People have different tastes and wishes where they want to stay when they go on vacation. It really depends on what type of person are you and what is your vacation itinerary like. If you are going to a place you went before things are much easier because you know the place. Maybe you have seen a really nice place that you want to stay at the last time you were there or at least you know where things are and what to expect. No matter what your prefered vacation accommodation option is – hotels, lodges, beach resorts, timeshare, bed and breakfast, or even van life for the more adventurous souls, there are a few tips that will help you. You might even be stuck in a timeshare that when considering the time-to-use ratio and the price tag you just want to get out of Diamond timeshare. This article, however, focuses on the types of accommodation for a surf trip and things to consider when choosing a suitable surfing accommodation. Most of these tips can also be used for other adventure vacations.
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Accommodation Types
The most popular surf adventure accommodation is staying at a surf camp or a surf house. It is usually a shared facility with a few separate rooms and shared spaces like the kitchen and bathrooms. This type of accommodation is usually the cheapest option and also practical if you are on a surf trip. Surf camp is usually located close to the waves, it is also filled with people that are there for the same thing – surfing. So you will be able to share rides, locations, maybe even rent equipment etc… The owner is usually also extremely knowledgeable when it comes to surf conditions etc… so he will know where to send you depending on the surf conditions and your surfing skills.
If you are looking for a bit more privacy a hotel is a good option. Usually (surf) hotels offer many other services like room service, equipment, and cloths cleaning services, and advanced hotels offer surf lessons. Even more costly are luxury surf resorts where you will usually have your own bungalow and pretty much everything mentioned before.
Depending on where you are you can also go camping and stay in a tent, rent a private room or a private apartment etc…
The Facility
When choosing a surf or beach resort, there are a couple of things to check. Obviously you need to decide what is more important, price or other things. Things you should check are:
- is there enough space in your room to store your surfboards,
- is there a place to store your surfboards out of your room and is it secure,
- how clean are the bathrooms,
- is there air conditioning or fans to keep you cool,
- how comfortable is the bed,
- are there mosquito nets if needed (and not full of holes),
- how is the chill area,
- how is the wifi,
- Is there warm water, after a long day of fun surfing in the ocean, there’s nothing more satisfactory than an nice warm shower.
- Is there a pool where you can chill in between session etc…
So, these are the essentials to consider.
The Atmosphere
When you’re on vacation, anywhere in the world, you want to feel welcomed and excited to be there. Imagine paying to be somewhere and still feel uneasy or uncomfortable during your vacation. So when you’re out on an adventure vacation, look for a place with warm-welcoming staff and friendly patrons. A chilled atmosphere, meeting happy and chilled people can create lasting new friendships and bonds. Staff friendliness is usually mentioned on various review websites like for instance Tripadvisor.
The Location
Choosing the right location is one of those crucial factors that may go without saying; however, it’s worth mentioning. When going on a surf vacation, you want to visit a resort near waves, and most importantly, a place with good surf waves during the time of your stay. Experienced surfers will tell you, finding the right waves on the right day is not so easy. The best feeling the world is when you can just wake up check the surf, grab your surfboard and walk to the wave. So accommodation that has one or more waves in walking distance is worth so much more than one where you have to get a ride before you go surfing. Personally I would give up a lot in other departments to be able to do that. Think about that and about what is important. Also, a good surf guide or knowledgeable owner is a plus when conditions are not obvious – where to go when there is wind, where the waves are to small etc…
Apart from being close to waves it is also useful if the place you are staying is close to the airport, and other necessary amenities. But then again, this is not necessarily a plus. Places that are close to airports and are easy to get to are usually also crowded. The further you go and the harder it is to get there, less people will there be in the water. And surfing uncrowded waves is really what a surf trip is all about.
If you are traveling and living in your van during your surf trip your location will probably always be right there next to the waves. This is why a van surf trip is so high on the bucket list of every surfer, even though the van is small and crowded and doesn’t offer much comfort if you compare it to other types of accommodation.