So, you have finally decided to take a well deserved vacation. Oregon has unlimited options for a vacation site so picking one should be easy. You can go to Sunriver, Bend, Portland or the beach just to name a few. The hardest part about picking a destination is deciding how long you want to be there and more importantly where you want to stay. Spending time with your loved ones should be an exciting time full of happy memories. You should not have anxiety and frustration in them what so ever. So pick your destination and time carefully but most of all pick a good place to sleep!
The logical place to stay is in a hotel. Why not, they are usually easy to find, centrally located and almost always have vacancy. For instance, staying at Lincoln City, a popular vacation site at the Oregon Beach, there are many hotels to choose from. Some offer ocean views, beach access or breakfasts. But as a smart consumer you should consider what you are getting for your hard earned money.
When staying at the beach most people want a hotel with beach access or and ocean view that is affordable. A hotel with a beach from or ocean view can run anywhere from $80.00 a night up to $200.00 a night in Lincoln City. Even if you decide you do not need a beach front or ocean view room, hotels can still range from $50.00 to $100.00 a night. Everyone has different criteria, but I think we can all agree that a hotel needs to be within your selected price range.
Let's look at what we get for the price. Most hotels try to lure you by offering continental breakfast. Some people think they will save money by having a continental breakfast, unfortunately this is not always the case. Typically a continental breakfast offers donuts, pastries, coffee or juice. Now I don't know about you but this is not enough breakfast for me. When I am on vacation I want pancakes, waffles, bagels and many options for drinks. If you eat the continental breakfast most likely you will be hungry quickly and you will need to buy more food.
Having a clean and quiet hotel room shouldn't even be a want, it should be a must have! Let's examine this advertising a bit. Every hotel I have stayed at, house keeping usually comes around nine in the morning. A quiet room, now how can this be when you can almost always hear people running the halls all hours of the night and you can usually hear your neighbors TV. This is not my idea of a good nights sleep. Then of course check out is usually eleven, so after you have been up most of the night, you need to get up early enough to check out and miss house keeping, so that means your alarm must go off at eight in the morning. I don't want to feel rushed while on vacation, I am sure you feel the same way especially after you have spent a lot of money on a hotel you think is going to be quiet!
So what is a smart consumer like you to do? Well, the answer is simple, vacation home rentals. At Lincoln City there is a vacation home to fit all budgets. Most homes run from around $100.00 to $250.00 a night depending on your wants and needs. Vacation homes are the best kept secret in vacationing. Most people think they are too much money so they stay in a hotel instead. But is all actuality they are only a little more and the benefits far out weight the extra money! You can bring your own groceries and cook in the comfort of your own home so if you want pancakes you can have pancakes! No more strange muffins and weak coffee. Usually the homes in Lincoln City have ocean views and the beach is only a short walk if not right in back yard. There are no annoying people next door with a loud TV and no children running the hall ways. House keeping simply comes when they see you have gone. Assuring you will all have a nice quiet sleep in a clean home.
Spending a little extra money in order to have a better vacation just makes sense. No one wants to look back in ten years and remember that vacation as the worst ever! Renting a vacation home can help with that. You need to decide what is most important to you and what criteria need to be met in order for you to pick that location. Is it saving a few extra dollars worth sacrificing a peaceful, relaxing vacation with your family, the choice is yours but hurry your sanctuary awaits.
Private Vacation Rental Homes
Renting a private home for your vacation is a great way to stretch your budget. And in my opinion, it's much more fun than staying in a hotel. You get the chance to experience local life on a whole different level, and really get the feel for what living in that part of the world is all about. Regardless of where you are traveling, there are a few things to consider before settling on a house and area.
1. Where to go. Once you've settled on a country, decide if you prefer a city, the country, or something in between. Coast or inland? Close to well-known monuments and sightseeing (or at least with easy access to major roads)?
2. When to go. What's the optimal time to avoid the crowds but still enjoy nice weather? Is there a special event you'd like to see or be part of? "The Celebration of Peppers" in the Basque village of Espelette (the last Sunday in October every year)? Midsummer in Sweden (on or around June 20th)? Truffle harvest in Croatia (October)?
3. Type of home. House, apartment, houseboat? Tipi, yurt, tree house? Deciding on this early on will make your search a bit easier.
4. Is it kid and/or pet friendly? If you're traveling to another country and plan to bring your pet, also make sure you know what's required. If you suffer from allergies, you probably want to stay away from homes that allow pets (or are situated on a farm). Pet hair and dander always seem to linger, no matter how carefully you clean.
5. Privacy. If you're renting a house, is it private or part of a group of several rental houses (which sometimes is the case when an entire farm has been converted to a vacation rental)? That might mean you have to share certain areas (such as laundry, or pool) with other vacationers.
6. What's included in the price? Make sure you know ahead of time if taxes and housekeeping/cleaning fees are included. Are there any extra perks? Sometimes the owners can arrange for you to have access to their gym, resort facilities, etc.
7. Staff or not? Does the house come fully staffed? Or just with a chef? Or maybe just a house keeper and gardener a few days a week? Do you have the option to hire a chef if one isn't included?
8. What are your responsibilities? Do the cushions on the patio furniture need to be moved inside every night (very common in Europe)? Are you expected to keep all shutters closed during the day to keep the heat out? Do you need to clean the home before you leave? Make sure to get all details in writing (in a language you understand) so there are no unpleasant surprises.
9. What amenities do you need? If you're renting in Europe, keep in mind that many of the comforts Americans take for granted are not so common over there. Things like window screens, air conditioning, heated pools, and even shower curtains are often not considered necessary.
10. Local help and advice. Is there anyone local who speaks English you can contact in case something happens? Or if you just need help figuring out how to get the stove going?
I hope this somewhat daunting list has not made you reconsider renting a private home on your next vacation, but it's always better to think everything through before signing a contract and handing over a deposit. Once you're sitting on the patio of your temporary home, enjoying the view (Tuscan landscape? Emerald green lagoon? Snow-capped mountains?) with a glass of wine in your hand, you'll be glad you did your homework and decided to go off the beaten hotel path.
Both Sara Mendez & Cattie Coyle are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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