The advantages of hotels are all of the following EXCEPT that they______.

Interviewer(W)Gabe Saglie(M)
W: We continue now with something to think about as you plan your summer vacation. When it comes to lodging, hotels are the first, and often the only option considered by most people. But now a growing group of travelers are finding comfort in a full-fledged home away from home. And here with more is Travelzoo editor Gabe Saglie. Good morning, Gabe.
M: Good to see you.
W: Zoo is a little bit of a fantasy. I would love to do this with my whole family: go away and rent a house. A lot more people are doing it, so is this a trend?
M: Well. I love the great hotel, and hotels are always going to be the No. 1 choice really for travelers.(1 - 1)They are convenient, easy to book and you know what you are getting. But more people are traveling today than ever before, for a greater variety of reasons than ever before.(1 - 2)So vacation rentals offer probably greater options now, depending on the kind of the trip that you want to take. You’re literally renting somebody’s home, right?
W: Yes.
M: You get amenities like fully-equipped kitchens, washer dryer, and things like Internet access and parking, which usually carry price tag at the hotel and have standard fare at the vacation rentals.
W:(2 - 1)You usually think it’s going to be more expensive automatically than a hotel would be, but that’s often not the case.
M: When I was doing research for the segment, I found that, for example, a castle in the French countryside, a medieval castle that sleeps 34 people on 20 acres for 7,000 dollars for the week comes out about 200 dollars per person for the entire week. In the French countryside, on 20 acres in a castle, that’s amazing. Travelers published a two-bedroom condo in Orlando this week for 95 dollars that sleeps six. While you’re right next to World Disney, steps away from The Sea World and Universal Studios, this is a great value option for a family.
W: The only concern that I might raise would be that, with a hotel, if you have any problems, you go and complain to the management. You know they are going to be responsive. You are going to need that same level of service if you have any problems in a rental type situation.
M: The answer is yes. I mean, you needn’t worry about that,(2-2)because they can provide the same level of service to you. But you have to do a little bit more homework on your own to guarantee that, first of all, you are protecting your investment. I mean, think about buying something on Ebay, all kinds of steps you take to guarantee that you are buying something that is legitimate.(3)Do a vacation memo, see the reviews by former renters, and get a contract before you send any money. Use a credit card instead of cash, or money order, and make sure you get an array of contact information once you are at the vacation rental.
W: Let’s go through some situations. This might be a good idea, and the first was my fantasy vacation, to get away with my family, or family reunion or something like that.
M: Yes. And some families are better equipped to be under the same roof than others, no doubt about that, but think about the fact that if you rent a four-bedroom house versus renting a four hotel rooms, you are going to have extras for the family, like your own kitchen to make small talks while dinner is being made, your own backyard to play games, your own garage, your rental cars. So there is definitely something to be set for that large groups of people like birthday get-aways, singles’ parties. You don’t have to worry about disturbing your neighbors, if you are having a party late at night, or there is phone call from the front desk to tell you to keep it down.
W: But what about a couple romantic get-away? In some cases, you say, that sounds like an ideal.
M: Yes. My wife and I have spent a large sum of money on a hotel in Hawaii.(4)But if now we are considering a vacation rental, we like making our own breakfast in the morning, almost feeling like we get some of the management we have at home, while traveling thousands of miles away from home.
W: Do you have any particular locations where they are better to rent and do the hotel thing?
M:(5)Cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago with a hotel industry just as good as it can be, the hotel is probably the best way to go in those peak seasons. In other areas like Florida, Southern California, Hawaii, Mexico, vacation rentals could be a great option for you.
W: Good stuff here. Gabe Sagile, good to see you again. Thanks.
M: See you then. Happy travels.