What are the top vacation rental trends of India in 2021?

Travel is something that we all do, and it has evolved rapidly over the time. Holiday is not just about travelling a distance, but also the whole experience that includes accommodation and activities. Think for a moment – How wonderful is it to stay in a home while you are still away? Yes, that’s possible when you stay in a vacation rental property during your journey to different places.  Earlier people never used to focus on stay, the only goal was to get accommodation during peak time, and that was the thing one would have wanted, but now travelers are focusing more on comfort, privacy, activities and amenities.  Now, an individual would think like – Why shouldn’t I rent a place where I can stay on my terms? no invasion of privacy or crowd, just a good day in a unique place which is fully furnished with amenities like garden, private pool, vehicle and much more.    And that’s possible in a vacation rental home. Vacation rentals are a unique way of exploring different places. It gives a kind of comfort and all necessary amenities one would have at home. You can get an apartment, farm house, villa or tent for rent.   I see a lot of potential in India’s BnB market, it could be a very good opportunity for property owners to make use of it. The host or owner of a property can offer a memorable stay for guests. It’s not just about providing a house for short term rent, but the experience you create. Many people compare BnB homes with hotels but that’s not appropriate, both have different services and features to offer. What you get in a hotel, you may not get in BnB, and the other way is also true.

So, how are vacation rentals different?

Vacation rentals are homes with necessary amenities such a furniture, garden, pool etc. Vacation rental homes are designed to provide the best possible accommodation to visitors.  As travelers we expect more every time, staying in just a concrete room is not cool. What if you get a home away from home, that brings additional comfort to your journey. You can get a house on a beach, hill or even a tree house, you get a lot of options. Home rental is still a new industry in India, but it will grow eventually.

Types of vacation rental property 

Vacation rental homes are not like any ordinary rental property, but specifically customized for guests in a way that creates a memorable experience. Even a small place with good interiors can fetch many visitors, but it all depends on the host and management. Vacation rental property could be anything where a traveller can accommodate self with basic facilities. 

Apartment

This is the most common type of stay that you see on many online rental booking engines such as Airbnb. Live in a luxury with a beautiful city view from the balcony. Apartments are comparatively easier to find than the other options in big cities. If you are in a city for a day or two this is the most suitable option. Below are the most common facilities you get in a standard short term rental house. 
  • Television set
  • Wifi / Internet
  • Furnished kitchen
  • Air conditioners 
  • Room heaters
  • Washing machine 
  • Some food in fridge
  • And a guide for city tour 

Villa

Villa is a preference when the number of guests are higher. One can rent a small house or a large home with the private garage, garden and pool. It’s easy to find such properties when you are travelling to remote locations such as nearby hills, the beach or rivers.  Usually, villa bnb homes are loaded with amenities similar to apartments and sometimes you might even get additional paid services such as driving, inhouse staff for cooking other on demand services.

Farm House

Now, this is a kind of experience you get when you decide to stay outside the city area. Tree plantation drive is a common activity where you get into some agriculture activity, it’s really exciting and you should definitely. Tea gardens, mango farms are some of the best options to start with. Again, this is largely an experience tour where the host takes you through different plantation drives which is good to increase your knowledge base. There could be some internet connectivity issue in farm houses, but that’s the whole point, you spend quietly and do what you love. 

Treehouse

A perfect spot for kids and young teens, older adults should definitely avoid this if it’s too hard to get there. Tree houses would have limited amenities and space, but it’s a whole experience that makes it special. A tree house in a farm ranch or forest area is a great place to spend holidays. Mostly, you get following amenities over the tree,
  • Internet access
  • Furnished Rooms & Kitchen 
  • Television Set

Themed Homes

What if I tell you there you can live in a Harry Potter themed home or a house which is designed like a star wars spaceship! The concept of theme house is to develop the entire property based on a theme, i.e. Stone Age home, Wooden castle etc. The guests would feel as if they are living in one of those movies, and that’s the doorway to a different world. Theme homes are customized, and these types of property are very costly that is due to theme decoration. 

Castle

Travel back in time through historic castles designed to host you for a day or two. It could be a real treat for architect lovers who like to experience traditional living in modern times. You don’t have to rent the entire castle, what you get is a limited access to portions. Castles are among the most luxury BnB options.

Camps

Adventure camps are the best way to explore unexplored locations across the globe. This type of tour is organised by the host where all basic facilities and food would be made available at the campsite. You can camp with family in a forest nearby a river, over the mountain or on the beach etc. There could be many more sites suitable for holiday camp. 

Why should you rent your properties?

Well, if you have a vacant property then why shouldn’t you have utilize that to make additional income? At least, that could help to maintain it. Home rental concept is not new today, but certainly it has not reached the level of popularity in India. If you manage to be a good host, property rental business could be your primary source of income. Guests don’t hesitate to spend more when they get good service in return. B&B homes are different from other rental properties available on a monthly or yearly basis. It’s more profitable, owners generate record revenue in a season. As people are searching globally for new places, the travel industry is transforming rapidly. As a traveler one would want something more, mostly those who love to go beyond the traveler’s guide. Sometimes it’s hard to find a hotel in remote places, but you can rent a house near a river, beach, hill or over a tree.

What is an Experience?

A number of hosts offer several activities that could interest guests, and they may actually like to try themselves. Some of the popular experiences are 
  • Horse riding
  • Trekking
  • Cooking 
  • Gardening
  • Meditation/Yoga activity
  • Wellness therapy sessions
  • Art & Culture
  • Local market shopping tour

What’s the road ahead in India?  

BnB concept is relatively new in India but it has potential to expand rapidly. It could be a good source of alternative income for property owners and that really helps to maintain property and manage taxes.  India has millions of tourist attractions which are still unknown to many Indians. If you have a property around tourist spots then it is definitely a good idea to list it for rent. 

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