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Less is More: Barefoot Luxury in Puerto Viejo, Caribbean coast of Costa Rica

Arrecife Beach, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Off the beaten path travel story

So you’re dreaming of getting off the beaten path and forgetting all the trivialities of daily life… it’s time to leave the alarm clock at home along with your shoes, appointments and obligations.

You’re searching for a place where you can truly relax, leave your watch behind and call time your own. You need some natural beauty and wildlife, perhaps an adventure and you don’t want it manicured and presented on a plate.

Of course there’s myriad places to choose, with far too many websites promising you Paradise at a reasonable or even discounted price and you haven’t got the energy to trawl through and what’s more, are they selling what you’re looking for?

Is Puerto Viejo and its sister settlements of Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica the place for you?

Maybe…

If a golf course, pool aerobics, room service, shopping malls, theatre, or an all inclusive resort is your idea of the perfect holiday then read no further.

But if you’re looking for a small eclectic beach town laid out along a strip of coast where the rainforest meets the ocean, with an atmosphere so laid back you have no option but to relax and where there’s loads to see and do but also a string of beautiful beaches to do absolutely nothing on, this may be the place for you.

Traditional pareos for sale at the beach in Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is not for everyone… there’s a lot of things that it doesn’t have… like the ubiquitous chain restaurants and shops, theatre, cinema, ancient sites and all inclusive resorts.

You may have seen the traditional description of this area with photos of picture postcard beaches of white sand and leaning palm trees, houses in rainbow colours, Afro Caribbean cuisine, restaurants catering to every taste, howler monkeys hanging around in the trees and a sloth casually crossing the road.

And possibly you’ve checked out the smorgasbord of activities and trips on offer from the popular zip-lining through the rainforest canopy to surfing, white water rafting, diving, snorkeling fishing and dolphin watching to organic chocolate tours, Caribbean cooking classes, jungle or beach horseback riding to indigenous tribal visits and so the list goes on.

All in all it paints a pretty attractive picture especially when you add the wonderful wildlife spotting of laying leather-back turtles, huge iridescent blue Morpho butterflies, disguised iguanas, technicolor toucans, neon dart frogs, speedy agoutis and fishing pelicans alongside the famous smiling sloths and swinging monkeys.

So is it ‘just’ this Caribbean menu that brings visitors back again and again, even those that have sworn to never revisit the same place twice because their Bucket List awaits?

Maybe…

But maybe it’s all of the above plus something less tangible. After all there are other places in the world that also offer the visitor a menu of entertaining diversions, a glimpse into another way of life and a chance to indulge a Caribbean fantasy.

Puerto Viejo and the surrounding area offer something more that resonates not only with locals and the 46 nationalities that call here home, but also with the most casual of visitors.

Perhaps we could call that ‘extra something’ the sophistication of simplicity.

Imagine a place where many of the superficial pretentious trappings of modern life are stripped away: Where the type of car you drive, the fancy clothing, the type of phone, the size of your house or TV screen or the title you hold at work becomes totally irrelevant.

Where you are simply you.

Where nature is not something you go and visit, but something you live within and are part of. Remember looking up at a sky full of stars and feeling infinitesimal in comparison? In that moment we are aware of the power of nature and our place within it.

But the 24/7 world dampens that perception by assigning a place for nature and controlling it, which is probably why so many of us take every chance to escape the frenetic complications of modern life to something simpler, something natural, something that isn’t man made but real.

So is Puerto Viejo all about getting back to nature and relinquishing all your worldly goods?

No, it’s about remembering what it is to derive pleasure from simplicity which affects us all on a deeper level than the often superficial, fleeting pleasure of packaged entertainment. It’s the difference between the thrill of surprise at coming across a troupe of Howler Monkeys as you walk along the beach as opposed to seeing them in a zoo.

It’s going to sleep to the sound of cicadas rather than traffic. It’s lying on pale sand with a fish taco whilst watching pelicans swooping and diving for their fish lunch.

It’s sometimes not being able to get everything you want but having to make do and in so doing finding satisfaction in the same.

Less is more

We are creative creatures: the more we have delivered without effort, the more entitled we feel and the more bored and demanding we can become. We derive satisfaction from effort and the more developed our world becomes the more we seek the simple pleasures and the rewards they bring.

In that simplicity is the sophistication of perspective. It’s simple wisdom that Puerto Viejo and its sister settlements have in spades: essentially that those quasi sophisticated possessions and preoccupations are nigh meaningless in a natural habitat.

That Less is More.

Someone who has never been here recently asked me,

“So, I’m confused, is Puerto Viejo developed or under developed?”

The answer Vadim, is both.

Under-developed in gaudy consumerism, pretensions, entitlement and predictability.

Highly Developed in simple pleasures, which I would argue is the ultimate in sophistication.

Less is More. But don’t take my word for it:

Come and see for yourself

Category:

Beach, Costa Rica, Destinations, getaways, local perspective, surfing, travel, Traveler Destinations, Traveler Tips, vacation rentals, Vacation Rentals By Owner

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Which Type Of Traveler Are You?

You probably don’t know it, but the type of tourist you are has a huge influence on the type of travel you indulge yourself in. Don’t worry, however, for there is some science behind it. You won’t merely be lumped into a category where you’re a ‘lazy tourist’ or the equivalent of a ‘Little Englander,’ dependent on where it is you are from.

What can the type of tourist you are have an impact on?

Where you choose to go on holiday
The type of accommodation you choose to stay in
What you do when you go on holiday
The people you travel with
How you eat and behave when you’re in a destination

Influencing Your Tourism Habits

At the same time, a range of factors can influence the type of tourist you want to or are able to be. These might include

Your income
Your personal circumstances in terms of relationship and family status
Where you live
Your personal hobbies and interests
Your holiday budget

While these can all be an influence, nothing can prevent you from being the tourist you want to be.

Does it Matter?

While what a person does concerning their holiday might seem to be irrelevant, the modern, connected world in which we live means that it is of more importance than ever before. It only takes one tweet or Google+ update to show the world what you’re doing, and tour operators are using this activity like never before, as well as encouraging travellers to do the same.

It sounds extreme, but the type of tourist you are can have an impact on economies, future travel trends, and the way in which people living in a popular resort view those from a particular country or geographic area. Thinking back to earlier, the term ‘Little Englander’ did not originate from an accident one day!

We also have to consider the ways in which resorts set up and market themselves. Places don’t just throw open their doors and wait for people to arrive. Everything they do is designed to attract a specific type of traveller, and they know exactly what to do in order to fulfil the travel needs and requirements of holidaymakers in every group.

Finding Yourself

Which type of tourist are you? We explored 15 different descriptions that were identified in a 1992 study, what they mean, and where the best places on Earth are to indulge in this manner of travel.

Be warned: You might not like the group you fit into, although it might motivate you to rethink your own holiday attitudes and behaviours, or give you an idea for a great holiday in the near future.

Sun Worshipper

We expect that most people will be able to relate to this type of tourism. After all, despite sweeping changes in the industry and the attitudes of travellers, large numbers of people still decide to take a holiday in a particular destination because the sun will be shining most of the time.

The sun worshipper follows a very particular pattern of behaviour during a holiday; they are the people that you see relaxing around the pool from dawn until dusk, and on the days they do move it is only down to the beach where they follow a similar pattern of inactivity.

Places to Visit: The beauty of being this type of tourist is that you can almost look at a world map and point to any country that has the climate you’re looking for. Depending on where you are in the world, it might not be necessary to spend a lot of money if all you’re seeking from a trip is the sun.

Consider Mexico, the northern coast of Brazil, and places around the Mediterranean, including politically stable nations in North Africa.

Action Seeker

This probably isn’t going to be the description you expect to find under this banner. No, an action seeker is not someone who loves an adventure holiday or heads off looking for extreme sports, although we will get to that later.

An action seeker is the tourist who heads to a resort and becomes an all-out reveller, looking for the parties that are taking place around a locality, the best nightclubs, and organized events such as bar crawls and booze cruises. Throw in a very liberal attitude towards sex and drugs and you won’t be far away from the perfect fit when it comes to this description.

Places to Visit: We’re not about to feel like we’re naming and shaming any resort or country, and the last thing we would want is to upset a national embassy or tourist board and have ourselves blacklisted for life.

If you fit into this category yourself, you know the type of places we’re talking about. If, for some reason, you’re planning to be an action seeker, then a quick Google search will likely show you the best places to go.

Anthropologist

Admittedly, this sounds like we’re starting to get a little deep, thus moving perhaps from one extreme to the other. However, being an anthropologist doesn’t mean you have to have an impressive degree or any other qualification.

Rather, a tourist anthropologist is a person who takes themselves off to various locations around the world and immerses themselves in their destination. This tourist is probably the most likely to reject anything that is on offer from their homeland, and try out local cuisine, pastimes, and spend time within the community getting to know the people, and maybe even getting involved with farm work, fishing, or other traditional roles. An anthropologist is also likely to stay in a guest house or bed and breakfast facility, rather than an ‘all mod cons’ hotel or apartment complex.

J'irais dormir chez vous / I am going to stay at your place

Photo credit: Antoine de Maximy jiraidormirchezvous.com

Places to Visit: Three locations around the world really stand out for us in this respect. The Greek Islands is the first. Clearly, you need to avoid the islands that are known for sun and action seekers – no, we’re not naming them – and head to the smaller locations that are perhaps not even well known for tourism.

East Africa would be our second option, with community programs often operating in countries such as Tanzania and Kenya, where you can actually go and live in a village undergoing development and have some input yourself. Finally, consider the Patagonia region of South America. This area is very remote, but home to some great communities as well as simply stunning landscape.

Archaeologist

Do we mean there is a type of tourist casually travelling the world, seeking fields and other open spaces so that they can try to dig up dinosaur fossils and discover hidden villages? Unfortunately, it doesn’t get that exciting, but you wouldn’t be a million miles away from the correct answer.

This is one of the simplest definitions to understand. It relates to people who love to visit museums and historic sites, and will choose a destination specifically with that in mind.

Places to Visit: Many places across the world have a rich history, so it really depends on your own interests and on what you are looking for. If historic ruins are what motivate you to get on an aeroplane, then Rome and Athens are two great cities to target.

For lovers of monuments and temples, the South East of Asia and countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam are excellent locations, while for those seeking outdoor history and heritage, the Aboriginal areas of Australia are must visit.

Mass Tourist

If you feel that your holidays are stuck in a rut, then the chances are that you find yourself firmly in the ‘mass tourist’ category. This person perhaps closely relates to the sun worshipper or action seeker, but is more likely to be someone who travels with their families and younger children.

The mass tourist books their holidays at the travel agency, picking out the best picture from the collection of ‘Summer Sun’ brochures on the shelf, and indulging themselves in tour operator excursions and the buying of souvenirs – some might say tacky ones – during their trip.

Places to Visit: We were tempted to label this one places to avoid, but if you’re a person who enjoys a traditional ‘tourist holiday,’ there are many great locations around the world to head, depending on your current location and budget.

Thrill Seeker

We promised you we would get onto looking at extreme sports, and now we have the real definition of what many would term an action seeker. This type of holiday goes far beyond mere action, and can range from a 100 miles an hour adrenaline rush down a mountain to discovering some of the most unique and exciting wildlife anywhere in the world.

Thrill seekers are more likely to book an adventure holiday, following adrenaline-fuelled pursuits such as skydiving and abseiling, but you can also group those who look for a diverse mixture of travel activities into this category. These travellers choose holidays specifically because of the adventure element; this is not your tourist who arrives in a country, sees something exciting, and decides “I’d love to try that.”

Places to Visit: This depends completely on what your interests are and what you’re looking to do on holiday. However, countries such as Australia and New Zealand offer a diverse range of options, and the varying terrain found across these nations means that you can do almost anything, from wakeboarding and swimming with sharks in the water to skiing and snowboarding down towering peaks.

That said, those countries can be expensive to get to, so if you’re on a tighter budget, you will have options elsewhere; almost every country has something to offer a thrill-seeker.

Explorer

More than just enjoying discovering new locations, an Explorer embraces the challenge that can often come with travelling to such locations. Someone who loves backpacking holidays, for example, would be the perfect candidate for this category.

Explorers follow a range of holiday plans; they might have a pre-determined route or an itinerary, or they could ensure that they have enough money and an idea of hostels and places to stay, and then improvise as they go along.

Places to Visit: South East Asia is the modern day explorer and backpackers’ paradise. As well as having a hot climate and some stunning places to see and visit, getting around the region is extremely cheap, making it a potential holiday opportunity for everyone.

A little to the south, Australia is also a great place for exploring, and with emerging tourist trends there such as relocation campervans available to hire, getting around doesn’t have to cost a fortune there, either.

Jetsetter

If there is a type of tourist that is more aspirational than the others, then you would have to argue that it is this one. However, it can have the most barriers in terms of inclusion, as you often need a considerable level of finance behind you to be a jet set traveller.

Many people would consider a jet set traveller to be someone who bounces from place to place quickly, and while there is perhaps an element of truth to that, our definition focusses more on those who love to travel to and stay in the most luxurious resorts around the world, dining in high class restaurants, and partying in exclusive bars. They may also actively seek out the company of celebrities or others who have a similar budget or lifestyle.

Places to Visit: Think about the most exclusive places in the world, such as St. Tropez and Monte Carlo, and you’re onto the right line of thinking for a jet set traveller. However, there are notable locations around the world with a high concentration of luxury places to eat, drink, and stay. Our choices would be Sydney, Singapore, Tokyo, Paris, and New York City.

Seeker

What are you looking for from your holiday? If you’re a seeker, then your purpose goes way beyond your holiday, and extends to life in general. Yes, we’re starting to get deep again, but many people take a holiday in order to ‘find themselves’ or challenge what they already know about the world.

You might not have been a seeker when you first made a trip, but experiences as an anthropologist or an explorer could have turned you into one. To truly find yourself and qualify the way you feel about life in general, it is usually best to travel to diverse destinations where you can find contrasts of rich and poor, and where these different levels of culture clash.

Places to Visit: With that last sentence in mind, the three obvious locations someone who knows they’re a seeker should consider are Brazil, South Africa, and India. Peaceful places where you will find time to relax and reflect, such as Nepal or Tibet, are also be worth considering.

All of these will offer you great variety in terms of the things you see and the people you meet. Cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg, and Mumbai, are all well-known – or notorious – for being places where you can experience wild riches in one location, and encounter extreme poverty just a matter of metres away.

Independent Tourist

We really don’t understand the stigma attached to doing things independently. Some people believe that ‘going solo’ is weird; we just think it is a great way to do your own thing and meet new people without having to worry about what anyone else wants to do. Independent tourism is ‘me time’ at its best.

This person does their own thing, and they will usually spend some time travelling popular resorts and destinations.

Places to Visit: Anywhere you want to go is really the answer here, although we would recommend you check travel advice and guidance for people travelling alone in certain areas, such as the Middle East and India, for example.

High End Tourist

We won’t dwell on this point too much, as there are several similarities with the jetsetter. The big difference is that the high-end tourist is less ‘in your face’ about where they go, and enjoy the time spent in the destination for what it is.

This tourist is also more likely to be with their family, and looking for an altogether more rounded experience.

Places to Visit: The same as the jetsetter, but visiting hotels and restaurants that are classy and high-end without having an exclusive or elite label.

Drifter

Is this a type of tourism or is it a way of life? The reality is that it can easily describe both, however it is how one becomes a drifter that is perhaps most intriguing, because we can almost guarantee you won’t set out to be one.

How do you become a drifter? Generally, a drifter is an explorer or seeker, who finds themselves immersed in life wherever they have travelled to, and tends to stay there for an extended period, while occasionally moving from place to place. Drifters can make their money from short-term jobs such as bar work or helping out on a farm.

Places to Visit: As we said, it is unlikely you will set out to become a drifter, but you are most likely to do so in the popular explorer and backpacker locations we mentioned earlier, specifically South East Asia, owing to the relaxed way of life and considering how cheap it can be to get by.

Escapist

You can perhaps be an escapist while fitting into many of the tourist categories we have already explored. We often say that a holiday is out opportunity to ‘escape from it all.’ An escapist embraces this fully, heading to remote destinations where they can relax in a peaceful surround, be it a quiet village, a beach hut, or somewhere in the countryside.

Places to Visit: This one comes down to your own personal choice. If we started listing places now, everyone would head there and it would defeat the purpose of wanting to escape!

Sports Tourist

If you are someone who heads off on holiday to go cycling, meet other groups from around the world to play football, or head off with friends to play golf, then you are an all-out sports tourist.

Places to Visit: Anywhere with a reputation for great golf courses is worth visiting. The Caribbean is filled with beautiful resorts, as is Portugal and the south of Australia – Adelaide and Melbourne, in particular, are golf hot spots Down Under.

Educational Tourist

The academics amongst us will often take an educational holiday. This type of tourism often follows a person who has previously been an anthropologist or archaeologist, and can be used to describe a person either looking to learn a language, understand a culture, or discover why a particular place is the way it is.

Places to Visit: Anywhere you have an interest in and want to learn about!

Your Next Steps

Now that you know the type of tourist you are, or the type you would like to become, it is the perfect time to think about where you want to go on your next holiday.

Use our suggestions of places to visit, or perhaps think of your own based on the category you want to fall into, and explore the possibilities available. If you’re a different type of tourist from the one you thought you’d be, and feel you’re missing out on certain opportunities, then fear not, for you have time to put that right.

This article was contributed by Rob who is a keen traveler having a lot of fun and still trying to work out which type of tourist he is. This year, he plans to become an explorer, travelling across Australia and New Zealand with hired relocation campervans to take in the beauty and majesty of those two countries.

Category:

Australia, Destinations, getaways, holidays, New Zealand, travel, Traveler Destinations, Traveler Tips, Vacation Rentals for Owners

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Why They Keep Finding New Awards To Give The Hudson Valley

We’re on a roll ’round this river: the awards keep on comin’

The Kelder's Farm Gnome overlooked by the Shawangunk Mountains

The Kelder’s Farm Gnome was named the Worlds Largest Garden Gnome in the Guinness Book of World Records 2009

Winning raves is nothing new around here. Hardly a year goes by without some form of attention being paid, whether it’s our state university branch getting notorious in High Times as a top ten countercultural college or ranking on the U.S. News and World Report’s 2012 America’s Best Colleges guide as a great regional university, some hip travel publication waxing ecstatic about the delights of Phoenicia, or the young mayor of New Paltz being proclaimed one of the sexiest men alive in the wake of his 2004 arrest. We’re forever being rediscovered: Woodstock as the un-Hamptons! Rosendale as the New Brooklyn!

Beautiful Two-bedroom, two-bath “Waterfall” house in Palenville, N.Y., in Greene County, near Woodstock

But lately it’s gotten almost embarrassing. In rapid succession, we’ve been “discovered” by the AARP as a “great quirky place to retire,” lauded by Lonely Planet, and had one of our highways singled out by Jesse McKinley of the New York Times as “beautiful and powerful, an open secret known to locals and those willing to take the long way around.”

There are more, but you get the idea. My home town- Ulster County, the Hudson River Valley and Catskill Mountains of New York- is one fantastic place to visit and/or live. Well, a lot of us knew that. It’s nice to hear, though, and the citizenry have responded by continuing to up the ante. Just last week, 2,569 of my neighbors got together and broke the world record for the world’s largest line dance.

Alright, so it was a “simple four step variation” on the Hokey Pokey that bested the record from Estonia, not a ballet or even the Electric Slide. You might think, well, that certainly established the quirky part if nothing else. Further investigation, though, reveals that this feat was accomplished atop the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge. Oh, and on June 30 they’re having a fine art auction.

Not, mind you, that we locals wander around in a constant state of euphoric self-congratulation. This is New York State, U.S.A., 2012, and we struggle with the socioeconomic and daily life stuff just like anybody anywhere. It’s easy for some travel writer to pop in, catch a hot jam at some music venue, maybe play a round of miniature golf under the gigantic garden gnome (see top photo), eyeball some scenery or a gallery and think they’ve got the picture.

Folks, it ain’t that great.

Rosendale peace sign

It’s better. From the first capitol of New York State, burnt to the ground by the British in the Revolutionary War (General Burgoyne considered it a nest of vipers and scoundrels) and now home to an awesome arts festival full of grass roots health care activism and a thriving social club/business alliance for creative techies, to the mountain dell where tiny, frequently-flooded Phoenicia hosts world-class opera, from our assorted downtowns full of businesses as unique as thumb prints to the apex of the cliff faces National Geographic raves about in naming New Paltz a top adventure town, we got it going on.

This is not to deny that Burgoyne had a point. In the cradle of United States history, corruption and infamy are as practiced as any other art. We have property tax battles, noisy arguments and police blotters full of sadness and silliness like anywhere else.

Drawn not least by the nature, the Woodstock music festival, and the quirky people, waves of counter-cultural youth discover the Hudson Valley each year.

But if I had to reach for one main thing that singles out my little corner of the world, it would be the way we work together. Everybody’s heard of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, which famously did not happen in Woodstock. What did happen in Woodstock was that about eight zillion young longhairs showed up looking for the festival. A lot of places would have dug a moat and manned the barricades, beefed up law enforcement, and squashed that right quick.

But this was the settled arts colony of Woodstock, New York, and the grownups opened their hearts and wallets and in some cases homes, and the impromptu network that resulted has grown into a comprehensive human services organization that offers help with “any problem under the sun” and comes through on it. (Bethel, where the festival actually took place, can have the museum, although I hear it’s very nice.)

I could go on and on about our foodies and farms and wineries, our festivities and cleverness, but I am hoping this gives you a taste. The recipe for award winning takes in all of the above, but the secret ingredient would have to be the spirit of collaboration. For most folks around here, it’s not about “We’ve got a problem; who can we blame?” It’s “We’ve got a problem? What kind of a solution can we create together?”

Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge in New York State

Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park was the scene of the Guinness Book of World Record with 2,500 people dancing the Hokey Pokey in a line for five minutes

This in turn creates an atmosphere in which every species of creative dream, be it a business, an event, a political endeavor, a giant line dance or what have you, can thrive and does. Our hills are as high and our river as deep as your dreams. And if you’re looking for a journey that will stimulate and satisfy, or a home where you can be absolutely whoever you really are, you are hereby invited to venture up the river from Manhattan and see for yourself.

Do you live in a world class place? Tell me about it! I’m bragging, I confess. But in the spirit of my Hudson Valley home, I have been educated to maintain an open mind.

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For more great information about the Hudson Valley, check out the excellent local publications and websites below:

Chronogram magazine
http://www.chronogram.com
Chronogram’s Community Pages offer town-by-town guides to the region
Ulster Publishing Almanac
http://www.hudsonvalleyalmanacweekly.com
Ulster Publishing’s Almanac, a guide to arts, events and entertainment
Watershed Post
http://www.watershedpost.com
The Watershed Post features news and events from the Catskills
Visit Vortex
http://www.visitvortex.com
“Your guide to the great people and places of the Hudson Valley.” Video tours of area attractions.
Hudson Valley Weddings
http://www.hudsonvalleyweddings.com
All about wedding planning in the HV. Hey, it was good enough for Chelsea Clinton
Historic Hudson Valley
http://www.hudsonvalley.org
Tour our great estates and historic attractions
Ulster County Tourism
http://www.ulstertourism.info
Ulster County’s official tourism website

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Anne Pyburn Craig has lived all over the area she describes, from the banks of the mighty Hudson to the Catskills High Peaks. She is a writer and mother of three wise children.

Category:

Destinations, local perspective, New York City, travel, Traveler Tips, vacation rentals

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Why you should visit Alabama

I’ve got some sort of fascination with Alabama. I’m not sure what it is that makes me crave this Southern lifestyle, and I’m not sure why I honed in specifically on Alabama. But I did. And now it’s become so much of a preoccupation that I plan on spending next Thanksgiving somewhere in Alabama, possibly pretending I’m an Azalea girl – those Southern Belles.

There’s a lot more to Alabama than you may realize, and there is certainly a reason it has been referred to as ‘Alabama the Beautiful’ (Don’t believe me? Check out the photo below!) Alabama has stunning sandy beaches, serene mountain lakes, breathtaking waterfalls and sprawling plains. There are museums, historic sites, Mardi Gras celebrations and Shakespeare performances that will blow your mind.

If I’ve not yet convinced you to give Alabama a chance, do read on…

Civil Rights History

Okay, so we all know how important the civil rights history of America is. Hey, I learned about it all through my schooling years in New Zealand, therefore it’s got to be important! Alabama was where much of the Civil Rights Movement begun. It’s where Martin Luther King Jr. began his campaigns; it’s where Rosa Parks sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and it is where the Selma to Montgomery March took place. With all these historical events that took place here, it’s no wonder the State is filled with Civil Rights museums, tours and memorials. In Selma you can take part in the annual bridge crossing to commemorate the 165 protest march, you can tour the National Voting Rights Museum and the Brown Chapel where Martin Luther King Jr launched the voting rights movement.

In Montgomery, the state capital you can immerse yourselves in the stories of the activists at the Civil Rights Memorial Center. You can tour the State Capitol building, The Rosa Parks Museum, Martin Luther King’s home during the Civil Rights Movement, and the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor. Tuskegee and Birmingham also have numerous memorials and museums including the jail cell Martin Luther King Jr. was held in when he wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”

While you’re in the history mode, why not check out some of the other historical sites around the state? Alabama Constitution Village in Huntsville is a great place to visit to understand what a working village was like in the early 1800’s. They have a confectionary shop, a bakery with freshly baked bread being prepared over an open fire, post office, print shop and cabinetmaker’s shop. You can even watch the villagers busy on their daily tasks. While you’re in Huntsville be sure to check out the Twickenham Historic District and Guided Walking Tour. Twickenham is Alabama’s largest antebellum district. It features houses in the Federal, Italianate, classical and Greek revival architectural style. Some of the homes in the district are open to the public as house museums.

Image from Wikipedia

Water Activities

Southern Alabama is placed immediately beside the water with 50 miles of sparkling Gulf Coast Shoreline. Throughout the state, there is also 77,000 miles of rivers, streams and lakes for canoeing, boating, fishing and swimming. Along with the crystal colored-ocean and golden beaches along the Gulf Shores, Alabama is also home to a number of waterparks including Waterville U.S.A, The Wharf, Water World and Alabama Adventure. Dauphin Island is only a 50 minute drive from Mobile and is a stunning location for vacationing or even for a day trip.

Natural Wonders

Photographs do not do justice to the natural beauty of Alabama and there are numerous ways you can enjoy these natural wonders for yourself. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur is home to many different species of fish, amphibians and reptiles, songbirds and mammals. Ten species housed within the refuge are listed as endangered or threatened species. This is a great area to explore if you’re looking to get amongst nature and witness some of Mother Nature’s breathtaking beauty.

Image from Wikipedia

Of course, the Wildlife Refuge is not the only place in Alabama capable of making a nature lover sigh in amazement. Desoto State Park offers incredible views of rivers, mountains and waterfalls, Weeks Bay Reserve near Mobile offers a true look into the scenery around Alabama, Noccalula Falls park features a botanical garden, 100-foot waterfalls, numerous hiking trails and includes a pioneer village which is fascinating for anyone who, like me, is interested in history.

While you’re exploring Alabama’s natural wonders, take a scenic drive through Talladega. It only takes an hour and covers 26 miles but the beauty of the Appalachian foothills is something you won’t forget in a hurry.

Something a bit different

Like anywhere you visit, Alabama has some unique, one-of-a-kind experience attractions that are well worth a visit. If you happen to pass through Scottsboro in Northern Alabama, be sure to stop by the Unclaimed Baggage Center. This is the place where all the contents of lost luggage turns up after no one claims it. Here you can find everything from clothing, electronics, jewelry, musical instruments and whatever little knick-knacks travelers carry on their adventures.

If you want something truly different, check out the Boll Weevil Monument in Enterprise. Alabama is the only state in America that has a monument dedicated to a pest. The Boll Weevil’s are the insects that killed off the cotton industry. So why celebrate it? Losing the cotton industry meant farmers had to look for a new way to make their money and resulted in them planting more profitable crops.

If you’re down Mobile way, be sure to check out the USS Alabama Battleship. The area has been made into a memorial park and you are able to walk the decks of the battleship, explore a World War II submarine, check out combat aircrafts, an original plane used by the Tuskegee Airmen, see tanks and visit a Vietnam River Patrol Boat. For a war geek like myself, this is the kind of place I could truly spend hours.

Photo from Wikipedia

Mardi Gras

This is pretty self-explanatory. If you like to party make sure you check out Mobile. Mobile is known as celebrating the first American Mardi Gras in 1703. To date the celebrations lasts for almost three weeks. The streets are filled with the sound of marching bands, bright-colored floats and plenty of masked revelers wearing satin and sequins. Mobile is home to America’s Family Mardi Gras making it a great place to celebrate with the whole family.

Mardi Gras is a major holiday in parts of Europe, so when Mobile was populated by a French colony they decided to observe their traditional holiday beginning a tradition which continues all over America to date. It wasn’t until over 100 years later in 1857 when some members of the Mobile community travelled to New Orleans and helped with the formation of their Mardi Gras society. The Civil War brought the celebrations to an end in Mobile, and the city was discouraged. It wasn’t until 1866 that one man decided to raise the spirits of the citizens of Mobile. He dressed up and decorated a coal wagon before holding a one float parade through the streets of Mobile. Naturally, the citizens were excited and Mardi Gras was reborn. This man, Joe Cain, now has his own remembrance day, which is also known as ‘the people’s day’ and falls just before Ash Wednesday. On this day the people of Mobile participate in the Joe Cain Procession and parade and celebrate the man who revived the spirit of Mobile.

With this history in mind, be sure to check out the Mobile City’s Mardi Gras celebration schedules and plan you’re next trip to Alabama to join in the festivities!

As you can see, there is a lot more to Alabama than you may first realize, and I’ve only grazed the surface! There is a rich Southern history in this state which needs to be experienced. The food is exceptional, the scenery is breathtaking, and the attractions and unique and fun to experience. Each town in Alabama offers something a little different, but whatever your preferences, be it nature, history, partying, eating, or spending time at the beach, you’ll find it in Alabama the Beautiful.

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travel, Traveler Destinations, Traveler Tips

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A helping hand…or note

Over the New Year’s weekend a friend of mine organized a getaway to the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania. I have been there multiple times and it never gets old–fresh air, friendly people, blue skies, beautiful nature. What an excellent way to get away from our ordinary lives in the busy metropolis. There were 10 of us, including 3 restless children. When you go with a group like that, a vacation home is just no comparison to any other option available. So we rented a house–a beautiful three story house, open and closed terraces with three different types of grills, a lake view, and a fireplace to boot! That would be enough to please most people. However, the owner realized that a house that accommodates this many people would require leisure activities readily available. So they converted the garage into a game room–ping ping table, pool table, darts. Mini basketball hoops with 2 score counters side-by-side provided some healthy competition. My top score was 87 points in 30 seconds. I do have to admit, scoring was a little weird, but for the sake of argument let’s assume it was legitimate

As soon as I came into the house, I noticed index cards everywhere–attached to the fridge, walls, kitchen cabinets, and electronic devices. As I started reading them I realized what a brilliant idea it was–these index cards gave very brief, concrete instructions related to various aspects of living in the house. For example, since I’ve always lived in an apartment, I never knew what was required for an operational fireplace (don’t laugh at me, I feel bad enough already). A little index card explained that in order to use the fireplace I would need to open the chimney. It may sound trivial to you, but I didn’t realize that the chimney would need to be opened. I assumed it would just be ready for me. Chances are that I would have just started burning wood with the assumption that everything was already done for me.

The homeowner predicated this practice on the notion that all kinds of people would visit and that these notes would be helpful. Other cards talked about the electricity, the boiler, and other essential parts of a comfortable stay. One thing I would recommend to the owners is to make the index cards a bit more inviting. The house was so beautiful but I felt that the white index cards took away a little bit of charm from the atmosphere. Perhaps a simple paper frame would do the trick. Either way, these notes are a much more direct way to get people’s attention than a lengthy manual. Or if you do opt for a manual perhaps it could have pictures. I always love to look at furniture assembly instruction that have some stick figures.… But that may be too much.

Have you noticed any interesting ways that homeowners communicate important messages that have made your stay a little easier? Or, if you’re a homeowner, do you have any tips to share?

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Homeowners Guide, vacation rental advice, vacation rentals, Vacation Rentals for Owners, What's New?

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Vacation Rentals vs Hotels 5:0

The benefits of Vacation Rentals are quickly converting those who in the past would have resorted to a hotel room for their accommodation. With good reason. Vacation Rentals offer enormous value to the dollar. Homes provide more space and privacy—a hotel of the same size is often pricier with fewer attractions. In a home, for example, you can prepare a meal using a full kitchen and grill. You may opt to eat in the dining room or step outside and enjoy your meal in the fresh air. Instead of the dormitory style accommodations found in many hotels, Vacation Rentals give you a familial communal area, more bathrooms, laundry rooms, and countless amenities such as your own patio, pool, fireplace and yard. Vacation Rentals can be conveniently found in travel destinations, resort towns, and cultural centers across the world.

Here are five reasons to book a vacation rental on your next trip:

1) Personal space and privacy
Even the smallest Vacation Homes are often much larger than your average hotel room. It is the perfect choice for families, groups of friends, or a romantic getaway for two.

2) Vacation homes offer a cornucopia of benefits.
Think flexible check-in/check-out times, personal amenities such as swimming pools, yards, patios, bicycles for cruising around town, boats and fishing gear, full-kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, laundry-rooms, living rooms, and state-of-the art entertainment systems. Sometimes a vacation rental includes country-club access. You’ll be surprised by all the luxurious amenities included.

3) Ambiance
Hotels are often bemoaned as compartmentalized, corporate owned units in sterile environments. Disgruntled guests come away feeling that they’ve only paid for the convenience of having four walls, a bed, and a bathroom. Vacation Rentals, on the other hand, often provide family owned accommodations that make you feel right at home. You’ll be doing business with an individual who likely knows the area well, and staying in their home will give you some local flavor. Most homeowners are very friendly and welcoming. They want you to have a successful trip, and will likely go out of their way to make your stay smooth and enjoyable.

4) Pet friendly properties.
You can find dog and cat friendly accommodations which permit your four-legged companions to join you for a true family vacation. You can choose from great activities for dogs–such as hiking, biking (your dogs can run along), sledding, and cross-country skiing.

5) Vacation destination!
Vacation Rentals can be found in virtually all tourist destinations, as well as special locales off the beaten path, whether they be ski resorts, beach houses, mountain cabins, lake front cottages, resort condominiums, or luxury villas.

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Homeowners Guide, Marketing Tips, Traveler Destinations, Traveler Tips, vacation rental advice

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Traveler Orientation!

Welcome fresh Rentinier!

If you are planning a vacation, one of your first questions these days is, Which accommodation should I choose? Should I stay in a Hotel or try a Vacation Rental? The answer to this depends entirely on you and what you want. In order to help sort out what’s right for you, we’ve written up a few of the pros and cons of each. Our goal isn’t to be impartial. Rather, we just want to give some credit to each side of the “divide”.

A Resort Hotel or a Vacation Rental?

On the one hand, Vacation Rentals naturally tend to feel homier than hotels. Given that a rental often has the luxuries of a home, such as an entertainment system complete with a collection of films, music, video games, board games, and reading materials, many people find it easier to settle in to a rental. Space is a biggie, too. Instead of booking multiple rooms ,a rental will have the openness and connectedness of a home where everyone hastheir space, including the common area and yard. In fact, the great advantage of vacation homes is that they tend to have more room than hotels. This is partly why so many people swear by the value of a vacation home. For families, groups, and couples, the vacation home is often exactly what they want.

On the other hand, many hotels offer services that aren’t typically included in arental. While some vacation homes include a concierge on duty, a daily cleaner, room service, a driver, and other outside services, these are more commonly found within the realm of resort hotels. Many people enjoy the freedom and ability to prepare a meal using the full-kitchen and grill at a rental; others may prefer to have a professional cater meals to them.

If youprefer personnel at your service, a resort hotel might be right for you. You spend your life at home doing chores, minding your own business,having everything catered to you just might be the break you’re looking for. Many luxury hotels typically have a fitness room, spas and pools,restaurants, stores, information desks, and plenty of staff available. Some even have nannies, cigar rooms, and a host of other services. Think the full package deal whereby you can go and choose what you wantand when you want it. Tourist activities are on call.

This is great, you say. At a hotel, a cleaner will come in, change my sheets, andmake my bed every morning! While it is nice having a change of sheets and fresh towels everyday, this luxury has a hidden cost. And it isn’t exactly good for the environment, either. Hotel washing machines are often perpetually in motion, utilizing precious resources like water and electricity. At a vacation rental, you can decide how your bed looks. There are usually spare sheets and extra towels there anyway. But if need be, you can always wash sheets and towels along with your clothes in the laundry room.

Vacation rentals are often private, do-it-yourself affairs. If you want to get all the services of a luxury resort hotel, a little more planning is necessary.

True, many vacation homes also have pools. Some include country-club access. On Rentini, you’re told up front what amenities are included and what activities are “nearby” that you can access on your own. We like to think of it as empowering the individual — you — to search and select what you want.

You have the freedom of choice, the ability to decide for yourself, on your own terms. If you want to throw a little gathering, you can do so. In the end, you’ll likely end up saving more than if you had chosen a luxury hotel.

Vacation rentals also have the added cache of getting some local flavor. You’ll likely be staying in a family-owned home instead of a corporate-owned hotel. The decor will reflect the individuality and personality of the owners aswell as local ambiance. At a rental, you can bring your whole family, ora group of friends. Often, the pets can come too.

The decision is yours. At Rentini, we’re here to help you find what you’relooking for.

Best regards,
the people at Rentini

©RENTINI

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The Rentini blog is dedicated to providing useful and exciting insights into the world of travel. From exciting adventures in global travel to marketing tips for vacation rental owners, we want to help you travel as it's meant to be — easy, refreshing, and fun!

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