Ought to your loved ones take into account staying in an Airbnb as an alternative of a lodge for one night time earlier than your subsequent cruise?
One in every of my high ideas for anybody occurring a cruise is to fly in not less than in the future earlier than their cruise to guard themselves in opposition to a journey delay impacting their skill to make their cruise ship.
When you determine to journey to your embarkation port a day early, you may want someplace to remain. Like most individuals, I instantly began inns to guide.
When travelling with simply my spouse, lodge rooms work extraordinarily effectively for his or her worth and house supplied. However after we journey with children, discovering the appropriate lodge room is usually a problem in order for you sufficient house for everybody.
For my Odyssey of the Seas cruise out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida this week, I used to be not discovering a ton of nice choices at a great value for my household of 4.
Actually there have been loads of inns that supplied a conventional lodge room expertise with 2 beds and a single toilet, however with my children getting older, sharing a lodge room (and toilet) is changing into extra problematic than up to now.
I additionally didn’t discover an ideal number of suite choices in inns, and those I did discover weren’t low cost. South Florida inns vary tremendously in costs, however I used to be seeing a collection lodge room coming in simply over $300 per night time, particularly when together with resort charges and taxes.
Airbnb different
I like reserving trip leases by means of Airbnb or VRBO for longer keep holidays due to the facilities and house you may get. However I had by no means thought of it only for one night time.
At first, I used to be not even sure there can be any one-night choices as I assumed the individuals itemizing their homes would all need longer stays from their visitors.
So once I began looking Airbnb, I used to be stunned what number of good selections there have been at cheap costs within the higher Fort Lauderdale space.
In trying by means of the listings, I discovered numerous selections. What attracted me to the Airbnb possibility was we may get a spot to remain that supplied loads of house for us and the youngsters, in addition to further facilities. We may get a pool to take pleasure in with simply our household, laundry machines to have the ability to not begin the cruise off with soiled garments, and the right sleeping preparations.
In fact, there are some downsides to an Airbnb, such because the charges added onto the fee, and there is no long-term parking possibility.
I additionally freely admit I take pleasure in a nicer lodge keep, so the additional facilities of an Airbnb actually enchantment to me. I am certain there are many different individuals that might be nice with a lodge room for only one night time, particularly in the event you fly in late.
Airbnb execs:
- Vast number of several types of stays
- Feels extra like house
- More room and bedrooms than a lodge room
- Additional facilities similar to a pool, lounge, recreation room, and extra
- Handy laundry possibility
Airbnb cons:
- Additional charges
- No long-term parking choices
- No shuttle to/from airport or cruise port
On condition that I did not wish to sleep in the identical room as my children, would love an additional toilet to not compete with the youngsters, and love the concept of getting a non-public pool to take pleasure in, I discovered Airbnb a compelling possibility.
Our Airbnb selection
After contemplating all choices, we determined to guide a 2 bed room, 2 tub unit in Fort Lauderdale that had a non-public heated pool and proper on a waterway.
It additionally had outside seating, fuel grill, and a foosball desk.
It is situated north of Port Everglades, and with out visitors is 24 minutes (15 miles) away.Â
The Airbnb was listed for $351 per night time, however with charges and taxes, it jumped as much as a complete of $533.89. I knew the charges Airbnb assesses wouldn’t be low cost, however it was a bit eye opening how a lot it ended up being, which might be why an extended keep makes extra sense with Airbnbs to be able to maximize the worth of your keep.
The home is precisely what we would have liked for one night time, with numerous residing house and two bedrooms and two full baths.Â
I beloved having the lounge with loads of seating so we may lounge way over we may in a lodge room.
The pool was nice, however a chilly entrance had pushed by means of the state the night time earlier than so it was a bit chilly for a swim. Nonetheless, it was so nice exterior that we spent a while on the water having fun with the view.
Is an Airbnb price it?
Does it make sense to guide an Airbnb for only one night time the subsequent time we take the household on a cruise?
There are many selections with inns or a house rental, so it is tough to select one or different solely.
I like the additional house a house supplies, together with bonus facilities that may improve the keep past something a lodge can provide (non-public pool, lounge, yard, and so forth).
Nonetheless, the additional charges Airbnb has makes discovering a deal very tough. It is arduous to think about a state of affairs the place an Airbnb can be cheaper until we drastically decreased our necessities for a spot. To me, a part of the enchantment of an Airbnb is to search for a enjoyable place to remain, not only a mattress and toilet.
In locations like South Florida the place there are such a lot of lodge selections, the number of rooms and costs will possible preserve it the first place we search for a room. Whenever you add children or multigen to the equation, then Airbnbs begin to look extra interesting.
I am pleased with our Airbnb selection for a pre-cruise keep. It might not have been the most affordable deal, however the further residing house and pluses you possibly can solely get with a house rental made it a pleasant change of tempo for our household.
