Vacation Rentals versus Hotal Stays: Which Is Better?

When planning a vacation, one of the most important things you must consider is where you will stay. The location where you set up your vacation "base camp" can make all the difference between a trip that's memorable for being wonderful, and one that's memorable for being a disaster. When choosing where to stay, you are faced with two main options: a hotel, or a rental property.

With sites like AirBNB, vacation rentals have grown significantly in popularity in recent years. But are they truly the better option? Keep reading to get an in-depth comparison between staying in a hotel versus staying in a vacation rental property in San Diego, CA.

Cost

Likely one of the first things you'll consider when choosing where to stay is the cost of staying there. But don't let the upfront price tag be the only thing you look at. Hotels will often have a lower per-night rate than rental properties. But where are you going to eat for every meal while you're there? The cost of eating out three times a day over the course of a week can add up very quickly, especially in an expensive city like San Diego.

Rental properties, on the other hand, usually include a full kitchen. This means you can buy groceries and cook your own meals, significantly cutting back on your food costs while you're on vacation. While this won't make up the difference in price for some properties, it is an important factor to consider.

Comfort

Does a hotel ever really feel like home? Or is it just where you go to sleep at night? While you might think that you'll be spending most of your vacation out and about, seeing the sights, there will be times when you just want to sit back and relax for a while. It's hard to do that in a space that has a drab, stagnant feel, like a hotel.

Rental properties, on the other hand, feel like home because they are homes. These are properties that people live in, but rent out for part of the year. You'll have all of the amenities you'd have at home, with a comfortable living room for lounging, and a lot more private space to call your own. Over all, rental properties are a lot more comfortable than tiny hotel rooms.

So if you're deciding between a hotel and a vacation rental property in San Diego, CA, take these items into consideration.

Kevin Smith is a writer and an avid reader. He writes about business, marketing, health, pets, or relationships etc.