Introducing FreeHouse, a Colorado startup offering unique, off-the-grid vacation rentals
(PRWEB) August 12, 2016 -- In a world of constant connectivity, it’s becoming more important than ever to take vacations where one can hang a virtual “Do Not Disturb” sign. For Lyons, Colorado’s Jason and Sarah Stillman, this means staying at remote accommodations where birdsong is louder than phone calls and hiking trails outnumber emails.
“My father lives off-the-grid on the Baja peninsula and has created a unique vacation rental,” said Sarah. “We love it there and know that others are looking for that type of travel experience.”
The only hitch, the couple realized, is that places entirely off the grid, like the retreat in Mexico weren’t necessarily easy for travelers to find.
So, they began to compile a list of off-the-grid properties — places not connected to city or town utilities and often powered by green energy - available for short-term rentals, and FreeHouse was born.
“FreeHouse is a web-based off-the-grid vacation rental business,” says Jason. “All of the properties are remote - some more than others - and a lot are rustic. However, some have a surprising degree of luxury.”
The Stillmans wanted to offer travelers an experience akin to visiting a 10th Mountain Division hut: off-the-grid accommodation with a stunning backdrop and miles of skiing, hiking, or mountain biking right outside the front door.
Travelers can navigate the FreeHouse website, http://www.discoverfreehouse.com, to search for off-the-grid properties primarily in Colorado (soon to expand across the country). Much like the familiar online marketplaces of AirBnB and VRBO, after choosing a location and arrival/departure dates, travelers can search by property type (yurt, ski hut, mountain house, beach house, or desert house), number of bedrooms, number of people the property sleeps, and whether or not pets are allowed. However, the similarities to other vacation rental marketplaces end here.
FreeHouse caters directly to the backcountry enthusiast who wants to travel off the grid. Each listing on the FreeHouse website is illustrated by a scale of how rustic, remote, and unplugged the property is. The description lists the elevation, as well as how accessible the property is - in each season - by vehicle, skiing, hiking, or biking in. This allows travelers who are seeking freedom from their normal routine to carefully select their off-the-grid retreat. Like "discoverfreehouse" on Facebook to receive special vacation promotions and learn about new off-the-grid destinations. https://www.facebook.com/discoverfreehouse/
From a straw bale house in Santa Fe to a ski-in cabin outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, FreeHouse properties cater to travelers interested in sustainable design and/or proximity to recreation opportunities like skiing and mountain biking. If a “digital detox” is the objective, FreeHouse makes it easy to find a place that’s intentionally unplugged. On the other hand, off-the-grid doesn’t necessarily exclude connectivity; each property is unique in its accessibility, remoteness, and connectedness.
FreeHouse will also work with potential hosts to create a listing on the website. If a property is off-the-grid, sustainably designed, close to recreation, and remote, the property owner can contact FreeHouse to develop a profile.
For travelers and property owners, FreeHouse represents the feeling of freedom one gets when visiting places that take trravelers away from the familiar.
“FreeHouses are free of outside infrastructure, self-sufficient, off-the-grid, and remote,” says Jason. “A vacation is all about freedom from daily life. A FreeHouse is a place to truly disconnect and find a genuine escape.” Visit http://www.discoverfreehouse.com to book a vacation.
Check out FreeHouse's brand video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKlWvc8AoDw
Sarah Stillman, FreeHouse, http://www.discoverfreehouse.com, +1 (970) 708-1576, [email protected]
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