Opting for vacation rentals is one of the best ways to keep a handle on your family vacation. Vacation rentals, rental cottages or cabins can be a great way to stretch your vacation budget too!

Not only will a week's vacation rental generally cost you less than the same time's stay in a local hotel, you'll save even more on meals because you have access to a kitchen.

Most major resort and vacation areas have dozens or even hundreds of short-term vacation rentals that are available throughout the tourist season, and sometimes year round. Choosing the right family vacation rental is a matter of figuring out what your family wants and finding a rental cottage or cabin that fits the bill. There are some particulars you should consider when looking for last minute vacation rentals.

Location
Where your vacation rental is will be nearly as important as what it is. Look for a rental cottage that's close to major attractions, especially the ones that are important to you. Some vacation destinations will offer far more flexibility in this than others. If you've chosen a week on Cape Cod, for instance, and your main interest is lazing on the beach for hours, you can find suitable cottages in Wellfleet, Truro, Onset, Dennis, Brewster, Orleans or any one of a dozen other little towns with long stretches of beach and ocean.

If, on the other hand, you're planning a family getaway with a particular destination in mind, you'll want to be sure that everything you want to see is conveniently located. If you decide on a Disney vacation, for instance, you'll find plenty of vacation rentals right in Orlando.

You'll want to check a map to see just how far they are from the parks you want to visit so that you don't waste precious vacation time stuck in traffic.

Space
Make sure there's room for everyone in your vacation rental. While it's not necessary - or even economical - to find a vacation rental with a private bedroom for each member of your family, you do want to be sure that there's enough room for everyone to be comfortable. Most vacation rental cottages and homes are designed to sleep multiple people per room. Make sure that you know not only how many rooms, but how many beds are available.

Shop carefully and you can find bargains like a three bedroom vacation rental in Big Sur, a few blocks from the beach, for as little as $40 per night. One caution, though. Be sure to check the fine print for what's included in the rental price. Cleaning and per person fees can quickly add up and spiral that bargain basement price out the roof.

On a longer vacation trip, you'll want to be sure that certain amenities are included. Your budget will thank you if laundry and kitchen facilities are included in the rental home you choose. The money that you save on restaurant meals and laundromats could easily add up to the admission fee to a nearby water park or a day of shopping in town.