I'm often surprised when friends tell me they think a vacation home costs more than a hotel, because I save money when I rent a home — and often a significant amount! For example, on one recent trip, I had trouble finding hotel accommodations for less than $400/night due to a major local event that coincided with my trip. I hopped onto my home rental apps and within minutes found a fantastic home for less than $150/night! Once there, I was able to grocery shop and then cook many of my meals from the house — which saved additional funds.
Today I'm going to teach you how to rent a vacation home you'll love at a fraction of the cost of a hotel, so you'll have more money to spend on the fun stuff. You're also welcome to use my Airbnb referral code to receive $40 your first rental with them.
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Home Rental Companies
There are many resources available when renting a vacation home. A few of the more popular options are:
I’ve tried all 3! I've never had a bad experience with any of them. I really love Airbnb. My current personal favorite is probably HomeAway, because I’ve had so many fantastic recent rental experiences with them. Here’s one of my favorite HomeAway rentals in Savannah, GA:
This home was exactly what I was looking for: A charming and cozy rental in downtown Savannah's historic district that was within walking distance to numerous attractions. Click on any photo to view it larger.
Save money on travel during peak travel times by renting someone’s home while they’re away. #traveltips Click To Tweet
How to Rent a Vacation Home
Here are a few things to consider when planning your next trip so your rental will feel more like home sweet home:
1. Begin your search early!
The top vacation homes are often booked months in advance. It’s best to start early, particularly if you’re seeking a rental home during peak travel times such as Christmas or the 4th of July.
2. Know your needs.
Determine your “must haves” before you begin house hunting to help narrow your focus.
For example: A few of the non-negotiable items on my wish list are: A strong Wi-Fi connection (I blog often while traveling), a safe location (I typically travel alone), a washer & dryer (I’m a light packer), and a central location (I prefer to walk or Uber everywhere). I seek homes providing those amenities and am flexible regarding other items.
TIP: A couple of the most important factors to consider when renting a vacation home are whether or not you need a pet and/or kid-friendly location, and if you prefer a non-smoking or smoke-friendly option.
3. Decide on a budget.
It’s much too easy to go overboard when your search terms include an open-ended price range.
For example: I’m a single mom and I’m currently paying for my daughter’s college tuition. Whenever I visit her, I set a budget of $75 – $125 per night and refuse to look outside that range to avoid temptation.
4. Be flexible.
Once you’ve determined your must-haves, you can then decide where you’re able to make concessions. Is an oceanfront view on your must-have list? If not, you'll often save hundreds on a weekly rental by staying a few blocks from the water.
5. Search multiple hosting sites.
It's not uncommon for the same rental to be found on multiple listing sites — and not always at the same rate. Do your due diligence and search everywhere to find the best deal.
6. Read the reviews!!
I cannot begin to stress the importance of reading reviews from previous renters! It’s the one step that can save you a world of stress once you arrive at your destination. I personally tend to book homes that have numerous reviews and will only stay in ones that have 4.5 or more stars.
Read every single review, then see if the management company has taken the time to comment and address previous issues. If not, find a different rental.
For example: I've discovered beautiful homes in seemingly perfect locations, only to read the reviews and learn the rental was situated next to a popular bar where people were up partying until 3 am or that it was in a sketchy neighborhood where the front entry light was so dark that renters felt uncomfortable approaching the house.
7. Google it.
Speaking of sketchy locations, that's where Google's streetview feature comes in handy. Utilize it to search the location of the home you plan to rent and scope out the area in advance.
Does the neighborhood appear well-maintained? If not, find a different rental. Does that house have steep stairs or potential hazards that were creatively cropped out of the online listing photos? Again, find another rental. Trust your gut and if anything seems out of place or makes you uncomfortable, select an alternative option.
Google's streetview feature is also a great way to determine if there are coffee shops, cafe's, or interesting shops within walking distance of your rental property.
8. Know what to pack.
One of my favorite things about renting someone's home is that it includes many of the amenities of my own home at a fraction of the cost of a hotel. However, there are a few items you may need to bring or request in advance. Speak with a property manager to learn what's included with your particular rental.
For example, if you prefer extra towels or pillows, know that many property managers tack on additional fees for supplementary items. Food isn't included in a home rental, but kitchens are frequently stocked with the basic necessities required for coffee, plus seasonings and spices for cooking.
Bathrooms should come equipped with a reasonable number of towels, a hairdryer, bath tissue, and enough shampoo/conditioner/soap to accommodate the length of your stay and number of visitors you say you're bringing.
9. Be courteous.
Remember you're a guest in someone's home and act accordingly. Treat it as you would your own home (or better). ‘Nuff said.
10. Document your arrival.
Take photos or cell phone video of the home as soon as you arrive and again prior to departure. You probably won't need them, but if any questions arise later you'll have evidence of the home's condition.
11. Read the fine print.
Renting a home is more like renting an apartment than staying in a hotel. Sign a contract that sets clear expectations, then ask the manager for a contact number in case of emergencies. (You'll be happy to have it in the rare case the air conditioning goes out or the dishwasher floods.)
It's important to make note of check-in and departure times, housecleaning fees, and parking rules. You may also want to check to see if your safety deposit is refundable, because some aren't.
For example: The contract for the home pictured in the photos above included a note that cars parked on the street in front of the home needed to be moved on one particular day. It's a simple request, made necessary so city street-sweepers could do their job, but a renter who hadn't read the contract might find their car ticketed.
12. Become a repeat visitor.
Once you've discovered a great home in a city you like, be sure to ‘favorite' it in the rental app of your choice so you can find it again. You'll usually receive a discount for reserving the same place twice!
I always request the “friends and family” discount when I return multiple times to a property I've previously rented. I've even negotiated “non-refundable” deposits and have been given discounts on housekeeping fees, because the homeowners have learned they can trust me to treat their home as I do my own.
While I can't promise the same results for you, I can say that my diligence has paid off!
Receive a Discounted Stay with Airbnb
As previously mentioned, I've used all of the services listed above and have enjoyed amazing travel experiences with each. Feel free to use my Airbnb referral link to receive $40 off your first vacation rental with them. I'm not aware of any current discount code offers with HomeAway or VRBO, but will update if they become available.
Want to become a host and rent your own home while you're off traveling the world? Start right here.
I hope these tips help you to find the home of your dreams for your next vacation! If you have additional suggestions, please comment below to help others who may be renting for the first time. Happy Travels!
Pin It for Later: How to Rent a Vacation Home You'll Absolutely Love
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These are all great tips! I still haven’t tried HomeAway. I’ll remember that for next time.:)
My parents were talking to us about renting a home for our next vacation as a family. Need to share this with them.
Great tips!! I haven’t rented a home for a vacation, but will keep all this tips in mind. Thanks for sharing!!
Wow some amazing tips! I do most of these, but have never thought to check the different hosting sites to compare the different prices for the same airbnb. Genius!
Yes, that’s a great tip we discovered about a year ago. We didn’t realize the same rental could be priced differently with different companies, but it happens pretty frequently!
Great tips Erin. My husband and I are planning a few trips for next year. I’m pinning this to help us plan. Thanks.
Awesome! Thanks for pinning 🙂 And how exciting that you have multiple trips planned for 2018! If you’re planning to come to Savannah, I post lots of tips about the area (under the “travel” tab). I could talk about the beauty of Savannah all day long. lol
These are such great tips! I’d love to have an excuse to book a trip like this soon!
You sound like me! I’m always looking for any excuse to travel 🙂
Great tips for someone like me who is just starting to check out these sort of rental options. Thanks!
You’re welcome! I’m obviously a huge fan of them because they’re so much more homey than staying in a hotel.
Great tips! I have never rented a vacation home before but these are great ideas for when I decide to do it. Thanks again!
You’re welcome! Hope they help. It’s a pretty easy process to rent a home, so don’t be intimidated by it 🙂
I have used Airbnb many times Same thing. Am I right?
Yes! Airbnb, Homeaway, and VRBO are all the same thing, just different companies behind each one.
These are such great tips!! Doing your research on a place is huge and so important when it comes to a rental. I love vacation rentals – they’re so much better than hotels and worth the money for SURE!
I agree! Research is key, and I absolutely LOVE home rentals. Thanks for visiting the blog! 🙂
I love airBnB. I used it twice so far. Once when we went to France last year. And this year we went to St.Lucia. But I did try a resort just for the sake of it in St. Lucia
How fun! I think airbnb is fantastic. I’m already looking forward to my next trip and will be doing a home rental again. It’s such a fun way to immerse yourself into the local culture!
My husband and I travelled a lot this year. Would you believe that we’ve never really tried AirBnB?? I’ve heard a lot of reviews (both good and bad). The idea of having an entire house all to yourself may sound really cool, but my husband has reservations in terms of security. I guess we’ll never know unless we try booking with them, right?!
That’s true! I’m a single female and I travel alone, and I don’t have many reservations about my safety because I’m cautious and do my research. I just make sure to read the reviews and check out the google street view images first so I get a feel for the place well in advance. The amount of money I save by staying in a home rental and the ability to live like a local, get to know the neighbors, and cook my own food all make home rentals well worth it for me. Wishing you safe travels in the upcoming year!
Thank you, Erin! You, too!
We love renting vacation homes so we can take our pup with us. And it’s really important to do your research and to know what you really want. Otherwise you might end up in a home you hate and feel uncomfortable in but have to stay there for your vacation. This is a really great and helpful post!
Thanks so much! I’m glad you found it helpful. Yes, I think it’s awesome that there are home rentals that will allow you to bring pets because it’s definitely hard leaving them at home. We have a chameleon and she can’t go on planes, so I have to get a homesitter for her whenever I leave town (by air).
Vacation homes are the way to go! They can be cheaper and are much cozier.
I agree 100% 🙂
I recently tried a vacation home for our previous trip and was a great idea. We saved a ton versus booking a hotel stay. And the experience was so much better!
Abby of Life in the Fash Lane
Right? I’ve only had amazing experiences with home rentals. It’s the only way I travel these days.
This is super cool! I didn’t know that renting a home is cheaper than a hotel! I have heard of Airbnb but not the others, so I will be pinning this to use the code.
Awesome! I hope your first home rental experience is a fun one! It’s great if you’re traveling with kids because they get to enjoy all the comforts of having a yard to play in and that type of thing.
All great tips!!! I have only used AirBnb so far and have really enjoyed it. I need to look into the other two websites as well. Being able to cook your own meals is such a huge money saver.
Being able to cook my own meals is one of my favorite things about home rentals, too. I like to save money when I travel by eating out for one meal and then eating the rest at home. So I’ll often enjoy a really fancy dinner out, but I’ll eat my breakfast and lunch at the house. 🙂
We have saved money by renting cabins and guest houses as well. I am vegan and gluten free, so it is really nice to have a kitchen to cook my meals.
I’m getting more into the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle and I completely agree! It’s so nice to be able to head to the closest grocery store and pick up healthy meals to eat when I’m in a new city.
Great tips love! I will have to keep it in mind the next time I want to rent a vacation home. Thanks for sharing xo, sharon
http://www.stylelullaby.com/fashion/holiday-gift-ideas-him-her/
You’re welcome! I hope they’ll help you out next time you’re headed out on a trip. Safe travels. 🙂
These are some great tips! I always use VRBO for my Disney trips!
That’s awesome! I’m glad you have good experiences with home rentals. 🙂 I bet there are tons of options available around the Disney parks.
I need to try one of these! I’ve looked into Air bnb, but sometimes here in Europe those can be SO expensive. Definitely looking at the others!
xx nicole
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Are they more expensive than hotels? That would surprise me (unless you’re looking at really large houses). I hope to plan a trip to Europe later this year so I need to start researching the prices ASAP. You always have beautiful shots of Paris and your travels on your blog. 🙂
Yay! I’ve mainly used airbnb! It’s def the best way to travel. I love delevoping a relationship with the owners and going back again. I only stay with super hosts and always prefer for them to have a bunch of reviews. great tips and so helpful. It’s the only way to go!
I agree! I’ve made friends with the owners and neighbors in a couple of the cities I visit frequently and it’s so nice because they provide insider tips on the best local restaurants and hangouts. Lots of homes include guest books where you can write about your visit and you can read what previous guests have done, too. It’s fun! I get ideas for new places to visit each time I flip through one of the books.
We love renting homes or apartments when we travel, it really helps us feel like locals. Great tips!
Thanks for stopping by and I’m happy you found the post helpful! It’s nice to see that so many people love home rentals as much as I do. 🙂
These are wonderful tips. Reading the fine print is always important, no one wants more fees tack on unexpectedly. I’ll be referencing these tips for my next family trip for sure.
Awesome, I hope they help! Happy travels in 2017!
Yes! I pinned this for later! I’ve been telling my husband we need to rent a vacation home rather than staying in hotels.
Yes, you’re so right! At least try it once for the experience and you’ll probably get hooked like I am (and like many of the other commenters here). Safe and happy travels in 2017!
Exellent tips! We love renting vacation homes when we travel, especially if we travel as a family or travel with a group of friends.
Same here! A recent Airbnb lakehouse rental for a large group was one of my favorite memories of the summer. 🙂 You get to spend more time together in a home than you would if each family was in individual hotel rooms.
Vacation homes are the best!! We loves using AirBnb!
I haven’t had a bad experience with any of the 3 companies I mentioned. They’re all great! I’m so happy home sharing is a “thing” now. 🙂
Such great tips! I do most of these too and I love Airbnb!
Belle | One Awesome Momma
Airbnb is a fantastic company. 🙂
This is a wonderful comprehensive checklist. I am a huge fan of Airbnb and using it has changed my travel plans big time. I am glad you recommended others I am eager to check out!
Home sharing rentals have changed my life! I’ve traveled more this year (personal travel, not including business trips) than I ever have in the past, and it’s all thanks to discovering Airbnb and Homeaway.
Truly enjoyed this post! Thanks for sharing ❤️ Xx
Thanks for visiting, Neha 🙂