More people are choosing to rent a home away from home instead of a hotel to have the cozy comforts that include use of a kitchen, even laundry, while others wanted privacy. The average hotel room size is 384 sq ft compared to 1300 sq ft for a vacation rental. It can be a fun eclectic bungalow, rustic cabin off the beaten path, an urban or barn loft, a cottage, or a resort-like luxury home with concierge services. It can offer savings on your travel budget by being able to prepare some of your own meals, or have a quicker dinner by doing take-out to avoid the crowds and waiting for a table. Maybe you’ll want one with private access to a beach or a private pool! It can be great for a big family get together or group trip (bring games!), or for a quiet retreat. There are different vacation rental services that owners list on which vary in inventory and fees. Here are some of the popular ones.
AirBnB is international, and one can rent a room where the host is living or other renters are also sharing, or a vacant furnished home or apartment. They have subsets of Plus (vetted), and Luxe (high end). They even have treehouses and castles to rent! Some owners will have bicycles, beach equipment, etc. available for use. Cancellation policies vary by listing. There have been some reports of last-minute cancellations of reservations by the host.
Vrbo is owned by Expedia and all of the rentals are for entire properties, and have larger sized homes in their inventory, and are great for a big group. They have good filters to narrow the list of available homes with desired features. They are in the US and 15 other countries, Total cost is clearly listed and can be less per person than AirBnB, but has a smaller inventory. Each host is vetted and monitored for reliability and security, and has a book with confidence guarantee.
Booking.com offers the opportunity to compare private owner rentals that include apartments, villas, and chalets along with hotels. They are especially helpful having options for those with disabilities. There is no booking fee. The downside is it will clutter up search results with “you missed it” to evoke a sense of urgency.
TripAdvisor has a number of smaller rental sites in its portfolio in addition to several they own, with options in over 200 countries. It does offer full refund if you are prevented or denied access to your rental, or if the property was misrepresented (some photos are amateur or outdated).
Vacasa is a property management company that offers consistent aesthetics and amenities. They are in North and Central America, and include vacation condo rentals. It is easy to book with them. They are not in every state and has limited inventory.
Sonder is a chic apartment rental with inventory in large cities in the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, even Dubai. They are clean, crisp, modern with stocked toiletries and concierge services. One can rent for extended period.
Be diligent in choosing the property. Check photos, description of # of bed and baths, if there is wifi, parking, read reviews, the rules, if there are extra fees, and the cancellation policy. The downsides can be inconsistent furnishings, cleanliness, or one can get a difficult host. People have reported the property not as depicted in the photo, not feeling safe, even finding upon arrival not being able to check in or finding their reservation was cancelled. Some services will refund your money, or find you another place. In June of 2024, AirBnB clarified and VRBO enacted an Extenuating Circumstances policy in case of large, broad scale travel disruption due to severe weather, natural disaster or travel ban, requiring hosts to refund prepayments and waive cancellation fees.
If you want to have a better experience that includes reserving your next rental, be a good guest. Introduce yourself to the host, share the purpose of your trip and reassure the owner that you will care for their place. Let them know when you expect to arrive, and depart. Do not bring pets or allow extra guests unless they are preapproved. After your stay, write a fair review. The host may write a review on you afterwards too!
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart…Psalm 15: 1-2
SINCE 1979