Much of the time, the only way you’re going to save money renting a house versus booking a hotel room is if you are traveling within a group. But even as a couple or a solo traveler, you can make the case for perks like a full kitchen, multiple bathrooms, a pool, spacious common areas, and a balcony or a yard -- so long as you can snag a cheap per-night rate. From sunny Sedona to the metropolis of Miami Beach, we found some budget-savvy options less than $100 per night among VacationHomeRentals.com's 100,000-plus listings. Ready to stay in the heart of things and meet some locals?
Proximity to the beach is key at this oceanfront studio condo in Daytona Beach, Florida (pictured above), so long as you can stay five nights or more. Through July 31, weeknights are $85 each, while weekends are $95. Or if you're staying the whole week, you'll pay $600 and save an additional $15. You can choose from two condos, one with two queen beds and the other with one king bed. Both have a kitchenette, including a full-size fridge, and fourth-floor pool and beach views. The condos are part of the Daytona Beach Resort and Conference Center.
Down the coast, this Miami Beach, Florida studio apartment has Art Deco flair and access to a swimming pool. Through the year, weeknights are $95 and weekends $99, with a three-night minimum stay, while a week's stay goes for $650. A full kitchen means saving lots of money, but when you want to splurge, simply roll out of your king bed (or single sleeper sofa if you're an extra guest) and walk a few blocks to either Lincoln Road or Ocean Drive for a taste of South Beach's world-class dining or cocktails. Oh, and did we mention the marble shower? Or the Bose iPod music player?
A two-bedroom, two-bath suite at Sedona Summit Resort that can sleep up to eight people is going for as low as $80 a night on weeknights until March 25, with a minimum two-night stay. (Weeknights are a steep $240 a night during this same time period.) Also on the property is a heated pool, to take further advantage of the warm temps, and travelers can enjoy views of Doe Mountain and Thunder Mountain even when they're indoors. Hiking spots in Red Rock State Park and Boynton Canyon are within a nearby reach.
Craving a Caribbean vacation? This Hastings, Barbados one-bedroom apartment is on the country’s South Coast, set on a former sugar-cane plantation. Unlike the above rental, the palatable $85 rate is valid for weeknights as well as weekends between May 16 and December 31 -- though a three-night minimum stay is required. More good news: A slew of restaurants, shops, and watering holes are a short walk away, which means you don’t need to splurge on a car rental.