There are many different places to stay along the way when traveling. Camping may be the most cost-effective way to find a place to sleep for the night, but many people are torn between staying in a hotel, motel, or vacation rental. Depending on your circumstances, one of these options may be preferable to the other for a variety of reasons.
First and foremost, think about how long you’ll be staying. If you’re only staying for a night or two, you might not want to pay the extra fees associated with vacation rentals, such as cleaning deposits. However, you should consider your lodging requirements as well as your budget. Even with a cleaning deposit, it may be cheaper to find a vacation rental that can accommodate a large family or eight of your closest friends if you’re heading up to the snow for a ski weekend with a large family or eight of your closest friends. It’s usually more cost-effective to rent a mid-priced vacation property and split the cost among several families or a group of friends than it is to book multiple hotel rooms, especially if you’re splitting the cost among several families or a group of friends.
Of course, if you prefer flexibility in your travel arrangements, one of the disadvantages of vacation rentals may be discovered. Unless you cancel thirty days in advance, you are usually locked into paying for these rentals once you book them. Even if you cancel, you may be charged fees that would be better spent on your vacation at a later date. Changing your travel plans at the last minute is neither easy nor inexpensive. Most hotels and motels allow you to cancel up to the day before your trip, making them a better option for some.
Another disadvantage of renting a vacation home is that you are responsible for cleaning it. When you return home from a day of sightseeing, hotels provide daily maid service, which you may appreciate. Most vacation rentals do not provide this service and charge cleaning fees instead. After you leave, the rental will be cleaned, and you may be required to help with some of the cleaning or face additional charges. If you prefer not to cook while on vacation and prefer the convenience of leaving a hotel room in disarray, a vacation rental may not be for you.
There are a number of advantages to renting a vacation home rather than staying in a hotel. Most provide fully equipped kitchens, allowing you to save money by cooking your own meals. Furthermore, if you have a large family, a single hotel room may not be sufficient; you may need to book at least two or pay extra for two-room suites. Being confined in a small space in a hotel or motel with small children may be too much to ask, and children may prefer the freedom to roam in a vacation rental.
Both vacation rentals and hotels have advantages and disadvantages, as previously stated. Hotel rooms come with extra perks like room service and daily maid service, while vacation homes are less expensive but require a little more cleaning. To decide which option is best for you, do your research by evaluating the places you might want to stay, the flexibility of your travel plans, your budget, and your accommodation needs.