Differences Between Vacation Rentals and Hotels
● Hotels
- Pricing is often based on the number of guests (per person). There are no additional charges beyond the accommodation fee.
■ Vacation Rentals
- Pricing is usually set per room. There is often an additional cleaning fee of around 5,000 to 10,000 yen per stay.
● Hotels
- There is front desk staff available.
■ Vacation Rentals
- Often have unmanned, self-check-in systems.
● Hotels
- There might be a cut-off time for check-in.
■ Vacation Rentals
- Check-in is often possible at any time after 3 PM since guests retrieve keys themselves.
Vacation rentals aim to make effective use of vacant apartments or houses as accommodation facilities. Therefore, unlike hotels, which are specialized accommodations, there are no resident cleaning staff or linen closets on-site. Cleaning is done by a cleaning company when necessary. Also, because vacant houses are utilized, many of the buildings are relatively older.
The advantage of vacation rentals is that guests can stay as if they were living in the local area. Another attraction is that larger groups can stay in a single room. Even including the cleaning fee, the cost per person can be very affordable. Vacation rentals are also suitable for long-term stays as they are fully furnished.
Despite these benefits, many guests are still confused about the differences between vacation rentals and hotels. Common concerns include “What is the cleaning fee?” and “What should I do if there’s no front desk and I encounter a problem?” Most cleaning fees are billed at cost. Unlike hotels, which benefit from economies of scale, vacation rentals outsource cleaning to specialized companies that can respond flexibly. We appreciate your understanding of the costs involved, such as labor, cleaning, and consumables.
Even though there is no front desk, staff is always available online to assist with any issues through a chat box, so you can rest assured.
We recommend using vacation rentals if you want to easily blend into the local area, and hotels if you seek hotel-like services and comfort.
