By Lesa 
Think hotel beds, early morning wakes, elevator antics with overpacked luggage, figuring out local restaurants as a family, awkward hallways encounters with other guests… Does that sound like fun to you? It isn’t to most families.
These days families want vacations they can relax on instead of stressing over. A family-friendly beach condo is just that and much more.
That’s why more families are renting vacation condos over hotel rooms.
Need proof?
For starters…
Vacation rental bookings made by families hit almost 46% of all bookings in 2024. There are a lot of families looking for beach condos and that number is expected to continue rising in the years to come.
But how do condo rentals stack up to hotels? Here’s why families are choosing vacation rentals:
Families avoid hotel crowds and traffic by renting beach condos instead. It’s just more convenient, affordable and comfortable than hotel alternatives.
What you’ll pick up in this guide:
- Why Families Are Skipping Hotels Altogether
- Why Families Choose Condo Rentals
- How To Find The Best Family Vacation Rental
- Make The Switch To Vacation Rentals
Why Families Are Skipping Hotels Altogether
The hotel industry wasn’t built with families in mind.
Hotels are tailored to business trips and adults on romantic getaways. A hotel room is typically small. There is one bathroom. There are usually no kitchen areas, much less privacy.
This hotel experience doesn’t cater well to children.
You’re also stuck eating all your meals out which can get expensive, fast. Most families avoid hotel hallways with kids in tow. There’s also the struggle of finding space for everyone to sleep comfortably.
These are all reasons families flock to condo rentals each year instead.
Renting a beach condo means your family can have their own private villa experience. There will be more than enough space for everyone to spread out. Kids can go to sleep while adults unwind. Cooking your own meals can greatly reduce the cost of your trip. Most condo rentals have resort-style amenities like pools, gyms and much more.
Vacation rentals provide parents with a romantic experience and kids with a playful atmosphere. Places like resort-style condos for rent in Cabo have you covered on both fronts. When done right, condo rentals lets everyone enjoy.
Why Families Choose Condo Rentals
When pitted against hotel rooms there’s a ton of advantages that vacation rentals provide for families. Here are the major perks:
Save Money On Your Vacation
Renting a condo will save families a ton of money on their beach vacations.
Think about all the extra expenses you incur while staying at a hotel:
- Two rooms for larger families
- Resort fees
- Eating out multiple times a day
- Dry cleaning
- Purchasing groceries
Add all of that up and it could quickly exceed what you pay for a beach condo rental.
Vacation rentals can save families up to 33% on lodging costs when compared to hotels. That’s a huge savings that can go towards exploring more of what a destination has to offer. Couple that with spending less on food by cooking in the condo kitchen and you’re set.
Larger Spaces With Privacy
Space. We all need it. Even more so when kids are involved.
Hotel rooms average around 300-400 square feet of space. You can usually expect a beach condo to be at least double that, if not more. Having more bedrooms means kids can sleep down while you spend some adult time upstairs.
What else does space allow for?
- Kids won’t feel crowded
- Everyone has their own places to spread out
- Privacy for parents
- No more fighting over beds
Having more space to yourself is probably the biggest reason families choose condo rentals. It’s just a better and more comfortable experience.
All The Home Amenities You Need
Speaking of comfort…
Having kitchen appliances in your vacation rental is the number one reason families book cabins and condos. In fact, 64% of vacation rental guests said kitchen amenities were the most important factor when choosing where to stay.
Nothing beats the ability to cook for your family. Not having to leave the condo to grab snacks, breakfast, lunch or dinner is such a relief. With a kitchen you’ll never have to worry about feeding your kids again.
But kitchen appliances are just the start of it. Many condo rentals come with laundry machines, private pools, resort-style spa amenities, multiple bathrooms and more. It’s like having a home away from home.
How To Find The Best Family Vacation Rental
Deciding your family is better off at a condo rental than a hotel is just half the battle. Now you need to figure out how to choose the right one.
Here are some tips on picking the best family beach condo:
Beach Access
Is the condo close to the beach? Because that’s your number one priority.
There’s nothing worse than rushing down to the beach with your family, only to realize you’re hiking half a mile back to your condo. Save yourself the trouble and find a place with quick access to the beach.
Keep an eye out for:
- Nearby grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Kids playgrounds
- Kid friendly beaches nearby
The closer everything is, the better.
Resort-Style Amenities
Condo rentals give you the comfort of home while on vacation. Some condos take it a step further by providing guests with resort-style amenities. You literally have everything you need all in one place:
- Pool
- Gym
- Beach towels
- Kitchen
- Hot tubs
It doesn’t get much better than that. Everyone in the family can find something they enjoy doing without ever leaving your condo.
Booking a beach vacation rental is the top planned activity for Americans in 2025. Travel spending is expected to rise 31% this year. With so many people looking to book condos… Find yours now.
Child Safety
Little ones should be the first thing on your mind when researching family condos. Make sure any place you look at has:
- Safety gates for pool areas
- No hanging objects near windows
- Guard rails on balconies
- Brightly lit areas
You can learn about a condo’s safety features by reading the property description and reviews. If parents had kids there, comments should mention how family friendly it was.
Why Families Should Choose Vacation Rentals
As you can see, families have plenty of reasons to stay at condo rentals over hotel rooms. Whether you’re going on vacation soon or just planning, here are the takeaways from this article:
- Hotel rooms aren’t built for families
- Vacation rentals provide more space and privacy
- Rentals let you save money and relax like never before
- Enjoy resort amenities with your kids
- Search for condos with the points above and plan ahead
With so many family vacation rentals available, there’s never been a better time to ditch the hotels. Your family will thank you for it.