The main goal of going on a vacation is to kick your feet up, sip on your favorite adult beverage, and leave any and all worries behind. While the growth of vacation rental platforms has changed the game of travel, the no-strings-attached days of vacation rentals seem to be over.
A new report by IPX1031 conducted a survey in early 2023 asking Americans about their vacation rental preferences and experiences. The survey found privacy, cleaning fees, and strict policies are hot topics among travelers. In fact, 3 in 4 Americans who have rented a vacation property in the last 5 years, and 22% say they’ve had a bad rental experience.
Vacation Rental Habits Among Americans
When it comes to how and where Americans want to travel, it’s not shocking to learn that rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO have become popular resource. In fact, 64% of Americans plan on renting vacation properties in 2023. From mountain homes to tree houses, mansions, and boats… the majority of people (60%) prefer private homes. Other top accommodations include apartments, cabins, condos, and townhomes.
The top reasons for renting a vacation property in 2023 include vacationing with a significant other/romantic interest, family, traveling with friends, a staycation, or treating themselves to a solo vacation. But, many who were hoping for a private getaway have found that their host is keeping an eye on them… through cameras.
Privacy Concerns Among Vacation Renters
When arriving at a vacation rental, do you immediately search the place for hidden cameras? If your answer is yes, you’re not alone. Over half (58%) of Americans are worried about hidden cameras in vacation rental properties. In fact, 1 in 4 have actually found one, with 20% finding it outside and 5% finding a camera inside the property. In general, 1 in 10 don’t trust vacation rental hosts. More than 1 in 3 (36%) guests even admitted to snooping around their rental property!
Expensive Cleaning Fees and Required Chores…
Arriving at a clean vacation rental is an expectation, but 25% have walked into one that wasn’t clean! On the topic of cleaning, 2 in 3 are noticing increasing cleaning fees, with 74% believing it is unfair for hosts to ask guests to clean while also charging a cleaning fee. Nearly half (46%) have decided not to rent a property due to the cleaning fees. Even without the expensive cleaning fees, 1 in 3 still think it is unfair for hosts to ask guests to clean before leaving. Guests don’t approve of hosts who ask them to do chores such as vacuuming, mopping, laundry, stripping beds, cleaning countertops, and running the dishwasher. For some, the requirements are too much, as 1 in 4 have decided to not rent a property due to the cleaning policies.
As for general property policies, 70% are less likely to rent if a host has a strict cancellation policy, and 69% of respondents are less likely to rent a property if a host has strict rules.
Survey Finds Americans Traveling More, Spending Less in 2023(Opens in a new browser tab)
Despite the popularity of vacation rentals, it’s no surprise concerns around cleaning fees and requirements, hidden/unknown cameras around and within the rental, along with strict property policies remain prevalent among renters. Hosts can use this as a temperature gauge for future guests who want transparency and communication to provide a positive rental experience for everyone involved.
By Jenna LeMair
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