Renting a vacation
house on your holiday is a great idea. You will get to enjoy the freedom that
you don't get in a hotel, and you can find somewhere perfectly situated to
enjoy all of the things to do in the area and make it into a home away from
home.
Pensacola, Florida 2006 |
But traveling with
kids brings its own challenges. So how can you ensure you find the right
accommodation for everyone? Here are some tips to keep in mind.
Find Somewhere with Plenty of Space
Kids need lots of
space when you go on vacation, so this is one thing to keep in mind. Ideally,
search for somewhere that as plenty of outside space to play in, but inside
space is also welcome. If there is not much space, try to find somewhere near
to a park or the beach.
Ensure It's in the Right Location
Location is essential
when choosing a vacation home. You may want to be as near to the main amenities
as possible, whether that is a beach, local attractions, or the ski slopes.
Always factor in the extra traveling time required to get to these places. Find
out about distances involved and don't be duped by a map that makes them seem
nearby when they are far away.
Look for a Good Selection of Facilities
You will probably
want a good selection of facilities where you stay, and these should be listed
on the website. Things like a television, Wi-Fi, DVD player, washer, and
perhaps a highchair and cot are great, as well as other things like board games
and outdoor games for the beach.
Address Safety Concerns
Safety is paramount on vacation when you have young children. This is especially
important if you have a swimming pool, lake, balconies, and stairs, although
how concerned you are will depend on the age of your children.
Also consider the
overall child-friendliness of the place. Is it advertised for families? Have
families stayed there before? Some places may prefer adults only, so always
keep this in mind.
Do some research of
your own, and you may also want to read the guide in USA Today regarding other ways to prevent things from going wrong on your
vacation.
Start Your Search ASAP
When you have a good
idea about what you are looking for, don't hang around and instead get
searching as soon as you can. The best places will go quickly, especially in
popular resorts. For example, if you are looking for Park City lodging, you will want to book the best place you can before
it gets snapped up.
Find Your Ideal Family Vacation House
Wherever you are
going with your family, make sure you keep these tips in mind when looking for
your vacation home. You will often have many options to choose from, but
getting the right one can make a big difference to your vacation. So start
looking early and book up your vacation home as soon as you find one that ticks
all the boxes.
Joyce Evans has held a number of positions in the travel industry. She
enjoys extensive travel herself and likes to share her thoughts and experiences
online. You can find other articles written by her on a number of different
sites.
24 travelers' comments:
I agree and these tips are really valuable especially with unfamiliar territories. I always believe, better be safe than sorry. It may be too much for some but when my daughter was young, we had to book hotels, etc., I would bring my "baby proofing" stuff with me and stick them in corners. Just in case. :)
My parents used to rent a beach house every summer when I was a kid, but I have never rented one with my own kids. I would love to someday,though.
Thanks so much for sharing these tips. Renting a vacation house is so much nicer than staying in a hotel.
We've stayed in both hotels and rented homes on vacation. The rented home was so much nicer. I have kids, so a home means I don't have to keep sushing them so they don't bother other guests.
These are great tips! We are looking for a vacation home for next summer and I am trying to find a kid friendly place.
I always opt for a rental home if I can find one for our trips. They're so much more relaxing than a hotel room.
Those are very good tips! It is nice to find a vacation home with all of the amenities you would expect in a hotel room, and it is important for the place to be in a good location too.
These are great tips, I have never done this before but now I know how to do it right!
This is super helpful. I've never rented one before but I think it's an option we would consider.
These are very helpful tips. I prefer a vacation home whenever we go out of town. It's usually cheaper and I love that it has a lot of space. I get to cook, too, so we save up on meals as well.
Great tips! A home away from home sounds nice too. It is important to take everything into consideration to be able to provide a safe and memorable vacation for family members of all ages!
This is a great article. We travel a lot and prefer to stay at the hotel for safety reasons.
Oh I agree. Traveling with my children means constant worry. I've rented vacation homes and they're truly the way to go for my family.
Love your tips. We always rent a house when we go on vacation, it's cheaper and so much more convenient for guests to come over to visit.
Thanks for the tips. I'll really keep them in mind. I hope we get to have a vacation soon. I definitely need some R&R. :)
My friend has been thinking of doing this in a few months. These are great tips. I will have to share this with her.
These are fabulous tips! I know I could have used them when we were renting. Im so happy to be out of that game, lol!
I have never looking into rental homes for vacations! Thought never occurred to me! Great tips
These are great tips for renting the right vacation house for what fits you. It is so important to get exactly what you are looking for and want by doing the research yourself so you find what you are looking for indeed. Thanks for the tips.
Great tips, I'm thankful that my kids are getting older. They are almost 4 & 10 and traveling with them gets earlier.
These are great tips for going on vacation. You can never be too safe.
It is much cheaper doing a vacation home versus a hotel. We are using one for Disney!
These are such great tips! I don't vacation often but when I get the rare chance I want to save as much money as possible so I can better enjoy myself.
I have done this many times. It is important when finding an apartment that charges by the person to make it clear that some of the guests are children and shouldn't be charged like adults, they don't have an income after all! Most people are cool with this, but then some don't care at all. I also do a quick kid check and put all fragile items out of reach and leave a note, that i did this and why.
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