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If you are traveling with an infant or toddler, or just want to save money on your vacation, you may find that renting a vacation home is a better option for you.  With a rental home, you can have extra space with multiple bedrooms, prepare meals yourself to save money, and have more entertainment options.

During a vacation last year to New Hampshire, my family decided to take my mother in law along with us, so that we’d have help with the kids.   Renting a vacation home was a great way to save money and cut back our stress.

Why rent a vacation home? Here are just a few key reasons:

• Unlike hotels, vacation homes are often private and quiet, meaning that you won’t stress out about your kid’s crying and yelling

• Rental homes almost always include multiple bedrooms, so mom and dad won’t have to go to bed when the kids do

• Refrigerators, washer/driers, and microwaves are a great thing to have when vacationing with kids

Once you’ve decided to rent a house rather than book a hotel, you’ll need to find the perfect rental. The optimal way to do this is to find a home through someone you know, perhaps through workplace newsletters or a referral from a friend. If that option isn’t available, there are some easy to use websites, such as http://www.cyberrentals.com, which offer renters and homeowners a way to connect.

However, that there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind when finding the perfect vacation rental home :

• Before committing to a rental, make sure you understand all costs involved. Some homeowners charge cleaning fees or require a deposit, so ask what the total cost will be

• Find out what the rental includes. Some homeowners will require that you bring your own linens and towels, which can be a major inconvenience. Expect to bring your own portable playard, if necessary

• Learn about all policies in advance. Will you have to take your trash with you? Is there a cleaning service, or are you required to clean? Are you expected to wash all dishes and linens?

Once you are comfortable with a house that you’ve found, prepare to have a great vacation!  Shop for groceries, stock the fridge, and get ready to have fun!

Last 5 posts by TravelingFinanceMom

post Comments (4)

Woo Hoo! There are 4 comment(s) for me so far ;)

#1
Homes R nice unless UR kids demand a pool.
LVTourism wrote on July 12, 2009 - 7:03 pm
#2
We love hotels and rentals! It’s nice to mix it up. It’s also a good idea to find out who among your friends have properties that they rent. We have friends and relatives who look forward to the extra income but prefer to rent to those they know. An arrangement can mean some pocket change for them and a budget get away for you! However, always make sure you are clear on expectations for this arrangement. And don’t take advantage.
TravelingWithSanityMom wrote on July 15, 2009 - 11:08 am
#3
Definitely make sure you are clear on expectations! As for pools, I’ve seen some rental homes with beach access, and some in complexes with pools.
Jodi Grundig – Traveling Finance Mom wrote on July 16, 2009 - 7:28 pm
#4
[...] in July, you may remember that I posted about how to save money on vacation by renting a vacation home.  Since then, my family traveled on vacation to North Conway, NH, and decided to rent a vacation [...]
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