After searching the various vacation home websites for several hours, we found this house in the Green Valley Ranch area in Henderson Nevada, a highly desirable location, about 20 minutes (10.5 miles) to the Las Vegas strip and about 10 minutes (5.6 miles) to the airport.
Based on requesting a rental for this prime season dates, December 21 to December 28, 2012 (our “vacation within a vacation” since we’ll still have the Scottsdale condo, soon to be posted), we didn’t make any effort to negotiate the price.
Why did we choose a vacation home as opposed to a hotel room on the strip? Cost was the major motivator. Also, its more conveniently located to our family and friends, great shopping at The District (.4 miles), restaurants and theaters, all of which we will particularly enjoy during the holiday week.
There were few affordable homes available in this prime area during the holiday week due to the fact that many owners preferring to spend their holidays in their own vacation property.
Although not as exciting as many of our future rentals, this house will serve our needs, provide room for our visiting family members and keep us from the necessity of dining in restaurants each day.
Here are the estimated costs for one week, house verses hotel, assuming the nightly rates are the same:
Vacation Home____ __________Hotel___________
Rent: $1,330.00 Rate: $1,330.00
Groceries: 600.00 Hotel Taxes & Tips: 332.50
Dining Out: 275.00 Valet Parking: 280.00
Total: $2,205.00 Dining, Tax, Tips: 1,820.00
Total: $3,762.50
Total Potential Savings: $1,557.50
Having calculated dining out for two dinners for the two of us, we factored in the cost of groceries for five of us (or more) including the additional expense of Christmas Eve (traditionally, steak and lobster) and a special (yet to be determined) Christmas Day dinner.
Yes, there is the ease of staying in a hotel with the prospect of feeling pampered. As we plan for the future, our desire to be pampered has “wafted” away as we look forward to our world travels over the next number of years.
Both Tom and I have thoroughly enjoyed pampering one another over these many years together and this, I assure you, we’ll continue to do so wherever we’ll live.
Did I mention the $1000’s we’ll save without easy access to the gambling tables and slot machines???
Charming House with Pool, Spa, Bbq, Wireless InternetGreen Valley, Henderson, Nevada Vacation Rental by Owner Listing 301335http://www.vrbo.com/301335
Pool and spa- Master bedroom
- Living room
- Casual spot
- First bedroom
- 2nd Living room
- 3rd bedroom
- Pool Table
- Kitchen
- Living room