Holiday Rentals: What You Really Get and Where to Find the Best Stays

When you book a holiday rental, a private accommodation like a cabin, cottage, or villa rented for short-term stays. Also known as vacation rentals, it gives you space, quiet, and control over your stay—unlike a hotel room where everything’s shared. Most people think holiday rentals are just cheaper hotels, but they’re not. They’re about freedom: cooking your own meals, waking up to birds instead of alarms, and having a porch where you can sip coffee without worrying about noise from the next room.

Real holiday rentals come in many forms. You’ve got vacation cabins, small, rustic homes often tucked into forests or mountains, perfect for families or couples seeking solitude. Then there’s glamping cottages, luxury tents or tiny homes with real beds, heating, and sometimes even hot tubs—no pitching tents required. And if you want the full resort experience without the crowds, eco-friendly cottages, sustainable homes built with solar panels, rainwater systems, and local materials are rising fast. Some even generate more energy than they use. These aren’t just trendy—they’re practical, especially if you care about where your money goes.

Not all holiday rentals are created equal. Some feel like hotels with a different name. Others feel like home. The difference? Location, cleanliness, and whether the host actually answers messages. You’ll find posts here that break down what’s really included in a glamping stay, how much you should expect to pay per night in 2025, and why some "luxury" cabins cost more than hotels but give you way less. There are also guides on when an all-inclusive resort makes sense—and when it’s a trap. You’ll learn how tipping works at these places, what age counts as a child for free stays, and whether living full-time at one is even legal. And yes, we’ve got the truth about those $1 billion eco-cottages too. This isn’t a list of fancy photos. It’s what happens after you click "book."