For many choosing a staycation in Croyde and around North Devon, there’s a big decision to be made: stay at a hotel or resort or choose an Airbnb or holiday home. Below we’ve outlined a few differences between the two options.
Regulations
Airbnb does have policies in place to protect its guests (such as background checks and risk scoring). However, there is a distinct lack of official regulations which allows anyone to open their home without required procedures such as fire safety or general inspections that provide staff and patrons such as ours, with a safe and secure environment.
As a fully operating hospitality business, Croyde Bay Resort is required to have procedures and safety measures in place that are much higher than that of Airbnb’s, even if the accommodation types are exactly the same. This along with the resort’s commitment to extra training and high standards gives guests peace of mind during their stay.
Support & Communication
Whilst the messaging platform allows for communication with your Airbnb host, if something does go wrong there is no guarantee that your host will be able to resolve it quickly or efficiently. With many Airbnb’s rented out as second homes, your host may not even be located within the immediate area which can make things even more difficult to resolve.
At Croyde Bay Resort, our 80 years of experience means that we are well equipped to deal with any problems or issues you may need help with. Our onsite teams (from maintenance to housekeeping to reservations) will be available to talk to quickly and directly and should you have any issues with your room, we can resolve problems for you, without the back and forth of messaging online.
On Site Activities & Food
Whilst many Airbnb’s may come equipped with additional extras, you are often limited to what’s provided within the walls and grounds of the property. With a staycation based at Croyde Bay, you not only get the security of your own hotel room, cottage or lodge but also the entire range of facilities that our resort has to offer including a gym, swimming pool, tennis court, crazy golf, table tennis and more! All of which is free to guests staying with us at the resort. Whilst most of our accommodation has self catering facilities, with our lodges and cottages having full kitchens to prepare a meal for the family, we also have on-site restaurants usually available for breakfast, lunch and dinner – if you decide you’d rather skip cooking that day. We also offer a takeaway and delivery service at certain times of the year.
Additional Fees
Be wary of additional fees when booking an Airbnb, often the host will charge a cleaning fee but with additional cleaning often being undertaken due to COVID-19, the hosts can increase this fee to as much as they see fit which can turn a cheap getaway into a far more expensive one with cleaning fees being reported in excess of £100.
We have worked incredibly hard to ensure that the highest cleaning standards are maintained throughout the resort to ensure the safety or our guests and staff. We have worked alongside The National Tourist Organisations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to obtain a COVID-19 Industry standard certificate to ensure that we are following all necessary procedures in order to maintain a clean environment with appropriate social distancing and we do not charge our guest any additional fees for this.
Societal Cost
With the number of Airbnb accommodation homes in Croyde and North Devon skyrocketing over the years and local houses left empty for weeks on end, there is an argument that whilst Airbnb may be good for tourism, it is having negative effect on the local community as well as hotel and accommodation businesses that provide jobs to local residents.
Research conducted by the Guardian shows that in the area of Croyde, Georgeham and Woolacombe, 23/100 homes are Airbnb listings, in an area where second homes already take up a large portion of housing. The effects of which are being felt by young locals struggling to buy their first home in the towns and villages they grew up in.
There are definitely benefits to staying in an Airbnb or holiday home but we feel that staying at Croyde Bay Resort can give you these benefits whilst adding a whole lot more!
To find out more about staying at Croyde Bay Resort, feel free to contact us as well as book your stay online today.
