Everybody has likely, at one point or another in their life, had what can best be described as a "vacation from hell". And for those who haven't, you've no doubt heard the vacation gone wrong horror stories from friends and family who have had had to endure them. Foul weather, vehicle trouble, transportation delays, bad food, and unfamiliar customs - the list is endless. As the saying goes, "what can go wrong, will go wrong". But, even some of the most horrible travel experiences can always be tempered by having great accommodations. It's much easier to recoup, recover and relax after a stressful scenario when you've got some place suitable to retreat to.

A small, overheated and cramped hotel room doesn't make for the most relaxing vacation and is usually one of the things arbitrarily included in the checklist of "things that went wrong on my vacation". While many things that can and will occur on your vacation are simply beyond your control, one of the most important things - your accommodations - are well within your control. Nobody is saying that the myriad of vacation hazards that can occur are easy to deal with, but they would be made that much more excruciating if you had to endure it in a tiny hotel room.

Taking all of this into account, one of the best alternatives to avoid the sometimes jail like atmosphere of a hotel room is a vacation rental property. While these types of rentals are most commonly associated with the coastal communities and states, and there is a no doubt unmistakable allure in waking up to a beautiful sunrise over the water, you certainly don't have to be located right on the beach to enjoy the spaciousness of a vacation rental.

If you're travelling with family, it is rather easy to see the attraction in renting a vacation property than cramming everyone into one of the aforementioned tiny hotel rooms. Costs for a hotel can escalate quickly, especially when you need to book two rooms to accommodate your children as well as you and your spouse. For those not travelling with children or family, the promise of privacy that a rental property can afford is a nice alternative to the implied privacy of a busy hotel - hearing the guests in the rooms surrounding yours, hearing them in the hallway, any and all street noise, hotel staff moving past your door at all hours - none of these are conducive to intimacy or romance. Again, a vacation rental property neatly takes care of all of these things by simply eliminating them altogether.

The best, most renowned vacation rentals all share certain attributes. While the list below is not by any means meant to be an all-encompassing checklist for all rentals, it can be used as an easy to consult checklist that can assist you in eliminating potential locations and rentals that may initially seem suitable. Remember, you may be spending a considerable amount of time at or around the rental property, so it is in your best interests to make sure you know and attain exactly what you want. Some of the things a reputable rental will have:

• Multiple Bedrooms. This is the biggest difference maker when it comes to rental property or a hotel room. Whether you’re on holiday with family, a romantic getaway with just your spouse or travelling with a group, there is no doubt that the more space everyone has, the better everyone’s mood will be, and by extension, the holiday itself, will be too. If your vacation is part of a large group - wedding party, or business partners, etc. - you can rent multiple condos or houses in close proximity to each other.

• Amenities. Whether your rental is private, secluded and rented privately, or its part of a complex and owned by a property management company, you need to know beforehand what amenities are provided and what is located close by. Where is the nearest hospital or medical facility? How far away is the supermarket? How close is the nearest transportation (bus, train, and airport)? Vehicle repair facility? Not much fun to think too much about things that could potentially go wrong on or during your vacation, but forewarned is forearmed.

Last but not least, the biggest thing you need to be conscious of is quality. Properties that are well maintained are rented the most often - nobody wants to spend their vacation in a rental that hasn't been painted or fixed up or maintained recently. A rental with a newly renovated living room or a modern kitchen is going to get rented more often than one that is not being kept up. While it may make booking a bit more difficult, it is an instant indicator of quality. Always check for references from prior renters as well as what kind of reputation the management company has (when applicable).

Next time you think vacation, consider a rental property and all of the additional things they can provide, as well as all of the less than satisfactory things they can eliminate. Your vacation awaits!