Vacation Rentals

Why bunk down in a generic hotel room when you could stay in a midcentury modern home in Palm Springs, a lighthouse on an island in Sitka, Alaska, or a cottage on a Tuscan estate? At their best, vacation rentals combine truly unique accommodations, a taste of local living, and a lower price tag than most hotels. But there can be risks.Travel + Leisure evaluates rental properties (and the companies behind them) based on ease of use, renters’ protections, and safety, as well as aesthetic appeal, location, and value.

Latest Stories
An outdoor courtyard featuring a small swimming pool surrounded by greenery and flowers with a staircase in the background
The New Way to Score a More Luxurious Vacation Rental
A large potatoshaped structure located in a fenced area in a rural landscape
This Idaho Airbnb Is the Only Place in the U.S. Where You Can Sleep Inside a Giant Potato
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Hotels + Resorts

Greens Ledge Lighthouse
This 120-year-old Connecticut Lighthouse Is Now Open to Overnight Guests — Here's What It's Like to Stay There
Exterior of Panorama Glass Lodge in Norway
This U.S. Destination Famous for Its Northern Lights Is Getting Stunning Glass Lodges
An airbnb exterior in Texas
This 100-acre Ranch in Texas Has a Private Lazy River, a Resort-style Pool, and a Gourmet Outdoor Kitchen
Aerial view of the Polly Pocket Icon Airbnb
This Life-sized Polly Pocket House Is Now Available on Airbnb — and It's an Epic '90s Throwback
The bedroom inside the Sheldon Chalet
This Off-the-grid Chalet in Alaska Is Only Accessible by Helicopter — and Costs $32,000 a Night
Finger Lakes Treehouse & Spa, a-frame cabin exteriors
These New Tree Houses in New York's Finger Lakes Are Perfect for Winter — With Private Hot Tubs, a Sauna, and Cozy Interiors
The porch outside a Shandaken Inn private cabin
This Charming Inn Is One of the Coziest Bed-and-breakfasts in New York's Catskills, and It Just Added New Vacation Rentals
Interior of The Moonrise Dome, Tulbagh, South Africa
The Most Incredible Dome Stays to Visit Around the World — California National Parks and Tropical Islands Included
View of guest room in mirror house with black walls on one side and floor to ceiling windows on the other three sides.
All About Paradise Ranch Inn, a Glamping Property Near Sequoia National Park
Exterior of Boeing 737 turned luxury villa with pool and lounge chairs. The wing of the plane is a terrace for the villa
This Boeing 737 Was Transformed Into an Incredible Cliffside 'Villa' Where You Can Spend the Night
View of the Coral Cottage from the water at the Briland Club in the Bahamas
One of the Best Islands in the Bahamas Has Luxe New Vacation Homes With Private Beach and Marina Access
Waterloo Bridge, London at night from a drone perspective
This Is the Best Way to Explore London If You’re Visiting for the First Time
Living room in boho style
How to Design the Perfect Vacation Rental, According to an Airbnb Stylist
La Foce Villa interiors, garden exteriors in Tuscany
This 500-year-old Estate in the Tuscan Countryside Is One of Italy's Best-kept Secrets — and You Stay in Its Cottages and Villas
Exterior of the Bolt Farms Invisible Cabins with hot tub and fire pit
These New Mirrored Cabins on a Tennessee Mountaintop Come With Private Hot Tubs
Hamptons bungalow home
You Can Rent Sarah Jessica Parker's Actual Home in the Hamptons — for $20
The Rockwell lighthouse against a mountain of pine trees in Sitka, Alaska.
12 Lighthouses Around the World Where You Can Spend the Night
Noble + Proper cabins glow in the evening at Big Bear Lake in California
This Southern California Mountain Town Is Buzzing During Ski Season — and It Just Got the Chicest New Cabins
Aerial view of Sambuca, Sicily
I Stayed in a 1 Euro Villa in Sicily — Here's What It Was Like
Rolla Quarry tiny home
The Most Unique Airbnb in Every U.S. State
Indoor pool at an Airbnb rental
10 Coolest Airbnbs With Indoor Pools
A sunset going down on the water in Cape San Blas, Florida
This City on Florida's 'Forgotten Coast' Has a 9-mile Waterfront Trail and Stunning White-sand Beaches
Young mid adult man with red hair sitting on a terrace of AirBNB and drinking coffee
23 Charming Tiny Homes You Can Rent on Airbnb
A rental villa on the island of Kea, in Greece
Vacation Homes Are Hotter Than Ever — Here's How to Snag the Right Rental
Exterior of the floating Yacht Villa in Florida at night
This Floating Yacht Villa in Florida Has a Rooftop Deck, Hot Tub, and Panoramic Glass Walls
Man and woman acting in Paramount Network's Yellowstone Season 3, Episode 8
Stay at the Beautiful Montana Ranch Featured in 'Yellowstone'
Exterior of the Sulfur Ridge-Tennessee's First Luxury Treehouse , Bloomington Springs, Tennessee, United States
17 Best Glamping Spots in Tennessee — From Vintage Airstreams to Stargazing Domes
The living room at the Wizarding Home-Kissimmee, Florida, United States
9 Magical 'Harry Potter'-themed Airbnbs Around the World
Exterior of the Kona’s 1st Luxury 1 BR/1B Treehouse w/ Ocean View in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, United States
18 Magical Tree House Airbnbs You Can Stay in Around the World
The Covered Wagons around a firepit at Capitol Reef Resort
13 Best Places to Go Glamping in Utah — From Yurts to Covered Wagons
Aerial view of houseboats in a marina on Shasta Lake, California
9 Best Houseboat Vacations in the U.S.
Plumber working on pipes under kitchen sink
15 Rules for Every First-Time Airbnb Host
Summer image of Dunbar Ranch's Independence Estate in Aspen
Kevin Costner's Colorado Ranch Has a Private Ice Rink, Lake, and Dog Sledding — and You Can Rent It All for $36,000 a Night
Airbnb Holiday Vacation Rental Treetop Argyle New York
12 Treetop Airbnbs With Breathtaking Fall Foliage Views
Italy, Veneto, Venice, Gondola under bridge
Airbnb Just Released Its Top Destinations of Summer — Here's Where People Are Heading
The exterior of The Sunset View Mansion
You Can Stay in One of the Most Over-the-top Houses on 'Selling Sunset' — See Inside
Airbnb's Mystery Machine Van from Scooby Doo
Scooby Doo's Iconic Mystery Machine Is Now on Airbnb — and You Can Book It for Only $20
The exterior, Back Deck and Backyard of The Beach House at The Roundtree, Amagansett
This Hamptons Outpost Is Already One of the Best Hotels in New York State — and It Just Debuted a Beach House You Can Rent
Boats docked on Kauneonga Lake, NY
This New York Town Is the Perfect Place to Buy an Affordable Lake House — and It's Just 2 Hours From NYC
San Fabiano Castle in Monteroni d'Arbia, Tuscany, Italy
9 Fairy-tale Castles You Can Rent on Airbnb
Driving in Canada
Our Readers' Favorite Car-Rental Companies in 2018
Front view of a Treefort atThe Sanctuary Treehouse Resort
The World's Biggest Tree House Resort Is Opening Near This U.S. National Park
Zemi Beach house adult pool
This Caribbean Resort Is the Ultimate Girls Getaway — With Rum, Sushi, and Outdoor Adventures
Cabin vacation rental in Morongo Valley, California
These Cozy Airbnb Cabins Are Perfect for Your Next Winter Getaway
Waterfront Beach house in Nags Head in the Outer Banks area
12 Mistakes to Avoid When Renting a Vacation Home, According to Experts
Host Greeting Renter
Should I Tip My Airbnb Host?
Exterior of cabin at sunset in the desert with a fire pit
You Can Sleep in a Cozy Bed Under the Stars at This Luxury Joshua Tree Airbnb
Open Sky Zion, luxury tent camps at Zion National Park
This New Glamping Resort Has Safari-style Tents, Outdoor Soaking Tubs, and Next-level Stargazing — Just Minutes From Zion National Park
Gibbston Valley
A Road Trip Around New Zealand's South Island Is the Best Way to See One of the Most Beautiful Places on the Planet
Black Rock Homestead in Joshua Tree, a modern black home with minimal warm interiors
Stargaze From Your Private Pool, Hot Tub, or Hammock at This Stunning Midcentury Modern Home in Joshua Tree
Exterior of Airstream trailer and porch
Take Glamping to the Next Level With These Airstream Airbnb Trailers
Aerial view of a mountain resort in winter
7 Best Winter Lodges in the U.S.
Photo illustration showing a pool by a lake; a house has been cut out of the image and negative space remains representing a disappearing house
A Vacation Rental Scam Cost This Traveler $20K — Here's the Red Flag She Missed
Exterior of a tent from Under Canvas Great Smokey Mountains
Here's What It's Really Like to Stay in the Smoky Mountains' Most Luxurious Glamping Destination
The bed inside The Glass House: A Hudson Valley Tiny Home Escape
This Tiny Home in New York's Hudson Valley Is Made of Glass for 360-degree Views of Orchards, Vineyards, and a Lavender Field
Villa Rentals
Best Villa Rental Agencies
A woman in the hot spring at Tolovana Hot Springs
Take a Helicopter to This Remote Hot Spring for the Ultimate Alaskan Experience
A black A-frame cabin is surrounded by colorful fall foliage in the Vermont woods, while a 1950s-style blue pickup truck parks outside.
10 Most Romantic Airbnbs in the US for Couples
The porch at the Stay One Degree Extraordinary Mountain Chalet in Alaska
This Secluded Alaskan Chalet Starts at $15K a Night — Private Chef, Northern Lights Views, and Outdoor Adventures Included
Fresh Coast Cabins in Isle Royale National Park
These Cozy New Cabins Are the Perfect Gateway to Michigan's Isle Royale National Park