Nov 2009
12
You would rent a beach house for your summer vacation, right? Why not rent a house or condo when you take any other trip? Disney. The Grand Canyon. New York City.
If you have a reasonably large group—be it family, friends, a reunion—consider the merits of renting a house instead of several hotel rooms. The actual lodging cost may be similar or less, but additional savings can be had with other expenses.
In fact, cooking nutritious meals in a real kitchen instead of eating out three times a day is probably your biggest savings advantage. Trips to the grocery store allow you to feed the kids their favorites—and can help you stay on a diet while on vacation.
Renting a house also offers many improved amenities, like the ability to wash and dry clothes without hanging out in a hotel laundry room. And multiple TVs in different rooms allow adults to watch one program while children watch another—or a movie from the owner’s private collection.
The extra space alone is an attractive advantage. Especially after a long day of sight-seeing; wouldn’t it be nice for everyone to go to their own room to hit the sack? Not to mention, homes with private owners offer more personality and inherent comforts than a sterile hotel room, such as stocked bookshelves and hand-picked artwork on the walls.
You may even be within walking distance of the local shops, bars and restaurants that natives frequent, instead of the typical chain restaurants located near hotels.
For a wide selection of homes available for rent throughout the country, check out Vacation Rentals By Owner at www.vrbo.com, among other Web sites listed below. At this site, you simply pick your location and the number of bedrooms or people in your party. A new feature on the Web site allows you plug in the date range for your trip and let the site search available listings for those dates.
Here’s just a sampling of what you’ll find; bear in mind that the price ranges depend on the time of year you’re renting.
Disney: Pool Home, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Baths; Sleeps 12
- fully air-conditioned 2,700 sq. ft. Orlando/Kissimmee vacation home
- 8 miles from Disney World
- private pool
- use of nearby tennis courts, basketball courts, and children’s play area
- free high-speed wireless internet connection is provided
- Cost: $695-$995/week
Grand Canyon: Cabin/Cottage, 4 Bedrooms + Loft + Den, 2 Baths; Sleeps 8 (http://www.vrbo.com/180813)
- 2,150 sq ft, 4 bedroom, 2 bath bungalow
- minutes from the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Slide Rock, and Flagstaff
- Take the Grand Canyon railroad or Polar Express to the Grand Canyon from Williams on historic Route 66
- master bedroom features a king-size bed and jetted tub
- Cost: $1,250 - $1,400 / week
New York City: Studio Apartment, 1 Bath, Sleeps 2-3
- located in historic Murray Hill neighborhood in midtown Manhattan, just minutes from the Empire State Building
- deluxe Queen bed with custom linens and European duvet
- premium cable channels on a flat screen television
- marble bathroom equipped with premium soaps and lotions and plush towels
- fully equipped gourmet kitchen
- broadband wireless Internet access (fee), two-line speaker telephones and fax machine
- daily housekeeping included
- Cost: $149 - $379 a night + taxes
Many of these homes will also offer a per night rate, frequently with a two night-stay minimum, with flexibility during the off season.
Perfect for a family vacation, men’s golf weekend, or a romantic getaway, renting a home instead of a hotel room offers plenty of benefits—both in cost savings and the creature comforts of home.
Tools & Resources
Vrbo.com
Homeaway.com
Vacationrentals.com
Cyberrentals.com
Alwaysonvacation.com
Kara Stefan is a freelance financial writer and author of Head of Household: Money Management for Single Parents. You can find her at Linkedin or at Kara Stefan Communications.
Related Tips
©2009