As I’ve said previously, traveling is one of the best ways for self-development – socially and culturally – and in the most recent years it has become more and more accessible to pack your bags and go to places you’ve never been before or to revisit countries that you loved.
A great alternative for hotels, especially when traveling on a budget, but not only, is Airbnb. I have used it myself many times and I totally recommend it. It’s safe, affordable and you’ll find many apartments and rooms literally everywhere.
But a while ago I came across an Instagram account called onefinestay, and I totally fell in love with the interiors they were posting, thinking at first that they are an interior design blog.
The surprise was bigger when I found out that you can actually rent those places so I hurried on their website to find out more.
Even though I haven’t used the service yet, I am sure I will soon and here is why I think you should use it too:
– The onefinestay team visits, checks out and photographs every house they decide to represent. In this way they know exactly what’s in the house and they can answer any questions you have prior to booking;
– Before you get there, someone from the team prepares your stay with clean towels and toiletries and makes the bed with clean white sheets. Just to make it feel a little more like home. This way you can leave some extra space in your luggage for shopping and you know everything is neat;
– Upon your arrival, the team will meet you in person to introduce you to the place, give you the keys and also an iPhone with free data and local calls (which I think is great, especially if you’re traveling across the ocean where the roaming fees are insanely high). You won’t get lost if it’s a new city and you can call onefinestay for assistance – they are available 24/7.
A few examples of homes you can book:
The kitchen and dining table at one of their houses in London
The patio and swimming pool area at one of the locations in Los Angeles
A beautiful living room in a town house in West Village, NYC
The chic interior of a Parisian apartment
While more affordable than most of the decent hotels in the locations they’re operating right now (Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, and Hudson Valley), especially if you’re traveling with friends, it seems to me like onefinestay is a great way to feel at home when you’re not home. As they call themselves, they are the pioneers of handmade hospitality.
So if you are looking for a terrific housing experience in one of these cities, go on their website: http://www.onefinestay.com/ and scroll through the beautiful houses they represent. I think it will take a while to decide which one to pick for your next vacation.
