Amazing Accommodation Woman

Yes! I did it again.  I’ll bet most of you don’t know that I am famous for finding awesome places to stay when traveling. Particularly for a longer stay, say, 5 days or more, in one place.

I’ve spent the last 6 days surfing, paddling, and sometimes drowning in the internet in search of unique and wonderful places to stay for these upcoming trips. It’s so incredible to me that you can find all kinds of accommodation online. When I started working as a travel agent in 1980, there were no computers that had hotel information. We used this big-as-a-breadbox book called the Hotel Index, which had lists of the main chain hotels and any individually owned properties who wanted to pay to be included. Great for most business travelers who just wanted their next Marriott fix, but not as exciting for the adventurers, the bed-and-breakfasters, or the sleep-in-the-rainforest-in-a-tent-with-2-cute-Costa-Rican-guys-outside-waiting-on-your-every-need people. (Well, not every need, but I digress.)

Now, thanks to sites like bedandbreakfast.com, VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner – apartments and houses), and even Craigslist, You can now find just about any type of accommodation there is out there. Just Google “vacation rental (city you want to stay in)” and you have myriads of possibilities. What if some of them are duds? Go to http://www.tripadvisor.com and look up the very hotel or guest house, where those who have gone before us have left their critical mark. You can’t lose.

Anyway, we have 5 nights in Toulouse coming up in June and need a space for 2 adults and 2 teens (boy and a guest). I make a safe reservation at the Citadines, a nice, if not cramped, apartment hotel for around $212/night. After Googling around a bit, I come up with http://www.appart-hotel-toulouse.com. This jaw-droppingly modern 1 bedroom overlooking the Place du Capitole (otherwise known as Toulouse Central) is available. For $112/night. This is the type of place that begs to host a cocktail party for Mr. E’s cohorts. And they will know who found it. Amazing Accommodation Woman.