1000 Guests at Erehwon Retreat

1000 guests are right

Sophie Tucker’s record ‘Fifty-million Frenchmen can’t be wrong’ alludes to the  free-and-easy attitude to drinking in France seven years into Prohibition in the U.S.A. A historian friend mentioned Tucker’s hit, after Erehwon Retreat’s 1000th guest checked out.  1000 guests are right because 2020 marks our tenth season. We’ve enjoyed a decade of:

  • welcoming vacationers,
  • practicing the skills of hospitality,
  • offering a relaxing, inspirational home base from which to explore Tampa and the wider central Florida region.

A thousand vacations … what makes Erehwon Retreat so special?

It’s been a decade of hard work to make Erehwon Retreat unique. Florida is full of places to vacation, so it’s been our mission to combine the t charm of a vacation home rental with superb features. We offer more space, safety, security plus white glove cleaning /disinfection, alongside a personal welcome and on-site concierge.

Wilcox Nursery and I planned to build a Florida native plant garden, to show visitors native plants and wildlife. Now they can spot them on local hikes. I hope that those in Executive Transfer while looking for a Florida home learn to help the environment and support wildlife. My dream has become a reality, delivering dozens of different native birds and butterflies to Erehwon Retreat’s doorstep.

Awards for Erehwon Retreat

This year the garden was designated a Wildlife Habitat by the National and Florida Wildlife Federation. It’s a huge honor, but more importantly,  vacationers who stay with us experience the best of Florida on their doorstep. My Grandmother said, “planting a garden is to believe in tomorrows.” Our garden is the tomorrow of our vacation rental.

The universal language of hospitality

I’ve always worked in the performing arts – so I have know music and dance are ways to communicate across boundaries. Since developing Erehwon Retreat, I’ve learned that hospitality is a universal language too. When Erehwon opened, it was aimed at Americans; today 12% of our guests are from overseas. Their expectations are different. Whether they come from America or Asia, it’s important to know their particular likes and dislikes – it makes for fascinating new discoveries.

Online hospitality for 1000 guests

Offering an experience of the 1920s to people from around the world is a joy. As part of our 10th anniversary, I developed a stronger guest experience, which is why, since December 8 we’ve made Erehwon Retreat  available in 25 different languages. I chose them through having hosted at least one guest from each language. For example, Erehwon Retreat hosted two guests from Argentina, and one each from Spain, Paraguay, Mexico and the Dominican Republic – hence our Spanish language site is  very popular! Looking back it’s hard to believe we’ve welcomed guests from so many countries.

The Erehwon Retreat perspective

From period decorative details to wildlife-watching opportunities over breakfast on the deck, I’ve designed my holiday house to be truly special and unique. Luxury one meant three-piece-suits and starched shirts, but that’s changing and our guests want a  genuine approach to service rather than formalities. Many people agree that I’ve achieved my aim.

This year, Erehwon Retreat won the Tampa Award for Vacation Rental Agency. What makes my vacation home unique is my commitment to service. Just as AirBnB is moving to AirBnB Plus to offer guests a more valuable, unique rental experience, I know every future visitor will discover just what makes 1000 guests right. Erehwon Retreat is special, and whatever language you speak,  we’ll share the language of hospitality.

Give it up for Sophie Tucker …

SCOOTER RENTALS Tampa – and bike hire too

SCOOTER RENTALS Tampa - and bike hire too Erehwon Retreat

Tampa now has four different motorized scooters to cruise around downtown –
BIRD| www.bird.co |1 (866) 205-2442

JUMP| www.jump.com |1 (844) 505 9155

LIME| www.li.me |1 (888)-LIME-345

SPIN | www.spin.app |1 (888) 249-9698

They’re part of a year-long pilot program to offer low-cost transportation and reduce traffic downtown. JUMP electric scooters are available in Tampa and Miami through the Uber app and give riders the ability to both reserve and walk up and ride a scooter.
I recommend LIME because they have the most Florida towns covered. Lime is available in:
Ft. Lauderdale
Key Biscayne
Miami
Miami Lakes
Miami Shores
Miami Springs
North Bay Village
North Miami

Once riders discover their scooter of choice, they can scan the QR code through the Uber app to unlock it.

All riders 16 years of age with a valid drivers license or permit has to do is kick off the ground three times to get the scooter going, pressing the throttle to boost anywhere up to 15 mph. The brake, located on the left handlebar, can be used to slow down, or riders can use the rear brake to come to a more immediate stop.

The app also shows riders how charged the scooter is and how far it can be ridden before it dies and needs to be recharged again. On average, the scooters can travel at speeds up to about 15 mph and operate between 15 to 20 miles on a single charge.

The current boundaries are listed below:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. on the North
Davis and Harbor Islands on the South
Armenia Avenue on the West
40th Street on the East

Scooters may not be ridden in the following locations:
Tampa Riverwalk
Bayshore Boulevard
7th Avenue

You may also lock the scooter so other users cannot ride it, but remember you are being charged by the minute and you will continue to incur charges. This is useful if you’re just running inside a store or making some other quick stop.

Florida is flat but remember do not ride a scooter down steep hills. High speed can overpower the electric brake causing loss of control. Use the rear foot brake to control speed. Always get off and walk down steep hills.To find a Lime scooter, simply open the Uber app or the Lime app, then tap Ride at the top of your screen and select Bike & Scooter (Uber app only). In both cases, you’ll automatically be taken to a map screen showing all available scooters near you.

And for Bike Rentals and Electric Bikes there is – COAST
Miami, FL
Orlando, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Tampa, FL