8 Reasons to Rent a Vacation Home Instead of a Hotel Room

by The Evolve Team on January 12, 2012   

Here are eight reasons why renting a home can be better than staying at a hotel.

1. Renting a vacation home can save you money. Renting a house, townhouse, or condo can be surprisingly affordable. For even more savings, divide the cost of one vacation rental home with friends or family. Though it’s not true in all cases, many travelers find that renting a home is much cheaper than renting enough hotel rooms to accommodate their entire group. To find out which option costs less for your trip, use the Vacation Rentals vs. Hotels Calculator at TripAdvisor.com.

2. Vacation rentals are available in more places. Kahler chose to rent a house largely because hotels weren’t available in the place he wanted to visit. If you’d like to stay in a remote location or anywhere that’s not big with tourists, you may have trouble finding a hotel. Renting a home lets you stay right where you want to be.

3. You’ll have plenty of space. Family vacations used to include kids bickering over who got what side of the bed and what to watch on the only TV in the hotel room. In a rental home, there may be many TVs, and there will certainly be plenty of beds. Each child might even get her own room. Mom and Dad will definitely get their own room—privacy at last!

4. Your whole group can stay together. In a hotel, a large family or group of friends will be spread out among several rooms, possibly on different sides of the building. A house, townhouse, or condo lets you all stay together, so everyone is easy to find and include in the fun. You’ll also have more comfortable places to hang out as a group—in the living room, on a deck or patio, or around a dining table.

5. It’s easier to travel with pets. Not all vacation homes allow pets, but many do. Yes, many hotels now accept pets, too, but a house will give your pet more space to run. And if your dog gets nervous and barks late at night, your neighbors may be too far away to complain about the noise.

6. You can cook at home, if you’d like to. Cooking your own meals can be a big budget saver. You’ll also be able to keep a fridge and cabinets full of snacks, and have your favorite coffee and any other drinks you’d like at a moment’s notice. Better yet, your own kitchen can be a lifesaver if anyone in your family has special dietary needs.

7. You may get free laundry facilities. Most rental homes are equipped with washers and dryers—no coins needed. (Be sure to ask when booking if this is important to you.) When it’s this easy to do laundry, you’ll save money and hassle, and you’ll be able to pack lighter.

8. You can live more like the locals do. In a vacation rental, you’ll be able to relax at home. You’ll shop for groceries. You’ll likely be in a more residential part of town, instead of on a tourist strip. Best of all, you’ll be in contact with the homeowners, who have probably lived or vacationed there, themselves. Ask them for insider tips for a better vacation at a better value.