Hotel vs. Vacation Rentals – There’s a Choice!
One of the most important aspects of travel planning is your accommodations. While hotels and resorts are primarily the first choice for most, there are other options available. Here’s some tips to help you choose the right vacation rental for your next vacation. Consider vacation rentals, it may be your perfect choice..
I became a mom at 22, having not experienced much travel before that. My first vacation experiences were not the best. Sharing a hotel room with the kids is just not fun. At nap time and/or bed time the options are limited. Lets see, you can sit in the dark and meditate, read a book in the dark or drag a chair into the hallway and call room service from your cell phone. What to do, what to do…! So many options!
Early on, I started looking for hotels with a separate bedroom. The kids got the bedroom, I got the pullout. While not the most comfortable nights sleep, my vacation didn’t end at 8 pm every night! That type of room was a little hard to find back then but I had some luck with www.marriott.com. Today there’s an option to get a vacation rental vs. hotel. This gives so many more options that may fit better into your budget travel plan.
Today, although there are more hotels with separate bedrooms available, you still may be paying a steep price for this accommodation. There are many ways to find vacation rental to fit your needs. Why not rent someone’s private home, condominium, apartment or timeshare?! The internet has become a great resource in finding what you need. There are many choices, no matter where you are traveling to. This is an excellent option to save both money and sanity. You might want to consider this when vacationing with children, extended family, another couple, etc.. Personally, my husband and I prefer this even by ourselves. He is a morning person and I’m a night owl, a little difficult in a hotel room setting.
The Perks:
Many vacation rentals are less expensive than a hotel room.
You’ll realize a major money savings by having a kitchen and not eating out every meal.
A cool ‘living like the locals’ feeling. We especially enjoyed this in Europe. We’ve rented a condo on the French Riviera, a townhouse in Ireland, and an apartment in a castle in Tuscany!
Living space, living space, living space.
The Quirks:
No resort amenities such as spa treatments (although you can choose a home with a pool, hot tub, etc).
No room service, concierge or shuttles.
Your may be expected to cook dinner on vacation!
So if you’re in the mood for a totally pampered, relaxing, I’m not doing anything kind of vacation, a hotel would be a good choice. If you want to move in and make your destination ‘home’ for a week or two, try a vacation rental. Some recommended places to search; www.homeaway.com, www.vrbo.com for private homes, condos and apartments. Or www.inspirato.com or www.redweek.com for timeshare. Don’t forgot to check traveler reviews. Make it a 4 Star Vacation Home!
