When it comes to traveling, using rentals for accommodations is my favorite thing. Not only do you get to feel cozy in a home away from home but it also helps save money in a number of ways.
I’m starting up a new series here on the blog where I’ll be writing about tips and tricks of travel for first-timers. After recently talking with my cousin who was about to embark on her first flight, I realized there’s so much information I’m credible in giving that could be helpful for those taking the plunge on their first trip. Along with flight info, she wanted to know everything there was about AirBnb’s or rentals on vacation compared to a hotel. I brain-dumped all of my travel knowledge onto her, thus inspiring me to write this post for y’all.
Exclusive Rentals vs. AirBnb
Searching for a good rental isn’t difficult to do, especially if it’s done through a listing by an individual or a leasing company. When I was looking for accommodation on Sanibel Island in Florida, I found a number of rental options listed on Expedia that were offered by rental companies.
Now on to my go-to place for accommodations! I’m sure by now everyone knows about AirBnb, which allows you to book your stay online before you travel. I swear by AirBnb’s when I travel and for a number of reasons.
When booking a place on AirBnb, the total price can be more than what was quoted when viewing the listing. AirBnb adds in service charges and cleaning fees that can end up costing an arm and a leg. For my accommodation on Caye Caulker Island, the listing had our AirBnb at about $150 a night. 3 nights would equal $450 but, after added in all of the service charges and fees, we ended up paying $600 for that 3 night stay.
Read More about my stay on Caye Caulker Island in Belize here
Rentals > Hotels
Don’t get me wrong, I love me a good hotel. With a complimentary breakfast, an inclusion of all the necessary hygiene products and daily room services like fresh sheets and towels, sometimes you really can’t go wrong with a hotel on vaca.
For me personally, rentals are way more beneficial to use while traveling and especially if you’re staying for longer than one night.
A few reasons why I love renting over a hotel:
- It gives me a peace of mind knowing that staff won’t be in and out of my room. Once I leave my things behind, they should be safe there without anyone having access.
- Rentals can save so much money. Having a fully-equipped kitchen has allowed me to save so many dollars on food. If we’re staying for more than a few days in a rental, the first thing I do is go to the market and grab ingredients for upcoming meals. Storing it in the refrigerator, I make sure I have everything I need to make breakfast, lunch and dinner so I don’t have to spend money eating out.
- Laundry is also another perk of having a rental, especially when traveling for a long period of time. Most rentals do have a washer and dryer and it’s great having a place to wash your clothes for free.
- Some rentals give discounts for longer stays so if you plan on being there for a week or two, inquire about any sort of discount for that.
Location, Location, Location
Before even considering how to go about renting a vaca property, the first thing we need to sort is whereabouts you would like to go. Being limited in a location shouldn’t be a factor in most places because rentals over hotels have become a popular way of utilizing accommodations.
From rural to beachside and to city locations, you’ll find a range of properties available at a wide variety of prices. It’s no secret that the best choices for accommodation will be nearest to popular activities, locations and sought-after views. Decide what you want most out of your time in the area so your rental will coincide with what you’re wanting to do. A beachfront property would benefit you more if you plan to spend your time sunbathing and swimming. If you’re wanting to be near museums, galleries or bars within a city, choose a rental closest to those areas.
I always make sure my rentals are in close proximity to where I want to be spending my time. For example, when choosing an AirBnb in Oslo, I made sure I booked near some of the top sights, which did end up costing me more in the end. I also made sure that there were food or market options near the rental so I could save on transportation within the city.
Read More: Oslo: My 1 Day Walking Tour
Calculate the Number of Guests
As I mentioned before, utilizing rental accommodations can be much cheaper than a hotel and that especially depends upon the number of guests. The next thing to decide when renting a vaca space is how many people will be going on the trip.
Vaca rental websites like AirBnb asks the number of guests specifically and for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the more guests you add, the higher the cost becomes. Secondly, some accommodations don’t support more than one or two persons.
On my recent adventure in Scandinavia, we had to ensure that the number of guests didn’t change as we booked our accommodations as a group of three. I was searching for places using two guests then, after switching that number to three, some of the rentals became unavailable due to lack of space.
Read More: The Perfect 10 Day Scandinavian Itinerary
We also had to ask each person who was going on the trip about any specific requests for sleeping arrangements. Do people want their own space or are they happy sharing a room or a bed for that matter? Once you have this info, it’ll be so much easier to track down a property to rent that will meet your needs.
Your Packing List for Vaca Rentals
When it comes to packing for your vacation rental, it’s going to be a little different than if you were staying in a hotel. As I mentioned before, some rentals have a washer and dryer for laundry services so that means you won’t have to pack as many clothes with the ability to wash them. In my experience with AirBnbs, most rentals don’t have soap, shampoos, conditioners or a hair dryer so I always make sure I bring those along on a trip if I’m renting.
Be sure to check the listing before packing for your trip to see what the accommodation includes.
Most rentals offer extra linens and towels (even beach towels!) When we stayed in Crete for a week, our AirBnb had beach towels, chairs and even umbrellas which saved us so much space in packing.
Rentals vs Hotels on Vaca Questions
I’ve stayed in more AirBnbs than I can count and in many different countries. If I missed something in this post that you had a question about, feel free to comment below or email me to ask! I’ll try to brain-dump any more knowledge I have onto you 🙂
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