Survey Shows Increased Interest in Vacation Rentals, With 40 Percent of Travelers Planning a Rental Stay in 2011
“With an increased interest in vacation rentals on TripAdvisor and a similar trend shown in our survey, its shaping up to be another strong year of growth for rentals,” said Hank Hudepohl, director of vacation rentals at TripAdvisor. “For travelers staying with larger groups in 2011, a vacation rental is a great option to consider for its home-like amenities and affordable pricing compared to hotels.”
Grab Your Beach Umbrellas
Summer projects to be the most popular season for vacation rental stays in 2011, with 52 percent of U.S. travelers planning a rental home stay during the warmer months. In addition, 47 percent of respondents are planning to stay in beachfront villas, making them the most popular vacation rental type for 2011. The most popular U.S. region for rental stays in 2011 is the Southeast (31 percent) according to the survey. This was followed by the Southwest and the Northwest, which came in second and third, respectively.
Theres No Place Like (Rental) Home
When asked what travelers liked the most about vacation rentals as a lodging option:
- 28 percent cited more space
- 23 percent of travelers enjoyed having access to a full kitchen
- 13 percent liked that rentals were often less expensive than hotels
Early Bird Catches the Worm
Twenty-nine percent of travelers either always or often stay in the same rental year after year. Of the travelers who stayed in a vacation rental in the past:
- 22 percent booked their rental home more than six months prior to the trip
- 34 percent of travelers booked their rentals between three and six months out
- 22 percent booked between one and three months out
- 2 percent of travelers booked their vacation rental less than one month out
Eighty-seven percent of respondents said they would choose to stay in a vacation rental over a hotel if it were significantly less expensive. In addition, 80 percent of travelers would book a last minute vacation rental stay if they found a great deal.
Living the Life
If travelers had their pick of luxury vacation rental features:
- 51 percent would choose a rental home with a private beach
- 12 percent would choose a rental home with maid service
- 9 percent would choose a rental home with a hot tub
- 8 percent would choose a rental home with a personal chef
According to the survey, 36 percent of travelers who have rented in the past have stayed in a vacation rental for a milestone life event, such as a wedding, birthday or reunion.
Fight For Your Vacation Rental Rights
With New York City poised to impose a ban on short-term vacation rental stays in 2011, the topic is sure to be top of mind for travelers visiting the city this year. According to the survey, 92 percent of respondents dont think cities should limit travelers access to short-term vacation rental stays.
Know Before You Go
When deciding between different rental properties, the key influences cited by respondents are:
- Photos of the home (42 percent)
- Traveler reviews (27 percent)
- Cost of staying at the properties (13 percent)
Most travelers find out about vacation rental properties on the Web, both on vacation rental property websites (70 percent) and online travel websites (55 percent). In addition, 25 percent of respondents find out about particular homes by word of mouth from friends and family.
Still Room to Grow
When travelers who hadnt stayed at a vacation rental in the past were asked why not:
- 22 percent said they simply had not thought of staying at a rental home for a trip
- 14 percent said they had a better idea of what they were getting when staying at a hotel
- 12 percent thought hotels had better amenities than vacation rentals
“Great deals can be found even for vacation rentals with remarkable amenities including private pools, full kitchens and spacious common areas,” said Hudepohl. “Read the traveler reviews and book early so you don’t miss out on the best properties.”