Writing holidays...?

[Ecks Ridgehead]

Happy New Year all

Okay, so I've written one book that I'm trying to get published and I fancy myself as a bit of a writer - I've even got a blog where I write little bits of self-indulgent dribble - and I'm thinking of maybe taking some time off to go and get away from it all and get some serious writing done on my second book. After drawing a bit of a blank on t'internet, however (after watching The Goonies on TV the other day* I remembered how nice Astoria, Oregon looked, but it seems rather expensive to rent anywhere there), I was wondering if any of you PistonHeaders could help me out at all.

I'm looking for somewhere to rent where I can write, and basically my requirements are these:

1. Preferably somewhere I speaka da lingo (English and pidgin Spanish)
2. Not too expensive (in terms of rent, travel to and from, and cost of living)
3. Quiet (there's nothing like roadworks outside the window to crush the creative spirit)
4. Nice scenery (for inspiration, like)
5. Near basic amenities (don't want to spend all day sorting out food, anti-scorpion powder, etc)
6. Preferably internet access (for research purposes, not p0rn, honest)
7. High proportion of loose women in the vicinity (this one's pretty self-explanatory)

...so do any of you know of any apartments or houses that fit some or all** of these requirements? Maybe you've stayed somewhere like this already, or perhaps a friend or relative owns a holiday property that fits the bill...? Or maybe there are just parts of the world that you've been to that are particularly peaceful and serene. I'm thinking of going for two to four weeks or so, maybe in February or March depending on work...but I need to know whether there is somewhere realistic that I can afford before I start thinking seriously about it.

Any help/suggestions/ideas would be much appreciated!

Ta

Ecks

*Don't try and pretend you wouldn't have watched it if you'd known it was on

**OK, I appreciate that requirements 3 and 7 are probably mutually exclusive

[rsvmilly]

The Thai islands tick most of those boxes, although the internet can be a bit ropey.

[srebbe64]

How about one of the less touristy islands of Hawaii - that would tick all the boxes.

[Ecks Ridgehead]

Aren't the air fares to these places quite pricey?

[puggit]

How about Western Ireland?

[beano500]

Ecks Ridgehead said:

Aren't the air fares to these places quite pricey?

There's always alternatives for example this which would give you something to write about too

[Ecks Ridgehead]

beano500 said:

Ecks Ridgehead said: Aren't the air fares to these places quite pricey? There's always alternatives for example this which would give you something to write about too

Nice!

I already have something to write about though, I just need somewhere away from all my day-to-day distractions where I can discipline myself to write it!

[Ecks Ridgehead]

puggit said:

How about Western Ireland?

Very possible. I've been there before, it's a great part of the world.

[rsvmilly]

Ecks Ridgehead said:

Aren't the air fares to these places quite pricey?

You could fly with BA direct for around £460 (I checked earlier) or if you go indirect it could cost you around £360. When you get out there everything is much cheaper, especially if you don't mind budget accommodation (£1-3 a night for REALLY budget)

[Racylady]

How about somewhere in the Highlands of Scotland? Maybe not the warmest place on earth in February/March but very, very beautiful and inspiring and only a cars journey to civilisation if you want it.

[GasBlaster]

What you want is a nice big empty house in rural France, in acres of land, wide open views to distant mountains, and its own swimmimg pool. There you could write uninterrupted. Until one day when the owner's seventeen year old nymphette daughter turns up, and things go a little haywire.


sorry, you can't use this plot, it's been done and is a movie called 'the swimming pool' which is excellent and not the least bit rude, honest