Written by Christi Sparrow
From the moment you dream up a family trip, the fun begins. You start anticipating the new environment or climate, researching the yummiest eateries, booking day trips and sightseeing tours, and picturing your kids out of their daily routine and engaging in new activities. But first, where do you stay? What type of accommodation will provide the best experience for your family? Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of the two biggest categories of family-friendly accommodation options: vacation rental vs. hotel.
Both vacation rentals and hotels are easy to research and book online. Both options offer the chance for an exceptional family getaway, just as both options run the risk of not living up to your expectations. And both types of accommodation offer the opportunity to earn points or miles when you book. When weighing a vacation rental vs. a hotel, it comes down to what type of trip you are planning, and what you are willing to sacrifice to give your family the features they value most.
VACATION RENTALS
Pros of Vacation Rentals
- Vacation rentals are self-catering accommodations that are typically a more affordable way to get larger spaces. We search for two-bedroom places because that’s how our family of four is most comfortable. Vacation rentals enable us to find the space we crave at a fraction of what a hotel would cost for the same square footage. And because the spaces are bigger, we can spread out a little, unpack our suitcases, and feel more at home.
The flexibility to book a larger space also works well for groups who would like to maximize their time together. Think family reunions, multi-family spring break trips– the options are endless! - Speaking of cost, you’re also able to negotiate directly with a vacation rental host on price, especially if you’re planning an extended stay. We have rarely been declined an additional discount when we present our request thoughtfully and respectfully.
- Because vacation rentals are self-catering accommodations, they usually do not offer amenities commonly found at hotels such as daily cleaning service, a concierge, included breakfast, or a fitness center. However, there is an exhaustive list of amenities that vacation rentals may offer, and each property listing will describe exactly what their home includes.
It is common for a vacation rental to offer a fully-equipped kitchen, (which helps cut down on the cost of meals). In addition, you’ll commonly get a clothes washer and dryer, children’s equipment such as a portable crib or high chair, and even welcome treats.
Some of the more memorable amenities we’ve enjoyed while staying at vacation rentals include bikes for us to borrow, toys and games for the kids, a collection of DVDs, a community pool, and even fresh eggs from our host’s hens!Related Post: How to plan Long Term Family Travel
- If you book wisely, your vacation rental host can be a valuable resource for local tips and recommendations. Often you can read reviews about the hosts to learn how they’ve interacted with past guests. For example, on Airbnb, a host who meets a specific set of criteria attains the designation “Superhost”. This accolade is an indicator that they will likely go out of their way to make sure you have a comfortable stay.
We have had wonderful experiences with most of our vacation rental hosts. Most hosts we’ve encountered truly want us to have a memorable experience. For example, our host in Munich, Germany, procured a second-hand double stroller to help us navigate the city more easily. And our host in Split, Croatia, met us at the ferry dock when we arrived to help us haul our luggage several blocks and then up four flights of stairs.
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- Vacation rentals allow us to immerse ourselves quicker into a local neighborhood. Without all the hotel amenities that make it easy to spend your day on site, we are gently forced to venture out. We interact with neighbors who are locals, and in general we don’t feel as insulated as we do when we stay at hotels. This is completely a matter of preference, and admittedly, sometimes this requires a little more effort and planning!
- The options are one-of-a-kind and memorable. Vacation rentals are as unique as their owners, and this adds some excitement and fun to the entire process. Yes, hotel rooms and resort suites can be beautiful, but have you ever stayed in an apartment with a covered slide that instantly transports you from the loft to the first floor?
We saw that exact feature when hunting for places in Budapest. (Sadly, it was not available for our travel dates.)All that to say, searching for and inhabiting a vacation rental is downright fun. You never know what distinctive and pleasant features you’re going to get.
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Cons of Vacation Rentals
- Vacation rentals are self-catering. For some families, staying in a place where you’re almost completely left to your own devices can seem daunting. Many of the chores you perform at home will likely follow you such as cooking, washing dishes, and grocery shopping.
- As addressed above, most of the amenities you’d expect at a hotel are not typical with vacation rentals. There’s no front desk, no room service, no nightly turn-down service, and no kids club. (But see #3 above for some cool features vacation rentals can offer!)
- Some vacation rentals require a minimum stay of two or three nights, so they are not always the best choice for shorter stays of one or two nights. Many vacation rental platforms charge a service fee, and the host may charge a cleaning fee. So for short stays of just a few nights, these additional fees might render a vacation rental cost prohibitive.
Related Post: Lessons Learned Traveling with Kids: 4 Months
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HOTELS
Good hotels specialize in creating comfortable, and ideally, memorable experiences. They are staffed with whole teams dedicated to keeping the entire property clean and functioning, and in general, customers arrive knowing what to expect. But this can come at a cost. Here are the pros and cons to consider when booking a hotel vs. vacation rental for your family.
Pros of Hotels
- The amenities offered by many hotels, (fitness center, daily cleaning service, swimming pool, front desk/concierge, room service, on-site restaurant, just to name a few), are hard to beat. And if you’re researching resorts with all-inclusive options, the sky is the limit. You could invest in three meals a day, unlimited alcohol, convenient kids club, spa treatments, and more. There’s no doubt that having these services at your fingertips can make for a very relaxing travel experience.
- Hotel brands strive for consistency across their properties which offers travelers a welcomed sense of familiarity wherever they go. Brand-loyal customers may enjoy the added benefit of a hotel remembering and catering to their unique preferences during each stay.
- Hotels are terrific for short stays, especially one-night stays before or in-between travel days. For example, we often book one room at an inexpensive airport hotel the night before an early flight. Our goals are to avoid morning traffic and ultimately squeeze in as much sleep as humanly possible before ushering ourselves, (and blurry-eyed kiddos), through a busy airport. A night in a hotel is also ideal for breaking up long road trips!
Cons of Hotels
- Space comes at a premium. If you are looking for more than one room for your family, hotels can get expensive quickly. Of course this varies widely depending on your destination, but rooms and suites at hotels tend to be smaller than vacation rental spaces for the same price.
- Some hotels offer kitchenettes or a mini fridge in the rooms. However, you won’t usually find full kitchens, (or other major appliances like a clothes washer), included in the price. This can make prepping meals difficult if your family has special dietary needs. And eating out at restaurants for every meal can get expensive.
Every family has their own combination of travel preferences to consider when booking accommodations. Hopefully the pros and cons detailed in this post help you when researching a vacation rental vs. a hotel for your next family trip! What features of vacation rentals and hotels did I miss? Comment below! Thanks for reading!
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