Not long ago, in Penang, Malaysia, I found a very nice inexpensive lodging. His name was Hutton Lodge. The place is only stone’s cast stone from Chowrasta Market – one of the most popular tourist destination of Penang.
Hutton Lodge is an old house repaired without overhaul its architecture, and made a kind of bed & breakfast facilities. Room rates – depends large-small – between USD 120 thousand to USD 180 thousand. Interior room is minimalist, but clean. The bathroom was very clean. Reportedly, the owner of Hutton Lodge is a former Malaysian badminton champion contemporaries with Rudy Hartono.
Because of the small room, most of the guests using the room only to sleep and rest. To relax, they use a spacious living room, and comfortable chairs are placed on the terrace. There is also Internet facilities, and vending machines (vending machines) for drinks and snacks.
Guest room facilities are spacious and comfortable it just creates a homey atmosphere. Hotel guests to meet and talk intimately with each other in the common room, like its cousins who were gathered at the grandparents’ house when going home vacation.
In the early 1970s, when Kuta, Bali, has not grown, as now, the most popular lodging facility is the home stay – which houses a few rooms reserved for rental to tourists backpacks class (backpackers).
Currently, there is almost no longer homestay facility in Bali. Everything has been turned into a jasmine-class hotels – even in small alleys. In addition to jasmine hotel, boarding room is also widely available (boarding room) which can be leased monthly. More boarding room used by employees to be close to work, though many are also the long-Staying guests who wear them.
Germany to Hawaii
In fact, in Europe, homestay facilities are still available. In Germany, the term is a Zimmer Frei which literally means empty rooms. Zimmer Frei widely available in cities that annually conducts various exhibitions or exhibitions.
For example, the Frankfurt Book Fair, held every year always makes all hotels in Frankfurt overflowed with guests. Bookings for this period has even sold out a year earlier. As a result, many participants and visitors at the exhibition to be staying outside the city, or Zimmer Frei using the facilities.
In addition to homestay, there are also types of cheap lodging-called bed dormitory or dormitories. Usually, every room occupied jointly by four to eight people, with bathroom outside the room.
In Europe there is also a hotel boat to move following the burst of the guests in different cities. The shape is like a ship with hundreds of rooms inside. In October, the boat hotel is tethered in the river in the decades to accommodate the Frankfurt Book Fair guests. In May, the hotel is moving boat moorings to the decade of the river in Cologne as inn guests there Anuga Food Exhibition. Room rates at this hotel boat is relatively cheaper when compared to two star hotel.
In Singapore, the Indonesian people who hold low-cost lodging facility for tourists from Indonesia. Most of these facilities such as rooms in apartment buildings. The famous one is located near Lucky Plaza, not far from bustling Orchard Road area.
Several years ago I had a trip to Hawaii with his wife and children. Even if we start out with a flourish in the most expensive hotels in Waikiki, but the next ten days we stayed in bed & breakfast facilities in the island of Maui and the Big Island. It turns out, we really enjoyed the trip.
Our Bed & breakfast in Maui Pulai is located in a small village Haiku with sea views over the direction of a truly spectacular. Incredible! We were even reluctant to leave our little bungalows to enjoy the sights heart’s content.
On the Big Island, we rented pavilion owned by a wealthy doctor who originally built when their children married and only used a week for a honeymoon. No wonder when the pavilion was actually quite luxurious and fun. In fact, the tariff is very cheap. The doctor’s wife was very generous to share food and snacks with us.
Tour by the higher interest also seems to be changing the face of the hospitality industry worldwide. Marriott luxury hotel chain, for example, in the United States also supplement with low-cost hotel chain with branding Residence Inn and Courtyard.
Accor Group had in recent years added the category hotels are less expensive than the Ibis, the Formule 1. Santika Group opened Amaris networks cheaper and more popular as a place of refuge even those families who heat when exposed to power outages.
Tune Hotels
Since 2009, AirAsia managed to break through the airline industry with the slogan “Now Everyone Can Fly”, was now completing its services by providing low-cost lodging facility. AirAsia’s hotel network was wearing brand Tune Hotels.
Tune Hotel is the first established in Kuala Lumpur. The target is 100 hotels in next five years. Now there are seven hotels in operation: five in Malaysia, and two in Indonesia. In Indonesia, Tune Hotels has been operating in two locations at once Bali: Kuta and Seminyak. Recently opened, its occupancy rate had reached 90 percent direct.
Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Solo are the cities of Indonesia which will see Tune Hotels in the near future. Other countries will be “coming” Tune Hotels are Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines, and China. So do the cities of London, Paris, Melbourne, and Perth.
Just like AirAsia, Tune Hotels concept also no frill. That is, the services provided truly most basic type of service. The rest, each type of service should be paid extra. Pricing was set based on season, availability, and booking period. When the reservations done in advance, then it is likely to get the cheapest rates will be greater.
It’s hard for me to enter into which category Tune Hotels. Want to say grade jasmine or bed dormitory for a cheap fare, but bed-quality with a five star hotel.
In Tune Hotel Kuta, Bali, lowest fare is USD $ 68 000 per room per night. However, around Christmas and New Year holidays, the room rate reached USD 500 000 per room per night. This rate is valid for a maximum of 20 hours – check in at 2 pm, check out 10 am.
Even the bathroom amenities are available, but no towels provided. Guests are expected to bring their own towels. When you do not bring towels, may rent rates to USD 17 000 (including a small piece of soap).
When you want cool air regulator (AC), the tariff is Rp 50 thousand to 12 hours, or USD 83 000 for 20 hours. Hair dryer may also lease at a cost of USD 7000. Wi-Fi rates USD 55 thousand to 24 hours.
In Tune Hotels, do not expect there will be a bellboy who helped carry luggage to the room. There was no way the price! If you really want to save money, tune Hotels is your choice. However, if you want to be served with a range of luxury high-standard, your choice is the Four Seasons, or St. Regis, and luxury hotels were comparable.
Mark of Lancaster, Group CEO of Tune Hotels, said: The most basic needs of tourists is a clean room, a comfortable bed, shower bath of warm water rushing, and security. “The rest is optional,” Mark said.