Renting a vacation home from Italy Perfect provides some unique benefits. If you are trying to decide whether a vacation home rental or a hotel is best for you here are some tradeoffs to consider.

VACATION RENTAL PROS

• More spacious than a hotel room
• Price-per-night is usually lower, especially stays of 4+ nights
• A living room for relaxing and for gathering
• A kitchen so that you don't have to eat out every meal, saving money and allowing for casual dining with children
• A washing machine (in most, a few even have a dryer)
• A more authentic experience; live like a local
• More special features, such as views or a terrace, at a better value than a hotel
• Our photos and videos are accurate, you know exactly which apartment you are renting
• A wealth of travel tips and information to help you plan your trip

VACATION RENTAL CONS

• Fixed check in times in the late afternoon
• Not good if you are arriving late at night
• No concierge service for directions, luggage storage, transportation and restaurant reservations
• Extra housekeeping, if available, is paid separately
• No daily towel change
• Toiletries - There might be a small supply but don't count on it. Plan to bring your own soap, shampoo, conditioner. There will be enough toilet paper to last a day or two, after that you purchase your own.
• Kitchen - There might be a small supply of condiments and paper towels, but a full selection is not guaranteed. Plan to get to the grocery store soon if you plan to cook.
• WiFi is usually free
• More restrictive cancellation and reservation change policy than a hotel
• Not advisable for 1 and 2 night stays since the economics don't work. Many vacation rentals won't take a 3 nights reservation either.

HOTEL PROS

• Front desk open round the clock and more flexible check in hours
• Concierge to help you with directions, taxis, luggage storage, transportation and restaurant reservations
• Daily housekeeping & towel change
• Toiletries provided
• If you don't like your room, switching rooms is probably possible
• Better for very short stays of 1 and 2 nights
• More liberal cancellation policy

HOTEL CONS

• Rooms in European hotels are usually tiny
• You won't know exactly which room you will get, probably not the best one featured in the hotel’s website photos and view unknown
• Difficult to get adjoining rooms for families
• No place to sit other than on the bed
• Price per night usually higher versus a comparably located apartment
• Room service, if available, is very expensive
• Mini bar, if available, astronomically priced; expect to pay $15 USD for a can of Coke.
• Laundry service cost is astounding and turnaround time is several days
• WiFi is usually an extra fee
• More hidden fees, taxes, service charges
• Expensive for longer stays of 4+ nights
• Your confirmation will not include any materials such as tourism tips, tour guide suggestions, restaurant lists, shopping tips, and driver recommendations.