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Home Away from Home (Really!)
9 Reasons to Go the Vacation Rental Route the Next Time You Travel
2. The rental process is getting easier and more convenient by the day. Admittedly, it's not quite as simple to rent a vacation home as it is to book a hotel room. You still have to deal directly with the homeowner. Still, it's pretty darn easy. Services like the aforementioned Web sites have smoothed the pathway, of course. But also, homeowners themselves are becoming more consumer-friendly in their business practices. Despite popular misconception, you don't always have to commit to a week. Many homeowners will let you rent by the weekend or even on a nightly basis, particularly during the off-season. And while some of them still expect you to send them a personal check, many others accept credit cards or PayPal.
3. Vacation homes are more spacious and comfortable. Think about the difference between a tiny hotel room, possibly with limited amenities, and an actual home with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms and kitchens, living and dining areas. No contest, right? "You know that crowded, slightly stir-crazy feeling you get in a hotel room?" Karpinski says. "It doesn't happen in a vacation home. In fact, I've found that people who stay in private homes don't feel so compelled to wear themselves out cramming in every touristy activity in town. They don't mind just hanging out in the living room and relaxing more, which after all, is what a vacation is supposed to be!"
4. You can live like a local. No one wants to feel or look like a tourist, an "outsider." When you stay in someone's home, you get a more authentic experience, Karpinski says. "My family stayed in a private home when we went to Italy and it was wonderful," she says. "The bread trucks came by every morning! You're just not going to get those kinds of experiences in a hotel. Plus, rental owners often provide special touches that make the experience more homey. Beach cottages might come equipped with sand buckets and shovels for the kids; woodsy ski-resort-area cabins might have a Crock Pot and a special chili recipe. Those little special touches really make a huge difference."