Louise and Dean on one of their many overseas adventures
I asked Louise (Owner of Aston Road Villa) why they decided on running a B&B?
Here is Louise and Dean (her partner) reply to my question
A favourite quote of ours is “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” (Anonymous).
“We started travelling as a family when our children were aged 2 and 4 our first trip was to the Gold Coast. We travelled around NZ and to many parts of the world as a family. We liked to stay with locals in family run accommodation.
This is how the idea of having our own Bed & Breakfast sprang into life. In 2004 we purchased a one-hectare property in Aston Road on the hill overlooking the Kapiti coast. It wasn’t until 2017 that we began our design journey to build a house with a designated guest wing where we could host and share travel experiences with fellow travellers.
When we travel, we like a comfortable bed, nice linen, a place to make a cup of tea, and a private entrance and quiet space independent from the owners. Our plan was to recreate that. We started the actual build in 2018 and our first guests arrived in August 2019. We named our home Aston Road Villa – we live in Aston Road and the term ‘villa’ originated from an ancient Roman luxurious country residence.
Dean and I enjoy visiting Roman ruins in different places around the world. We designed a logo for our business that reflected this. Our point of difference is that we provide a ‘stay in the country experience’ yet we are a 4-minute drive to Waikanae, access to the new transmission gully is easy and access to the train can get you into the city in an hour.
We joined the NZ Bed and Breakfast Association which has a quality assessed program and assists members to set up their business in line with best practice. Through this association we were able to have contacts with various Overseas Travel Agencies and we began our relationships with them obtaining bookings from guests from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, UK. Many of these overseas guests stay here as it’s their base to go to Kapiti Island. Also, we host guests via our website and booking.com mostly Kiwis and Australians.
We always enjoy talking with our guests about travels and have exchanged many a wine and nibbles discussing favourite places, showing them our collected travel artwork and picking up some tips of places to visit to add to our ever-expanding list.
The B&B sector is helping to meet the demand from international travellers for high quality accommodation in NZ especially after the loss of so much accommodation due to the impact of the pandemic.
In 2022 we achieved a Qualmark 4 star plus bed and breakfast grading and Silver Sustainable Tourism Business award. Sustainability is important to us and right from the beginning this has been a focus and a work in progress. We are active members of the NZ Tourism Sustainability Commitment and have a 3-year action plan which includes reducing waste and restoring nature with pest traps and planting.
We are also part of Pakihi toitu o Kapiti aligning our business with other Kapiti business working sustainably, we work with the Kapiti tourism advisory board and have presence on the Kapiticoastnz website. The tiake (Māori word meaning to guard or keep) promise is also promoted here at the villa – showing respect, protecting nature and encouraging safe travel in NZ
Our focus continues to be on providing genuine hospitality (manaakitanga) and welcoming our guests to our place sharing our piece of the Kapiti Coast.”
Thanks Louise, that’s a great description of your journey and business.
See our gallery of photos of Aston Road Villa B&B at bottom of this article.
I also did a little research myself and this is what I came up with when asking google the question - Why people choose to stay in Bed and Breakfast (BnB)?
There are several reasons why people may prefer to stay in an Airbnb accommodation over a traditional hotel:
Unique experiences: BnB listings often provide unique and interesting experiences that are not available in traditional hotels. Staying in someone's home or apartment allows travellers to live like locals and experience a new place in a more authentic way.
Affordability: In many cases, BnB listings can be more affordable than hotels, especially if you're traveling with a larger group or for an extended period. Airbnb listings can range from budget-friendly options to luxurious accommodations, giving travellers a range of choices that fit their budget.
Privacy: BnB accommodations often offer more privacy than hotels, with separate bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas. This can be particularly appealing for families, couples, or groups of friends who want to spend time together without feeling cramped or confined.
Convenience: BnB listings are often located in residential neighbourhoods or other unique areas that may not be accessible through traditional hotels. This can provide a more convenient location for travellers who want to explore a particular area or attend an event in a specific part of town.
Personalized service: BnB hosts often go above and beyond to provide personalized service and make their guests feel welcome. This can include recommendations for local restaurants and activities, as well as additional amenities such as bicycles, kayaks, or other equipment that guests can use during their stay.
Overall, people may prefer to stay in BnB accommodations because they offer a unique, affordable, and personalized travel experience that can be tailored to their individual needs and preferences.
Hope you love Louise and Deans business and recommend them to any friends visiting the beautiful Kapiti Coast.
Nga mihi
Tony Cutting
for Kapiti Now
PS. If you have a Kapiti Business and want some high-quality networking and marketing ideas, come join us at our next meeting - Its FREE. You’ll find the next meeting posted on our Facebook Page
