Bethel, PA · Member since 2014 · 32 posts · 9 votes
#1. What are your top 2 "must have" amenities when you stay at a vacation rental?
#2. Would you stay in a rental that is in a gated community?
#3. Once you have arrived at your vacation destination how many miles are you willing to travel each day to get to restaurants, attractions, etc.?
I'm getting closer to purchasing a home to rent out as a short term vacation rental. I'm wondering how important it is to be close to the local attractions. When my husband and I go on vacation and stay for a week we usually do a bunch of day trips to the local attractions and then spend the other days of that week just hanging out. We don't mind driving, on those day trip days, up to an hour each way to see something new. We usually find other things to see on our way. Looking for insight to help me make my final decision on a location. Thank you!
#1. My top two must haves (not just amenities) when it comes to vacation rentals are clean sheets and clean bathrooms. If neither of those two things are clean I will try to find a different vacation rental or I won't feel comfortable at all. As far as amenities go, I would say a tv that has capability to play music on youtube and / or stream content from my phone / iPad and a microwave.
#2. I would love to stay a rental in a gated community unless I am specifically going with a big group of friends (we wouldn't want to disturb the neighbors)
#3. I think the max drive for me is 30 minutes and that's pushing it. I typically would want to be close to places especially because I am under 25 years old and getting a rental car can be problematic.
The number 1 question I get is. "How close is the house to the beach and to city center?" If you are considering an STR in a gated community check with the HOA about restrictions. I have 3 STRs in Naples and none are in a gated community. (There's a thread on B.P. where many people from out of town and also from out of state are posting that STRs are not legal here in Naples. That's not true. They're definitely legal. I pay my tourist tax each month to Collier County and they're happy to receive it.)
Amenities: Clean. I also leave bottled water in the fridge and a snack basket of snacks on the kitchen counter. My STRs have everything needed for living in the house, from iron and ironing board to crock pot to beach towels, beach chairs and coolers. I've stayed in some STRs that were bare bones to say the least and not very clean.