It’s the end of summer. You’re planning your family vacation. But how do you choose a get-away that will be just right for your family’s needs? This article will walk you through a couple key things to consider as you’re figuring out your vacation rental.
Choose the Ideal Location
As you’re thinking about your location, it’s important to take into account the length of your vacation and the number of people staying at the house. If you’re going with a mountain cabin but are planning on a week-long stay, you’ll want to ask yourself if the home is close enough to a grocery store and other activities that you may be interested in.
If you’re excited about a beach house but are planning on having a large group of people at the home, you may have to be more flexible with the location to ensure that there is enough space for everyone.
It’s also important to consider the availability of COVID-friendly options. Shopping, some beaches, and other activities may be closed. If this is a possibility, do your research to ensure that there are other fun outdoor activities that your family members can enjoy.
Enough Bedrooms
When planning your family reunion, pay special attention to the number of bedrooms in a potential rental home. It can be easy to look at the pictures of a rental home and assume that it will have enough space for your group. But you know your family best so be sure to spend time considering how to set up the sleeping arrangements.
If your group has a significant number of children, they could all sleep in sleeping bags out on the deck or the living room floor. If there are babies in your group, be sure to designate comfortable space for them as well. Maybe the home has multiple hide-a-bed couches. These couches could give you just enough sleeping accommodations for your group.
A Game Room
As you’re looking at different rental home options with game rooms, be sure to consider what your group really needs out of a game room. If you’re hoping to have a little additional relaxing space, you may consider looking at rental homes with a game room that has a large TV and ample seating.
On the other hand, if you want to keep kids busy with a variety of different activities, game rooms with ping-pong, pool, air hockey, or board games could be a great option. Think about bringing some of your own games to add to the options!
Outdoor Space
Deck features make a rental home the perfect gathering spot for your family. On a long vacation, having an outdoor deck allows your family to shift the party location. You can grill, play games, or just relax on a cool night.
On another note, having outdoor space can actually be a really creative way to provide adequate sleeping arrangements for everyone. On warm clear nights, sleeping under the stars can be a great option for the kids. They’ll love this type of leisurely camping and seeing the stars clearly will be a treat.
As you are looking at rental homes with outdoor space, be sure to think about your specific use and needs for that space. If you want to have the majority of meals outdoors, does the space have enough room for the tables you’ll need? If you want to play sports and games, is there enough grass area?
Amenities
Having access to amenities like a pool or a jacuzzi can really up the fun for your family reunion. Check to see if rental options have a gym as well. Other amenities could simply include extensive open available manicured space for your family members to throw the football. It could also mean something as simple as Cable TV so you can still watch your NBA games.
Be specific as you think about which amenities would best suit your family’s needs. Having access to a high-end gym may sound cool but, when your group has a lot of toddlers, it might be better to look fors a rental home that has a playground.
Outdoor Activity Equipment
If you’re planning on spending time outdoors, be sure to look up if your potential vacation home has anything already stocked in the garage in terms of outdoor activity equipment. Some rental homes will have bikes that you can use or even beach chairs and umbrellas that you can haul to the beach. If the vacation home itself doesn’t have these items, check to see if there are convenient rental options.
Again, it’s important to carefully consider your specific group’s needs. It may seem fun to have a variety of different outdoor reclining chairs to relax in, but if you have a bunch of teenage boys in the group, they may prefer a couple mountain bikes.
A Full Kitchen with Equipment
When it comes to vacation planning, it can be easy to get so excited about a vacation home’s location and the fun activities that you’ll do and forget to think about the basics. If you’re planning a vacation for a large group or a vacation that will last more than a couple days, it’s important to carefully consider your kitchen space.
Make sure that the kitchen comes with all the pots, pans, cutlery, and dishes that you’ll need to cook for everyone. Refrigerator space is also key—if you need to store a lot of food for your family, you won’t want to skimp there.
Free Parking
If families are travelling separately to your vacation destination, parking space could become really important. Some rental homes may have a great beachside location but may have a small driveway and limited roadside parking. Thinking about parking is really important in these situations. If you’ve found a place that seems too perfect to pass up but the parking doesn’t fit your needs, make plans accordingly.
Deciding on a rental home doesn’t have to be an overwhelming decision if you take some of these suggestions into account. While there are many other factors to consider as well, be sure to focus on your specific party’s needs despite how appealing certain features may be. With a little research, you’ll be able to find the perfect fit for your family vacation.
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