South Bend Hotels Vs. Short-term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
South Bend Hotels Vs. Short-term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
Looking for a place to stay in South Bend? You could grab a room at South Bend hotels like the DoubleTree or Aloft downtown. Or there is a Marriot close to the Notre Dame campus as well. But, none of these options can give you the level of comfort, privacy, freedom, and amenities that you get if you book a stay in a short-term, full house rental offered through services such as Airbnb and VRBO. However, not all rentals are created equal! So, let me offer up some advice that will help you make the right decision for you.
As a local realtor, I’ve walked through the door of hundreds of homes across the South Bend, Mishawaka, and Granger areas. I’ve even owned my fair share of them (6 houses in 10 years!). I have dedicated my time and energy to researching and scouring this area for my clients to help them find their perfect home, in the perfect neighborhood, in the best school districts. So, it’s safe to say, I have my finger directly on the pulse of the real estate market around here. That’s why, when I purchased my first short-term rental home in South Bend, I wanted to be sure that my guests had a place that offered them an experience that lives up to the vibrant and welcoming energy that South Bend has become known for.
Here are some of the things that I found out about short-term rentals that my guests have truly enjoyed when they stay in my rentals.
PEACE
South Bend Hotels Vs. Short-term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
Traveling can be stressful. Especially when you add kids and other family members into the mix. You go from being trapped in a car or plane together to being stuffed into a hotel room. It’s agitating, uncomfortable, awkward, and takes away from what should be a nice trip.
Instead, consider a short-term rental home. You can go through your preferred service (Airbnb, VRBO) and rent an entire house. Each person gets their own room, you have space for your luggage, and if stressful situations arise, you can step into another room or hang out in the back yard! You have the option to create your own peace.
Even if you aren’t traveling with bickering house guests, just picture yourself sitting in the back yard, watching the sunrise while sipping on free coffee. You can’t get that experience at a hotel.
comfort
South Bend Hotels Vs. Short-term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
We’ve all stayed at hotels where we’ve had to share a bed or sleep on a worn-out mattress the unfolds from an out-of-date couch or fought with a finicky AC unit all night. It’s no fun! And the rest of your trip suffers from your lack of sleep.
With a full house rental, you can find a place that will give each individual their own bed in a house that has working central heat and air and a couch that was built for sitting only.
CLEAN
South Bend Hotels Vs. Short-term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
Many rental owners utilize professional cleaning services that come in and do a deep clean of the house between each guest. You can usually find information about a rental’s cleaning practices on the Airbnb or VRBO listing page.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
South Bend Hotels Vs. Short-term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
Many of the guests that have stayed at my rentals have left similar reviews about their experience. One of my favorite lines that shows up, again and again, is “It felt like home away from home.”
I can’t tell you how great those words make me feel! Many rental owners, like myself, take a lot of pride in their houses. I personally spent weeks shopping around for the right furniture and art and then hours upon hours decorating and getting everything ready for guests. My rentals are an extension of me and my personality. I want to share that with my guests and hopefully, they feel that during their stay.
That’s something you can’t get at a hotel. Many of them follow the same cookie-cutter formula that keeps costs low and profits high. You get a color-neutral, uninspired experience each and every time. But a rental home is so much more than that. And if you ever come to South Bend and stay in one of mine, you’ll know what I mean.
PROXIMITY
South Bend Hotels Vs. Short-term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
Location, location, location. It always matters when you’re planning a trip. You want to be close to any activities, restaurants, and attractions that your destination has to offer. It may seem like the downtown hotel is the place to stay when it comes to location. But, at least in my case, I’d like to argue an alternative.
A few minutes outside of the city can offer an entirely new experience. For example, one of the rental homes that we call Monroe Place is about a 5-minute drive from downtown (a 15-minute walk). But being located at the edge of the city brings so many new benefits. We’re closer to parks! We have three to four parks and the local zoo all within walking distance from our rental. You can also walk to the farmers market, a number of the best local restaurants, kayaking on the river, and more. Then, when you’re done with the daily activities, you can walk right back home and stay in one of the most peaceful and friendly neighborhoods in the city. Trust me, we live there too and we enjoy walking to all of the things our city has to offer frequently.
So you can see how the peace and variety of a rental home can truly add to your trip and allow you to get away from the loud bustle of downtown. If you do book a stay at a rental home, just be sure to research the area. Find out what is nearby and be sure it’s in a safe and family-friendly part of town.
AMENITIES
South Bend Hotels Vs. Short-term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
Let’s be honest, we all love a good all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet or continental breakfast when staying at hotels. But beyond that, there really aren’t too many perks to go along with your fold-out beds and walks to the ice machine.
The amenities are one of the best parts of staying at a rental home. Many renters, like myself, offer things like free TV, free Wi-Fi, DVDs, Books, free coffee, free tea, free snacks, and many other perks at no extra cost.
One of the amenities that my guests have really enjoyed at Monroe Place during the winter months is the fireplace. We offer free firewood to all of our guests for those cold winter nights. Some guests have even taken advantage of our board game collection to pass the time in front of the crackling fire.
SIMPLICITY
South Bend Hotels Vs. Short-term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
Have you ever forgotten your room number at a hotel? Lost your room key? Had to wait for an elevator during check out for way too long?
Those are hotel problems.
And if you choose wisely when booking a short-term rental home, you can avoid those and many others to help you keep things simple.
For example, my rentals have a key code lock on the door. Guests are given the code ahead of time and all they have to do is enter it in and they are in the house. No check-ins, keys to lose, or room numbers to forget.
And to make things even simpler, if there are ever any issues or questions, I always welcome my guests to reach out to me directly and I am happy to help.
I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with staying at a hotel. I still do every once in a while when I travel. But, hopefully, you can see after reading this that there are plenty of benefits to booking your stay at a local rental home. And, as always, if you are ever in need of a place to stay in South Bend, IN, keep us in mind!
