Ultimate Guide: How to Choose the Perfect Family Vacation Rental Home

Planning a family vacation? Finding the ideal vacation rental home can feel overwhelming with so many options available. This comprehensive guide provides essential tips to help you select a rental that perfectly suits your family’s needs, ensuring a memorable and stress-free getaway.

Family enjoying a vacation rental home — A cozy vacation rental is key to a successful family trip.

Choosing the right vacation rental home is crucial for a relaxing and enjoyable family trip. With countless options available, it’s easy to feel lost. Having spent a lifetime traveling and staying in various rental properties, and now traveling with my own children and dog, I understand the challenges of finding that perfect “home away from home.”

Scenic view near a vacation rental in Sunriver, Oregon — Sunriver, Oregon offers stunning scenery and family-friendly activities.

Our family has a tradition of taking a road trip to central Oregon, specifically to Sunriver Resort. We always opt for renting a vacation home or condo because Sunriver is a fantastic family-friendly destination with an abundance of activities for everyone.

This year, we partnered with [Example Rental Company Link], and they provided us with a beautiful vacation home. This experience highlighted the essential factors to consider when searching for a rental. I’m sharing these insights to help you make the best choice for your next family vacation.

Top 5 Tips for Selecting Your Family Vacation Rental

Exterior of a vacation rental home — Consider the exterior and surrounding environment of the rental.

These five tips have been instrumental in helping me find the right vacation rental homes for my family. I hope they prove useful for your upcoming travels!

1. Thoroughly Examine the Photos

I cannot overemphasize the importance of carefully reviewing all available photos of potential vacation homes. This is where I invest the most time during my research.

If a listing lacks numerous well-lit, clear, and current photos, I advise moving on. In today’s visually driven online world, reputable vacation rental properties will always have a comprehensive selection of photos showcasing the entire property.

Backyard of a vacation rental property — Assess outdoor spaces for suitability for your family’s needs.

You should expect to see photos of the ENTIRE home: the exterior, street view, nearby attractions (beach, mountains), kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, living area, patio, deck, and even the garage.

Master bedroom in a vacation rental home — Evaluate the comfort and cleanliness of the bedrooms.

Pay attention to the photo’s date, as properties can undergo renovations (for better or worse!). You want to ensure that what you see is what you’ll get upon arrival.

Second bedroom in a vacation rental — Ensure adequate sleeping arrangements for your family.

Consider factors that are particularly important to your family:

Are there enough beds, and are they appropriately sized?
Is there sufficient closet space?
Do the carpets or hardwood floors appear clean?
Does the bedding look clean and comfortable?

Living room in a Sunriver vacation rental — Assess the living space for comfort and functionality.

2. Evaluate the Space and Layout

One crucial lesson I’ve learned from numerous vacation rental stays is that square footage can be misleading. Not all space is created equal.

Upstairs view in a vacation rental home — Consider the layout and how it will work for your family.

High ceilings can create a sense of spaciousness and provide more breathing room, while low ceilings can make the same area feel cramped.

We particularly enjoyed the high ceilings and open living spaces in our recent Sunriver Resort rental. Ample breathing room is essential for families traveling together, especially when accompanied by a large dog!

Dining room in a vacation rental property — Ensure the dining area is suitable for family meals.

We also appreciated that the rental wasn’t overcrowded with bulky furniture. The layout facilitated easy movement between rooms, with furniture that allowed for ample breathing room. Families require sufficient space to move around without constantly bumping into each other – that’s hardly a vacation!

Deck of a vacation rental home — Consider outdoor space and its amenities.

Also, determine whether there is outdoor space, and if so, whether it’s private or shared. Is it fully fenced (crucial for pet owners)? Does the patio include chairs, a dining area, a grill, or a hot tub?

3. Ensure the Rental is Well-Stocked

Kitchen in a vacation rental home — A well-equipped kitchen makes vacation easier.

When you travel, it’s convenient not to have to pack up your entire household just to go on vacation.

One of the best aspects of renting a vacation home is that most are fully equipped with your everyday household essentials. However, it’s essential to confirm with the rental company exactly what will be provided.

Bathroom in a vacation rental — Check for adequate bathroom facilities and supplies.

Besides the basics like extra toilet paper, towels, pillows, and sheets, we appreciate a fully stocked kitchen with plates, cups, utensils, and serving trays. Look for small appliances you use daily, like a coffee maker, toaster, and microwave.

Corner of a living room in a vacation rental — Look for family-friendly activities and entertainment options.

Experienced vacation rental owners also provide family-friendly activities such as board games, books, and magazines. You might even find a video game console (call ahead to confirm which one), a foosball table, or yard games like cornhole.

4. Proximity to Family-Friendly Activities

It’s essential to select a location with a variety of enjoyable activities that your family will love, ideally within walking distance of your rental.

Sunriver Resort SHARC aquatic center — Consider nearby attractions and activities.

At our Sunriver Resort rental, we simply stepped out of the back patio and onto one of the numerous walking trails leading directly to the main village. In the opposite direction, the trails led to the SHARC (Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic Recreation Center). Both were just a short 5-minute walk from our rental!

SHARC aquatic center at Sunriver Resort — Access to amenities like SHARC can enhance your vacation experience.

Our recent rental in Sunriver Resort even included eight passes to SHARC. Perks like these in a vacation rental are invaluable!

Having nearby activities minimizes travel time and allows you and your family to fully enjoy your vacation.

5. Prioritize Excellent Customer Service

Finally, choose a vacation rental company that consistently provides exceptional customer service. The level of service you receive even before arriving at your rental is indicative of the quality of the property and the vacation experience you can expect.

Cascara Vacation Rentals in Sunriver, Oregon — Choose a rental company with a reputation for excellent service.

Before our vacation in Sunriver, I received a warm, welcoming email from [Example Rental Company Link]. They promptly and helpfully answered my questions about the property and nearby restaurants. Upon our arrival, they informed me of a minor maintenance issue, and offered me options to resolve it promptly. Throughout our stay, the staff were consistently friendly, helpful and honest.

The right vacation rental company and attentive property owners will contribute significantly to a relaxing and enjoyable vacation, as it should be.

Wishing You Happy Travels!

These are just a few of my top tips for finding the perfect family vacation rental home. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask in the comments below!

What are your essential criteria when searching for a vacation rental home?

More Travel Tips

Travel essentials for a vacation — Essential travel products can make your trip smoother.

[Example Travel Product Link]