Toddler Travel Tips: Vacation Apartment Rentals

Apartment Rental for Families on the Move

Increasingly more and more popular with travellers, especially those who are on the road long term, renting an apartment is a great alternative to a hotel. Access to a kitchen for making breakfast and easy meals are a lifesaver when you can’t face dinner in a restaurant at the end of a long day with a worn-out child.  Living on top of one another in a cramped hotel room is bound to cause frustrations. A little extra space to spread out, play and sleep will keep your nerves in check. If your kids are early risers or you sleep lightly, having separate sleeping spaces will mean everyone gets a better night’s rest.

There are a few options to choose from – serviced apartments, vacation rentals, subletting from a local and renting long-term apartments.

Serviced apartments are the most expensive option and will get you closest to the feeling of a hotel. They’ll have a front desk to check in and out from, cleaning service (usually weekly) and good amenities. Serviced apartments generally cater to business travellers and can feel a bit sterile and impersonal. If you’re just in town for a few days, the are a good alternative to a hotel. The best way to find one is to Google “destionation city + serviced apartment”. Sometimes they’ll show up on hotel booking sites as well.

If you’re staying somewhere short to medium term, find a vacation apartment rentals through sites like VRBO, AirBnB and Wimdu. Check the “Kid friendly” box when searching. Most listings have a tonne of pictures so it’s usually pretty easy to judge how suitable an apartment is for you and your family. I’ve seen some apartments that have great kids rooms, complete with bunk beds and toy boxes filled with goodies. Vacation rentals are usually come with well equipped kitchens so you can cook and eat at home.

Sublets are a good idea in big cities like New York or Paris. Locals often head away for the summer months and let out their apartments. There might be a bit more personal stuff belong to the owner about the apartment but, apart from that, they’re a good option. Start by looking at sites like Craigslist (particularly for the US) and Gumtree (in the UK, Australia and NZ).

If you’re planning on being somewhere long term, your best bet is to book a few nights in a hotel or vacation rental to start with and then search for rental property on the ground when you get there. It will be considerably cheaper to rent locally, rather than through a website aimed at tourists. Be prepared to take on a six or 12 month lease in many cases. Get started by asking everyone you come in contact with if they know of anything for rent in the area – the hotel reception, the local restaurant staff, taxi drivers. Keep an eye out for signs in cafes or apartment windows advertising rentals. It might take a bit more time but the cost savings will be worth it.

Here is a glimpse at an apartment rental we did in Las Vegas last year:

Our Apartment in Las Vegas

View Down “The Strip” from Our Apartment, Las Vegas, Nevada

Enjoying the Pool at Our Apartment, Las Vegas, Nevada

Check out the apartment rental series over on 30 Traveler for some more great examples on apartment rentals in places like Mexico, Ecuador, Croatia and Honduras as well as the full story on our Las Vegas apartment rental.

Got any great stories about an apartment you stayed in on the road? I’d love to hear them!