Hotels vs. short-term rentals

Thinking of renting a house from VRBO or Airbnb?

As an owner of two short-term rentals (STRs) – commonly known as vacation rentals – I have found that people who like quick getaways seem to prefer this method of vacationing.

With so many shortterm rentals, the options keep getting better. Why rent a hotel room when you can have access to an entire house?

Many guests split the cost and travel with friends or another couple, whether they are traveling for some much-needed family time, a romantic getaway, friends’ trip, bachelorette/bachelor weekends, birthday getaways or mental-health weekends.

There are a variety of vacation rentals: houses, condominiums, cabins, chalets and even tiny houses. The homes offer more space to relax and be comfortable, and often are economical.

My husband and I are Superhosts with Airbnb. We love to inform our guests about the area, and we want them to have a true local experience. We are eager to share our favorite hangouts, restaurants and local activities. We recommend day trips and fun things to do in the region, offering an experience-based visit so renters will want to come back and stay again.

Let’s talk about amenities. Most STRs offer kitchens so guests have all they need to bake or cook a fabulous or casual meal. The homes usually have a washer, dryer, iron and ironing board.

Because vacation homes are competitive, many offer premium coffee, welcome baskets, snacks and toiletries, such as shampoo, body wash and conditioner. I like super-comfortable sheets with high thread counts, and I only buy the best for our guests. It’s common for a vacation home to offer a hot tub or amenities within the community. Most well-run homes away from home are decorated nicely with things you would expect a vacation home to have, such as comfortable bedding, spare blankets, a nice outdoor area (we have a twin swing bed in our screened porch, as well as a fire pit area next to the hot tub). Now that you have an idea of what to expect from a short-term rental, you can visit sites that offer vacation rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc). You usually start by choosing an area, and then you can request a room, apartment or house. Once you determine your dates of travel, you can populate a list of available rentals and choose them by amenities and reviews.

Try to find a place that appeals to you and your family, then book it and enjoy your trip. You might love traveling this way for years to come.

Jennifer Blake is a salesperson with Pearson Smith Realty, 43777 Central Station Drive, Suite 390, in Ashburn, Va. She is licensed in Maryland and West Virginia. You can reach her at 410-746-4420 (cell) or 571-386-1080 (office).