The value of renting a vacation cabin or house for your holiday cannot be beat.

A number of years ago while skiing at Big Bear, I saw a flyer in town for an agency that rents cabins on a weekly and weekend basis. At the time I was in college, so I thought I knew everything, but really was ignorant of most things. I was so amazed at what a good idea vacation rentals were I told everyone about my innovative discovery, only to be embarrassed when told vacation rental have been around forever. Vacation rentals have been around forever because they are a great deal.

First what is a vacation rental home or cabin? Typically a vacation rental is a fully furnished home in a destination location. Usually vacation rentals are family’s second homes. They rent them out when they are not using them to offset their cost of ownership. Sometime the home is part of a real estate investment for the sole purpose of rentals. The Vacation rentals come with most all the comforts of home. This includes fully stocked kitchen, furniture, entertainment items and appliances. This is perfect for groups or families that want to cook some meals for themselves to save money or for enjoyment. Many families book vacation rentals over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and prepare home cooked meals while their family is gathered or re-gathered in a beach or mountain setting.

A vacation home also has a lot of elbowroom compared to traditional hotel rentals. Of course it depends on the size of the vacation cabin, but for all practical purposes, there are bedroom(s), bathroom(s) and there is probably a kitchen and living room. Have you ever wanted to go to bed before everyone else is done watching TV or playing cards? In a hotel room, it is not possible at a vacation rental it is very possible. Vacation rentals are anything but standardized. Do a lot a research into the size, layout, amenities and cleanliness.

You do need to bring things to a vacation rental that you do not need to bring to a hotel. The first is usually bedding. Almost all vacation rental homes do not supply sheets and pillowcases. You will need your own toiletries and towels. You will also need to bring up your own food. You may also have to take out your own trash. In some cases you are required to leave it clean. If the vacation rental has a washer and dryer you will need to bring you own soap. This once again varies greatly between vacation rentals and research is key.

The price of renting a vacation rental is usually more expensive than a hotel room, but less expensive than two hotel rooms. When families rent a vacation cabin it is extremely cost effective. It is also a great value for groups. Some vacation rentals will even take pets.

You can find vacation rents from agencies that represent a number of vacation rentals in an area or you can go directly to the owner. Renting from the agency is nice because someone will usually turn on and off the water and meet you with the keys. You also have a resource in case something goes wrong. Renting from the owner is nice because they are personally involved with their property and want you to enjoy your stay. Some owners offer little extras in hopes that you will return next year. You will also have the number to person who is really invested in the vacation property.

The negatives of vacation rentals boil down the quality of the property. Lets face it, clean does not mean the same thing to everyone. The best way to select a vacation rental is to make a pre-daytrip and visually inspect the cabins. Look for cleanliness, amenities, location, comfort and other elements that are important to you. The second best way to shop is through photos. You can rely on photos, however you have no idea when those photos were taken and if they were staged. For example I wanted a photo of hill next to our rental cabin. The hill is great for sledding. I woke up at 5am to get a picture of the hill while it had undisturbed snow, without footprints or sled tracks. I do not view this as dishonest. I think that is more like putting your best foot forward. However, my grey area is not the same as the next persons. I have heard of people bringing up furniture, dishes, televisions, cleaning crews and new bedding just for photo shoots. 

All in all, vacation rentals are wonderful values both in terms of experience and monetary value. I hope the pointers above help you make you next vacation a great vacation.

In summary:

Vacation Rental Pros:

• Value for families and groups
• Kitchen, Living Room, Laundry, etc.
• Extras like decks, BBQs, games, books, etc.
• Great for the Beach or Mountain Experience
• Easy to find thanks to the Internet

Vacation Rental Cons:

• Research is required to get a good property
• You probable have to bring linens, towels, toiletries, etc.
• You may have to clean before you leave.