Vacation Rentals or Hotels: Which one is Better?

Blue, Grey, and White Hotel Bed with Pillows

Summer is coming up, so you know what that means, the season of travel. You may find yourself wondering if you should rent a property on your vacation, rather than staying in a hotel. If you’re trying to decide which option will work better for your trip, here’s some information to help you.


Understanding Your Options

Most people imagine vacation rentals to be beach houses and Victorian mansions. However, these are only a few of the vacation rental options available in most destinations. You can rent apartments, quaint villas or even a treehouse.


Hotels tend to have a lot of the same features and amenities. There’s usually a pool and maybe a continental breakfast. While hotels don’t come in nearly as many styles as vacation rentals, you can make your reservations and rest assured that you know exactly what you’ll be getting.


The Advantages

Vacation rentals typically offer more space and privacy, and they might cost less per night than a nice hotel. You will likely have access to a full kitchen, laundry facilities and actual closets. For properties that are part of a complex (like townhouses or condos), there may also be additional amenities, such as tennis courts, workout centers and maybe even a golf course.


Hotels may offer concierge service, room service, exercise options like a pool or workout center, and deals on local attractions. You also have the option of daily maid service, so you won’t have to worry about cleaning the bathroom or washing dishes.


The Disadvantages

Single-family homes often don’t have the same range of amenities that you would find at a good hotel or in a condo or resort rental. There probably won’t be any in-house restaurants and you may need to provide certain personal items, including sheets and towels. Your check-in date may also be less flexible than it would be with a hotel.


For hotels, even the nicest has a lack of privacy (you can hear your neighbors through the walls). You may have access to maid service, but keep in mind that you may not even use it, especially if you’re only staying a few days.


Which is Better? Vacation Rentals or Hotels?


Making the choice if you have a large group, a vacation rental may be a more appropriate choice, simply because there is extra room for everyone to stay together. If you’re looking for concierge service or assistance navigating around your destination, a hotel may be the answer for you; ultimately, your choice depends on your needs and preferences.



So what do you prefer? Vacation Rentals or Hotels?



5 Comments

  1. The next time we go on vacation we will have to get a rental. There is just to many of us to stay in a hotel. We would have to get several room and that would cost us way to much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Last year, my dad rented a beach house with 8 rooms for a week and the price was way less than renting several different hotel rooms. Vacation homes are a good option.

      Delete
  2. We discovered rentals a few years ago when we went to Disney World. Anytime we are in a high tourist area we do rentals now. I've never had any trouble finding rentals that are on resort properties, so we get most of the hotel amenities along with the awesomeness of a house. My favorite thing about rentals, is being able to prepare our meals. It's cheaper, plus it's so much healthier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's one of the best about Vacation Rentals, preparing your own food. It's like a home away from home. I stayed in a Vacation Rental that was a condo and saved a lot of money staying there for a week. We cooked breakfast in the mornings there, but went out to eat in the evenings. But still we saved a lot.

      Delete
  3. Good comparison. I like vacation rentals for beach or mountain trips but hotels for city trips!
    http://www.robincharmagne.com/blog

    ReplyDelete
Previous Post Next Post