overwater-bungalows-bora-bora-photo
share

“What are you doing?”, my partner asked.

“I’m working on a project with Booking.com and I’m looking for an ‘epic’ accommodation”, I replied without looking up from my laptop screen. A few moments passed and then…

castell-d-emporda-gardens-tower-photo
Would this accommodation qualify as epic?

What’s ‘epic’?

That simple question stopped me in my tracks. Yes, what is epic? The Oxford Dictionary defines it, amongst others, as something “grand in scale or character“.

What makes an accommodation epic?

Booking.com has a website called the Booking Truth in which they feature a selection of ‘epic’ accommodations, ones that have received the most outstanding customer reviews. I browsed through the selection and to my surprise found a diverse range of accommodations, from charming B&Bs to self-catering apartments and five-star hotels. Reading what customers found most attractive about these accommodations was an insightful exercise. Mentions were made of superb breakfasts, gorgeous rooms, and my favourite, “the best bathroom you’ll ever have”. Others raved about the exceptional service and excellent locations.

It was easy to conclude that these accommodations didn’t necessarily have to be “grand in scale or character” to qualify as epic. I couldn’t help but smile at my little epiphany. At the end of the day, it all boils down to emotions doesn’t it? It’s what our senses pick up and which emotions they trigger. It’s in our nature I suppose.

I began to think about the accommodations I’ve stayed at before, the ones which really made a lasting impression on me. They flooded my mind in an instant, like that lodge in the cloud forests of Ecuador, or the castle (pictured above) in Costa Brava, or that funky hotel in Berlin, or that grand hotel with a view in Kuala Lumpur, or that stunning resort in Mauritius, and that luxurious safari cruise on the Zambezi River. I was starting to feel very blessed! These accommodations had the same things in common as the customer reviews: exceptional locations, gorgeous rooms, grand views, fabulous food, superb service and yes… “the best bathroom you’ll ever have”!

zambezi-queen-cabin-photo
My luxurious cabin on board the Zambezi Queen

Finding my epic accommodation

With these thoughts in mind, I continued with my assignment: to find an accommodation on Booking.com that met my definition of epic – a gargantuan task considering the huge offering of accommodations in the Booking.com stable. I started by choosing one of my favourite countries, found a place there that I’ve always wanted to visit, and selected accommodations with excellent customer ratings. In no time, I had it narrowed down to a handful of accommodations, thanks to their extensive list of filters. I’ve made hotel reservations via Booking.com many times before and I must say, I’m a big fan of their site. Navigation is easy and the filters and maps make it so easy to find what you’re looking for.

So… which epic accommodation did I choose? To find out, go to my post “A Hotel Fit for a King“.

How would you define an epic accommodation? Please let me know in the comments section below.

Note: this post is part of the #BookingEpic campaign, a collaboration between iambassador and Booking.com to initiate discussions on and highlight exceptional accommodations. The views expressed above, including the chosen hotel, are mine and mine only.

 
 
 
 
 

17 Responses

  • For me epic accommodation is a feast for your eyes, mouth and your soul. Something that will keep you amazed and entertained and leave good memories. What we want to keep coming to the place where we were at least somewhat happy

  • So many surrounds could be described as “epic”… there is no limits to the accommodations that are architecturally excellent, thoughtful to the last detail, with outlooks that take your breath away. But they can all be lonely, soulless places that can overwhelm or isolate one unless something happens, is felt, is created, to allow you to have an “epic day’ or maybe just an “epic moment”…. quite often it cannot be planned… that’s the magic. Curiousity creeps in. Expectations are banished. A sense of wonder returns.

  • I agree with Will that what makes an accommodation “epic” is the service. You can have the most stunning location and amazing amenities but if the service is lacking, it will just be ok.

  • Fabulous hotel and great choice. No other hotel I’ve been to or seen has yet matched the epic-ness of Hotel Alfonso XIII. Not that I’ve stayed there – yet but have visited it.

    I think epic goes hand-in-hand with luxurious surroundings and awesome architecture, to me it says the place rather than the service but of course that needs to match to complete the experience.

  • The best in every service category you can think of – from the beauty of the property to the quality of the food and the friendliness of the people. That’s epic to me!

  • Ooh epic accommodation, that’s a tough one. Like you say, it would be a feeling, something that blew me away the moment I walked in. I am a big fan of a nice bathroom in accommodation though, if it’s got an amazing bath I’m happy!

  • Zambezi Queen just enrolled two more guests. Me and my wife are sold πŸ˜€

    XOXO,

    Bhavya.

  • Hi Heather,
    I’m not American but I’m a fan of both words. Hehe! πŸ™‚ Thanks for your tips! I’m so looking forward to staying at the accommodation I chose. Arrive there later today! Woohoo! I’m sure it’s going to be erm… awesome, perhaps even epic! πŸ˜‰

    Cheers,
    Keith

  • I’m afraid that ‘epic’ is for me one of those yukky Americanisms like ‘awesome’ but I’m happy to tell you about the magical Riad I stayed in Marrakech or the cosy country house hotel in Devon or the hygge Danish boutique hotel

  • Omg.. totally agree .. So often we find hidden gems and that extra something that makes the difference. We always highlight it to our friends and folks who ask. We wish more ppl would do that on a platform so we could make informed choices on our bookings. So happy that a portal is now doing just that! Makes our task of searching an sifting, that much easier. #bookingepic is definitely ground breaking! And I cannot wait to see what your epic destination is πŸ™‚ Should be amazing!

Leave a reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Appeared In