Complete Guide to The Best Maine Vacation Rentals
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Maine vacation rentals offer direct home rentals from owners and rental agencies to couples, families, and groups visiting Vacationland. They provide the spaciousness and amenities of home in an exciting new setting — like the waterfront in Kennebunkport or ski in ski out at Sugarloaf.
House rentals are available along the Maine coast in towns like York, Wells, and Old Orchard Beach. Visitors can even take advantage of vacation rentals along the shoreline through the MidCoast and Downeast. If your travels take you into Maine’s western lakes and mountains, you will find lakeside camp rentals, chalets, and ski houses for rent near Sugarloaf, Sunday River, Saddleback, and Shawnee Peak.
Featured Maine Vacation Rentals
The Vacation Rental Experience in Maine
Imagine arriving at your house rental in Maine — a true home away from home. You have the convenience of a full kitchen and the comforts of a living room, patio, and outdoor area, as well as the privacy of multiple bedrooms and baths. With more space than your typical condo suite or hotel room, you and your family can spread out in your home rental.
Traveling Together
House rentals also provide the opportunity to travel with extended family — bring the grandparents, siblings, or close friends along — and share the cost and fun of the house rental for a vacation. Of course, with any activity — whether it’s dining out, kayaking the coast, or hiking a mountain — the more the merrier.
As you plan your classic Maine vacation, you may decide that renting a house, cottage, or condo is preferable to staying in a hotel, motel, or inn. Vacation home rentals in Maine offer great flexibility. You have the benefit of added home amenities like a full kitchen, living room, family room, fireplaces to gather around, outdoor patios, decks, and private bedrooms. Meanwhile, you can accommodate your family or friends, so it often provides savings over Maine hotel rooms.
Amenities at Your Fingertips
Whether you rent a private Maine house for a week, a month, or an entire season-long rental, you can make day trips to explore Maine and return to your rental property at the end of the day to enjoy the spaciousness and comforts of home without the stress of packing up or being squeezed into a small hotel or motel room.
You can even run a load of laundry, take a nap in a private bedroom, or play on your private lawn. If Maine is nicknamed “Vacationland,” then consider renting a vacation home in Maine for your homeland and enjoy all the amenities of home away from home. Old Orchard Beach rentals are among the more popular vacation stays for families on the Maine coast.
A word of caution: Please be aware that, since very few vacation home rentals have their own websites, you will find listings for rentals on various websites, including Craig’s List. Any vacation home rental promoted on Craig’s List may be a scam with false advertisements or no legitimate rental properties.
Be sure to visit the vacation home rental’s website to see photos and contact the owner or rental agent directly for details, address, and assurance that the property exists. All vacation home rentals listed in our guide are real properties with legitimate websites, so its a good place to start planning your Maine vacation.
Vacation Rental Types
Maine vacation homes for rent range from oceanfront mansions to cute cottages and camps or condos. You can rent a cabin on a lake or mountain in Maine’s ski country. Most Maine vacation rentals are available by the week, but some cottages rent nightly or for weekends, while cabins and cottages can even be rented for entire seasons.
Imagine renting a beachfront cottage for the summer in Maine. You can even rent a houseboat in the MidCoast — that’s pretty dreamy, especially when you have all the comforts of home but a view that’s out of this world.
Tips for Finding the Best Vacation Rental in Maine
1. Location, Location, Location
When you are browsing for a vacation home rental in Maine, first consider where you would like to spend your vacation in Maine.
The Southern Maine Coast has beachfront cottages and home rentals in proximity to the waterfront and beaches. Many are within a short drive for day trips to amusement parks; golf courses; boating excursions from York, Ogunquit, Wells, and Kennebunkport; and of course, lots of great restaurants and outlet shopping. Large waterfront homes can be historic, spacious, and just steps from the beach and some of the best restaurants in Maine.
If you prefer quieter more rustic vacation rentals, then Maine’s lakes and mountains are peaceful and prime for cabin or cottage rentals. Ski resorts in Maine offer condos, cabins, and private homes for rent — often on the slopes so you can ski in and ski out.
2. Size of House Rental
Maine house rentals can be cute one-room cottages on the beach, or expansive six-plus bedroom mansions and estates on the water or on the slopes of a Maine ski resort. If you are vacationing in Maine with the family, you will want the spaciousness of a home away from home, so a private house rental is ideal.
If you just need a small house rental on the coast, there are all shapes and sizes of cottages to rustic elegant cabins within luxury resorts that offer room service, dining, spa treatments — you name it.
3. Season
Vacationing in Maine is a treat in all seasons. Deciding when to rent a home depends on what activities you long for. Renting a vacation home in spring offers uncrowded beach walks and beautiful budding gardens along the coast for far less money than in peak July and August season. However, you may not get swimsuit weather.
Summer in Maine is the best for boating, beach days, hiking in the mountains, and kayaking and canoeing on pristine lakes and ocean. Maine winter brings snow and fantastic skiing and snowmobiling opportunities. It’s perfect when you have a private home and a roaring fire to cozy up to after a day of exploring the wintry trails.
4. Services
Most vacation home rentals come fully equipped with pots, pans, dishes, utensils, linens, and towels. Others are more rustic, so you may be asked to bring your own linens or towels, for example.
At some home rentals, you are welcomed by the owner or rental agency, toured around the property, and provided all the amenities you will need — from linens to beach passes. Maybe there’s even access to an area pool or fitness facility.
When renting at an RV park or campground, or a houseboat, you may have to bring your own supplies, but the activities and entertainment for families is non-stop and super family-friendly.
5. Security Deposit
Vacation rentals in Maine, whether through an agency or a vacation rental by owner, generally require a security deposit. This refundable security deposit is usually based on the value of the home and can vary greatly.
It’s collected by the owner or rental agency prior to your arrival and refunded only after you have checked out and the owner, housekeeper, or agency has inspected the property to ensure that you left it as instructed — clean, no damage, etc. It’s recommended to leave the home tidy and as you found it, and you should have your security deposit refunded in full.
6. Maine Home Rentals Direct From Owners
Some house rental owners go through a rental agency to market and manage rentals for their properties. Of course, agencies take a commission from the rental, so these homes may rent for a higher price. You may seek vacation rentals by owners to get a better deal for your vacation stay — hence the term VRBO — but you may not have the full service of an agency. Be sure to ask the owner questions like if they include housekeeping or if there’s an individual to contact in the area in the event of an issue.
Secure Your Maine Vacation Rental
Our list of Maine vacation rentals will begin your search for the perfect home away from home for your Pine Tree State getaway. Once you have found the ideal property to rent, be sure to ask what is included in your rental, what time check-in and check-out are, and what the rental policies are so that you know before you go.
Enjoy Vacationland in your Maine vacation home rental!