Destination chosen? Check. Flight booked? Check. A place to stay? TBD.
When planning any trip, choosing where to stay can be the trickiest part. And not just where, but more specifically, whether to choose a hotel or an Airbnb or vacation rental.
Hotels typically have impressive amenities like a pool, an on-site restaurant, or a spa, but standard rooms can be small. Vacation rentals, on the other hand, are actual homes, sometimes with multiple bedrooms, making them great for groups or families. But, they lack consistency and sometimes come with a tedious list of check-out chores. The right choice should really come down to the destination at hand, the makeup of your group, the budget at your disposal, and the type of experience you want.
So before booking any accommodation, consult these seven questions. Each answer can really help decide the best fit for your exact trip.
In this article
1. Which is Cheaper, a Hotel or Vacation Rental?
This one really depends on location and accommodation size. A budget motel near the highway is going to be cheaper than a large five-bedroom suburban home rental. Then again, a beachfront island resort might command more money than a small condo a block from the sand. One type isn’t consistently cheaper than the other.
Another point to consider is that vacation rentals come with service and cleaning fees, which can add hundreds of dollars on top of what might otherwise seem like a reasonable price. On the flip side, hotels can charge for parking and resort fees. The best thing you can do is start your search based on price. Once you find options you like, compare the total (including potentially hidden!) costs and select the best one that works within your budget.
2. How Many People Are in Your Group?
The size of your group should play a major factor in determining the accommodation type. Most standard hotel rooms have just one or two beds, so unless a suite is within your budget, hotels are best suited for solo travelers, couples, or smaller families.
If you have a larger group, vacation rentals are usually standalone homes, condos, or cabins that come with separate living areas, a full kitchen, and multiple bedrooms. Going with an Airbnb can make the trip more comfortable, and also cost-effective, if you have a group of friends looking to split the rental cost.
3. How Long Are You Traveling?
Vacation rentals get the edge for extended trips. Having access to a kitchen, laundry, and communal areas can make a big difference. But before you write off hotels, you might want to consider extended-stay brands, which usually have one or two bedrooms, a stocked kitchen, and other typical hotel amenities like a pool or gym. They can also be cheaper than large vacation rental homes as they tend to have fewer on-property amenities than resorts.
4. Which Amenities Are Better for Your Trip?
In most cases, hotels are going to be the runaway winner when it comes to amenities. Hotels and resorts typically offer large pools, beachfront service in some instances, spas, salons, fitness centers, multiple dining options, and included activities, all supported by front desk staff, a concierge, and housekeeping, for a fully pampered stay. Of course, other properties boast fewer frills and are really just a place to sleep.
A vacation rental, meanwhile, typically has self-serve amenities like a full kitchen and laundry room, but usually is lacking programming or in-stay cleaning. With that said, some do come with private or shared pool or hot tub access, or offer add-on services like private chefs or housekeeping. These homes do tend to cost more and extra amenities incur additional fees. To help decide, consider your itinerary, and choose the lodging that’s most likely to correspond with what you hope to do.
5. What Type of Experience Do You Want?
Think about your trip and how you’d like it to go. Vacation rental stays tend to be more communal, which is great for spending quality time with friends or family, but might not make sense if you’re traveling with colleagues or in-laws and know you’ll want to take a breather. Likewise, if you’re looking to fully relax, you might opt out of a rental that requires chores like cooking, loading/unloading a dishwasher, and making beds in favor of a hotel where you won’t have to lift a finger. Of course if you’d rather cook and save money, you should skip a hotel. Another consideration is how your schedule aligns with your travel partners. For example, if you have a baby, you may not want to stay in an Airbnb with friends who are going to stay up late.
6. Do Hotels or Vacation Rentals Have Better Locations?
Hotels are meant for tourists and as such, are located in central, tourist-friendly areas, close to popular neighborhoods and attractions. Some vacation rentals are too, especially when they’re housed within apartment buildings.
Standalone homes, however, are more likely to be located in residential neighborhoods as opposed to urban centers. That can infuse more of a local feeling, but it will also come with a longer commute to see major sights. If walkability and convenience are priorities, a hotel is probably the better fit.
7. Is One Safer?
Hotels are often staffed 24/7 and have standardized safety protocols and policies. Vacation rentals vary depending on the property and host. With this in mind, be sure to review the amenities of a rental carefully, and understand the house rules and precautions, as there’s definitely more variability in a rental than in a hotel.
The Shortcut
Choosing a type of lodging can be the most challenging part of planning any trip, but identifying your priorities helps.
Hotels come loaded with amenities but are small on personal space.
Vacation rentals feel like home, but lack housekeeping, restaurants, or pools and sometimes incur extra fees.
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