Which is Better - Hotel or Vacation Rental?

Whether you decide to choose a hotel-based package or a rental home for your vacation is simply down to personal choice and neither can be said to be better than the other. What will suit one person’s requirements will not necessarily suit another’s and there are pros and cons to be said for both.

If you want a quiet family break then a sprawling hotel is perhaps not for you and you would much prefer an away-from-it-all location that gives you the independence and freedom which a vacation rental allows.

Generally speaking, a hotel environment may be better for families with small children. Here, a couple will be able to enlist the services of childminders while they spend precious time together as their young ones can enjoy the many and varied activities available with other children of their own age. Knowing your kids are being cared for and entertained by fully-trained reps gives you peace of mind throughout the vacation. Children are never easy to entertain so any hotel-based organised activities always go down well and give parents free time to devote to their own pursuits. This is something that won't be possible in a vacation home rental.

A hotel may restrict you to set patterns and meal times; you may not want to get up for an early breakfast after the revels of the night before or come away from the beach in the middle of the day to take the set lunch. You'll resent the fact that you'll have to dispense with your beachwear and don more suitable attire. In that case, it would be far better to do your own thing and opt for a self-catering apartment or villa. This doesn't mean you have to wash dishes all day long - it means you're free to eat out at any restaurant of your choice and not be restricted to hotel menus and mealtimes.

Hotels will likely expect you to vacate your room for cleaning at certain times each day but with a vacation rental, you can enjoy a greater degree of privacy by avoiding the constant presence of hotel staff and other guests. The maid service at vacation rental homes may only be an option and it will be more of a home- from-home, giving you greater choices over who you associate with. It all depends on how independent and carefree you wish to be.

It's wise to gauge before booking any holiday as to what regime will most fit in with your particular habits. Do you need the constant cosseted environment that a hotel provides or are you prepared to be independent? What do you, as an individual really expect from a vacation? Would an all-inclusive deal bore you to tears because you won't have to lift a finger, or will it provide the welcome break you need?

Whatever type of holiday accommodation you choose is the most sensible option for you, the standard of vacation rentals and hotels nowadays is extremely high. In order to be successful, both hotels and vacation homes have to uphold and improve these high standards year after year. They need to constantly maintain their ratings so the chances are you'll still have an enjoyable vacation one way or another.

Give it a try and sample both types of vacation and you'll likely come to the conclusion that there are advantages and disadvantages to be said for both. Personal circumstances can change over time so what may suit you one year may not suit you the next. It also makes a big difference as to the size of your group and the ages and interests of the people you'll be travelling with. The hire of a huge villa would not be viable for a couple as they could be waited on hand and foot in a hotel for half the price - meals and drinks included.