Holidays in a Holiday Let

Years ago, we discovered an alternative to vacationing in hotels. Across the world, we stay in apartments, cabins and houses rented through companies like Airbnb or VBRO. The concept might not be for everyone, but the extra space and interesting locations are a good fit for us.

This lodging option is available in major cities, but we generally prefer places off the beaten path and that’s where vacation/holiday rentals excel. While we were living in Colorado, friends came to visit and we rented big houses up in the mountains. There were plenty of bedrooms and big kitchens and dining rooms made for relaxing evenings together that don’t have to end because the restaurant what’s to flip your table. We’ve stayed in vintage homes in Australian vineyards, modern apartments on the beach, seaside cottages, apartments in castles and even one in an ancient fort on the shores of Loch Ness. Many of the lodging offer quirks that come with ancient buildings.

Even before we became a party of three, Dave and I enjoyed the quaint and unique places to stay. Once we added a child to our lives, a standard hotel room became a non-starter. We were blessed with a child that would not or could not sleep if there was any amount of light in a room. One night in Cheyenne, Wyoming at the not so luxurious hotel, we put the exhausted cranky kid to bed and the adults spent the evening in a not so glamorous bathroom. Dave sat on the toilet, and I lounged in an empty bathtub. We had to speak in hushed tones, why sipping cheap wine from disposable plastic cups. We occasionally cram ourselves into a standard hotel room for overnight stay before early morning flights, but for us, relaxing fun-filled holidays require a bit more space. Some have been quite modest and utilitarian, while others have been fun luxuries. There are options for every budget and purpose. 

When shopping for vacation rentals, there’s always plenty of choices in various price ranges. The further in advance you shop the more options you’ll find.  We look for a minimum of 2 bedrooms, but most homes that have more than one, will have at least 3 bedrooms and two baths. Some kitchens are less optimum than others, but we’ve never encountered a kitchen that didn’t have the basics. Most homes will come with at least a few soap pellets for the dishwasher, a little bottle of dish soap and some sort of sponge or dish towel. You’re never quite sure what the tea and coffee equipment and supplies will be. I’ve been in Yorkshire long enough to become a tea snob, so I always pack my own tea bags and a small bag of ground coffee.

Some rentals provide guests with lovely welcome baskets that can include tea and coffee, cookies, bottled water or even wine. We stayed in a place in New Zealand that provided a fresh baked loaf of bread, hand-made butter and eggs from their hens along with a note inviting us to help ourselves to any of the produce and herbs in their garden.

One of the biggest benefits of this kind of travel is getting outdoor space. Sitting in the morning sun in my pajamas while sipping my morning coffee in one of my greatest joys in life. I live somewhere that averages 16.7 days of rain per month, so when we travel to somewhere dry and sunny I soak up every bit of vitamin D available. Patio, balcony and lounge chairs are my love languages.  We are lucky that many of the holiday homes in Europe have private pools and many of them are heated for cool season use! This type of lodging gives us a chance to escape the main tourist areas and see how everyday people live in that part of the world.

Some rentals offer opportunities to meet the furry locals...

The cost of standard holiday homes is often comparable with a hotels, especially when you factor in food. Having a kitchen means we can go to a grocery store and get some breakfast basics as well as stuff for snacking and sandwiches.  We usually eat out at least once a day. If you’re had a big adventure during the day that included a big lunch, we often just chill out “at home” in the evening with cheese, baguette, local delicacies and a bottle of wine. There’s a significant cost savings from not eating 3 meals a day in a restaurant, especially when feeding a bottomless teenager! 

If you’re never ventured into a grocery store in a foreign country, you are missing out!  Technology like Google Lens has made it easier to decipher labels but it’s still a humbling experience. Over the years, we’ve bought some random items, some were less edible than others.

Over the years we’re learned the fine art of sifting through listings and decoding the secret language. It’s a bit like reading real estate listings. – Words like “cozy” and “compact” mean REALLY small. Mentions of “bustling” or “close to nightlife” mean that if you don’t enjoy the sounds of throbbing discos and drunken crowds, you should avoid it at all costs.  I’ve also learned to zoom in on the pictures.  If the kitchen doesn’t look spotlessly clean and the counter tops empty, skip to the next listing. Look to see is the beds are pristine and the pillows look fluffy. I suggest you look for listings that have professional looking photos. Anyone who has invested in professional photography is taking it seriously. We have stayed in a couple of places that are actual homes and the owner rents it out when they’re not around. For us, that feels a bit odd. We prefer places that are full-time vacation rentals.  

Packing list that makes life easier:

Knives – I have a couple of older knives that I bring along. We’ve stayed in a few knives that won’t cut much more than butter.  

Laundry Detergent Sheets – Most rental units will have a washer. That lets you pack less! These are a brilliant invention! Toss the sheet in the washer and shazam, your laundry is clean with no mess in your suitcase.

Food Shower Caps – There’s no guarantee that a vacation rental will include foil or plastic wrap. These little gems, let you cover your leftovers for a day or two without buying a whole roll of wrap that will be left behind when you return home.

Corkscrew – It’s heartbreaking to have evening roll around and discover there no way to open the wine you planned to enjoy. I never leave home without a corkscrew….

Washcloths – For reasons I can’t phantom, washcloths are not standard issue anywhere in Europe. If you are a committed user of washcloths, you will need to pack your own (this also applies to hotels in Europe)

Top Sheet – I know top sheets have gone out of fashion in much of the world, but I’m still a believer. There’s no AC in many parts of Europe. If the bed only has a comforter and it’s a bit warm in the room, your choices are the overheating comforter or nothing at all. Some of us don't like sleeping uncovered and there's nothing wrong with that!

Shampoo and Shower Gel – Unlike hotels most holiday rentals don’t provide shampoo and shower gel. I always pack my own no matter where I’m traveling. The men in my life often to forget to pack such items so we end up in a foreign grocery store buying full sized bottles for them to use and leave behind.