday.
Lagrange Holidays offer a range of self-catering accommodation in the Pyrenees and Alps. France’s mountains are a great destination for an active, yet relaxing holiday. Whereas during winter the most obvious pursuit in the Pyrenees and Alps is skiing (with last season seeing some of the best snow conditions ever experienced), the activities on offer during summer are wide-ranging and varied – walking, climbing, mountain-biking, horse-riding, paragliding and relaxing in the many spa centres, to name but a few. See www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk.
Author: Matt Richardson
Date: 28 May 2009
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