Vacasa Review: the perfect vacation rental for groups

I travel solo a lot of the time, not necessarily out of choice. It’s just sometimes so hard to get my friends to actually lock down dates and book something, so I usually get impatient and end up going by myself. Either people can’t get time off work, or they don’t want to spend the money…one of the two.

But I had always been envious of those groups of friends who always seem to go away together, so a group trip is something I’d always wanted to do.

When Vacasa invited me to try out a vacation rental through their website, I decided now was the time to WhatsApp all my friends and try to finally put the wheels in motion. Vacasa is North America’s largest full-service vacation rental company and they empower homeowners and guests to focus on what matters the most; building memorable experiences with friends and loved ones.

They have vacation rentals throughout North America, plus quite a few destinations in Central America, South America and Europe…so I had a look through their website to see what might work.

Website Experience

Vacasa Review

What I love about Vacasa is most of the property listings have 3D tours, so you can see exactly what the rental looks like in real life. I find that photographs don’t always do properties justice and can sometimes be deceiving, but with a 3D video you can see the exact layout of the property and feel like you’re actually there.

We narrowed our destinations down to Belize, Mexico, Palm Springs, Florida Keys and Colombia, before finally settling on Colombia. The priority was affordable flights and warm weather, so Colombia definitely fit the bill.

It’s funny how random conversations with strangers can ultimately impact your life…I was talking to someone in a bar in Brooklyn who told me I absolutely had to go to Cartagena, so this destination had now been imprinted in my mind. I did my research and it looked beautiful; colorful buildings, incredible islands with white sandy beaches…definitely my kind of place.

The property that stood out to me the most was Toribio – a stunning apartment that sleeps 6 people. Whenever I’m looking for an apartment I always try to choose somewhere that has an outdoor space like a balcony, a pool or a rooftop. Toribio has two hot tubs on the rooftop with incredible views of the city. Definitely sold on that one!

Once we had booked we were supplied with all the relevant info for check-in, including directions to the property and even the WiFi password ahead of time (very important if you’re a blogger like me!) All we had to do was supply the names and nationalities of the people staying in the property before we arrived at the property.

Check-in experience

Cartagena’s airport is just a 10-15 minute taxi ride from the city, and since we hadn’t checked any luggage, we were at the property within 30 minutes of landing! When we arrived our host was ready and waiting for us to show us around. He introduced us to our maid and told us we could contact him via WhatsApp if we needed the house cleaning or if we wanted her to do our grocery shopping. Sweet!

The property

The apartment itself is very modern and spread over two floors, with a fully-equipped kitchen, one bedroom (en-suite) and one extra bathroom on the ground floor. The chandelier centerpiece is super impressive, creating an elegant atmosphere for dining with friends.

Upstairs there are two bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms. One has a large queen-sized bed and the other has two full-size beds. Technically this property could fit 8, but I was told that the owner likes to have maximum capacity 6 people.

Everything is really tastefully decorated and we were supplied with everything we needed, including shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in the bathrooms, plus dinner ware, pots, pans and utensils in the kitchen. The Wi-Fi worked just fine for us, although my only gripe was that it doesn’t really stretch to the upper floor, only the downstairs floor.

Oh and if you like an ice cold beer or a chilled cocktail, the fridge has an ice machine, so your drinks are always nice and cool!

The apartment is located within a very safe building right in the heart of the Old Town. You couldn’t get more central if you tried. The famous “La Cevecheria” restaurant is right around the corner and you’re just a short walk to all of Cartagena’s incredible bars and restaurants.

Toribio Courtyard Pool - Vacasa vacation rental

When coming and going you simply press the buzzer on the front of the building and the security guard will let you in. If you need to cool off from Cartagena’s hot, humid weather then the property has two communal pool areas to choose from – a downstairs courtyard pool which is shaded, then two upstairs “hot tubs” on the roof.

We spent most of our time in the upstairs tubs, which are luke warm but not hot (that would be pretty uncomfortable in the heat!). The views are incredible so we spent a few evenings up there enjoying a glass of wine or two.

Final thoughts

If you’re planning a group getaway I strongly urge you to consider Toribio and Cartagena. The city is on the coast so you have the best of both worlds – plenty of nightlife and culture, but with access to some beautiful islands and beaches.

Our experience with Vacasa was incredibly smooth from check-in to check-out and this property was honestly the best vacation rental I’ve ever stayed in. Perfect for a group vacation of 6 people! Every one of us had a great time and we won’t forget that vacation in a hurry!

If you’re planning a group trip with friends or family, check out Vacasa’s summer travel trends report which reveals insights and tips to help you plan the perfect summer vacation. Vacasa has identified the most popular summer destinations, as well as properties you can book yourself through their website.

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