Jet Setting Without A Hotel

Traveling the world in stylish boutique hotels is definitely high on my list of priorities. However, in some destinations renting an apartment or villa for your holiday can be a better choice. For instance, if you choose a city that you are truly going to want to explore, instead of a getaway where the main focus is to sit near the pool all day, then finding the perfect apartment or villa should be on your list. A great example of this is the amazing city of Buenos Aires. Hip hotels in the Palermo district are inexpensive ($125-175/night). But, renting a  luxury apartment in the Palermo district is just as easy and even more affordable (especially if you are doing a mini-retirement for a month or more). I explored this option and found that I could rent a beautiful 1-bedroom apartment for $500 per week and $1,200 per month through a company called Buenos Aires Habitat. In this case, renting an apartment is almost one third of the cost compared to staying in a boutique hotel.  Now, I know South America is ridiculously inexpensive, so I came up with a few more examples in other destinations around the world.

Example 1

Where: Cape Town, South Africa

# of People: Two Couples (4 people total)

Duration: 1 Week

Cape Town is perfect for a beach getaway with friends. I used Cape Town Villas and found a two bedroom villa directly on the beach 30 meters from Camps Bay Beach for $283-591 per night depending on the season (remember this can be split between the two couples). Now, the luxurious boutique hotel 12 Apostles Hotel (also located in Camps Bay) is $645-$1567 per night per couple!

Example 2

Where: Florence, Italy

# of People: One Couple (2 people)

Duration: One Week

Florence is a beautiful city and you’ll definitely enjoy being on the streets living La Dolce Vita instead of in your hotel suite. I used The Smart Cactus to find a beautiful apartment witin walking distance on the city center. The cost per week is about $1,250 which compared to paying $2,030 per week at the Lungarno or $2,450 at  JK Place.

Example 3

Where: St. Bart’s, Caribbean

# of People: One Couple (2 people)

Duration: One Week (not Christmas/New Years)

A great way to enjoy St. Bart’s is by renting a villa. They’re typically tucked away in the hillside with spectacular views (from their private pools) of the surrounding islands such as Anguilla. I found a beautiful luxury villa on the Villa Caribe website for $2,500-$4,000 per week for all weeks (except Xmas/New Years). The Eden Rock luxury hotel’s cheapest rates range from $4,585-$6,426 for one week.

Tips for Not Getting Screwed or Surprised

* When choosing an apartment to rent, ask for references of people that you can contact that have actually stayed in the villa or apartment that you are interested in.
* Rent from a company rather than an individual.
* Make sure you read the agreement. Are utilities, linens, towels, maid service etc.. included?
* Confirm that they have wi-fi/internet access and air conditioning/heating? (Dont’ assume they do)
* Is there parking available?
* In what area of the city is it located? Check the area thoroughly to make sure you’re exactly where you want to be.
* Print a copy of your agreement and keep it with you.
* Ask if there are any additional charges.
* Ask for the rules regarding the deposit. Make sure you follow them to ensure you get the deposit back at the end of your stay.