You’ve chosen a last minute Alabama beach vacation to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Great choice! You have so much to look forward to.
In Orange Beach and Gulf Shores you’ll find lots of adventure, including Gulf State Park with its 6000 acres to explore including a massive stretch of Gulf Coast sand beaches, plenty of public beach area, Fort Morgan, ferrying out to Dauphin Island, tons of amazing restaurants, culture, and more.
The first step in planning a beach vacation is to decide where you want to stay. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have virtually every option available in any location. Do you crave a stunning Gulf Shores vacation rental on the beach? Or how about a budget hotel in Orange Beach?
Check out my recent guide to the perfect 72 hours in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
Before you decide, let’s look at some factors to consider in your decision.
The first place you should go to is the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism website. Under the Places to Stay tab, there are all the options available listed. You can enter your desired date of your visit and narrow your search down to the amenities and options you would like. It’s a very handy tool.
Planning A Last Minute Alabama Beach Vacation: Vacation Rental or Hotel?
What is considered a vacation rental?
Most of us know what a hotel is, but what exactly is a vacation rental?
A vacation rental is a rental that is short term, typically a minimum of a week on up. Many tourist areas now require a minimum stay for short term or vacation rentals. Vacation rentals can be an apartment, condo, a room in a private house, house, cottage, or cabin. They come in a wide variety of price ranges from ultra luxury to self serve cabins.
So before you decide, vacation rental or hotel for your last minute Alabama beach vacation, let’s look at some factors that will determine your decision.
Length of stay
If you plan on a one or two-night stay, a hotel may be your best bet. You have flexibility to change your plans at the last minute without penalty in most cases. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, most vacation rentals have a minimum night stay, usually at the very least three nights.
How many people
If you are traveling with a group or family, it probably makes sense to rent an apartment, condo, or house compared to rooms at a hotel. It may be more economical as well. If I travel by myself for a short stay somewhere, I prefer a hotel, but have also stayed in tiny cabins and bedrooms in a private house.
Dining
Do you prefer to cook when you are on vacation? The first time I stayed in Orange Beach, I stayed with a couple of other fellow travel writers at Turquoise Place, a Spectrum Resort, in a three-bedroom beachfront condo. We had a full kitchen to cook whatever we wanted. We had the Beach Moms concierge service stock our kitchen before we arrived with all the things we wanted. It saved us shopping time, which left more time for adventures.
On the flip-side, if you typically eat most of your meals out, a hotel will suit your needs just fine.
Room service
Do you prefer fresh towels and your room made up daily? If so, a hotel may be the best option, although since Covid and the shortage of housekeeping staff at many hotels, many hotels have forgone the daily room service or only if requested.
Vacation rentals may still offer this, but mostly, they leave you to make your own bed daily in a short-term rental.
Privacy and Space
A hotel may lack privacy. Thin walls and noisy neighbors are not a great combination. The only space you have for yourself is your room. If you spend most of your day exploring and only use your accommodations to sleep, this is really not a problem. If you enjoy the feeling of being at home with room to spread out, and perhaps your own private outdoor space, then a rental may be for you.
I always check reviews when I am deciding on accommodations.
These are all factors you need to consider when deciding on a Gulf Shores vacation rental or a Gulf Shores hotel for your last minute Alabama beach vacation. In the end, I don’t prefer one over the other. When I factor in these considerations, I can make a choice.
Which would you choose for a last minute Alabama beach vacation?
Questions? Comments? Share then with me!