Your favorite part about vacation probably isn’t the planning. There are so many details to cover! The good news is finding the perfect place doesn’t have to be the hardest part. It’s much easier than you think thanks to an increasing trend in travel. It helps to be aware of your needs and wants first. Then, start your search utilizing the many websites and apps available.
When considering your vacation home, imagine the amenities and support that would make your vacation pleasurable and memorable. Details like privacy, neighboring noise, cooking or dining out, and proximity to other vacationers is an excellent place to start.
Benefits of a Vacation Home
There’s quite a few benefits to getting a vacation home instead of a hotel room or rooms. Some of the many benefits include:
- It’s a home away from home - Many vacation homes replicate the home experience. You may want to take advantage of certain conveniences like a designated parking space or private entrance. Perhaps you want multiple rooms for different activities like a yoga space or game area. Most vacation homes also offer some form of kitchen or kitchenette if you’d like the option to cook.
- Pet accessible - On rare occasions, hotels allow pets if they are registered service animals. Otherwise, you’ll need to consider the best alternative for your beloved fur family member. Fortunately, vacation homes are more likely to allow a pet than not, as long as you provide that request up-front. Or you can even search specifically for pet-tolerant options.
- Enhanced privacy - Private entrances are a great option when you want to keep your business to yourself. There’s no need to be concerned about a check-in counter or whether the front lobby is locked after-hours. With a vacation home, you can manage your privacy better. Maybe you came home late and forgot to leave the do-not-disturb sign hanging on the door. This way you won’t have to worry your late-morning snooze will be interrupted by housekeeping.
- No checkout costs - Room service is fantastic, but it can get pricey, as can many of the other incidentals wracked up in hotel charges. Another benefit to a vacation home is that you pay up-front. Generally, the final cost already includes a cleaning fee. When it’s time to checkout, the hardest part will be saying goodbye to your home.
Popular Vacation Rental Apps and Sites
There are a variety of websites and apps that have been developed specifically to connect people to vacation homes instead of hotels. Some of the most powerful or successful include:
- Hometogo - The site asserts itself as the largest vacation rental search engine. If you like to research the area during your booking experience, it can tell what days are cheaper and how much you can save by changing your dates. The site even provides a statistics bar of average pricing and weather conditions for the year in your chosen destination. They partner with several travel companies, giving you a list of providers that offer the best deal.
- Airbnb Airbnb’s popularity through the years has skyrocketed. Equipped with a desktop and mobile experience, Airbnb is accessible and easy to use on any device. Save your favorites listings if you require multiple searching sessions before booking. You can even create saved lists for places you want to visit in the future. They have since upped the ante to provide vacationers even more with its Experiences feature, which includes all kinds of fun, engaging, and unique activities led by locals.
- Booking.com - This website has a mixture of hotels, hostels, villas, and private residences. It also has a user-friendly mobile app allowing for easy navigation and helpful filtering features. Additionally, they partner with several third-party travel companies to assist you with other travel needs, like booking flights, car rentals, and taxis.
- Vrbo - The layout of this site is excellent because it starts with the type of home you desire. Do you prefer a cabin or bungalow? Would you like to stay in a high-rise condo or cozy house? From there, you enter your destination and dates to generate results.
Hotel chains do a great job of making comfy spaces for travelers. If you’re a big family or like more room to spread out, however, perhaps a vacation home will be more your style. Fortunately, you have countless options available at your fingertips. So the next time you need to plan your vacation, the process will be far less intimidating. You can focus on more important matters -- like what to pack and where to eat!
