Vacation Rental or Hotel: Which is Right for you?

Planning on taking a trip and not sure which option is best for you? Here are a few tips to help you get started on planning the perfect getaway.

Vacation Rentals

A vacation rental might be a better option if you are traveling with more than one couple, as a family, or a group of friends. The cost tends to be cheaper than renting more than one hotel room if you are staying for a longer period. Many rentals require a minimum stay, usually 3-7 nights. A Vacation Rental can also help cut costs on food.  With  a Vacation Rental you can buy groceries and cook rather than going out for meals.

Rentals also offer more privacy for a more intimate experience with friends and family. You can “meet in the living room” (or kitchen) rather than going to the lobby to meet your party. In a hotel room, you’re likely confined to one room. That makes it difficult to stay up and hang out if there are people who prefer to go to sleep early.

However, if you enjoy the amenities that a hotel offers, you may want to reconsider. Breakfast is usually not provided, and the owners of the rental may not clean your room during your stay without an extra fee. You will not have a front desk to help you, so you may on your own. At Ola Properties some of our Ko Olina vacation rental homes are in buildings with a front desk. Also, we have people answering phones 24 hours a day in case of emergencies.

Hotel Room

If you are not planning a long stay or are traveling alone or with one other person, a hotel may be a better option for you. In a hotel, you’ll likely have breakfast included, they’ll clean your room, change your sheets, and give you fresh towels at no extra charge.

In addition to amenities, you’ll have round the clock assistance from the front desk. If you have questions, they will be there to answer them, and you are usually provided things such as robes, toiletries, and slippers.

Privacy tends to be less available in a hotel, due to other guests and being confined to a single room. It’s not likely that you will have a kitchen, so you’ll need to budget for the cost of meals, which can add up to a significant amount of money.  However, if you don’t mind spending extra money for the convenience, a hotel room will do you just fine.

If you decide a Vacation Rental is the best option for you, browse our Ola Properties Vacation Rental Page to book your next stay on the Leeward Coast of Oahu.