In days gone by, hotels and resorts were the only options for travellers in many parts of the world. But with the rise in popularity of vacation rentals, the global accommodation market has seen a major shift as travellers opt for space and value for money.
While it largely comes down to preference, there are lots of benefits to booking a vacation rental over a hotel stay. Not only will you have exclusive use of the property but you can save a few (hundred) dollars at the same time.
So before you lock in a hotel for your next getaway, consider the following advantages of a holiday rental instead. You can perform a quick research online to compare all the options. For example, at Rentola Australia, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in all corners of the country, from seaside apartments to country villas and suburban homes where you can stay like a local.
Experience the destination in a unique way
In most towns and cities, the majority of hotels are located in the downtown area, alongside office blocks and businesses catering to 9 to 5 workers. Alternatively, hotels and resorts are clustered in tourist districts, with all of the restaurants and attractions catering to out-of-town visitors. While this can be a good thing, it also has lots of drawbacks.
Number one – you’re not really experiencing the destination like the locals do, with all of the hidden quirks that neighbourhoods offer. Number two – tourist-oriented restaurants tend to be very overpriced, with food that is not always up to scratch.
When you book a vacation rental, you have the option to stay in districts that aren’t specifically designed for tourists, offering a much more authentic perspective. You’ll be eating where the locals do, seeing off-the-beaten-track “sights” and discovering what really makes the town or city “tick”.
Most vacation rental owners love sharing their little-known neighbourhood insights with guests, such as the best places to grab your morning coffee, arthouse cinemas and independent boutiques.
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You can self cater when you desire
One of the great things about being on holiday is eating out and having someone else prepare your meals for you. But after a few days, the hotel buffet can go from being enticing to monotonous and it can become tedious trying to find a restaurant every single meal that is not only affordable but suits everyone’s taste buds.
Most vacation rentals come with a kitchen, so you can prepare some (or all) of your meals yourself (and save a bit of money along the way). This is great if you prefer to have your morning coffee or breakfast without having to socialise with other patrons or for those nights when you just want to crash at “home” after a big day of sightseeing.
Self-catering in a vacation rental also means that you can take advantage of local produce and farmers’ markets to create dishes you love with unique flavours. That doesn’t mean you can’t eat out when the fancy takes you – it’s more about offering the best of both worlds!
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You’ll enjoy plenty of privacy
Unless you’re booking a luxurious hotel suite or a resort bungalow with its own jacuzzi and plunge pool, chances are you will be sharing the property’s amenities with a lot of other guests. In the fitness centre, you may have to wait to use the piece of equipment you want while the swimming pool could be filled with noisy kids.
Staying at a vacation rental means that you have exclusive use of the amenities and don’t have to share them with anyone outside of your group. You can enjoy a quiet, romantic night in the hot tub without anyone else spoiling the moment or be able to sunbathe to your heart’s content on the terrace in complete privacy.
There are lots of family-friendly options
Let’s be honest, travelling with toddlers or babies can be stressful and most hotels are not well-designed for kids. Not only are you dealing with disrupted routines and nap times but you don’t always have snacks on hand to help calm “hangry” young travellers.
A vacation rental better facilitates a family stay, with a kitchen that you can stock with your favourite snacks and plenty of room for everyone to find their own space. Once the kids have gone to sleep at night, parents don’t have to tiptoe around or watch a movie with the sound turned right down (as they would in a hotel) but can enjoy some quiet time in a separate room of the house.
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Value for money
Lastly, one of the main advantages of booking a vacation rental over a hotel is the value for money, with most rental apartments and homes being much more affordable when you compare the space and facilities being offered. While not all vacation rentals are cheap, they almost always offer more square meterage for your money compared to hotels in the same area.
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