There are so many choices to consider when you are planning a vacation: where to go, what to bring, what to do and eat when you get there. But the hardest decision (come on, you already know you want to go to Maui, get a tan in that new bikini, surf, and stuff yourself with grilled Mahi Mahi at the luau) of all when it comes to vacation planning is: where to stay? Sure, fancy hotels have a few “amenities”: effusive bell hops, and surcharges to use the tennis courts. But the fact is that hotels usually are way overpriced and don’t afford some of the luxuries you really want when you want to get away. So, if you are planning your perfect Viscape, we recommend renting a vacation home. Why? How about a top 10 list?

10. Do your laundry: No matter how much you think you stuffed into your suitcase, by day five of your seven-day vacation you’ve consigned yourself to the fact that you’re going to have to wear the same underwear. But wait. You’re in a vacation home. The laundry machine is in the house. And it’s free!

9. Have a party: Unless you’re a rock star, you probably don’t want to cram tons of friends into a hotel room to celebrate or sip some wine. At your vacation home, you have plenty of space to entertain.

8. Get a feel for the local culture: Stay at the Hilton in Paris, and it’ll probably look and feel a lot like the one you stayed at in Breckenridge. Stay in a vacation home in Paris and you might be speaking French by the time you leave.

Rue Debelleyme Loft in Paris

7. Sleep soundly: In your vacation home you won’t have to worry about housekeeping banging on your door at 8 a.m., the rambunctious revelers upstairs, or the crying baby next door. Get ready for several nights off uninteruppted sleep.

6. Eat in—and save: Vacation homes typically have full kitchens. Sure, you’re going to go out for some nice dinners on vacation, but stocking up on the basics will save you cash, as will preparing a few big meals at home.

5. Keep the vacation pounds off: Going on vacation is kind of like going to college: the tendency is to GAIN weight. But if you stock your vacation home’s kitchen with the basics you keep at your own house, you shouldn’t have to slave away at the gym when you return home.

4. Enjoy more space: If you’ve ever spent a couple of days in a hotel with children or a dog, you know rooms can get claustrophobic. But not at a vacation home, where’s there is space to accommodate your children, your dog, and your two aunts, three cousins, and an ornery grandma.

3. Keep your money in the bank: Forget spending a day’s wages to spend a night at a hotel. Here on Viscape, we love one cool condo in Lewes Beach that costs $32 a night. And it sleeps four! That works out to $8/person per night. Cheaper than a movie ticket!

And in Park City, Utah, we found a huge townhouse that sleeps ten for just $149 a night. That’s under 15 bucks per person per night. Compare that to a hotel charging at least $150 per night for a two person room. You can do the math.

Daly Avenue #2, Park City, UT

2. Bring more buddies: Collaboration is key in this crummy economy. Ride-sharing is cool, and so is vacation sharing. By choosing a vacation home, more people can join in the fun, which makes the vacation more fun. And more affordable. And you can plan your trip together, so everyone has a say.

1. Extend your vacation: You know all of that money you save by renting a vacation home? Use it to extend your vacation by a few days. Or weeks! The only thing better than a Viscape, after all, is an extended Viscape.

Ready to find a vacation home for your next trip? Check out our vacation properties!