What do you do when you want to have fun, but not at the expense of a major investment? An in-ground pool, for example, can start in the $50,000 range, while the cost of a brand-new fifth wheel recreational vehicle can range between $40,000 and $175,000.
The answer is to rent your fun!
Rent lodging with amenities
Many of us have already experienced this in some capacity if we’ve rented a cabin or house as part of a vacation. The house provides lodging, but it may also offer fun in the form of a hot tub, a pool table, or a fire pit in the yard. Leon Swarts, the owner of Walnut Grove Farm & Lodge in Shelbyville, Kentucky, rents out not only a place to stay (that was once a dairy barn) but 100 acres of fun. “We currently rent our lodge to Airbnb guests and hunters,” he says. “The 100 acres is used for walking, jogging, fishing, and as a nature preserve. The farm has become a secluded haven that offers privacy and solitude for getaways.”
For Leon and his family, there is enjoyment that comes with knowing they are helping others relax or have fun, but there are also practical benefits. “The rentals provide income to maintain the property and satisfaction that our family has reinvented the farm from its former agrarian use to a recreational purpose,” he says.
Rent a pool
Typically, when people think of renting fun, they think of a building. But did you know that you can actually rent someone’s pool? Jeffery Shaw first heard about Swimply, an app that allows homeowners to rent their swimming pools, hot tubs, and tennis courts by the hour, when it was featured on The Today Show. He was intrigued. Although he didn’t immediately look into the process, Jeffery says, “Eventually, I realized I had this beautiful pool and outdoor space that took a lot of work to maintain, and Swimply offered a way to share it with other families while also helping offset the cost of keeping everything up.”
Now in his third year of using Swimply, Jeffery says the process has been smooth and the feedback very positive. His five-star rating often comes from repeat renters, but that may be because he has gone above and beyond as a host. “I’ve tried to make the space feel like more than just a pool rental,” he says. “There are quite a few amenities — the biggest ones are the kitchen and bathroom in the pool house, the covered outdoor space, fireplace, grill, outdoor TV, indoor TV, speaker, some pool toys, and even yard games. I think those extras make it feel more comfortable and give people a place where they can really settle in and enjoy themselves.”
Kristen Martin saw an advertisement for Swimply on Facebook and found a pool just down the road from her when she checked out the listings. She has now rented several times from the same host and says it is well worth the money. “Typically I rent the pool and five to 10 of my work friends join me!” she says. “We use the pool as a place to float, get some sun, and relax. Last summer, we rented the pool a couple times a month for usually four hours each time.”
Dana Slusher has been renting private pools for several years and says she really enjoys the convenience that comes with it. Rather than having to get to a public pool early in the day to ensure a seat, she and her friends (five or six couples plus children) can choose the time that works best for their schedules. “Instead of going to an overcrowded pool somewhere, it allows us to have private fun [with] not so many people around,” she says.
Rent a boat
What if you like the water, but would rather be on a large body of it rather than just a backyard pool? You can, of course, rent a boat using getmyboat.com. And, really, it isn’t just pontoons; there are jet skis, canoes, and even yachts. If you’re heading down to Taylorsville Lake for a day of fun, you can rent kayaks for a couple hours from one host. Or there is the option of renting a runabout for skiing, although you are responsible for towing it to and from the water.
On getmyboat.com, there is even the option of renting a boat AND a captain for a private cruise. For instance, you can find a cruise for six people through the Kentucky River Palisades, a beautiful stretch of water that is surrounded by limestone cliffs.
Rent an RV
If you don’t have sea legs, you can stay on terra firma and rent a recreational vehicle (RV) using outdoorsy.com. There you can find all kinds of fun options, from fifth wheels and folding trailers to camper vans and Class A motorhomes. Whether you’re planning to drive cross country or to rent an RV once you arrive at your destination, outdoorsy.com has hosts all over the US. Since many of us dream of driving an RV to see national parks, the site even allows you to search by national park destination and shows listings nearby. The options are pretty limitless, from 12-foot campers that sleep two people to 39-foot motorhomes that sleep seven.
So this summer, when you’re looking for something different, try some of these rental apps that offer slices of fun without a big expense or total responsibility.
By Carrie Vittitoe
P.S. You may also like to go here for just a day trip Kentucky: Wander Through the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest Giants
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