Vacation Rentals Vs Hotels: Which Is Better For Your Trip?

When going on vacation, it’s not only about pool time and eating delicious food. Choosing the right accommodation is vital. If you are here and wondering if you should search for a hotel or a vacation rental, you are in the right place. There are a few good reasons to stay in hotels vs vacation rentals and vice versa.

In this post I’ve described when it makes sense to choose a hotel over a vacation rental, and when it is better to do the opposite. I don’t think one option is better than the other. Each has its place.

While we were traveling full-time, we noticed that where we stayed had a huge impact on whether we enjoyed a location or didn’t. Getting a good night’s rest is vital to having enough energy for those breathtaking hikes and city wanderings. We chose mainly vacations rentals during this trip.

As we have continued traveling fairly regularly, we have learned that hotels are a better choice in certain situations.

Continue reading to find out how to choose between hotels vs vacation rentals for your next trip.

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Hotels

The good reliable hotel. It has been around the longest and is the most trusted. I would say if you are a beginner traveler, you are most likely going to look for your nearest Hilton, Marriott or Holiday Inn. These could be great choices depending on a few factors. Let’s dive into the benefits and drawbacks of hotels. 

**Please note that hotels are not created equally and there will be some variations to these comments below. They are more generalizations than absolutes.

Hotel Advantages 

Hotels have many advantages when you are taking a vacation. We choose hotels vs vacation rentals for many reasons. These are our top arguments for hotels.

• Most hotels have a high standard for cleanliness. There is a whole crew ready to clean up and make sure your hotel room’s bathroom is spotless and the bed is clean and made. 
• The standard check-in desk. This is familiar to most people and usually makes it easier for a person to check in. With a live person there to do it! You can ask questions, be directed to where your room is and not have to worry that you are checking in too late. In addition, you don’t have to look up the instructions for checking in because most hotels are the same and do it for you.
• Hotels are usually centrally located and near attractions or public transportation. This is important for travel. You don’t want to spend much of your day going to and from your destination.
• Sometimes breakfast is included and this can be a huge perk if you want to roll out of bed and fill up your belly before setting out to explore. 
• Housekeeping cleans your room each day. If you enjoy returning from a day out to a nice clean room and a made bed, this is a great advantage!
• It is easier to find bonus amenities included at a hotel like a pool, hot tub, sauna, gym, bar, etc..
• In my opinion, it is more convenient to book a hotel for just a single night or two than a vacation rental.

Hotel Disadvantages 

While hotels have many advantages, there are sadly some things we don’t care for about hotels. Here are a few:

• I have found that hotels usually are a little more expensive, but this depends on the location. This may also be because of the amenities that they offer and or the location. In deciding over hotels vs vacations rentals, think about what is important to you and then consider if the cost is worth the amenities that the hotel provides. 
• There are many guests at hotels! This means you need to share those fun amenities with other people. This may be totally fine for you. At other times, you want that hot tub to yourself. 
• Sometimes breakfast is gross. Breakfast can be hit or miss. Hotel breakfast in Sweden is going to look a lot different than the hotel breakfast you get in South Dakota. In case you’re wondering, our hotel in Sweden had the absolute best breakfast we’ve ever had at a hotel! I still think about it.
• If you travel with limited baggage, having access to laundry might be important to you. Many hotels don’t have laundry service and if they do it’s an extra, hefty charge.
• If you are traveling with a family in Europe, it may be harder to find hotels with family rooms. Many hotel rooms are for 2 people, possibly 3. It’s not impossible, but something to be aware of. 

You May Also Like: 7 Valuable Hotel Safety Tips Families Need To Know

Vacation Rentals – Airbnbs And VRBOs

Views from our vacation rentals. Porto, Portugal on the left. Cartagena, Colombia on the right.

The newest way to book lodging actually has been around for a little while. VRBO launched in 1995 and Airbnb has been around since 2007. Airbnb went global in 2011 and has gained popularity ever since. These two top vacation rental sites have some offerings that hotels just don’t offer and might be the perfect choice for you. 

Vacation Rental Advantages

As I mentioned earlier, we have spent a lot of time in vacation rentals. We traveled full-time in 2022 and 2023 and almost exclusively booked Airbnbs for this trip. There are certainly instances when it makes the most sense. Below are all the things we like about vacation rentals vs hotels.

• Airbnb and VRBO hosts have the ability to offer significant discounts for longer stays. If you are considering staying in one location for a week or a month, a vacation rental is a great place to look. Weekly and monthly discounts can vary depending on the hosts’ preferences, but we have found 50% discounts on monthly stays. That’s huge! 
• If you are looking for somewhere that is one of a kind, look up unique places on Airbnb. You can search for different features such as amazing views, tiny homes, tree houses, castles, lake front, or my favorite, OMG!, for the truly different. 
• Are you seeking someplace remote or just wanting your privacy? Vacation rentals allow you to stay in a home and not see another person the whole time if you desire. You can also find places where hotels don’t have the demand. Finding quiet places to vacation is a trend in 2026, so a remote cabin in the woods might be right up your alley. You won’t find a hotel in that neck of the woods!
• The amenities that vacation rentals offer can vary greatly. When you search for homes to stay in, make sure you have everything you need. Include filters for washer and dryer, wifi, pool, air conditioning, free parking etc… and find the perfect accommodation.
• Are you traveling with a big group or have a large family? Vacation rentals make it much easier by being able to find a large home that can accommodate many people. It’s nice to be able to stay in one place and have a communal area all to yourselves. Usually splitting the cost ends up saving money as well!
• A favorite benefit of a vacation rental for me is that hosts are locals that want to give advice and share their favorite restaurants and local attractions with you. Many hosts have guidebooks written up for you and are included when you complete the booking. My personal favorite though is to reach out to them directly and just ask. You will usually get their favorite that way!

Vacation Rental Disadvantages

Of course vacation rentals aren’t always a walk in the park. They have their downsides too. Here are some things we don’t like about vacation rentals.

• Quality control is regulated on Airbnb and VRBO by reviews. That means you can find some really disgusting or poorly managed rentals. Be careful when booking to be sure to find the best. Reviews are important. I have two important rules that I live by when booking a vacation rental. One is that I only book places with a 4.8 rating or above. Second, if there’s a bad review, I assume it could happen to me and stay away if it it is somthing I want to avoid on a vacation.
• Check in and communication can be difficult depending on your host. Because these rentals are managed by individual people, there is a possibility that your host won’t respond within 10 minutes of you asking a question or having a problem. You will have to be patient and proactive when communicating with hosts. For example, if you don’t see your check-in details at least 24 hours in advance, reach out to the hosts right away and not right before arriving. 
• City zoning might make it hard to find a vacation rental near the city center. Many cities are regulating vacation rentals, making it harder for people to become hosts. In particular, it is hardest near city centers where many attractions are located. 

Avoid Booking A Terrible Airbnb: Cut Through the Bullshit: How to Book a Good Airbnb

My Thoughts On Booking Hotels Vs Vacation Rentals

When booking lodging in any location, I first decide if I want to stay in hotels vs vacation rentals. Our family enjoys staying in both, and I believe that each has their pluses and minuses depending on the situation.

Book a hotel if you want to be in a centralized location where you have access to a person to help in various situations. Additionally, hotels are a great option if you are looking for the convenience of amenities and having your room cleaned each day. There is less of a risk in getting a dirty hotel, especially if it is a chain that you trust.

Hotels are also best for shorter stays. If I am staying less than a week, I almost exclusively book a hotel.

My favorite tool to book a hotel stay is Booking.com. Check out their deals and discounts with this link. I’ve also put a widget at the bottom of this page for you to easily search up hotels to your next destination.

Booking.com is great because of their filters and reward program. I also find that it is easier to know exactly what you are getting at the hotel. For example, it it not always easy to know if parking is included at a hotel, but in Booking.com it is simple to find.

Another tool I use to find hotels is Agoda. They specifically are great for finding hotels in Asia. I have also find more hotel options on their site when looking in South America.

Book a vacation rental if you want a unique stay, would like to save money on meals out, and if you need to do laundry. Vacation rentals are best for longer stays, large groups and more remote locations. 

You can search accommodations and book vacation rentals like Airbnb and VRBO directly on their websites, which I’ve linked for you to easily access.

Conclusion And Last Kernel Of Advice On Vacation Rentals Vs Hotels

My last piece of advice is to always check reviews. Not all hotels or vacation rentals are good. Read the bad reviews and decide for yourself if it is worth the risk.

Sometimes people just like to complain that the mattress is too soft. That is not a problem review in my eyes. I like a soft mattress.

Other people complain of loud air conditioning or that many things were broken in the room. This is a sign that the hotel needs an upgrade and might not look like the pictures.

Regardless if you choose hotels vs vacation rentals, there’s no wrong choice. It all depends on what you want in a stay. I hope this post has clarified which one will work the best for your situation. Happy travels!