Hotel, Hostel, Rental? Where to Stay When You're on Vacay

When it comes to vacationing, my husband and I have always gone with one of two options: either we take an all-inclusive getaway, or we stay with family. In both scenarios, food and accommodations were taken care of. So when the opportunity came up to go to Hawaii for some much needed R&R, we had to do our homework, since neither of those two options would work. We quickly realized that accommodations would come down to four main options.
Hotels
We started with the traditional option – hotels. It was by far the most expensive, luxurious option, similar to an all-inclusive resort. However, we wanted to explore other alternatives. We used it as a starting point of reference, and kept it in our back pocket as an option to consider if we had room left in our budget.
Airbnb
Over the past decade, Airbnb has become a widely popular accommodation choice. It's an online service that allows hosts and travellers to connect and rent accommodations worldwide at different price points and for various lengths of time. Travellers apply online, and upon approval, confirmation is sent from the owner. Payments are made through Airbnb and not personally between travellers and hosts. This was our second go-to resource. However, finding an 8-day stay for a family of 3 was still at too high of a price point for us.
Hostels
Hostels are a backpacker's dream. They're a budget-friendly option, allowing travellers to rent a bed, bunk, or private room, often sharing facilities with others. Although a great way to meet new people, I wasn't entirely convinced this was the best option for us as a family. However, as we started to research, I discovered there were viable accommodations for families, including private rooms. Prices were comparable to our Airbnb searches, so we continued on our hunt.
Condos
Finally, we came across condos, which incorporated a little bit of each previous option. This provided a fully furnished condo suite, including facilities such as a kitchen stocked with necessities, washer and dryer, and Wi-Fi. Within the resort where the condo was located was a pool, sauna and tennis courts. It seemed similar to a hotel, without room service.
Our Decision
Ultimately, we chose to spend the majority of our week in a condo. It was a great budget-friendly option for us, provided a bigger space, and gave us the ease to move at our own pace.
For instance, we did our own groceries and cooking. It felt like a home away from home. However, towards the end of our vacation, we decided to treat ourselves to a two-night stay at a resort hotel. It was pricey, but well worth the pampering.
For your next vacation, keep in mind that there are plenty of resources online to help you make the right decision for your travel needs.
Related posts



Legal Stuff
This article or video (the “Content”), as applicable, is provided by independent third parties that are not affiliated with Tangerine Bank or any of its affiliates. Tangerine Bank and its affiliates neither endorse or approve nor are liable for any third party Content, or investment or financial loss arising from any use of such Content....
The Content is provided for general information and educational purposes only, is not intended to be relied upon as, or provide, personal financial, tax or investment advice and does not take into account the specific objectives, personal, financial, legal or tax situation, or particular circumstances and needs of any specific person. No information contained in the Content constitutes, or should be construed as, a recommendation, offer or solicitation by Tangerine to buy, hold or sell any security, financial product or instrument discussed therein or to follow any particular investment or financial strategy. In making your financial and investment decisions, you will consult with and rely upon your own advisors and will seek your own professional advice regarding the appropriateness of implementing strategies before taking action. Any information, data, opinions, views, advice, recommendations or other content provided by any third party are solely those of such third party and not of Tangerine Bank or its affiliates, and Tangerine Bank and its affiliates accept no liability in respect thereof and do not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of any information in the third party Content. Any information contained in the Content, including information related to interest rates, market conditions, tax rules, and other investment factors, is subject to change without notice, and neither Tangerine Bank nor its affiliates are responsible for updating this information.
Tangerine Investment Funds are managed by Tangerine Investment Management Inc. and are only available by opening an Investment Fund Account with Tangerine Investment Funds Limited. These firms are wholly owned subsidiaries of Tangerine Bank. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.