Today there are so many options for places to rest your head when traveling.  After a day of touring and seeing the sights, you’ll want to relax and get ready for your next day of activities.

Vacations are starting to include the accommodations as a central part of the vacation.  Vacation Rentals provide pools, tennis courts and a chance for the whole family to play games, watch movies and make vacation time a home stay experience.

We asked a couple of vacationers what they find to be the pros and cons of staying in a traditional hotel vs.vacation rentals vs. B & B vs. time shares.

Traditional Hotels

Photo by Kzenon

Pros
– The brand standards are known; you pretty much know what you’re going to get, and you have experienced the brand on previous vacations.
– The lobby and hallways are monitored by security staff.  Many hotels require key access to take the elevator to your room
– Restaurants and room service provide  meals
– House Keeping service provides clean, towels, sheets, and upkeep of your room during your stay
– Breakfast is included with many brand hotels.  Ideal for families and a cool way to keep the budget intact.
– Amenities help you remain in shape and enjoy many vacation additions that you many not get staying in other accommodations.  Things like a gym, pool laundry, vending & ice down the hall from your room.
– Maintenance problems can be solved by hotel staff.
Cons
– Can be costly for a family needing to get multiple rooms
– The internet is filled with choices.  It can be difficult to choose the best hotel for what you want to do. This can lead to disappointment
– Noisy – outdoor and indoor noise
– You may feel unsafe – especially if traveling alone or have a connecting door
– The rooms are small with little room for “living” in the space with your travel partners
– Unclean – while housekeeping services are a standard, many travelers report their rooms are not clean to their standards when checking in
– In crowded tourists area
– Hotel  restaurants can be very costly and depend on them for your entire vacation meals can become costly

Time Share

Photo by Steve Estvanik

Pros
Yes, you can rent a timeshare
– There may be last minute availability if the owners are not using the property
– You can rent a timeshare by visiting ads in newspapers or locating rental management companies
– Rental networks and exchange clubs are available
– You can explore historic areas
– For rentals, check out sites like www.timeshare-resale-rental.com, www.tug2.com, and www.redweek.com

Cons
– Availability will be during the least popular times of the year.
– Property may be more worn due to number of people visiting and staying in the property

Bed & Breakfast

Pros
– People love that B&B homes are unique – no two B&B are the same
– Your stay can feel like home or remind you of staying with family
– Inn owners are usually on property and manage day-to-day operations
– When you’re ready to go and about, owners will provide tourist information and directions
– You have an excellent opportunity to meet other guests – many times from around the world
– Great way to connect with like-minded tourists on vacation – usually a central library or entertainment room
– The second B in B&B is breakfast.  Saves you money and you may have an opportunity to enjoy special family recipes.
– Many have toys, bikes, games – entertainment, oh yeah!

Cons
– You never know what you’re going to get
– Historic home can sound romantic but in reality may be musty, outdated and cold
– You may have to share a bathroom
– While your stay includes breakfast, it may be filled with carbs and sugar and limited for special diets
– Less privacy – thin walls are you noisy?  Or sleep light?
– If you like to stay out late, you may not feel comfortable coming in at all hours of the night.  And, you’ll wake the other guests and owners with your late night arrival. Your late nights will not go over well the next morning.
– Limited standards – while there are some B&B associations – there are limited to no general standards
– Wi-Fi may not be reliable or able to accommodate all guests – especially B&B with a large number of rooms

Vacation Rentals

Pros
– You have run of a whole house! Now, that’s an excellent accommodation!
– Feels like home, yet you’re on vacation.
– Everyone can stay together.  If you’re traveling with family or maybe a girlfriend’s trip.  You’re all in one place with room to spread out.
– Prepare your meals.  This is a great option especially for sharing recipes and making special meals
– Keep your own hours – no worries about coming in late disturbing guests who are not part of your group.
– Easy to invite someone over for a visit
– Most owners have photos and descriptions to help you select the best property
– Great for bringing the whole family
– You can split the cost with everyone, making the vacation affordable for everyone
– The main reason people give for wanting to rent a vacation rental is more space and More privacy
– Vacation rentals are becoming very, very popular.  Now there is a wide variety of choices and locations

Cons
– You never know what you’re going to get.  There have been many reports of the photos not matching what you find when you arrive.  This can be tricky, but always check the photos before signing on the dotted line.
– Also, you depend on photos online  – photos are generally not professional.  You’re not looking for the pro photos, but to see what’s included, how the property looks and things like the furnishing.  There should be exterior and interior photos.
– Sites like AirBnB have had problems with owners and renter conflicts and situations where guests were not secure in the property.  Check and double check the property and owner you choose.  You can’t be too careful, especially when traveling solo.
– Some owners may be onsite or very close by – monitoring everything you do.  This can be good, but can also be too close for comfort.
– Because you’re renting someone’s home, maybe vacation or second home, owners can become overly concerned and have very strict rules
– Although you are splitting the costs of your vacation rental home, daily and weekly rental rates can be very expensive, especially for a home in high tourists area.  I’ve seen rentals as high as $35,000 for a weekly rental in a tropical area.
– With most vacation rentals there is no maid service, so you’re doing the clean up each day.  Beware – Homes which offer maid service it’s very costly.
– Handling things like garbage and recycling might be challenging and will be all on you
– Time consuming paperwork to confirm your stay
– Limited amenities – no room service, maid service or gym facilities
– Reviews can be misleading but keep in mind they are generally accurate
– There are cities with laws banning short-term rentals.  Make sure the place you are renting is legal
– If something goes wrong, you may have to wait for staff to be contacted and make their way to the home.  Or they may ask you to do what you can to make things right
– Ask about the security.  Does the home have a security system?  How many keys are out and about.  What should you do if you feel the property is not secure.

Find vacation rentals at:
www.sapeloislandbirdhouses.com
www.VRBO.com
www.Homeaway.com