After recently launching our own short term rental business, it came to my attention that several of our loved ones have no idea what the pro's are of using an apartment or house whilst travelling. I have friends who have only ever stayed in or booked hotels and would never think about renting a whole place to themselves. Whilst we absolutely love a hotel and the experience that comes with it, there's no denying that a short term rental can sometimes be the better option depending on where you're going, what type of experience you're looking to have and how much you've got in your budget.
So what really are the benefits of staying in a rental? Here are the reasons we love it:
You can immerse yourself in local life.
When deciding between an STR (short term rental) or a hotel, we always think about what we want to get out of the trip. Where are we going? Do we want to feel a part of the local culture or do we want to be secluded from the outside world?
Most of our recent trips to Europe we have stayed in STR's because we relish immersing oursevles in the local culture. As people with aspirations to move abroad one day, we find great joy in experiencing local life and discovering the routines of our neighbours. We love getting out and exploring the city or place that we're in. We like to figure out which areas are quieter than others and where the natives spend their time. Being in an STR allows you to live like a local, which is the thing we love most about staying in a rental unit.
(Our gorgeous loft apartment in Paris)
You can grab a great deal, especially when in a group.
STR's can be a great way to save money on a trip, especially if there are a few of your travelling. We've found some incredible deals over the years that have allowed us to travel last minute, on a whim and on a small budget. If you're travelling in a group, the cost of the whole place then becomes split between you. For example, I recently found a deal for me, Debs and two other friends to spend 4 nights in Lisbon for just £300 per couple, which works out at just £75 per night!
It's great for remote workers.
Lot's of houses and apartments on STR platforms often come with a dedicated work space which is perfect for those of us who still work whilst travelling. When using a hotel, this isn't always a given and if it is an option, it can sometimes be more expensive.
Also great for a longer stay.
If you're looking for a longer trip, say two weeks or more, having your own place can be an incredible benefit, particularly if you've chosen a home with full cooking amenities. If you're on a long trip, there's no way you're going to want to be out every night just to get something to eat.
Why and when we chose hotels:
Hotels are great for a more hands-off experience.
If cooking or cleaning are not on your agenda, then a hotel is definitely the right choice for you. We tend to book hotels when we're looking for a rejuvenating break, relaxing getaway and when our itinerary doesn't involve extensive sightseeing. There's nothing I enjoy more than switching off for two whole weeks without having to think about running the hoover round or what the hell I'm going to make for dinner.
Hotels are more likely to have pools or a spa.
Whilst some STR's do come with a pool or hot tub, you'll likely be paying a premium for it. If we're going somewhere hot and we know we want to have a pool day or two, we'll tend to go for the hotel option as opposed to a villa or rental, especially if it's just the two of us.
(Poolside margs in California. FYI This is my friends hand, not mine! Haha)
We know nothing about the local area, or country.
Another reason we sometimes choose a hotel over a rental is when we really don't know a lot about the area we're in. For example, we're heading to New York for the first time in December this year and as neither of us have ever been, we really don't know what to expect. We've no idea which area would be best to stay in or what we want to be near, so have opted for a central hotel with staff who can help us out if we need it.
At the end of the day, we love both options for very different reasons and use each form of accommodation depending on what we want out of each trip. For those of you who've never used a STR, we'd highly recommend giving it a go. Make sure you book through a legitimate company and check out the property's reviews before making your choice!
Becca x
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