What Are The Benefits Of Vacation Rentals Versus Hotels

What Are The Benefits Of Vacation Rentals Versus Hotels
A “Beach Heaven” that sits just between Rosemary Beach and Seaside. This vacation rental has a large covered balcony complete with a sitting area, a dining table, and an outdoor kitchen with a "peek-a-boo" gulf view!

Vacation rentals have been around for a long while now. However, because of the more recent technological advancements in the form of the internet and booking websites, the industry was opened up to a much larger audience. It’s no surprise that such a development has become an issue of major concern for hotel chains that have enjoyed almost complete exclusivity in the tourism hospitality industry.

Listing portals such as A Greater Town, which include, among other things, vacation rentals, hotels, and RV rentals, have helped to level the playing field. This trend has also brought to light some of the benefits that vacation rentals have over hotel rooms. Below are several of the major benefits of vacation rentals vs. hotels.

A More Homely Experience

Since vacation rentals are often someone’s home, it means that they will provide many of the amenities of a real home. They will usually be stocked with pretty much everything you need at no additional cost. The living area will be provided with books, board games, movies, Wi-Fi, and/or a gaming console. In other words, you will not have to pay extra for various forms of entertainment, such as you would in a hotel. 

Since home rentals are, in fact, actual homes, they will also be equipped with a real, full-sized kitchen. While a handful of hotels have some sort of kitchenette, they will often lack any real place to eat your meal. This will often force their guests to eat out.On the other hand, vacation rentals will provide you with ample space to both cook and enjoy your home cooked meals. This, of course, doesn’t eliminate your option of eating at a restaurant. It means that you also have the option to buy groceries from the local farmers’ market and make your own home cooked meals if you wish. Besides saving you money, this option is especially useful when traveling with children, as guests can ensure that they eat healthily and won’t have to worry about what ingredients are used in their meals. 

Also, many vacation rentals will come equipped with washers and dryers, allowing their guests to do their laundry without having to pay extra hotel fees for this type of service. It also means that travelers can pack lighter bags since they won’t have to go through as many clothes without the option of washing them. Some private homes will also have their own hot tubs, pools, sitting and/or grilling areas, which will allow you to enjoy yourself with friends and family in ways that hotels rarely can provide. 

What Are The Benefits Of Vacation Rentals Versus Hotels
This luxury beach home is situated in the heart of beautiful Seacrest Beach North! This “Beach Heaven” sleeps ten and is only steps away from the town center and only minutes from the resort-style community pool.

More Ample Space

When it comes to deciding between a vacation rental vs. a hotel room, the amount of available square feet will play an important role.A multi-bedroom vacation home with a fully-equipped kitchen, multiple bathrooms, and ample living space, such as a living room, a theater room, game room, pool, and more, will often be a better option it comes to larger families or groups. Large groups will usually be able to save money with a rental house, especially if it allows the cost to be split. 

Also, traveling in large groups makes it next to impossible to stay together in the same hotel room. And even if they manage to stay at the same hotel, it will often mean separate rooms and on different floors. This will imply less freedom, intimacy, and fun with the group, as a whole. By renting and staying in someone’s home as a group you will be able to eat, relax, and have fun together, making the most of the privacy and comfort that vacation rentals have to offer.    

The Cost and Length of Stay

On average, the cost of a night stay in the United States is around $99, with a range of between $63 to $289 per room. Vacation rentals will typically cost between $190 to $630 per night for the entire house. The majority of hotels will, however, offer per-night costs to their guests. On the other hand, vacation rentals tend to offer more flexibility in terms of the length of stay, whether it may be a few nights, an entire week, or even more. Basically, the longer the stay at a vacation rental, the nightly cost can end up being less than the average hotel stay. 

Hotels will also tend to have particular schedules that need to be followed for the guests to take full advantage of what they have to offer. One of the best examples here is breakfast, which will be provided only in a given timeframe. This, in turn, will result in less freedom when it comes to the guests organizing their days. Vacation rentals don’t have such schedules beyond those that the guests make up for themselves.

Location and Privacy

On the one hand, hotels tend to be very well-positioned when it comes to the area’s main attraction. A rental house is sometimes further away, which could imply the additional costs in terms of renting a car. That said, rental homes provide more flexibility in terms of the exact location. For instance, you will have the option for a waterfront home or can choose one that a bit further away. 

However, among the reasons why vacation rentals are better over hotels is their privacy. What they sometimes lack in terms of location, they will always make up for in privacy. When renting a vacation home, you and your group can avoid the crowds that will often come with booking a hotel room. 

Eagle’s View in Canaan Valleyoffers peace, quiet, and plenty of space. It sleeps as many as 12 and has a generous living area, a fireplace, an outdoor hot tub, a game room, a well-equipped kitchen, and a spacious dining area.

Other Conveniences and Amenities

Travelers will typically have no problems in finding various conveniences and amenities when staying at a hotel or a rental vacation home. Vacation rentals offer the convenience of preparing home cooked meals. However, hotels offer the convenience of not having to buy groceries, cook, or clean up after yourself. The same thing can also be said about doing laundry. But in both cases, having these done by the hotel staff on your behalf will often come at an additional cost. Another perk that vacation rentals have over hotels is parking. While some hotels offer free parking, this is not always the case. Vacation homes will typically have a driveway or an attached garage that will not come at an extra cost. 

Safety in Travel Accommodations During COVID-19

The overwhelming majority of experts say that the biggest risk of contamination with the current coronavirus is through person-to-person contact. When traveling, be it for business or pleasure, the risk of contamination becomes even higher. It’s also a well-known fact that plenty of people become infected with COVID-19, yet they show no visible symptoms. Nevertheless, they can still transmit the virus as easily as those that do show signs. Some may even argue that, since they appear healthy, neither themselves nor others will be inclined to take additional steps in order to prevent the possibility of transmission. Therefore, it’s a wise decision to assume that everyone, apparently healthy or not, is a possible carrier.

To put it differently, travelers should be less concerned about shared spaces, common areas, pools, hot tubs, or beach chairs that can exist in both hotels and vacation rentals and more about crowded places. Taking a swim in a chlorinated pool will pose minimum to no risks when compared to eating at a crowded restaurant or having a drink at a bar. That said, when you are traveling, the main focus should be on your encounters with other people as well as the length of these encounters. You should also try to avoid areas that show high rates of infection.   

The next thing to consider in this regard is to pay close attention to high-touch areas such as tabletops, TV remotes, bedside tables, light switches, doorknobs, faucets, etc. All of these will benefit from some extra cleaning, preferably with antiviral wipes or solutions. It’s also a good idea to air out the hotel room or vacation home once you move in and during your stay. 

Which Is Safer Overall: Vacation Rentals vs. Hotels

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many hotels have taken additional steps in keeping their rooms clean and sterilized. But even with these extra measures put in place, vacation rentals still have a considerable advantage over hotels. The main benefit here is that, with short-term rental homes, only the rental guests occupy the entire property at that time.

Some owners also increase the vacant period between renting their homes to minimize their guests’ risk of infection. Therefore, staying in a vacation rental, especially one that allows for a no-contact check-in, like a lockbox, and which takes the coronavirus threat seriously, will always be a safer traveling option than hotel rooms. 

By using  A Greater Town, you will be sure to find a dream vacation home, where you can enjoy all the benefits that they provide and spend a wonderful time with friends and family. 

Picture of Drew Knapp

Drew Knapp

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