Really Escaping: A Good Travel Site

Wandering through Jaisalmer, Rajasthan we stumbled upon the most atmospheric little place. We were very lucky that they had a cancelation on the day we showed up as this hotel had been recommended by i-escape. All the people staying there knew the hotel as they had been coming to Rajasthan for years or else they were part of that savvy set of travelers that use i-escape. It was the first time I had heard of this brilliant site and I am now a believer.

The i-escape team describes their recommendations as hip hideaways and stylish places to stay. They have won a number of awards for their site and it is no wonder why. We have stayed at a few places based on i-escape recommendations and every time the accommodation has become the centre of the experience.

The reviews are well written and the information is comprehensive, but that is not why it is such a good site. It is the quality of the selections. A place has to pretty special to make it onto the i-escape list.

My complaints with the site are that the photos are small and few, that the prices tend to be high and that they do not have extensive coverage. However, the information is useful and it is great for inspiring day dreams. Even when I have not booked accommodation through i-escape, I have followed their suggestions for activities and restaurants in the areas we are visiting.

Some of my favourite i-escape finds were:

1. Hotel Periscope in Athens, Greece (the photo above was our private deck).

2. The Aspara Hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos.

3. Il Ritrovo restaurant in Amalfi Coast, Italy.

When planning any trip I visit i-escape to scope out the destination. I also just browse the site for inspiration.

Finding Villas

The best tool for finding a villa anywhere in the world is HomeAway. A friend of mine recommended it to me years ago and we have used it to book private accommodation in Turkey (above photo of private garden), Barbados (above photo of private pool), Mexico, Canada and Italy. We have always been pleased with the service and have never had a problem.

We have just been amazed at how superior villa rentals are compared to hotels. The cost is typically much lower for a fabulous villa than a standard hotel. There is always so much more space. The experience is richer as you are not just staying in another hotel room. You have the option of shopping at local markets and cooking up your own food. There is more privacy. All around, villas are the way to go.

What makes the HomeAway site particularly useful is how easy it is to navigate. In just a few easy clicks you can find exactly the property you are looking for, in the price range you want, with the facilities you need, in the location you desire, with the availability you request. It takes less than a minute to find all of this.

The photos and the comments section give you a good sense of the place you are considering renting. I found the reviewers from past renters particularly helpful and would recommend that everyone completes this section for the benefit of others. (Although I have yet to complete one myself).

I have tried searching for other sites and have not found another that is as easy to navigate or that has as good a selection. I would highly recommend checking out HomeAway next time you are considering a vacation.