Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about renting apartments while staying abroad. With sites like Airbnb and VRBO, vacation apartments are becoming more and more popular with travelers. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to share both the positives and the negatives of travel. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate about staying in European vacation rentals.
Hate #1: Finding a Good Apartment
When choosing a hotel, you usually have thousands of reviews to read, and it’s fairly easy to find a good hotel. When it comes to vacation apartments, though, it can be hard to narrow down your search and find a good apartment. We’ve had good and bad experiences renting apartments, so we really try to make sure we are selective when choosing an Airbnb, but it takes time. Therefore, if you know someone that has enjoyed staying in an apartment in a destination you are looking to visit, I would ask them for the contact information for that apartment rental firm. It sounds silly, but it can make your search a lot easier.
Love #1: Freedom
Your apartment rental becomes your home away from home and you can come and go as you please. You don’t have housekeeping knocking on your door in the morning, and unlike many hostels which kick you out during the day, you can do whatever you want in your apartment, even if that means taking a nap in the middle of the day. This freedom is especially nice if you are family traveling and need some time in the middle of the day to be free… to be at the apartment recharging the kids (and you phone’s) batteris.
Hate #2: Arrival & Departure Logistics
Rather than walk up to a hotel front desk when you arrive at your destination, you have to make arrangements with the apartment owner to meet them and get the keys. We’ve rented from amazing owners who picked us up from the airport, gave us tons of maps and books for the city, and made us feel very welcome. We’ve had other experiences where we had to wait two hours for the owner to show up with the keys. You can also rent an apartment hotel in some cities. You’ll have the amenities of an apartment, with the staff and service of a hotel. However, always make sure you have the App downloaded on your phone and have contact information for your property manager, as you never know when a plane or train may be delayed and you do not want them thinking you are never coming.
Love #2: Deeper Cultural Experience
When you stay in a local apartment, it helps you to experience the local culture on a deeper level than if you were staying in a hotel. You’re going to the markets and the grocery shops, and cooking like the locals do. Living like a local is my favorite thing about renting apartments while abroad. You can save a lot of money on eating out, too. Also, by being in a neighborhood staying where other locals live you get a much more robust cultural experience, whether it is finding local restaurants and bars or just having your kids make friends playing football with the local children.
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Hate #3: Apartment Rental Kitchens
It’s nice to have a kitchen while traveling, but kitchens in other countries can be very different than what you are used to. Kitchens are usually much smaller than what we are used to in the United States, and the appliances and utensils can take getting used to. Some apartment owners provide the bare minimum in their rental kitchens, while others are fully-equipped for cooking large family meals, and not knowing if they have the basics in the kitchen. Do you want to buy a whole container of dish soap for two nights in an apartment? Look on the list of provided items and read reviews to see if you will need to bring your own shampoo as well.
Love #3: Room to Spread Out
Most apartments have more room than a typical hotel room, so you can spread out and relax. If you are traveling with kids, that extra space really helps. Whether it’s giving the kids room to play, or having a separate room where they can nap without being disturbed, having more space is one of the best reasons to rent an apartment instead of a hotel room. Though not having a cleaning staff while you are there can make spreading out a bit messier than usual.
Hate #4: Garbage & Recycling
If the owner doesn’t meet you and explain everything, it’s always a challenge to figure out where the garbage & recycling are supposed to go when you take them out. If you’re not sure, this is a good thing to ask ahead of time and have them show you where everything goes before they leave you in the apartment. Also, before you check out make sure you take out the garbage if it is required (or not) as this is one way to get one less star if you leave lots of garbage in your rental apartment.
Love #4: Home Base for Day Trips
This is especially true in Europe, where there are endless day trip possibilities in the major cities. Rather than moving from hotel to hotel, we can unpack in one apartment for a week or more, and then set out on day trips using the train system or our rental car. Some cities we always use apartment home bases are Paris, London, Berlin, Munich.
Hate #5: Toilet Paper & Supplies
This really varies by apartment, but we’ve had some rentals that didn’t supply the basics like toilet paper and paper towels. Things like dish soap, laundry detergent, and even salt and pepper, are not always provided by the host. If these things aren’t provided, it can really drive up the cost of your stay. If these things aren’t provided, ask your host where you can purchase them easily.
Love #5: Having a Home Away from Home
At the end of the day, you can come back to your apartment and relax. You don’t have to sit in your hotel bed watching TV, you can relax on the patio or the sofa, fix up a snack, and unwind. After a couple of days, your apartment rental really starts to feel like your second home and it’s nice to come “home” at the end of a long day of travel. We have found our home away from home in a few countries over the years and have come back to the same apartments time and time again.
We’ve rented apartments all over the world while traveling. I prefer it because it feels more relaxing and you feel more at home than if you were staying in a hotel, especially when traveling with kids. Want more of our travel tips? Check out these blog posts: