The Benefits of Vacation Home Rental

As I finish up a relaxing one and a-half-week summer vacation, one that went off the grid (conversations included “What?! There was a hurricane three nights ago?!” and “Huh?! Everyone is evacuating the island we’re making our way to because it’s shut down!?”), I’m reflecting on what made it so peaceful, relaxing, and far too quick. I love a great theme park trip or a vacation full of exploring big cities, but a truly relaxing vacation means moving into another home and doing nothing but living and enjoying the ones you love most.

Benefits of a vacation home rental

No pressure

There was no need to stick to the clock because we had nowhere we had to be or nothing we had to do. We didn’t stay at a resort with events at a specific time or long lines to hurry up and wait or show to see. We stayed on our own, in a little cottage on a lake a million miles from nowhere.

We can eat where we want when we want

With a working kitchen and a fresh meal plan, you can skip the expenses, hassle, and stress of taking your family out to dinner every meal. While I don’t always love cooking on vacation, eating out 3 meals a day, 5 days a week, becomes a (literally) hefty chore.

With your own kitchen, you can enjoy easy breakfasts like cereal or toasted bagels at your leisure or cook eggs if you choose. Sure, pick a morning and go to a breakfast place to enjoy a special meal. But, sometimes, you just need a bowl of cereal.

As for lunch, when we stay in a rental on vacation, most days we make deli sandwiches and wraps, just like at home. Sometimes we’ll enjoy leftovers from dinner the night before.

I try to meal plan on vacations, scheduling in a few dinners out. But a vacation full of restaurants is hard on kids, so I always plan a few dinners in, too. If my rental has a grill, then you know I’ll include grilled local vegetables, steak, burgers, chicken, and more–anything that will let me use the grill.

During last week’s vacation, more than half the meals were enjoyed on the dock or deck. Fewer rules and more casual family-style meals lead to a far more relaxing vacation.

More space makes it more comfortable… more like home

There are many alternatives when it comes to finding a vacation rental, and size is definitely a big factor. No need to spend more on a place bigger than you need, but having the extra room to spread out, like in a family room, or enough bedrooms for the parents to sleep separate from the kids, offers you the peace of a more relaxing vacation. In a vacation rental, you can truly feel that you’re moving in.

It also often includes laundry. Nope. I don’t like doing laundry, either. But I like dirty clothes even less–and I’d far prefer to pack 3 outfits per kid for the entire 2-week vacation than pack 14 outfits (plus restaurant clothes, plus swimsuits, plus pajamas, plus extra everything.) And don’t get me started on washing in the sink.

Don’t worry. I’ve done that. Oftentimes, a vacation rental home will include a washer and dryer, so you won’t have to spend precious vacation time at a laundromat.

Some vacation rentals include hotel-like amenities such as a housekeeping service, a shuttle, and a concierge. (If you’re staying at a beach community, definitely look for a shuttle!)

Are you just itching to get away?

I’m itching to get back away–vacations end too soon! So already, I’m combing the Wyndham Vacation Rentals website, looking at vacation spots for August, because it’s not too late! Wyndham Vacation Rentals lists rental homes (and apartments, condos, and villas) worldwide and helps to match you to the perfect vacation rental for your family through its thorough search calculator.

Learn more about Wyndham Vacation Rentals and start planning your vacation (even if you’re planning your dream vacation–it’s easy to get caught up in a dream vacation on the Wyndham Vacation Rentals website.)

While perusing (and dreaming), I was surprised by the prices of many of the places to stay. Italy for less than $1000 a week for a family of 5 with three bedrooms? Sign me up! (Yes. I know. Dreaming.) Staying in the US? At Wyndham Vacation Rentals, you’ll find popular destinations such as Myrtle Beach, Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, Charleston Islands, the Emerald Coast, and Hilton Head Island.

July is National Vacation Rental Month, so pay special attention to the specials being offered right now. Have some free time in August? Book your vacation before July 31 to receive a discount of up to 35% — scroll down on the Wyndham Vacation Rentals website for information and a coupon code for this limited-time offer.

Where do you want to go? (And if you book a trip, you have GOT to come back here and tell me where you’re off to!)