The term “vacation rentals” would probably sound foreign to most Asians, but it’s a tourism buzzword in Europe (especially the United Kingdom) and North America, the concept getting more popular by the day. The term is used by the travel industry to mean the renting out, to tourists, of a fully furnished apartment or even house on a temporary basis. It is an alternative to staying in a hotel / resort. In some cities, such as in Barcelona, vacation rentals are such a success that the hotel industry there felt threatened enough to push for laws enacted to limit its influence.

Here in Malaysia we immediately think of homestay programs as a comparison, but in vacation rental, the property owners do not stay in the same house or even compound. Owners could let agencies manage their property, offering services much like the hotels, for example concierge services and 24×7 maintenance.

Benefits of vacation rentals include the bigger space as compared to hotels - it could be a whole house after all, with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms (of course with nicebathroom faucets), fireplaces and so on. Their locations can even be much nearer to local attractions as compared to hotels. Then there’s the privacy issue: hotels can never compete with rented out houses in this respect.

Therefore, vacation rentals is an interesting new way of enjoying your holidays. Every budget is catered for, as properties range from studio apartments to sprawling villas on private islands.

Vacation rentals are available in most US states, including major tourist areas, for example Fort Myers vacation rentals. It’s located right on the beach of the Gulf Coast of the western part of Florida. I think that should beat any hotel’s offer.

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