Why You Should Stay Away From Hotels

I love staying in hotels, if for no other reason than I don't have to clean up (much) after myself -- I can leave the bed unmade, and fresh sheets and towels will magically appear without me having to make the trek to the laundry room. But sometimes a hotel isn't the best option -- renting an apartment or house is often the way to go, especially if you're staying for a while. According to this article from MSNBC, there are lots of reasons to avoid hotels. Such as?

Space: Hotel rooms can be pretty limiting size-wise. Your own flat or house will come with lots of extra space, and maybe even your own yard.

Privacy: Hotels are public places; you can keep to yourself in your own apartment.

Be prepared. What you should know before renting a vacation home. Don't break the bank. Where are the world's most expensive hotels?

Price: It's often a much better deal to rent your own place for a week than pay a nightly rate at a hotel -- which can be really expensive! Plus, you can make your own meals in the kitchen, which saves a lot of money.

Cultural experience: Renting your own place allows you to avoid all the other tourists and get a feel for what it's like to live like the locals. And, consider this: All name-brand hotels are basically the same, so why stay at one when you're somewhere exotic? You might as well be staying in Poughkeepsie as far as the hotel decor goes.

Flexibility: There are rules at the hotel. In your own place? Not so much.

Don't just look at rental apartments and houses either -- keep your eyes open for unique accommodations. For instance, I stayed on a houseboat on the Seine River when I was last in Paris; it was an amazing experience.

Gallery: British Virgin Islands: Richard Branson's Necker Island

Filed under: Hotels and Accommodations