Never stay in a lousy hotel room again
by Neil P. Harkins With a cup of tea and marmalade-slathered toast, I relax on my balcony, draw in the cool fresh air, and gaze across the Isar River, beyond the meadows of wild flowers, at the snow-capped Bavarian Alps. Few hotels can boast this kind of atmosphere. But this is no hotel…it's a 600-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment, and costs about $60 a day from April to August. My furnished unit has a full bathroom, kitchen, and living room/dining room, and is a few blocks from the center of historic Mittenwald (20 miles north of Innsbruck, Austria). Colorful murals adorn this village's building facades, and Goethe described it as "a living picture book." Bavaria's stringed instrument manufacturing began here in 1684, and artisans can still be seen carving and assembling their traditional creations in the town center. The violin and local history museum, as well as numerous stores selling woodcarvings, textiles, jewelry, and touristy things, keep me entertained until I settle into a cozy restaurant for a delicious regional meal. A short hike leads me to Lautersee Lake and its pasture, a picturesque tiny chapel, and grazing sheep and goats. Vacation like a European
For over 25 years, I have vacationed like many Europeans, shunning commercial establishments and choosing private accommodations instead. I save money, enjoy conveniences and hospitality unavailable in typical hotels, and stay where no hotels exist. From simple rooms to apartments, farmhouses, and villas, each accommodation reflects the personalities of both the owner and the locale.
In Austria, Germany, and northeastern Switzerland, private parties offer Zimmer frei, and Fremdenzimmer (available rooms, usually with breakfast), or Ferienwohnung and "Ferienhaus" (vacation homes); a Zimmer is typically booked by the day, and a vacation home for three days or more. Private accommodation is so popular in some regions that the business of providing them has surpassed cottage industry status (no pun intended). Hosts pride themselves on the cleanliness and comfort of their facilities, and there are thousands of places to stay.
Many lodgings can be stumbled upon by chance (e.g., advertised by a sign on the road or in front of a building, a listing board in the village center, a local tourist office, or through word of mouth), but the Internet makes it easy to find a place before leaving home. These tips will increase the likelihood of a positive experience: 1. Be flexible with your dates. 2. Ensure sheets and towels are provided (e.g., Inclusive: Bettwäsche, Handtücher). 3. Check availability carefully. The websites are not airline systems; listings may not update immediately after bookings. For clarity, state your arrival and departure dates, and abbreviate month names (e.g., Ankommen: 29 Apr - Abreisen: 5 Mai); Mai is the only exception to English abbreviations. 4. A range of seasonal prices may be listed, so request the total cost, including tourist taxes, cleaning fees, etc.: Bitte, schicken Sie mir die Endsumme, inclusive Mwst, Kurtaxe, Endreinigung, usw. 5. Query several alternate properties at the same time, because responses may take a day or so, considering time zones and other factors. Choose one positive response and book promptly; politely express regrets to the others.
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