Save Money On Your Stay: If you have flexible vacation time, play with your stay dates. Off peaks times come at smaller price tags for great properties close to a variety of big name attractions. Or go for a big house and split the cost with another family. Home stays are a great choice for multi-generational vacations.
Save Money On Your Meals: Almost every vacation rental has a kitchen so you can make your own meals. Feed your entire family food you know they love and smile knowing it only cost you a fraction of what you would have paid at a restaurant.
Room to Roam: If staying in a hotel room gives you nightmares of kids jumping on the beds and climbing the walls, a vacation rental is just the thing you need. In a vacation home, there is plenty of space for everyone to move around and if your kids really need a place to run, opt for a house with a backyard.
Lights Out Doesn't Have to Mean Bedtime for You: Just because the kids go to bed at 8 p.m. doesn't mean you should have to, but when you are in a hotel room, lights out for the little ones often means lights out for everyone. Vacation homes are just like your real home - put the kids to bed, then head to the sitting room, kitchen or maybe even porch or deck and enjoy the peace and quiet of night.
Fido-Friendly Accommodations: Search criterias on home rental sites allow you to narrow down your choices to only those that will allow your pet. You might have to pay an additional pet deposit, but considering the cost of boarding your four-legged friend throughout your trip, you'll still come out ahead... and Rover gets to enjoy vacation time too.
Wash and Go: Parents of little ones know how important it is to have laundry facilities near by. Many vacation home rentals offer washer and dryer access. Great for any accidents, spills, drips and messes that might occur. Plus, you can pack lighter knowing you can wash and re-wear without having to pay costly hotel laundering service fees.
Ready to find your next vacation home? Here's a couple sites to check out:
- www.VacationRentals.com: Browse vacation rentals by city and state. Choose your dates and click search. Narrow down your search criteria by bedroom number, price, pet-friendly or even only spaces with a hot tub. Contact the owner for details on how to book the property and you are good to go.
- www.VRBO.com: VRBO.com has all the same features but takes it one step further by allowing you to book and pay for your stay over their secure site. Property photos, reviews and an easy to navigate site make VRBO a favorite among vacation renters.