During my recent travels to Australia, I planned to spend a good chunk of time in Sydney. Have you seen the place? It’s stunning and chock full of interesting history, fun adventures and smoking hot people around every turn. If you live on a beach, you have to keep it right, keep it tight. Know what I mean?
Spending more than a just a few nights in a hotel can become pricey, and a good alternative to this is securing a short-term apartment rental. I was lucky to find Luxico, a luxury rental company that hand-picks its now 130 rentals throughout Australia in locations like Sydney, Melbourne, Byron Bay and Mornington Peninsula (one hour east of Melbourne).
Okay okay. What are the benefits of renting, you ask? Don’t worry. We were just getting to that.
1) Vacation rentals generally offer additional space for less cost per night versus the typical hotel room. If you’re staying with a group, this is a no-brainer.
2) Amenities offered by vacation rentals often include washers/dryers, full kitchens, hot tubs, games and private pools. I was in Australia for 4 weeks. The washer/dryers were god sends! Laundry at luxury hotels costs about the same as a night’s stay…trust me, I know from experience.
3) Each Luxico guest has their own ‘Superhost’, a local expert who greets them on arrival, shows them through the house and is available to help plan the perfect vacation. They are always available to help 24/7.
4) Travelers seeking to blend into the local culture of a new destination choose to rent an apartment or house as they are typically situated in residential neighborhoods. Being based here allows them to shop in the neighborhood stores, hang out in the local cafes and get to know the neighbors.
Sure, I just mapped out why a rental may seem attractive, but don’t forget to do your research. Not all rentals are created equal. Seasonal beach destinations may have strict rental schedules and other properties could have minimum stays. Also, read the customer reviews. They should give a fairly clear idea if the property is well-maintained.
“Luxico was a pleasure to deal with.”
What’s available?
I think the better question is what’s not? Luxico has quite the compilation of properties with homes, apartments, penthouses, villas, estates and even vineyards up for grabs. If you’ve never been on their site before and have some time to kill, forget Solitaire or StumbleUpon. Luxico will make you want to star on Property Brothers as you Pinterest into the night.
‘Wulworra Avenue‘ – This property had me falling head over heels at the turn of the key. Located in Cremorne Point (a 10 minute ferry ride from bustling Circular Quay), it offers unbeatable harbor views with its multiple private balcony and terrace offerings. Coming in at 2700 sq. ft., the four bedroom masterpiece was originally constructed in 1909 and is now in a heritage listed building boasting character for days. Recently having undergone renovations, this property is the perfect mixture of old and new charm.
‘The Darlinghurst‘- Located in the Darlinghurst neighborhood (surprise!), this property shines bright just like the surrounding area – an upbeat part of town in the Eastern Suburbs with easy access to the city center. When your apartment comes stocked with Netflix, two cozy living areas and a spacious modern kitchen though, it’s hard to convince yourself to make it past the threshold into the great outdoors. Advice: If you’re in Sydney over a weekend, this property is in the perfect location to experience the city’s nightlife with a plethora of bars and restaurants.
Rental vs. Hotel Verdict: It depends. How long are you staying? What amenities are you looking for? I adore Luxico because of their attention to detail and high level of service, offering many things that some hotels simply cannot. Their new alliance with luxury travel operator Abercrombie & Kent is icing on the cake. If you want a home-cooked dinner awaiting your arrival, it can be done. Personal chefs, masseuses, helicopter rides, city tours – it can all be done. Luxico is about the experience, not just the real estate.
I totally agree with this article. Among the benefits that you as a traveler may favor, studies show that 62% of travelers choose vacation rentals for the value they offer. The average price per bedroom per day of a vacation rental usually is approximately $ 30 lower than the average price for a hotel room, giving you more money in your pocket for other travel expenses. While the average square footage of a hotel room is 325, vacation rentals average 1,850.
Vacation rentals are a great option for families traveling with kids. Kids staying in a vacation rentals with their parents have the option of having their own room, have a nice comfortable place to watch TV and play video games, and maybe go, take a dip at the pool. If your children are picky eaters, you have a kitchen to your convenience to prepare meals that they will like without spending a lot on meals at restaurants that appease the kids.
There’s a lot of benefits from choosing a vacation home instead of a hotel, specially when traveling in group and stays longer than 1 night. One of the most crucial benefits that have been seen in the vacation rentals vs hotel room is the pricing of it. Hotel room would cost you around Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2000 per day as per the facility of it whereas vacation room would cost you around Rs. 100 to Rs. 300 max per day.
Hotels and vacation rental grounds differ considerably. A hotel will always have common areas such as the lobby, rec rooms, restaurants, pools, and so on. A vacation home or vacation cottage, on the other hand, will often have yards that are yours to use. Rather than a balcony, many vacation homes will have patios. If you enjoy luxury accommodations and settings, a hotel is probably your style. If you are looking for spaces to call your own, a vacation home or vacation cottage might be the way to go.
Most people prefer Vacation Rentals because there is a sense of privacy that you can’t get with a hotel. You have your own space to cook and relax, you can come and go when you like, and just really feel like you’re at home. Another big thing is that it’s more personal and authentic. Many hotels are generic and don’t reflect the local area in the way that a home might.
The best benefit of choosing for a vacation rentals is that their are different rental types to fit your needs From condos, private homes, cabins and villas to houseboats, tents, caravans and castles. When exploring the benefits,vacation rentals offer multiple bedrooms, which make them a leading option for families and larger groups of people looking to share vacation costs. A fully equipped kitchen is one Of the many benefits vacation rentals offer, having a kitchen allows travellers to cut costs by making some meals at home.
My family is planning a ski trip this winter together and I am glad that I found this article because I did not know that there are so many benefits to staying in a vacation rental. You make a great point that rentals provide additional space for less cost per night. This will be a huge benefit for my family because there are a lot of us going. Also, a vacation rental will give us a space to hang out together and relax.
My sister has been promoted to a new branch manager in the nearby state. Before she reports there, she needs to attend a 6-months training in one of their branches near a beach. She’s torn between renting an apartment or staying in a hotel. I will advise her to just rent an apartment for privacy aside from the fact that it is more affordable.
Your post information is very unique and useful for all readers.
I love the comparison you did here! Apartments and hotels definitely both have their pros and cons- and I love your analysis of the concept! Lovely photos. Nicely done, thanks for this article.
I like your tip about seeking to blend into the local culture. That makes sense then why you would want to rent something right in the middle of the culture where you can be exposed. I’ll have to consider your tips when choosing a rental.
I like how you mentioned that they can provide more space. My husband and I are planning a trip and we don’t know where to stay. We’ll have to look into staying at a vacation rental!