Booking a vacation is easier than ever these days with so many resources at our fingertips. Thanks to the internet, your destination, lodging, activities, and more can be sourced and booked within seconds at the click of a button.
While having all of these options is wonderful, as, with everything, it’s important to do your research before you invest in your next big vacation.
When seeking accommodations there are a number of different routes to go depending on your family’s needs and the type of experience you want to have.
Vacation rentals offer vacationers and travelers more space, privacy, and included amenities than hotels, and often at a fraction of the cost.
Management sites such as Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway have taken advantage of the booming vacation rental market and host hundreds of thousands of vacation rentals around the world to eager travelers looking for a home away from home.
So how do you know which of these options are best suited for you and your family? Read on to learn about the differences between vacation rental options so you can make the most informed decision for your next sweet escape.
Managed Vacation Rentals
A managed vacation rental delivers the exact same vacation rental and the renter deals directly with the owner or property manager to arrange their booking. In this case, the property manager will take care of the finer details of the rental process to ensure that all of the renters’ needs are being met to their liking.
One of the advantages of booking directly with the owner or property manager is that unlike with VRBO and Airbnb which passes along fees to users, by renting directly, vacationers can bypass those extra fees.
In addition, there are often more equitable reservation cancellation or change policies and fees. When you find a prospective vacation rental online that you are interested in, it always pays to search for that property directly in Google to learn more about booking it directly with the property manager. D2C (Direct to Consumer) is a growing trend that can help travelers save money.
VRBO
Founded in 1996, VRBO is one of the first vacation rental companies to offer vacation rentals to the public. VRBO, which stands for “Vacation Rentals By Owner,” specializes in all types of vacation rentals including homes, apartments, condos, villas, and more.
Anyone can create a VRBO listing for their home, and what makes it different than other vacation rentals is that no single rooms are listed on the site — only entire homes — making it ideal for renters who prefer complete privacy.
No account is required to use VRBO, which may also be ideal for some families who want to avoid that hassle.
Airbnb
One of the most popular rental sites out there, and with over 4 million listings across 191 plus countries, there is no shortage of options when you book with Airbnb.
One great thing about Airbnb is that not all listings are exclusively vacation rentals, and travelers can select between sharing the rental with their host, sharing a room with their host, or having an entire rental to themselves.
While some vacationers may balk at the lack of privacy of a shared rental, the advantage of Airbnb is that it offers a wide range of affordable options for those who’d like to vacation on a budget and don’t mind sharing their space.
Another feature of Airbnb is that it in addition to its rentals, it offers “experiences” to users that range from food tours to concerts, scavenger hunts, and more.
Leave a Reply