If you’ve got an important event coming up, you’ll want to make sure you find the perfect place to stay. A good vacation rental can really make or break your experience. In the vacation rental industry, there are tons of places that are geared to host a lot of people who are in town for an event or to host business travelers passing through for meetings, team-building days and workshops. From business events to parties or wedding events, here’s the lowdown on vacation rentals for events and how to find the perfect place to stay.
In Town for a Business Event
If you’re in town on a business conference and want to feel comfortable when you’re relaxing at the end of a long day, a vacation rental is a great option. Vacation Rental sites such as Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway offer more privacy than a hotel. (inboundrem.com) While hotels, apart-studios, and hostels look great in photos, they can sometimes feel a bit “clinical” and remind you that you are not in a homely setting. You also have to interact with staff, can’t spread out in the privacy of your own home across multiple rooms, and often have to eat at a set breakfast hour. If you’re working away on business a lot and traveling to different events and conferences, it can be really nice to put your feet up at the end of the day in a vacation rental that feels like a ‘home from home’.
Staying in a vacation rental when you’re in town for business also means you can keep up your home routine, cook breakfast and dinner as you normally would at home, and relax in a private living room. In a hotel, you won’t have your own private living room and, unless you have a small kitchenette in your room, you’ll have no kitchen to cook in. Details such as these can make a really big difference to the comfort of your stay.
If you’re in town for a business event, look for a vacation rental close to the event, so you don’t have to spend too much time traveling around.
Weddings
Perhaps you’re looking for a vacation rental to house the core wedding party or host the reception? When booking a rental for an event such as a wedding, it’s important to get the location spot on. If you’re looking for a vacation rental, aim for something close to the wedding venue. This means that the guests (and you) can try to avoid driving — and therefore don’t have to worry about how much champagne you’re all going to knock back. After a long day partying at a wedding, you’ll want to get back to a rental quickly. An ideal vacation rental would be within walking distance of the wedding venue — and then you don’t have to worry about transportation at all. Most guests don’t mind walking for up to 15 minutes, so search for vacation rentals within a 15-minute-walking radius of the wedding event or party.
Speak to vacation rental management or vacation rental professionals and tell them the context of your stay. If they know it’s because you’re in town for a wedding, they might be able to add some celebratory decorations, or even offer extra beds so you can house more people. Seeing as it’s a special occasion, you might as well opt for a property that’s a bit more luxurious and has a hot tub or nice outdoor area, where you can chill out and relax. A pool always goes down well for guests.
Birthday Events
As with weddings, if it’s a special occasion, it might be worth pushing your budget just a little bit up, and finding something extra special. Look for a large vacation rental that has a terrace, garden, balcony, or pool area. It will be the perfect way to celebrate. Renting a large house for a group of friends or a family is an excellent way to celebrate a birthday — often some of the best memories are made in the comfort of a ‘home from home’ where you can really let your hair down.
Which Vacation Rental Sites to Use
The best way to find a vacation rental to stay in when you’re traveling for an event, or hosting an event, is through online platforms such as Airbnb, AllTheRooms, and VRBO. These sites include properties in all shapes and sizes, and you can easily search for a larger house that can accommodate a lot of people.
Platforms such as Airbnb, AllTheRooms, and VRBO are all really easy to use. They consist of a simple search bar where you can enter your destination and dates of travel and then browse through thousands of listings. Add specific filters to your search to help find the perfect property — although be open-minded. A vacation rental that might be a bit further out of town might be an even more amazing choice than something closer by.
You can also try to rent a vacation home directly through the owner, which can help you save money as you won’t have to pay service charges, which can often be high. If you’re renting a big property for a lot of guests, the service charge has the potential to be even higher.
Location, Location, Location
If you’re traveling to a city for a music concert, the countryside for a festival, or to a destination for a business conference or wedding, it’s important to find a vacation rental that’s in a good location. The more centrally located you are, the better, as you can spend less time commuting and more time enjoying yourself. Of course, with a central location comes higher prices. If you’re looking to save money, stay further out of town, but always base yourself in a good location, close to public transport so you have easy access to getting to your event.