Hotel VS. House Rental - Which is better???

Shared Amenities or Fatter Wallet?

Which would you choose?

Everyone's first thought when they decide to go on vacation is, "where should we stay?"

And for the most part everyone first turns to hotels and resorts for the obvious reasons; they are usually easy to find and in the heart of your travel destination.  But when you stay at a hotel or even an all-inclusive resort you probably are going to encounter hidden fees or price jumps.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE staying at a nice hotel or resort for a short stay but staying in a rental house just makes more sense when you are trying to save money.
That really is all it comes down to - how much money you are willing to spend...
While you have wasted memories and money on bland and forgettable hotel rooms, savvy tourists have relaxed by private pools, enjoyed spectacular unobstructed views of the ocean, mountains and cityscape, cooked in roomy kitchens, and slept in past noon on the departure dates!  Maybe you are not even aware of the of the hotels vs vacation rentals debate, but if you are a traveler, you should be!  While it may be easy to make a hotel reservation, it is not always the smartest and cost effective thing to do. 

I think people should start considering the alternative...

House rentals...

House rentals are a fantastic option if you are traveling with large group or just your family.  You can customize your search to find properties that have a pool, are close to a certain area, offer parking, pet-friendly etc.  What you are giving up is someone turning down your bed at night, concierge service, cleaning up after you etc.  If you can vacation without those things then house rentals are the way to go!

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For example: My last trip to Nicaragua, Central America, my friends and I left the coast for a 2 night adventure to the city of Granda and booked a fabulous 3 bedroom colonial house.  It was in the heart of the city, open air, huge, private pool and gorgeous kitchen.  We found it on Vrbo.com and booked it the day we wanted to go and only paid $45 per couple, per night!  
Check out my photos!

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* Lets compare the two *

(H) Hotel 

(HR) House Rental 

Square Footage

H: Avg 400 Sq Ft

HR: Avg 2,000 Sq Ft

Pricing

H: Avg U.S. hotel cost $119/night

HR: 1,300 sq ft condo/sleeps 6

Avg $99/night

Cost of meals

H: There is an average cost of $30 per person when dining out on vacation.  

$30 x 3 x 3ppl x 7days = $1,890 just to eat for a family of 3 on a 7 day vacation.

HR: Having your own kitchen will save you a ton of money if you do not mind cooking your own meals on vacation.  And you do not have to eat all your meals at home, pick and choose what your day is going to be like and plan accordingly.

Laundry Services

H: Laundry services and dry cleaning range anywhere from $7 to $12 per item of clothing.

HR: Take advantage of being able to wash your cloths free of charge all week long if you wanted.  

Pet-Friendly

H: Def usually a no on bringing Fido

HR: Absolutely!

Check In and Out Times

H: Very strick and scheduled

HR: Enjoy flexible hours that work for you and your family.

Free Perks

H: Toiletries, and occasionally parking and breakfast

HR: Bicycles, country club passes, personal swimming pools

Extras

H: Movies can cost up to $15 a piece 

(thats a 200% mark up)

Vallet parking can cost you up to $36/day

HR: Tv and movies are free in a house rental so it is perfect option when it rains. 

Free parking also!

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United Military Travel (UMT) offers some fantastic vacation rentals in Florida - check them out here!

And take advantage of UMT's  fly now/pay later option to get your family to the destination of your choice.  Save that extra money to spend while on your vacation...not getting there!

* Websites to utilize when you book a vacation rental *

www.vrbo.com

www.homeaway.com

www.vacationhomerentals.com

www.flipkey.com

www.airnb.com

Best Bargain Hotels - New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami

So by now if you follow my blog you have probably figured out two things.  I love nature and love a good bargain.

Typically when I go to a "big" city I look at hostels first because the hotels are far to expensive and I do not want to stay on the outskirts of town.  

Is it too much to ask for a little bit of luxury for a decent price???? 

Now, it appears that more and more people want to save money on accommodations so hotels are now giving us "more bang for our buck".  They realize that people are still going to travel and with different types of accommodations now available they are going to have to offer amenities to keep us coming back.

Earlier when I mentioned "big cities" I am referring to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami.  Lets check out the bargain hotels in these cities that I would stay at.

**There's a secret to finding good hotel room deals in the biggest of cities though: think small.  Although some prominent chain properties are offering steep discounts today, even better bargains can be found at some of the city's more intimate boutique hotels.

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New York City

The Standard 

Situated right along the Highline city park

Located in the Meatpacking District, which is my favorite, the hotel is surrounded by low-lying warehouses which means almost ever room has stunning skyline or Hudson River views.  Also, the hotel has two restaurants and five bars and a little insider tip is that in some rooms you can sit in the tub and see the Statue of Liberty.  You can get all this at a discounted NY City rate of $350/night.  

Los Angeles

The Inn at 657

The Inn at 657 is a verifiable bed and breakfast that offers a quaint atomosphere and most reviews have called this place a "hidden gem."  With such close proximity to the Los Angeles Convention Center it really is amazing that you can get a generous breakfast , parking and access to their gardens for $130/night.

San Francisco

Nob Hill Inn

Located in the posh Nob Hill neighbourhood, this turn of the century Victorian style hotel has been perfectly resorted into a town house with 21 guest rooms and suites.  All of which have four poster beds and carved wooden furniture and while that may sound out dated to you the owners have taken great care to offer contemporary amentities.  Also, the suites are great to accommodate families sleeping four to six all around $110/night.

Miami

Habitat Residence

This contemporary "condo hotel" offers travelers a chance to like like a Miami local - that is why I would stay here.  Very sleek and eco-friendly these apartments are better suited for traveling families, long-term visitors, or people who just want a little more space than the typical hotel room.  But you have to be willing to sacrifice a few of the hotel amenities like a concierge desk and continental breakfast.  Neither bother me especially since I would have a kitchen to cook my own food.  Each space includes wireless internet, a flatscreen, a private balcony, and access to a rooftop terrace with views over the Miami skyline.  You can have all this for just $112/night!

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Just remember that before you book your accommodations in a chain look off the grid a little bit.  I promise you will find a more fun, creative, exciting, and affordable way to vacation :)