If you’re planning a weekend away with the kids and you aren’t fortunate to have a holiday home of your own to fall back on, the chances are that you’ve investigated the holiday rentals market.
Renting a place for a few days is in many ways the ideal short break option. Firstly, you have the freedom to go wherever you like and are not tied to one destination, as you are with a holiday house. So if you feel like a beach holiday to a favourite haunt, all you have to do is book your accommodation and you’re away. Similarly, if you’ve promised your children a taste of country life, book a farm stay or a cottage on a rural property and you’re away.
Holiday rentals are also a comparatively hassle free way of travelling – something which can be a real bonus if you have little ones in toe. Your choose a location, book your beach house or country cabin and rock up. If you’ve selected well, you’ll find everything you need for a perfect weekend getaway and all without the inconvenience of having to take it yourself. In fact, many holiday rentals even include ‘welcome hampers’ and breakfast baskets to get your visit underway, along with linen and towels, so all you need to pack is the essentials.
However, the huge advantage that renting a beach house or holiday apartment over other forms on accommodation is the freedom that it allows you. You can come and go exactly as you wish without disturbing anyone else. You have a kitchen at your disposal and so self-catering (or ordering from the local take away) is an option, which can be a huge relief when children are involved. Choose your holiday accommodation wisely and you may get a place that opens your family to a new game or sport. We stayed in a place one year with a set of quoits in the garage and had endless hours of fun.
Stay at a few different places and you’ll find that your children will probably love the idea of being somewhere familiar – a house or unit – but new – not theirs.
And if your family includes a dog, these days there are plenty of properties that are pet friendly and will accept your hound along with your offspring, This make for a far better getaway all round as your beloved pouch can be with you and you don’t have the added bother if leaving it with someone else of house it at a kennel – or the expense!
If you are thinking about trying a holiday rental for your next family holiday, we recommend that you book your accommodation through one of the big sites, like Stayz. But whoever you go through, make sure you do your research first and have a good read of the testimonials attached to the property you’re interested in. Another good idea is to rely on word of mouth and take the advice of friends and family who have visited places in the same area before. Perhaps they can suggest the perfect beach house for your family weekend getaway.