Vacation Rentals Vs. Hotels, Which is Better?

When you plan a vacation, you may automatically think of taking your family (or just yourself) and checking into a big hotel. With so many airplane + hotel + car rental packages out there, it's easy to get sucked into that frame of thinking. And in the long run, you can often get the best vacation deals by going that way. Still, there are other lodging options you might wish to explore.

Vacation rentals, for instance, offer many amenities that the majority of hotels do not. Usually owned by regular folks (renting a vacation home means helping a "mom and pop" business instead of a big corporate-owned hotel), vacation rentals tend to give you full kitchens and multiple bedrooms. They're available everywhere you might wish to stay too. You can find condominiums or houses (with detached homes you get the ultimate in privacy for your vacation) in any part of the world.

If you prefer to be surrounded by the hubbub, you can find rentals in the middle of the action (perhaps a condo on the Las Vegas strip or a cabin with ski-in-ski-out convenience tickles your fancy), but you can also find rentals that cater to peace and quiet. Many of these homes are set back from the busy streets and thoroughfares where hotels dominate (instead of a condo adjacent to Vegas casinos, maybe you'd prefer a house a few blocks away with a fenced yard and a private swimming pool).

What about families who travel with pets? Is a hotel or a vacation rental more likely to accommodate them? Well, I don't know about you, but I haven't seen too many hotels that appreciate even well-mannered dogs waltzing through their lobbies (even on a leash). On the other hand, vacation rentals are often the way to go for pet owners, because many will accept dogs and cats (with an additional deposit). Do make sure you check on the place's pet policy beforehand, though, since each owner sets his or her own rules.