It’s pretty obvious that a lot of people think vacation rentals are better than hotels. Vacation rentals are extremely popular right now and it seems everyone is renting out a room or their home on Airbnb. Some even think the vacation rental industry will soon surpass the hotel industry. Here are some of my top reasons why vacation rentals are better than hotels.
Vacation Rentals Can Save you Money
In general it will be less expensive for you to rent a vacation rental than a hotel room. This is especially true if you have a larger group and the cost is broken down per person.
Here is a real world example from my own experience:
I manage several 3 bedroom town homes that can sleep 8-10 guests. They are very modern with internet service and cable service included. There is also a resort-style swimming pool that guests have access to. The cost per night during our peak season is roughly $350 per night, with the cleaning fee factored in. This breaks down to a cost of $43 per person per night if you have 8 guests.
Right across the street from these town homes is a chain hotel. Very nice hotel. Modern and with similar amenities mentioned above with a nice swimming pool. The average rate for a room during the peak season is roughly $280 per night. This breaks down to $70 per person per night, and this is with 4 people sharing a cramped hotel room!
Another thing to keep in mind is that hotels charge for virtually everything, from in-room movies, to over-priced lobby bars to daily rates for parking. Many hotels have even started charging for Wi-Fi. You will typically not incur extra expenses like this with a vacation rental.
Trip Advisor has a calculator designed to help renters compare the cost of a vacation rental vs a hotel, based on their trip.
More Convenient for Renters with Pets
Many but not all vacation rentals allow guests to bring their pet, which is a big plus for many. It is true that hotels have caught on with this trend. The number of pet friendly hotels has increased by more than 10% in the last 10 years.
The difference with a vacation rental home is your pet will have more space to roam. He can have his own yard. If he does bark, the neighbors are further away than just the next room over.
You will find a vacation rental to be more convenient and so will your furry friend.
Live Like a Local
Hotels are usually located in major commercial areas, so you really aren’t getting an authentic experience of your destination. A vacation rental home is much more likely to be located in a residential area.
If avoiding the tourist areas and blending in with the locals is your idea of a great trip, then vacation rentals are definitely for you.
Cook Your Own Meals
Many vacation homes come equipped with a full kitchen just like you would have at home. Most hotels have a small refrigerator at best. This is one of the major differences I always point out to renters and one of the main reasons why vacation rentals are better than hotels.
Renters staying at a typical vacation rental can go grocery shopping and cook as many meals for themselves as they want. This eliminates a major expense of traveling: eating out.
A side benefit of being able to cook your own meal is you will typically eat healthier than you would at a restaurant, Who knows, you might actually lose weight while on vacation!
Vacation Rentals are Available Almost Everywhere
Certain areas such as remote/rural locations or cities that are not large tourist spots may simply not have any acceptable hotel rooms.
I would venture to say that virtually every town in America has at least one vacation rental. Whether you want a off-the-grid vacation rental in Colorado, a yurt in Idaho or a tree house near a Hawaiian volcano, there is truly a vacation rental close to wherever you want to be.
Pick the Exact Room That You Want
How many times have you researched that modern hotel room online with the beautiful photos only to be put in the room with the 70’s shag carpet and wood paneled walls? It is not really a secret that hotels showcase their best rooms online. You may actually get the room that you see in the photos, but you probably won’t.
With a vacation rental you will get the exact property that you are looking at online. This is of course assuming you do your research and book with a legitimate owner or vacation rental manager. Every vacation rental is different and each property is typically marketed on it’s own. When you click “book now”, you are renting the exact property you want, not a lesser version of it.
More Space, so Bring the Whole Family
Vacation rentals come in all shapes and sizes, while hotels traditionally have 1 or 2 beds per room.
It is very easy to rent a larger vacation home that can accommodate your entire group under the same roof. This means you can enjoy each other’s company while having more privacy than simply sharing the same hotel room.
