The word vacation is a unique word. It makes people from all walks of life feel a sense of calm. Vacations are carefully planned with the intention to create memories and are a yearly tradition for many families or groups of friends. Whether you are planning a quick weekend getaway or a week away, beach lovers from near and far have discovered Galveston Island. The most important part of the vacation planning process is deciding where to stay and call “home”. The most common options available to the consumer are staying at a hotel or renting a condo or a home owned by an individual owner. Most of you reading this article have probably experienced a stay from a hotel type accommodation. A vacation rental property is usually discovered by searching the internet to locate properties based on your plan, such as the number of people you are planning to sleep or how many bedrooms and bathrooms you will require. Both of these options are ideal for parties of all sizes but do provide different experiences.
Hotels are the traditional choice when it comes to families and business professionals. Guests typically rely on the hotel to have a certain level of service and accommodations based on its reputation and/or rating. You can expect this type of property to have extensive reservation technology and resources, such as 24 hour reservation contacts available by phone and online booking. An additional convenience usually includes onsite staff offering varying levels of hospitality training and customer service. The property most likely will have amenities that could include an onsite restaurant, pool, fitness facility, business centers, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Many people prefer a hotel property versus a vacation rental simply because of the 24 hour onsite front desk operations. Having a staffed front desk gives the guest a contact to either speak to in person or via the telephone any hour of the day or night. It is always nice to see a smiling face each morning as well. Hotels may prove to be a great fit for large parties traveling together looking for a central place to stay which provides easy coordination of Island activities. For couples traveling alone, a hotel room may make more sense than a 2 bedroom condo.
Vacation rental properties have changed the way consumers travel, especially larger families and groups, and has made a surge in popularity due to the advancements of technology, such as websites devoted to individual property owners marketing their property themselves, photography slide shows, online video and formation of vacation property management companies that market several properties for you to choose from based on your specific needs. Many second home property owners are now starting to offset monthly expenses on their investment while they wait to see how the real estate market unfolds over the next couple of years. Vacation rental properties can be a fun way to search for unique vacation accommodations…if you are lucky, you’ll find that perfect fit for your needs! Galveston offers hundreds of properties in numerous locations on the Island, each featuring unique bed configurations and services that can cater to any size family or business situation. The properties are usually thoughtfully decorated, furnished, and photographed to cause the guest to inquire about that specific property. Guests can also expect to find that the properties are outfitted for to provide a “home away from home” experience. Most vacation properties offer fully equipped kitchens, a washer and dryer, linens, toiletries, and many have started going the extra mile to include complimentary WiFi, beach towels, flat screen televisions with DVD players in every bedroom, and much more! Unlike the hotel properties, most vacation rental properties don’t have someone by the phone 24 hours a day to take your call or make a reservation, but rest assured, you will get a call back and more than likely a customer service experience comparable to a professionally trained staff, just a bit different. Customer service based on an actual relationship created with either the home owner themselves or the property manager entrusted by the property owner.
By the way, there are some great reasons to come to the Island this fall and winter. This is also when a guest will see the best value regarding the cost of accommodations. I invite you to come and experience for yourself why the so-called “off season” is my favorite time to be an Islander!
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