A great way to save on travel is to research the best deals before you go. There are many travel websites so how do you know which one to use? It depends what you are searching for. If you are looking for a vacation rental Airbnb is the place to start. For hotel, airfare, and rental car I always start with BookingBuddy because it searches the top travel websites for you and pulls the best deals available.
Vacation rentals are becoming a popular choice for today’s traveler because of the flexibility they can offer. Vacation rentals come in a variety of options: budget studios, luxury highrise apartments, cottages and cabins, and bed and breakfast inns. Vacation rentals also offer flexible length of stays from overnight to monthly to accommodate the tourist as well as the business traveler. You can find rentals in just about any location that you would expect to find a hotel and also in out of the way places that offer unique opportunities to experience the local culture and customs that is just not possible when you stay in a chain hotel.
Airbnb is one of the best vacation rental sites and offers great deals on rentals of just about every type you can imagine. Some examples of the wide range of lodging possibilities are: a sailboat in Seattle, Washington, a charming Bed and Breakfast in Rome, Italy for $48/night, a Beach Cottage in Pacific Grove, CA for $125/night, Central Paris Apartment for $89/night, Venice Italy Bed and Breakfast for $44/night. A great way to make travel even less expensive is to rent out your place while you are on vacation.
BookingBuddy is one of the better travel comparison sites because it compares prices from the top travel sites such as Priceline, Expedia, and Hotels.com for you. That can save you a lot of time when searching for travel deals. By booking your rental car on BookingBuddy you can also compare car rental prices for some of the best deals on the internet
. You can also combine airfare, hotel, and rental car reservations and save even more.
Have you ever stayed in a vacation rental or would you consider renting your home as a vacation rental?
I am going to Italy next year, I will check these sites out.
The Amalfi Coast of Italy is on my bucket list, send me a postcard KC!
I too like to find the best deal out there. I tend to stay off the beaten path (so to speak), but will keep these in mind when I look to book my summer vacation in the next couple of months.
That’s what is great about this site Cory, there are many choices available away from the typical tourist areas.
My parents have been doing this for years and they save ton. When there is a special occasion where we all need to travel to the same place, we often share a house with my parents and my brother and his girlfriend. It works really well. I love how we can live together but still get our own space.
I think that is the draw for me, being able to have a home away from home feeling. An added benefit is that it also allows you to lower your food costs by eating in.
Ive been curious about airbnb and almost used it in alaska – I didnt end up doing that, but thought about it. I’ll have to look into it again next time I travel.
These are good ideas and we have been thinking along similar lines – when our boat comes in that is!
But booking too far ahead sometimes spoils the fun I find although my significant other likes to know she is due for a 4 star air conditioned bed for the night!
Oh well – we can carry on dreaming!
I have never stayed in one, but I am intrigued. Thank you for sharing the resources!
Thanks for the info. I’ll check these sites out the next time I plan on traveling.
I actually used that site to book a stay at an awesome little cabana in Mexico for only $25 a night. It’s legit and I recommend it.
Thanks for sharing that Lucy!
If I ever go to another exotic place I will definitely try a vacation rental. My only problem is that the ones near the locals are quite expensive.
Stayed in a rental in Colorado for a ski trip. There was 6 of us altogether and much cheaper than getting hotel rooms for everyone. The biggest saver was being able to hit a grocery store and cook all the meals. Actually made things a lot easier on everyone.
We always rent a house or large condo when traveling in order to save money on meals. We find that it is cheaper with more amenities compared to two hotel rooms since we have a large family.
Vacation rental homes are far preferable to hotels; cheaper and much more customized and inviting!
VRBO is one of my wife’s favorite site. We have used it several times now, including a recent trip to Puerto Rico where we stayed in the heart of Condado at a third of what the Marriott across the street was asking for.
Try to find a vacation rental where the owner lives locally. Maybe one that’s not run by a management company. It’s much better if you should have any problems.
FTL Vacation Rental in Fort Lauderdale owns all our properties and we come out to greet every guest– and give them a tour of the home. Plus, we’ve got some of the best rates in Fort Lauderdale. Look for us when you need a Fort Lauderdale vacation rental. http://FTLVacationRental.com or look for FTL Vacation Rental on Facebook
Great tips! Not only can you save a ton of money, but we’ve found some incredible properties using these.
I would rent my home in a heartbeat to any of your readers hoping to discover the wonder that is Texarkana, Texas. It’s gorgeous this time of year. I’ll show you all three great restaurants personally.
We used to live in Austin. I still miss the great BBQ!
I’m going to look into such options! With the internet, such bargains might be easier to find!
Great advice!
This is definitely something to consider when traveling to europe. Thanks for sharing this interesting resource.
Vacation rentals – also a good idea for family gatherings (even weddings) and even Bachelor parties.
I’ve had rentals for both reasons.
Airbnb is one of my favorite websites for booking travel! I’ve even made a decent chunk of cash from renting my place out.
I’ve also used HomeAway. Last Father’s Day weekend, my family and I stayed in an absolutely gorgeous pool home near Orlando, FL that I found on the site. It had EVERYTHING we needed. It was about $375 a night total, but it slept 10 people. We paid less and got more.
I wouldn’t rent out my house. I like suite hotels, if the price is right!!! We have a small family and don’t need much space!
I’m not sure I would rent out my house now either. I would consider renting out my house when I retire and we travel to Europe though.
My aunt and I are going to London next fall, I’ll definitely give these sites a look. Do you know of legitimate sites that we can book tours through? I want to do the Buckingham Palace & Crown Jewels tour but I’d like to find them at a discount of course if I can!
We did a month rental once in Sarasota, FL. It was great!
We used to live in Orlando and really enjoyed that area!
Thanks for these sites. As a family of 5, we often have to book hotel suites, and it sounds like these sites may help us find a more homelike, less expensive option.
I actually used Couchsurfing.com and was approached on their to rent an apartment in Budapest, rather than sleep on someone’s couch.
My brother and I got a two bedroom, furnished apartment with a kitchen for 10 Euros each per night. It was a great experience.