#i love this condo but sometimes it's Not Great to live in a 4th floor walkup lol

[desperatepleasures]

ok well I ran out of spoons to fold laundry so I guess that's getting added to the Tuesday Task List 😩 but at least I got everything else done that I needed to

[noordinarytravel]

Hotel vs Vacation Rental......a Few Things to Consider to Help You Decide

If you are like me and like to travel, you figure out where you are going to go and then you look for accommodations. There are a lot of options available out there for your accommodations but sometimes having a lot to choose from can be overwhelming. Trendy hotels, grand resorts, quaint and romantic B&Bs………..which one is the best option? I used to stay exclusively in hotels, even when traveling alone, until about seven or eight years ago. Now I take time to consider ALL of my options.

Vacation rentals can be a shared room, a private room in someone’s home, or it can be an entire apartment, condo, or home. I have never rented a shared or private room so I cannot attest to the pros and cons of those. Instead I will tell you about renting an entire unit whether it be just for you or your entire family.

Depending on the type of trip you are planning, the duration of your trip, and the size of your group, a vacation rental (i.e. AirBnB, HomeAway, etc.) may work better for you than a hotel. If you have never rented a vacation home or if you are resistant to the idea, I have a few items listed below for you to consider.

More Privacy

I love enjoying a cup of soul soothing coffee out on my patio or balcony in my pajamas every morning when I travel. I love laying in a hammock with a book in the evenings, swaying ever so gently as I read and maybe even dozing off a bit after long day of sightseeing. The problem is I don’t feel comfortable doing that if I have neighbors out on their balcony just 10 feet away.

Not only that, I don’t like having people close enough to me that they can possibly hear me and hubby through the walls. I mean……who doesn’t enjoy a little travel hanky panky, right? I certainly don’t want to hear someone else engaged in “activity,” their kids screaming and crying, or the TV at 100 decibels. You get my drift.

Even if you rent an apartment, having the entire unit to yourself still gives your more privacy than a hotel room. It also makes you feel more at home but in an exciting new location. The downside is that almost all of the apartments we have rented did not have daily housekeeping so, if that is important to you, don’t give up on renting a hotel room. You also don’t get the benefit of a hotel concierge.

More Amenities

I like vacation rentals because we enjoy the amenities that are not typically available at a hotel. Ok so wifi is nothing to brag these days about since most (if not all) hotels offer wifi for free or for a nominal fee. Going beyond wifi though………what about a fireplace, laundry facilities, a full kitchen, or a pool?

We always look for vacation rentals with laundry facilities, especially for our extended vacations. We pack four or five outfits, throw some laundry pods and dryer sheets in a ziploc bag, and do laundry as needed. That allows us to pack a little lighter, have fewer bags to worry about, and minimize our bag fees at the airport. Our oldest child travels in a wheelchair so handing fewer bags is better for us. I am done trying to push a wheelchair, carry a bag over my shoulder, plus drag a roller bag behind me. It is way too exhausting and just not necessary.

More Space

The nice thing about vacation rentals is that you can look for a space that fits your group size. Multiple bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, ample dining space for a group, and larger living areas are all possible with a vacation rental.

When you begin your search, filter by specifying the minimum number of beds, bedrooms, and bathrooms you need. You will then get a list of only the rental units that match your criteria. You will eliminate wasting time looking through pages and pages of rental units and be able to focus on just the ones that meet your needs.

Spending time together is so important to us on our trips. Our younger two kids are in college and they will one day be too busy with their own lives to travel with Mom and Dad. Having a space that allows us to be together to create precious memories is a priority for me.

A More Authentic Experience

This one is absolutely based on personal preference. My family I prefer to stay outside of the super touristy areas and find a place so that we can “live like the locals.” We believe it gives us a less commercialized, more authentic experience overall compared to staying in a hotel or resort in the touristy areas. Of course we sometimes stay in resorts in our target destination but, more often than not, we choose something that is a short drive away.

By staying outside the touristy area, we experience more than what is seen in postcards and travel guides, we are less likely to be victims of tourist targeted crimes like pickpockets and purse snatchers, and grocery store and restaurant prices tend to be a little lower as well.

Price Point

This part may not be as relevant to single travelers or couples as it is for families and groups. If you are traveling with a group that will require more than two hotel rooms, a vacation rental can be a very affordable option for you.

When we went to Greece last year, we rented a three bedroom - three bathroom condo for approximately $200 USD per night. With our kids being adults now, we would need at least two hotel rooms which would have run $150+ per room per night for the same quality and caliber as the condo we rented. The condo allowed us to have enough bedrooms and living space that we didn’t have split up into separate rooms. It gave us more time together as a family and we had wifi, a full kitchen, laundry facilities, and 180 degrees of ocean view (every room had its own balcony!).

Yes I am a travel consultant but my family and I still travel with a budget in mind. Vacation rentals save us money and allow us to stay on track financially so we can use our hard earned money for great travel experiences.

Unique Units

Did you know that you can have some really cool experiences by seeking out unique vacation rentals? Houseboats, treehouses, yurts, RVs…..…whatever it is that strikes your fancy, you may very well find it in your destination of choice.

Some gal pals and I went on a girls’ trip a few years ago and rented a sweet three bedroom, two bathroom houseboat with a rooftop deck and bar in Ft. Lauderdale. We had such a great time on that deck watching the sunset while having some cocktails! Sure we could have had a similar experience in a hotel but this was so much better!

The Extras

My last point today is about the "extras” you may have available to you. What do I mean by extras? When looking for a beach house, we found many units that have kayaks available free of charge. Some had jet skis and fishing gear we could rent by the day, and one houseboat owner even offered to take the houseboat out for an evening excursion. We were not allowed to take it out on our own but he was happy to do it if we wanted an evening cruise.

In Cuba, our hosts had a menu available for us if we wanted them to cook for us, offered to arrange taxis, and even helped us find a church to whom we donated hygiene and school supplies for their orphanage. Yes, some hotels may offer some of those services but my experience has been that they charge a lot more than vacation rental home owners.

You Have a Choice to Make

Regardless of whether you choose to stay in a hotel or a vacation rental home, PLEASE read the fine print and reviews. Don’t just look at the overall review score either. Look for the reviews that are bad and find out why they rated the unit poorly. Oftentimes I find information that is critical for us. For example, listings may not be clear about not having an elevator for a 4th floor unit or they may have limited hours for check in. Having a child with cerebral palsy, a 4th floor walk up would be a real challenge. Read, read, read those reviews!

The great thing about travel is you have several ways to make each of your trips stand out. You don’t have to do the same thing you have always done, and you don’t have to do the same thing everyone else is doing. With so many options available, there is something to fit most budgets and preferences. If you are new to AirBnB, join and use my code to get a $40 off of your first stay.

2019 is just a couple of days away. I hope one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get out more and have fun!