These days, perhaps more than ever before, travelers are turning to vacation rentals when they set out on adventurers instead of traditional hotels. Many of those travelers happen to be families looking for places to stay that feel like home, and can accommodate visitors of varying ages, needs, and attention spans. If you’re a vacation rental homeowner, learning how to transfer your property into a haven of opportunities for families is a great way to not only boost your occupancy rates year-round but also provide your guests with thoughtful and meaningful experiences starting the moment they arrive. If you’re dedicated to the idea of making your property the go-to for families from near and far, the following must-have features for a family friendly vacation rental are more certainly worth investing in.
Make Sure Your Home Has Versatile Entertainment Options
While it would be incredible to be able to equip your family-friendly vacation rental with a full in-home theater for guests to enjoy, this isn’t always a possibility for homeowners. The good news is that even entertainment options offered on a smaller scale in your vacation rental can go a long way for guests! Making sure your home is set up with high-speed internet and Wi-Fi gives families who are staying in your home options to pick and choose from streaming services they likely already have on their own portable devices. This is ideal for those times when families find themselves in town on a rainy day and they’re looking for a way to keep kids of all ages entertained for a while.
Of course, there’s something to be said for infusing a touch of retro charm into your home-away-from-home experience as well. Adding in features like DVD players, and providing guests with a collection of throwback movies, gives them a reason to gather indoors, explore their options, and enjoy a fun movie night in good company.
It’s also a great idea to make sure your family-friendly vacation rental has at least one cabinet set aside to fill with board games. This can inspire families to spend quality time together away from screens without having to worry about packing anything extra of their own for an afternoon or evening indoors. Many of the most popular family-friendly vacation rentals on the market today also take into account that video games are a way of life for many traveling teens and young adults. Having a console or two available in the home is the perfect way to keep visitors entertained even when the weather isn’t cooperating.
Consider Your Sleeping Arrangements for Guests of All Ages
A family-friendly vacation rental should always include bedrooms that are specific to guests of varying ages. While the adults traveling to and staying in your property are likely looking for some added luxury in the master suite, kids typically prefer a space where they can not only rest but hang out and play. Having a dedicated kids’ room built into your floor plan is a must, and oftentimes, including bunk beds enhances sleeping space options and keeps kids entertained in a more “sleepover” type setting. If you want your home to appeal to traveling families in all stages of life, it’s a good idea to have baby gear on hand as well. Equipping your rental with features like a pack-n-play, highchair, and porta-cribs gives your guests peace of mind when it comes to keeping everyone in their crew cozy and it helps them reduce their packing needs. Typically, this convenient experience will have those same guests returning to your property time and again!
Make Dining an Easy On-Site Experience
Having a kitchen available for guests to use in your vacation rental home these days is a must, but if you’re catering to families, you’ll want to take time to tailor what’s in the cabinets according to their needs. A traditional setup of plates, dishes, and utensils is great, but if you want families to know you have them in mind, make sure to incorporate some kid-friendly plate and cup sets too. Dinnertime can be stressful for families traveling with little ones and making sure your home is set up with plastic plates, sippy cups and even kid-friendly learning spoons and forks can show your guests that you care about their experience down to the very details.
Include a Customized Guide
When you want to show the families who book a stay in your home that you have their best interests at heart, be sure to include a customized area guide for them to browse when they arrive. You can fill your guide with insider tips, tricks, events, attractions, and restaurants that are ideal for families with kids of all ages included. This will offer them not only options to enhance their stay, but peace of mind in those moments when figuring out exactly what to do in a new place can feel overwhelming.
Reach Out Today
Whether you’re looking for an incredible vacation rental in the Poconos, or you own a vacation rental property here and are searching for an experienced property management team to help you take your business to the next level, Pocono Mountain Rentals has you covered. Reach out today to learn more!
