While temporary home stay rentals continue to grow in popularity, hotels are still quite popular. How do you choose, make everyone happy, consider convenience and still maintain your sanity? To help out, we came up with five great reasons why renting a vacation/temporary stay home can be a better option than staying at a hotel. Plus, at the end of the article, we have included a verbal chart to compare the pros and cons.
1. Renting a vacation/temporary stay home can save you money. Renting a house, townhouse, or condo can be surprisingly affordable. For even more savings, divide the cost of one temporary stay 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.
2. You’ll have plenty of space. Family vacations used to include kids (or adults) 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, but Mom and Dad definitely will—complete privacy at last, just like home — even though you may be hundreds of miles away. On average, a vacation home gives you more than 1,300 sq ft in which to stretch out, unwind, and enjoy. By comparison, hotel rooms average just 325 sq ft and multiple neighbors in close proximity offering little to no privacy.
3. 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. This is assuming that you can agree on which hotel to choose. A house 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. But when you are ready for some ‘alone’ time you can always retreat to your private bedroom, which at some properties will still include a sitting area and cable TV.
4. 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 just like home, and even have access to your favorite coffee at a moment’s notice. Better yet, having access to a kitchen can be a lifesaver when traveling with someone who has special dietary needs, or if the entire group is just looking forward to indulging in that famous family recipe (thanks Aunt Sally & Uncle Jim !!!)
5. All the comforts of home. Vacation homes are just that: Homes. They usually include all the things you’d expect to find at home. Full-sized appliances, dishes, laundry facilities, and maybe even a neighborhood playground for the kids. Specialized properties go the distance for you and include games, billiards and grills. These kinds of amenities can help to make your stay feel just like home, which significantly adds to the overall comfort level and enhances the experience for everyone involved.
1. Renting a vacation/temporary stay home can save you money. Renting a house, townhouse, or condo can be surprisingly affordable. For even more savings, divide the cost of one temporary stay 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.
2. You’ll have plenty of space. Family vacations used to include kids (or adults) 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, but Mom and Dad definitely will—complete privacy at last, just like home — even though you may be hundreds of miles away. On average, a vacation home gives you more than 1,300 sq ft in which to stretch out, unwind, and enjoy. By comparison, hotel rooms average just 325 sq ft and multiple neighbors in close proximity offering little to no privacy.
3. 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. This is assuming that you can agree on which hotel to choose. A house 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. But when you are ready for some ‘alone’ time you can always retreat to your private bedroom, which at some properties will still include a sitting area and cable TV.
4. 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 just like home, and even have access to your favorite coffee at a moment’s notice. Better yet, having access to a kitchen can be a lifesaver when traveling with someone who has special dietary needs, or if the entire group is just looking forward to indulging in that famous family recipe (thanks Aunt Sally & Uncle Jim !!!)
5. All the comforts of home. Vacation homes are just that: Homes. They usually include all the things you’d expect to find at home. Full-sized appliances, dishes, laundry facilities, and maybe even a neighborhood playground for the kids. Specialized properties go the distance for you and include games, billiards and grills. These kinds of amenities can help to make your stay feel just like home, which significantly adds to the overall comfort level and enhances the experience for everyone involved.
Pros and Cons of Choosing a Homestay Rental Over a Hotel
What You May Give Up
Predictability: From aesthetics to amenities you know what to expect at a hotel, especially the big chains. National chain home stays unfortunately don’t offer much from a consistency or predictability standpoint, unless you go with a locally owned home stay chain that specializes in creating a consistent experience in certain local geographies.
Guest services: You won’t have a concierge on hand to book dinner reservations or recommend that perfect shop. Some home stay companies will provide you with recommendations and sometimes special discounts at local eating & shopping establishments.
Housekeeping: Who doesn’t like a freshly made bed and fluffy new towels every single day? Only hotels offer this indulgence.
Room service: Though you might be able to have food delivered, you’ll have to give up ordering breakfast the night before.
Fitness center: Most hotels have gym equipment or workout rooms so that guests can stay fit while they travel, but they’re relatively rare in vacation rentals.
What You May Get
Uniqueness: From chic city apartments to castles to tree houses, the variety of accommodations is limitless.
Privacy: Renting a home or apartment means freedom from having to deal with hotel staff—or anyone else, for that matter. This opportunity for social distancing could be especially important during times of health pandemics.
Comfort: Vacation rentals offer many of the conveniences you’re used to including more space to spread out, play games, plan and laugh and can often feel just like home.
A kitchen: You don’t have to use it, but it’s nice to have if you want to save some money, refrigerate left overs and be able to invite friends over for your famous homemade family dishes. I would love to scramble eggs in the kitchen below!
Value: Vacation rentals can offer great value for the money. For instance, you can usually find one that will accommodate a large group for much less than several hotel rooms.
What You May Give Up
Predictability: From aesthetics to amenities you know what to expect at a hotel, especially the big chains. National chain home stays unfortunately don’t offer much from a consistency or predictability standpoint, unless you go with a locally owned home stay chain that specializes in creating a consistent experience in certain local geographies.
Guest services: You won’t have a concierge on hand to book dinner reservations or recommend that perfect shop. Some home stay companies will provide you with recommendations and sometimes special discounts at local eating & shopping establishments.
Housekeeping: Who doesn’t like a freshly made bed and fluffy new towels every single day? Only hotels offer this indulgence.
Room service: Though you might be able to have food delivered, you’ll have to give up ordering breakfast the night before.
Fitness center: Most hotels have gym equipment or workout rooms so that guests can stay fit while they travel, but they’re relatively rare in vacation rentals.
What You May Get
Uniqueness: From chic city apartments to castles to tree houses, the variety of accommodations is limitless.
Privacy: Renting a home or apartment means freedom from having to deal with hotel staff—or anyone else, for that matter. This opportunity for social distancing could be especially important during times of health pandemics.
Comfort: Vacation rentals offer many of the conveniences you’re used to including more space to spread out, play games, plan and laugh and can often feel just like home.
A kitchen: You don’t have to use it, but it’s nice to have if you want to save some money, refrigerate left overs and be able to invite friends over for your famous homemade family dishes. I would love to scramble eggs in the kitchen below!
Value: Vacation rentals can offer great value for the money. For instance, you can usually find one that will accommodate a large group for much less than several hotel rooms.
