HometownGeorgetown.com

This morning, I added a page to HometownGeorgetown.com to advertise an apartment that my husband and I have decided to rent out as a vacation rental here in Georgetown, Texas. If you know anyone who’s coming to town for a weekend, a week, or even a month, and they would prefer to stay in an apartment over staying in a hotel or bed and breakfast, please tell them to check out the “Vacation Rental” tab at the top of the page on HometownGeorgetown.com. Take a look at the pictures to see the quality of the apartment. I’m proud of how it turned out, as we did a lot of the work ourselves.

My husband and I lived in Saudi Arabia for ten years, and during that time, we did a lot of traveling. We rented vacation rentals in Italy, Australia, Spain, and even here in Texas. (In much of Europe, they’re called self-catered apartments.) We set up the apartment above our garage with all the conveniences we wanted when we traveled. The kitchen has a full-size refrigerator and stove so that guests can cook at home if they choose, and with satellite TV, they can even veg out in front of their favorite show while they eat. Our house is located in Old Town, with plenty of restaurant choices within blocks, so cooking is definitely optional. Guests can also order pizza or Chinese food to be delivered. When we travel, we don’t enjoy eating at restaurants every single meal. It feels hectic and uncomfortable, and it’s too darned expensive.

Another biggie when you travel is having a washer and dryer available. We’ve ordered a set for the apartment, and it should be in place in the apartment’s bathroom by April. In the meantime, we’re happy to offer our guests the use of the washer and dryer in our home.

Guests will have use of our swimming pool, lounge chairs, barbecue grill, and gazebo. We’ll provide all the kitchen utensils, dishes, sheets, and towels. We want people to feel that this apartment is even more comfortable than a hotel or bed and breakfast; we want it to become a true home away from home.

The apartment is set up for privacy. The bedroom is around a corner and down a short hallway from the kitchen and living area. We set it up this way especially for the convenience of guests from different time zones. I always felt very uncomfortable in a hotel when I woke up in the middle of the night because I didn’t want to turn on a light and wake my husband. In this apartment, guests will be able to go into the other room and turn on the lights and TV without fear of waking their partner.

The apartment is the perfect size for one to two guests. There are stairs leading up to the apartment, which are accessed through the garage. The garage is detached from the house, giving the apartment a separate entrance for added privacy.

This weekend, a friend of mine got married. On Sunday, the day after her wedding, she invited a few guests to a private brunch at the San Gabriel House bed and breakfast, which is on University Avenue (aka Highway 29) across from Southwestern University. I had planned to walk, but a carload full of wedding gifts from the reception gave me a good excuse to avoid the cold.

The San Gabriel House is stunning. The historic home was built in 1908 by the Belford Lumber Company, although it’s not classified as being in what is now known as the Belford Historic District of Georgetown. Dark wooden beams criss-cross the high ceiling to add architectural detail. Original artwork graces a lovely wooden easel, and beautiful hand-knotted Persian carpets are placed strategically on the warm wood floors. In the front parlor, a particularly intricate carpet draws the eye. You can tell the owners have an eye for quality, and a great appreciation for the arts and crafts.

The large covered front porch welcomes guests, who enter through leaded glass doors. The doors and windows make magical little rainbows inside when the sun hits them just right. I saw lots of those little rainbows as we ate our delicious meal. The food was fantastic, and if I weren’t trying to stick to my New Year’s resolution, I would’ve eaten way too much. On the sideboard, our hosts placed eggs, ham, scones and other baked goods, and then they brought each guest an individual warm fruit compote. It was a very special meal in beautiful surroundings.

The San Gabriel House bed & breakfast has five guest rooms, each with its own separate bath. In addition, the property boasts a separate carriage house. Truly high class. I’d be proud to recommend this b & b to my guests.