LIVING long-term in a hotel sounds like a dream come true, with someone on hand 24/7 to cook your food, make your bed or clean your room.
I’ve been lucky enough to have two stints living in a hotel for a month or more.
GettyI’ve lived in hotels both in Spain and in the UK – and it’s not as amazing as you’d think[/caption]
Catherine LofthouseWhile the perks of Spain were great, I missed my own space[/caption]
One was even by the beach in Spain one September, so I could make the most of the sun and sand.
It had an open air pool where I could take a dip and a beach bar where I could sip a beer while staring out to sea.
It certainly wasn’t where I imagined I’d be staying when I signed up for an all-expenses-paid EU language programme.
Aside from a couple of hours of Spanish lessons every morning and a bit of homework to complete in the afternoon, we had plenty of time to make the most of the Catalan culture and weather, with Barcelona just a short hop up the coast on the train.
And then back to the hotel in time for dinner and dessert.
My stint in Spain was certainly a lot more glamorous than the time I lived in a Travelodge in Birmingham’s red light district when all the electricity went out in our student flat and the entire block had to be moved into a hotel while it was fixed.
There were some interesting characters plying their trade at the roadside nearby, which was quite an eye-opener and an education in itself.
At first, the novelty factor of holing up in a hotel at someone else’s expense makes you pinch yourself, as it’s so far removed from the reality of life.
Eating every day at a hotel restaurant, grabbing a takeaway or heading to a cafe for a bite to eat was great for a while, but not having your own cooking facilities or fridge gets a bit old after a couple of weeks.
While in Spain, I did develop a love for dishes like crema catalana, a dessert that’s a bit like creme brulee.
And eating fresh bread with olive oil and tomatoes rather than butter was delicious and not something I would ever have thought of making myself.
So it was a good chance to sample international cuisine.
But in the end, it’s quite nice to have a few home comforts and make your own food with the ingredients you enjoy, even if you do have to do your own washing up afterwards.
It’s the same when it comes to living in one room, particularly if you’re sharing.
After a while, you want your own space, so I was happy to get back into a flat, with a living room for spending time with mates and my own room when I wanted to be alone.
I did miss having someone to keep the bathroom clean though.
When we hear about travellers traversing the world full-time on a cruise ship or film stars living in a hotel suite, we imagine a life full of glamour and ease.
And while it is wonderful to have a break from routine, it can get a bit weird after a while.
And there’s not much that can be done about noise from neighbouring rooms or even from elsewhere in the hotel.
If the bin lorry calls early in the morning or there’s late-night loiterers making a racket in the corridor, you just have to hope that you’ll get a bit more peace and quiet the following night.
Lots of older people choose to stay on a cruise ship instead of in a retirement home and I can certainly see the appeal.
Why not see the world while being waited on hand and foot instead of being stuck in the same place?
I just need to wait a few years to give it a go myself.
Another woman who lived in hotels for years raved about it, saying she saved money compared to rented accommodation.
But another person who lived in a swanky resort said it wasn’t as dun as people would think.