My personal experience with vacation rentals has allowed me to get the most out of a vacation in a new place, or even a favorite location. I grew up in a family that loves to travel – but we hate being tourists. My favorite part about staying in vacation rentals has always been the benefit of living like a local, and getting the “livable” feel for a destination. We also love cooking, and manage to save a lot of money by grocery shopping for a week instead of eating out for every meal. And, of course, it’s a huge bonus when we don’t have to hear each other snore in a crammed hotel room!

Many more people are discovering these benefits of vacation rentals, so picking a rental instead of a hotel is becoming an increasing trend. As more travelers opt to rent a vacation home instead of a hotel room, a prospective visitor might wonder, “is it worth it?”

There are several reasons why a vacation rental, particularly with Carolina Mornings, pays off.

Space for the Money

Often, the price you pay for the extra space in a vacation rental is not much more than the cost of a hotel room. I’ve recently read that, on average, hotels cost 50-80 percent more per square foot than a vacation rental. In a vacation rental, families get extra room for the kids, instead of cramming into one hotel room with two beds. And couples on romantic getaways get privacy and seclusion to spend time just being with each other.

When you aren’t cramped between beds and a television, where your bedroom and living space combine into one, you can spread out – and finally slow down and relax while on vacation. Families can play games together, one person can get some quiet time in the bedroom while someone watches a movie the other room, and couples can enjoy the luxury of romantic meals in the dining room or on the porch. In other words, by renting a vacation home, you can get a lot more – above and beyond just extra space – for your money.

Home Away from Home

Moving into a vacation property for your visit gives you a homey feeling while you’re away. A hotel room is often cramped, and hotels tend to have a cold, temporary atmosphere. All hotel rooms look virtually the same, with the same commercial linens, bedspreads and towels. Vacation rentals offer cozy couches and recliners, pillows, blankets, and linens with a homey flair of style, and a teapot waiting on the stove. Property owners often leave warm, welcoming touches such as these so that you’ll better enjoy your stay in their home.

Also, the cleanliness of hotel rooms can be questionable. Owners of vacation properties take pride in their homes. If owners do not clean the property themselves, they hire reliable cleaning crews or property management services to come in between guests. At Carolina Mornings, we list our owner’s properties with pride, as though they were our own investments. Therefore, we ensure that all of the properties we list are thoroughly cleaned before each new visitor. With our high standards, visitors never have to worry about dirty glasses or bed linens.

Be a Local

Staying in a vacation rental gives you the perspective of a local, rather than a tourist. This is, of course, particularly true if you are staying for an extended period of time, but it still applies for shorter vacations. Whether you are staying in your own rental home right downtown or in the middle of the mountains, you are much more likely to get the local feel for the area while you’re visiting. You can shop at local stores and restaurants instead of, or in addition to, experiencing the tourist attractions. In Western North Carolina, the opportunity to rent properties with a mountain feel is particularly special. Waking up every morning to our beautiful ranges and seeing our frequently spectacular sunsets each evening is a treat most hotel rooms cannot offer (and definitely not for the prices!). Staying in your own mountain getaway rental home gives you the full experience of the serenity, simplicity, and calm of the Blue Ridge lifestyle.

Personal Experience

What kind of vacation home appeals to you? Whether it’s a rustic log cabin, a cottage, a downtown condo, or an old farmhouse, you can find the right vacation property to fit your dream. Do you like to be in the middle of the city, or secluded in the mountains? Vacation rentals allow you to get a taste of a personal experience you might not be able have on a daily basis, but can still manage to have on vacation. Maybe the rural life is perfect for you, but you love the idea of spending a week or two living in the middle of a bustling city. Or, maybe you can’t afford to buy a mountain view chalet, but you can save enough to stay in it for your vacation.

Wherever you are happiest, and whatever new personal experience you want to have, there are plenty of rentals to choose from, often at reasonable prices. Vacation properties provide an alternative to the drab, standard hotel décor you can find anywhere in the United States. Plus, their location and living space combine to form a completely personal experience you can’t have anywhere else - or in any hotel room.

Already convinced? To have your own personal experience in a Western North Carolina vacation rental, contact our vacation specialists at 828.398.0712.

Need more reasons to choose a vacation rental instead of a hotel room? Part II offers four more reasons a vacation rental pays off: Pet Friendly, Amenities, Eat In, and Privacy.

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