I know the majority of people look to escape to posh resorts and upscale boutique hotels as an ideal getaway destination. But I've always found those one-size-fits-all accomodations often create a disconnect between the city and traveler. What's the use of traveling all the way around the world to be surrounded by the very amenities and recognizable decor you can get at home?
Traveling to me has always been about making a home, albeit a temporary one, in the spirit of the country/city you're staying at however foreign. And for that, barring staying with a native friend or family, renting a vacation home is one of the best ways to experience a city/town's true charm and heartbeat without the artificial bubble a hotel creates.
I've been doing much the same the past couple years. With the internet at your fingertips (and craigslist a worldwide phenom), it's almost as easy to find such renatl opps as it is to hop on Expedia. The experience, though, is ten times more unique than staying in a generic shoebox in the heart of an otherwise picturesque city.
view d*r at glittersmog's profile