Problem
A friend on Facebook asks whether an adults hotel is for adults only or something more sinister.
Answer
I've checked them on line and they are mostly in honeymoon destinations, romantic beachside places with cocktail bars, occasionally bars by pools, and without children. No crying babies. No creche. no high chairs. Sounds good to me.
Story
I was recently sitting 12 storeys above a swimming pool and BBQ area with constant screeching from children playing tag, woken from my afternoon siesta by the noise.
The Lion Dance with banging drums did not disturb my sleep but the screaming children did.
I would like a holiday with no swimming lessons in the pool with children jumping onto you and instructors shouting at them.
The other kind of 'adults' hotels are downmarket, in cities but in cheap areas of town, and rent rooms by the hour.
I heard from two girlfriends that they had booked into basic budget hotels in Singapore, one in an area which turned out to be the notorious red light district. People were coming and going constantly, checking in and out day and night, without luggage. The hotel had no restaurants, not even breakfast. Nobody staying there wanted to waste time eating, nor to be seen in public. The first friend was studying sociology and was delighted to see 'real life' rather than a regular hotel. The second friend was on a tight budget; she was very happy that the helpful receptionist was keen to send her off to budget eating places.
A tourist board in Australia found me a new hotel in a certain district when it was hard to get accommodation anywhere in the city because of the simultaneous gay parade. The tourist board suggested I might like to visit later. Our flights were already booked at advantageous prices. I told the tourist board that we weren't bothered by the parade.
When our taxi reached the hotel my husband went in first to check it was the right place, and had our room. He was given a very warm welcome by the man on the desk, who was amusingly dressed, in leggings and a wig and lipstick, like a character from a dancing school. The receptionist must have assumed my husband was single and gay.
When I arrived with the luggage a few minutes later, I enthused about all the art school paintings, and Greek God statues. The person on the desk looked distinctly disappointed at meeting me. He had no interest whatsoever in discussing Greek mythology with me.
I didn't realise what kind of hotel it was until a couple of young men dressed like twins in purple tops came downstairs holding hands and, again, looked very suspiciously at us.
The World Travel Market has held marketing meetings where companies promote different kinds of specialist holidays, aiming at the pink pound, the handicapped, adventure, luxury, health tourism and other specialist holidays,hotels and packages.
Tips
Check hotel websites and read the feedback and you'll soon see what kind of hotel you have found.
If you have children or grandchildren you may want the opposite, a family friendly hotel offering children's activities, early suppers, reductions for children, a children's paddling pool and play area, a creche.
Even if you are a grandparents, when not with your own grandchildren, you might like the relief of a quiet hotel. The romantic hotels may be full of honeymoon couples.
The off-season Saga hotel could have a high proportion of people with wheelchairs and sticks, plus sit down evening entertainment such as shows featuring songs from musicals. If you have difficulty walking, you might want to ask if a hotel with a daily buffet can give you waiter service or let your partner take food for two. Hotels aimed at older people may have single bedrooms. Daytime activities might include talks, or bridge or card games for those who like to sit in silence.
You can find hotels suitable for every age group and interest. Hotels cater for children, romance, all inclusive, activities, extreme sports, music, art, photography, water sports, dogs.
You can stay in tents, skyscrapers, or on boats, hotels designed for the gay, the blind, the handicapped, golf, volunteering, the elderly, the single, the opera lover, the wine enthusiast, or those who want to learn drawing or cooking, bridge, bird-watching, swimming, sailing, or whale-watching. I go on writers' holidays and speakers' weekends and holidays. Others choose songwriting and story-telling. Or time seasonal holidays at ski resorts, or to see Wimbledon Tennis or football matches.
You can go on safaris, mountain climbing, trekking. Pick historic hotels, ultra-modern hotels in funny shapes, on mountain side pods, in youth hostels, universities, caves, ice hotels, spa hotels and hotels with giraffes poking their heads through the window.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please like and follow and share.
Update 2022
We stayed at the adults only Hotel Indigo in Larnaka, Cyprus for two days in June 2022.
Angela enjoying dessert at adults only hotel Indigo in Larnaka, Cyprus, June 2022. Photo by Trevor Sharot.
See my post.
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