Extended Stay Hotels vs. Vacation Rentals

There are plenty of factors to consider when deciding where to stay when traveling. Here are a few of the top reasons to stay at an extended stay hotel over a vacation rental:

1. No hidden fees. Booking an extended stay vacation rental seems to always cost way more than the ticket price you see listed on the site. Somehow $199 turns into $800 at checkout, and you can’t seem to figure out where all the fees are coming from. When you stay at an extended stay hotel, you can rest assured that there won’t be any ambiguous fees or cleaning fees added onto your bill. The price you see is the price you pay.
   
   

2. No cleaning fees or requirements. If you’ve stayed at a long-term vacation rental, you know all about the silly rules and cleaning requirements. Sometimes they want you to strip the beds and put the used sheets in a pile on the bed. Sometimes they want you to put all the towels in the corner of the rooms. Sometimes they want you to take out all the food you bought (even if it’s lightyears away from expiring). Long-term hotels won’t make you jump through hoops and won’t charge any additional cleaning fees.

3. Pets welcome. A vacation isn’t a vacation without your furry family members. Especially when you plan on a longer stay away from home, you need to go somewhere that welcomes your pets with open arms. At vacation rentals, you never know what to expect. Will they allow animals? Will they allow your specific pet? Will they leave you a bad review for bringing your pet? There is too much uncertainty. When you stay at an extended stay hotel for your vacation, make sure it’s one that allows your pets, like Extended Stay America.

4. Extra ways to save. When you book a vacation rental, odds are the final price after fees won’t have any discounts added. There are few ways to save more money when booking with these vacation rental companies. However, when you book with an extended stay hotel, you can usually find different ways to save. Whether it’s lowering your daily rate by increasing your length of stay or joining the hotel’s membership program, there are a lot more ways to save when booking a hotel.

5. Have realistic expectations. With a vacation rental property, you never know what you’re going to walk into at the time of your booking. Sure, the online photos could look great, but the reality could surprise you. With an extended stay hotel, brand standards are enforced with professional services, so you can rely on them meeting your expectations. Based on hotel photos on their website and online reviews, you can get an accurate feel for what you’ll experience when staying there.

6. Enjoy practical amenities. When you’re staying at a long-term vacation rental, you don’t know what amenities to expect. Will you have any access to kitchen appliances? What about a washer and dryer? Extended stay hotels, however, can provide great amenities to you at no extra cost. For example, Extended Stay America has fully equipped kitchens in every suite, free wi-fi and on-site guest laundry.

7. Go with a company you trust. Vacation rentals are often owned by individuals or smaller businesses. However, when you book with an extended stay hotel, you’re staying with a company that has served millions of people and has accrued decades of experience in extended stay rentals.

8. Get help when you need it. Since vacation rentals are often owned by individuals, it can be hard to get help if you need it during your stay. However, at an extended stay hotel, there is usually staff on-site to help when you need it. If you have issues during your stay, you can talk to the front desk about any issues or concerns.

While you’re planning your upcoming travel, make sure to keep this information in mind and choose a lodging option that is practical, reliable and affordable. Visit esa.com/vacations to learn more.