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 in wonder at the snow-capped Bavarian Alps beyond the meadows of wild flowers, while mother birds busily tend their chirping hatchlings in the trees above. Few hotels can boast this kind of atmosphere. But, this isn’t a hotel…it’s a 600 square foot, two-bedroom apartment, and costs about $75 a day from April to August!Our furnished unit has a full bathroom, kitchen, and livingroom/diningroom, and is a few blocks from the center of historic Mittenwald, Germany (20 miles north of Innsbruck, Austria). Colorful murals adorn the building facades in this village Goethe described as “a living picture book”. Bavaria’s stringed instrument manufacturing began here in 1684, and artisans are seen carving and assembling their traditional creations as you explore the town. Stores selling woodcarvings, textiles, jewelry, and touristy things, and the violin and local history museum entertain you until you settle into a cozy restaurant or café for a delicious regional meal. A short hike finds Lautersee Lake and its pasture, highlighted by a picturesque tiny chapel and grazing sheep and goats.
For over 25 years, we have vacationed like many Europeans, shunning commercial establishments and choosing private accommodations, instead. We save money, enjoy conveniences and hospitality unavailable in typical hotels, and stay where no hotels exist. From simple rooms, to apartments, to farmhouses, to villas, each accommodation reflects the personalities of the owner and the locale.
In Austria, Germany, and northeastern Switzerland, people offer “Zimmer frei,” and “Fremdenzimmer” [available rooms, usually with breakfast] or “Ferienwohnung” and “Ferienhaus” [vacation homes] to visitors; a Zimmer is typically booked by the day, and a vacation home for three days or more. Private accommodations are 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 (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 someone in the know), but the Internet and E-Mail make it easy to find a place before leaving home. Websites let you search for properties on interactive maps, view photos, compare amenities, check availability and prices, query managers, and reserve dwellings. Some Websites index properties by popular categories (e.g., Skiing, Golfing, Mountains, Beach), and some even list hotels.
These tips will ensure positive experiences:
- Have flexible occupancy dates.
- Ensure sheets and towels are provided (e.g., Inclusive: Bettwäsche, Handtücher).
- Check availability. The Websites are not airline systems; listings may not update immediately after bookings. For clarity, state arrival and departure dates, and abbreviate month names (e.g., Ankommen: 29 Apr - Abreisen: 5 Mai); Mai is the only exception to English abbreviations.
- 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.
- 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 promptly book it; politely express regrets to the others.
Once you liberate yourself from the hotel mentality, you may never choose that path again.
I recommend the following Websites:
Multiregional:
- http://www.urlaubstage.de/ (knowledge of German is required)
- http://www.gites-de-france.fr/ (knowledge of French is helpful)
Regional:
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