Have you been wondering whether you should stay in a vacation rental instead of a hotel for your next vacation? Well the answer is likely YES, and we’ll talk here about All the Reasons why Vacation Rentals can be better than Hotels. Chances are you’ve noticed the changes to the travel lodging industry – there are now LOTS of vacation rentals. Vacation rentals weren’t a big business just 10 years ago. Sure, there were many places where there were plenty of vacation rentals, but now there are over 1.3 Million vacation rentals in the U.S. and over 4.2 Million in Europe. Why the steep increase? A number of factors made the difference, but the most important was the internet. Before VRBO was founded in 1995, getting a vacation rental meant dealing with a travel agent to help you find one, and you weren’t too sure what you were going to get. Sure, if you had already visited an area previously, you might have scouted some out. But until VRBO, you couldn’t just get on-line and see pictures and descriptions of vacation rental properties. Once that was possible, things began to change rapidly.
Demand and Supply
Ever since VRBO started up in 1995, owners of vacation rentals had a new way to market their properties. As the internet took hold and more and more people gained access to, and familiarity with the internet, more and more people were exposed to the availability of vacation rentals- and didn’t need a travel agent to book one! VRBO arguably started the online market for vacation rentals, but it was followed quickly by Home Away, FlipKey and AirBnB. Consolidation in the industry has led to big changes in how vacation rentals are marketed. HomeAway even bought superbowl ad time to introduce millions of people to the idea of getting a whole apartment or house, instead of a hotel to stay in on vacation.
Increasing Popularity
The increased exposure led to increased popularity, as more and more travelers decided to try staying in a vacation rental at least sometimes when traveling. At the same time, that increased demand prompted more people to turn their properties into vacation rentals. The industry now expects the global vacation rental market to reach nearly $170 Billion in 2019.
Here are All the Reasons why Vacation Rentals can be better than Hotels
Space – Reason 1 of All the Reasons why Vacation Rentals can be better than Hotels
The average hotel room gives you just 325 square feet of space. But, on average, a vacation rental home gives you over 1300 square feet of space. It’s a lot nicer to stretch out, unwind and enjoy your vacation when you aren’t stuck in a tiny hotel room.
Flexibility – Reason 2 of All the Reasons why Vacation Rentals can be better than Hotels
Vacation rentals nearly always include a kitchen, and more than one bedroom. Since most are full condos, apartments or whole houses, you have all the amenities of a full time residence. Because of this, you can choose to eat out like you would when staying in hotels, but you can also choose to eat in, cooking your own food. And staying in to watch a movie is always more comfortable when you have a living room, instead of having to sit on the bed.
Save Money – Reason 3 of All the Reasons why Vacation Rentals can be better than Hotels
Vacation rentals are almost always cheaper than hotels as well, especially if you have more than 4 people in your party. If you have more than 4 people in your party, you’ll need to get two rooms, or more! By the time you factor in the cost of eating out, and not being able to stay together, vacation rentals are a great option for larger parties.
You Don’t have to eat out – Reason 4 of All the Reasons why Vacation Rentals can be better than Hotels
Besides the lower cost of space, you can save money on dining out. We all love to eat out, but it can get old on vacation. Having to get dressed for a restaurant, and then pay for, 3 meals a day can be a source of stress on vacation…who wants that?
Live like a local – Reason 5 of All the Reasons why Vacation Rentals can be better than Hotels
For many travelers, the chance to live more like the locals is an attractive option. Tourist areas, while great, aren’t everybody’s cup of tea. Many times, travelers want to go and experience the places they travel to more like the locals do. Many vacation rentals are simply homes in residential areas – and so you get to experience the real local flavor of the place – including where to shop, where to find local entertainment, local restaurants, and the everyday quality of life in those locales.
Any style you want – Reason 6 of All the Reasons why Vacation Rentals can be better than Hotels
Perhaps one of the neatest things about vacation rentals, is that they come in all shapes, styles and sizes. Whatever sort of place you’d like to stay in, you can probably find it. You’ll find vacation rentals that are just plain old apartments or residential homes. But you can also find all kinds of other properties. From Cabins to Lodges, A-Frames to Chalets, Stone Homes, Houseboats, even Tree Houses and Yurts, nearly every style of home, apartment, or dwelling can be found in vacation rentals. Add a bit of the unique to your vacation, and stay someplace with a personality! Our own company, Classy Cabins AZ offers more than one style of home to stay in, and we are working to create more choices.
Privacy – Reason 7 of All the Reasons why Vacation Rentals can be better than Hotels
When you rent a whole house, condo, or apartment, you’ll get more privacy than you will at a hotel. After all, the whole house is yours to use. Unless you’ve specifically arranged for it, there isn’t any maid service. Nobody is coming into your accommodations unless there is something to fix.