Vacation rental services combine technology and travellers for one-of-a-kind housing

Vegas lodging comes in many shapes and sizes, from a huge, opulent casino tower (with equally huge resort fees) to a classic roadside motel (with possibly huge resort vermin) and everything in between.

However, a new trend nationally and in Las Vegas is the idea of a vacation home rental. Aided by the power of the Information Age, a common trip or big party can get an extra boost by basing itself out of one of Vegas’ permanent homes, from modest to ridiculous.

Services like Airbnb and HomeAway are well known to savvy travelers, and both have a strong presence in Vegas, with hundreds of results appearing in searches. From trendy Strip-side condos to legitimate mansions, travelers can rent whatever suits their needs or fantasies. A HomeAway listing purporting itself as “The Vacation Kingdom” features bedrooms for you and eight of your best buddies, a pool and hot tub, billiards and even an in-house movie theater in an immense 9,500-square-foot floor plan.

On the other end of the spectrum, Airbnb offers a quiet guesthouse tastefully redone in the style of a hip Silver Lake bungalow. The cottage, in a quiet neighborhood 10 minutes from the Strip, features a private patio and hammock, offering a peaceful respite from Vegas’ glitz and glamour. The rate is just $59 a night for a minimum four-night stay.

Each location will have specific rules and regulations, and it’s important to be mindful of someone else’s property, so don’t get “too crazy.” The services can also provide a novel sample of living in Vegas’ neighborhoods. For some, it could be training wheels for a whole new life in Sin City.