Going on vacation is a great way to get away from everything and take advantage of some much-needed rest and relaxation. When you are on the hunt for accommodations, you will have many options available to you, including renting a vacation home. If you are not sure whether or not this is the best choice for you, this list of pros and cons should be very helpful. Pro – More Space If you are traveling with lots of people and/or a ton of baggage, a rental home may be just what you need. There are properties of all sizes available, so it may not be that difficult to find one to accommodate you. This is a stark contrast to staying in a hotel room. Basically, everyone will be able to fit into one space without having to pay separate fees for multiple rooms. Con – No Bedding When you are traveling, and you book a rental property, there is a huge chance that it will not have bedding and all of the linens you are accustomed to. This means you will have to bring some from home or buy them while you are out. If your goals are to pack light and avoid spending more money than necessary, this can be a real pain. Pro – Less Packing And Unpacking Most people who stay in hotels have to worry about tidying up after themselves in order to be courteous to the staff that clean their rooms each day. For instance, you may always leave your socks on the floor near the door when you are at home, yet this is not something you would do if you were in a hotel. The good thing about vacation rentals is the fact that you can act like it is yours for the duration of your stay. This means that you will not have to keep packing and unpacking your things all of the time. Con – No Housekeeping Going on vacation typically means that you want to avoid all the hassles that come with your everyday life and this includes chores. With that said, renting a vacation home means that you will have to clean up after yourself since there is no in-house janitorial service. If you are truly against cleaning you can always hire a pro to assist, but that means you will have to spend more on your vacation than you originally intended. Pro – Kitchen Space One thing that people spend a lot of money on during vacations is food. On one hand, this is a great way to embrace the local cuisine, especially if you are traveling out of the country. On the other, this means that your vacation costs can double in an instant. Since a vacation rental will be equipped with a kitchen, you can hit the grocery store and buy food to prepare on your own. This means you can save money and spend it on someone else, like souvenirs. Con – Fewer Amenities When booking accommodations, people tend to look for places that have all of the bells and whistles. For instance, would you like a place that offers a shuttle to and from the airport? Would you like to receive a newspaper in front of the door each morning? These are common amenities many look forward to and they will not be available if you decide to rent a vacation home. Pro – More Privacy If you are one of those people who love letting your hair down and playing loud music, a vacation home may be just what you need. While this does not mean you should pay things so loud they disturb the neighbors, you will not have to worry about interrupting someone who shares a wall with you. It is a pain to tiptoe around when your goal is to have a great time, so rentals would certainly be great in this instance. Con – Checking In When you rent a vacation home, you will have to connect with the owner at some point in order to gain access to the property. This can be a real pain, especially if you plan to arrive at an off time. It can also be a hassle if the owner is less than professional and not particularly reliable. Instead of being able to check in immediately and let your hair down, you may have to do a bit of waiting or running around. Pro – The Prices Since you will not have an entire staff of people at your service, the nightly or weekly rate for a vacation home is typically lower than a hotel room in the same class. It would be a shame to go on a trip and be stuck with very little to do since the accommodation prices swallowed your funds. For this reason, a vacation rental is ideal. Also, you will save money since rental homes are not subject to the same fees as hotels. For instance, you will not have to pay convention center fees and recovery charges. This means more money stays in your wallet. Con – Security Issues Unless there is an alarm system in the home you are renting, there is always a chance that something can happen. Staying at a hotel means that you will have security and other personnel looking out for you at all times. This is not the same when you are renting a property. If you are heading to a place that is relatively safe you should be fine, but there may be a reason to worry if the place you are renting is not located in the best area. Now that you know all the ups and downs of renting a home when you are going on vacation, it is time to decide where to go from here. Do you rent a hotel room as usual or do you try something new and reserve a house? You must weigh all of these points and decide what the best option is for you.
