Rent a Vacation Home This Summer

Every summer when we start planning our family vacation, my husband and I look for a beautiful vacation home. We used to stay in motels, but not anymore. Why? Because we can stay in a vacation home for the same price, and the amenities are much better. Here are some tips to help your family rent a beautiful vacation home this year:

1. Split the cost. Find several other families/couples who are also interested in going to the area you are interested in. Get together and pick the week you want to go. If a home is renting for $2400 for the week, and you split it five ways, this reduces the cost to $600 a party. Make sure, however, that you can get along with the people you are living with for a week, as you will have to share some common rooms like the kitchen and living room. Always pick a house where each bedroom has its own bathroom, as no one wants to share a bathroom with another couple or family while on vacation.

2. Look for rentals by owner. Do a search for vacation rentals by owner on the internet and many reputable sites will come up. Renting through the owner saves you from having to pay the taxes that you pay when you go through an agency. It's also less, because you are renting direct without paying commission to a third party. Another advantage is that often owners will come down a little bit on price to accommodate your needs. If you do decide to go through a realty company, be sure to get the final cost with all fees included before you book.

3. Look at what the house has to offer. As previously mentioned, make sure there are adequate bedrooms and bathrooms. See that the kitchen is fully stocked, and that there are a good number of televisions. I also recommend renting a house no more than a couple of blocks from the beach (especially if you have young children who will need to make bathroom trips). Some homes will offer high chairs, porta-cribs, and other baby items. Many have hot tubs or private pools. If you are vacationing in the off-season, a hot-tub or heated pool is a great amenity to have.

4. Consider a "meal plan." When we go on vacation with other families, each couple takes a turn preparing an evening meal for the rest of the group. This saves money that you would be spending if you went out to eat every night. Also, it's fun to sample everyone's culinary creations. Of course, it is good to designate a night or two to be able to try out local restaurants.

Vacation homes are bigger, more luxurious, and more private than motels. Be sure to look into this option as you plan your vacation this year-you will be glad you did!