For a city of only about 3,000 people, Davenport, Fla., delivers the biggest value as a vacation home rental destination. That’s according to a price-comparison study by TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals, which determined Florida beats any other state when it comes to saving on a rental this summer.
The travel site based its findings by estimating the weekly rate of a two-room rental around the U.S. While Florida was deemed the place to go, Davenport had by far the best value in the Sunshine State with an average weekly rate of $601, with the next-closest being Naples, Fla., at $753 per week. Davenport, in central Florida, is best known as an access point to Disney World, but it’s also near Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Perhaps the reason Davenport’s rentals are so cheap is because their stock of rentals on TripAdvisor – 2,504 – is so high. Naples, for example, had just 555 available, with third-place St. Petersburg at 175 and an average weekly rate of $783. Kissimmee ($843 per week) had the fourth-best value, and Bonita Springs ($861) the fifth best. None of the top 10 rental destinations were over $1,000.
TripAdvisor’s survey found that 59 percent of U.S. travelers planned to stay in a vacation rental this year – that’s up from 52 percent in 2014. Reasons people gave included the bigger living space and better weekly values of rentals.
“The extra space and amenities you’ll find in a vacation rental – like multiple bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, private pools, backyards and grills – make them a great choice for the summer holidays, particularly for families taking a longer break and who need extra space,” said TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals spokesperson Laurel Greatrix.
The price-comparison study also looked at rental bargains in different American regions. If you want a sheer huge quantity of options, head to Myrtle Beach, S.C., with its 1,951 rentals available. Here’s how the beach city ranked in the top five “urban hot spot” destinations:
- Tucson, Ariz. ($586 a week)
- Phoenix, Ariz.($682 a week)
- Las Vegas ($1,075 a week)
- Myrtle Beach ($1,171 a week)
- Corpus Christi, Texas ($1,200 a week)
If want to escape for higher elevation, the study also rated the five-best value spots for mountainside destinations:
- Scottsdale, Ariz. ($908 a week)
- Angel Fire, N.M. ($1,042 a week)
- Big Bear City, Calif. ($1,049 a week)
- Silverthorne, Colo. ($1,089 a week)
- Bryson City, N.C. ($1,130 a week)
And for those who want a rental with more than just a deck chair, here are the five top-rated adventure destinations for rentals:
- Branson, Mo. ($898 a week)
- Kailua-Kona, Hawaii ($1,108 a week)
- La Quinta, Calif. ($1,145 a week)
- Taos, N.M. ($1,155 a week)
- Lincoln City, Ore. ($1,161 a week)
Source: Yahoo Travel
By: Greg Keraghosian