Once you’ve picked your dream vacation destination, the next thing to figure out is where you’re going to stay. At Emma Spencer Living, we believe that where you stay should be as memorable as where you go, which is why we provide a variety of unique lodging options for our guests. But what kind of accommodations are right for you and your family? What’s the difference between hotels, motels, inns, lodges, bed-and-breakfasts, and vacation home rentals? We know it can be confusing, so here’s the low-down on lodging:
Hotels vs. Motels
The word hotel was created in 1765 and was derived from a French term meaning a place that provides lodging, meals, and other amenities. The word motel, on the other hand, came about in 1925, a morph of the words motor and hotel. Motels began popping up along America’s roadways, offering a respite for tired motorists on vacation or traveling between cities. While they provided lodging, they were usually a lot smaller and didn’t usually provide all the extras of hotels.
Today, when planning a vacation, the typical American family will probably head to TripAdvisor, Expedia, or Hotels.com to book a traditional corporate hotel chain for their vacation. Why? Because there’s comfort in the familiar. It may not be spectacular, but at least it’s predictable. You know there’ll be a bed or two, a TV, a mini fridge, maybe a sitting area with a couch. In the common areas, they’ll probably be a restaurant and/or bar, workout facilities, a pool, and perhaps a spa. There are usually hundreds of rooms on multiple floors and you may even get a stellar view of whatever city or attraction you’re visiting. It’s nice. Maybe a bit expensive, but nice.
Nice, however, isn’t the word usually associated with motels. Motels get a bad rap for being low-brow and even cheap, and they’re often located in remote or even shady areas. Unlike hotels, they usually have only one or two levels, and rooms are typically accessed from the outside, not internally. In the movies, you might see someone on the run hiding out in a “sleaze-bag” motel. Some motels even charge by the hour or for afternoon “naps,” if you get my meaning.
Palm Springs Rendezvous
A Boutique Hotel
The Emma Spencer Living family of accommodations doesn’t feature any motels, but our boutique hotel, Palm Springs Rendezvous, has a few crossover features. With only one level and 10 guest rooms, one might initially assume the Rendezvous is a motel. But, we’re far from “sleaze-bag” and worlds away from shady. In fact, TripAdvisor named the Rendezvous 2015’s Number One small hotel in the entire US.
While we don’t have a full-service restaurant, we cook and provide a free daily three-course breakfast for our guests in the dining room/lounge. And there’s no bar, but we’ll make you cocktails and snacks every day at happy hour. Like most hotels, we have a pool and a bunch of value-added services, like massages by appointment and daily fresh-baked treats. Maybe we don’t have a “business center” per se, but there’s a computer in the lounge and we can print anything out that you may need. And although we don’t have an exercise room, there are free rental bikes and miles of hiking trails nearby. Each room has a mini-bar, but it’s nothing like what you get in a hotel. Ours is stocked with FREE beverages, yours for the taking, unlike the exorbitant markups you see at corporate big-name places.
Our rooms are modern and comfortable, like a nice hotel, but no two are alike. Each of our retro-inspired theme rooms are uniquely different and therefore a destination unto themselves. Above all, our personal customer service sets us apart. We don’t have hundreds or thousands of guests to attend to. We have ten when fully booked, and that means we get to know you by name, not by room number, and we’re at your beck-and-call if there’s anything you need. Another benefit is the ability to rent out the ENTIRE hotel for a party or special event. There’s no place like the Rendezvous—which is why we’re not just a hotel, we’re the country’s BEST small hotel!
Bed-and-Breakfasts, Inns, and Lodges
Since Palm Springs Rendezvous serves a free homemade breakfast, it has one of the key aspects of a bed-and-breakfast or inn. The difference, however, is that bed-and-breakfasts and inns are typically private homes or historic buildings that have been converted into guesthouses. The owner usually lives on site. An inn is similar to a b&b in that home-cooked breakfasts are part of the deal, but at an inn, dinner is also included.
Lodges are a bit like a hybrid of a luxury hotel and a bed-and-breakfast. They typically include a delicious morning meal and many hotel-style amenities. But they’re also more unique and laid-back, often in rural or rustic settings. Emma Spencer Living’s Volcano Village Lodge fits the bill perfectly. Located in the lush tropical rainforest of Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, it boasts luxurious and unique accommodations along with a stellar breakfast and low-key, personalized service. In lieu of the sterile, high-rise opulence of a luxury big-box hotel, our lodge is comprised of natural wood that blends beautifully with the natural surroundings. Guests of Volcano Village Lodge enjoy the serenity, seclusion, and privacy that the quaint, yet well-appointed lodge provides.
Vacation Homes
You don’t need a second mortgage to enjoy the benefits of a vacation home. Vacation home rental properties are one of the best options for family travel. Not only do private homes give you the benefit of space, comfort, and privacy, but they allow you to experience a destination the way a local does. Instead of being crammed into a cookie-cutter hotel room like all the other tourists in the area, you and your family can temporarily “live” in a neighborhood, away from the hustle and bustle of the visiting masses.
At vacation home rental properties, you’ll have living space, not just sleeping quarters. A full kitchen enables you to cook if you choose, a family room provides you with meeting and planning space, and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms provide you with the privacy and separation you need to keep everyone in the family happy and stress-free. On top of that, there’s usually an outdoor area, entertainment amenities, and other pluses like a private pool or Jacuzzi.
The Emma Spencer Living family of properties includes four private home rentals, three in Hawaii and one in Guatemala. In Oahu, we offer two houses in Kailua, a quaint beach town favored by Barack Obama and located just outside Honolulu. Kolea Estate features a unique layout with a large 3-bedroom main house and an adjoining pool house with 4 separate suites. With two kitchens, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and a fabulous pool and hot tub, this property is ideal for large families, multiple families, or reunions. Also in Kailua is Pineapple Ohana, a smaller, but equally impressive 3-bedroom home.
Traveling over to the Big Island of Hawaii, we’ve got 5th Street Ohana, a rainforest retreat home separated into two units that can be reserved separately or together for larger groups. In Guatemala, our stunning La Casa Colibri (pictured, right) is like nothing you’ve ever seen or experienced before. Situated on gorgeous Lake Atitlan, the multi-level home has five bedroom/suites, several terraces, and a stunning infinity pool, all designed to take in the views of the lake and volcanoes. There’s also a private cook and houseman available to attend to all your needs. Now that’s a vacation!
Choosing where and how you want to vacation isn’t always easy. There’s a whole world of options out there, which makes it both exciting and confusing. At Emma Spencer Living, we’ve done some of the legwork for you. We’ve purchased unique lodging experiences in tropical, unforgettable settings so you can’t go wrong.
