Weekly Vacation Rental Offers Comfort, Value

Many are surprised to learn that it can actually be cheaper to rent a fully furnished apartment or house rather than stay in a hotel when you’re on vacation.

This is especially true when you’re abroad in a place like Europe.

Why vacation rentals are cheaper

When we traveled to Italy for nearly a month last year, we spent only one night in a hotel room (early morning flight).

We found renting a house to be more cost effective for several reasons:

• In general, for the cost of 3-4 nights in a hotel we could rent an apartment in cities like Florence and Venice for an entire week.

• The apartments came with fully equipped kitchens, meaning we could shop at the local markets and eat our meals at home, saving lots of money.

• Check before you book, but sometimes the houses come with washing machines. This saves a trip to the laundromat… because we’d rather be sightseeing.

Why vacation rentals are more pleasant

• Being woken up by an eager maid knocking on your door at 7:30am isn’t my idea of an ideal trip. I prefer to keep my own schedule. Sometimes, I just want to cook and eat breakfast in my pajamas, even on vacation.
  

• Renting apartments or houses offers a feeling of space. There’s typically a couch, dining room table, and sometimes a small deck or backyard. Unless you book a suite, many hotels don’t offer these luxuries.

• When we bring home that bottle of wine from an amazing winery, rest assured there’s a corkscrew and wine glasses in the kitchen!

• It’s living like a local.

Here are a few things to consider before booking a vacation rental

• 

  Ah, this one comes with a fireplace!

  Apartment location: Is it centrally located, easily accessible (are there stairs, is it on a hill)?

• Guest reviews: What do people have to say about their experience?

• Understand what’s included and excluded: Is there Internet? Does it cost extra? Are there cleaning fees? Do you pay for the electricity you use? Is there a place to park your car if necessary?

• Payment: There’s usually a credit card payment due in order to reserve the house. The remainder is typically due upon arrival in cash.
  

• Do your research: We have found that most apartment rentals require anywhere from a 3-7 night minimum, but this changes from city to city, owner to owner.

Want to know more? Do a Google search for vacation apartment rentals within the city or region you’ll  be visiting. Within seconds, you’ll discover a number of websites with listings. Start looking at prices, location, and the amount of time you’ll be there.

You can then research hotels and compare the cost and lifestyle options.

Reader Question: Have you ever booked a vacation rental? How did it compare to a hotel?