Finding Family Accommodations “Back in the Day”

As a parent of four kids, planning family vacations in the ’80s and ’90s was a challenge. Finding reliable information about where to stay was a bit of an adventure. Planning involved a lot of phone calls to local chambers of commerce, tourism bureaus, or even AAA for guidebooks and maps. My husband’s family introduced me to the “cottage court” experience – which was a little like Airbnb before its time. These cottage clusters, scattered across Northern Michigan, offered family-friendly stays with shared grounds and basic amenities.

While cozy, these cottages were hardly luxurious. Typically, they had two small bedrooms and a cramped kitchen, often with a minimal two-burner stove, an undersized fridge, and limited cookware. For our family of six, it was close quarters, but we made it work – barely. Tight spaces had their challenges, especially with four kids! One trip to Manistique Lake stands out: after a day of fishing, I spent hours frying up perch on a tiny stovetop, feeling like I was soaked in grease. But that fish was unforgettable.

Hotels Can be an Option

Occasionally, we’d resort to hotels, usually for a night while on the road. Hotels meant splitting up into two rooms, rationing out plastic-bowled cereal from a cooler, and grabbing fast food for most meals. Hotel stays could be practical but were far from ideal. So many of our cherished memories were made in those rustic cabins, making simple meals together, waking up to the sound of nature, and having space to just be a family.

Fast forward to today, and the options have expanded. Traverse City now has suites, hotels with full kitchens, and larger rental homes, catering to travelers’ diverse needs. When I travel solo, I still enjoy the convenience of a hotel for a night. But for a true family getaway, I always look for a rental home. There’s something about a homey space, a well-stocked kitchen, and morning wake-ups with grandkids that hotels simply can’t match.

To explore how different options measure up, I compared a July week at Dyer Lake Vacation Home to local cottages and hotels around Traverse City. Here’s a breakdown of what I found:

Traverse City Accommodations Comparison: July 19-26, 2025

Hotels on East Bay

Popular for beach access and family-friendly amenities.

  • Top Option: A spacious 1-bedroom suite with a bay view costs $4,740 for the week, featuring 1 king bed and trundle sofa with 2 twins.
  • Budget-Friendly: A courtyard-view room with a king and queen bed for $2,623.
  • Other rooms range between $2,623 and $4,351, providing indoor pools, beach access, and bay views.
Hotels on West Bay

Closer to downtown, pricier with premium views and amenities.

  • Top Option: A luxurious 1-bedroom suite with bay views, kitchenette, and jacuzzi at $8,645.
  • Affordable Option: A 2-queen room with a parking lot view at $2,456.
  • These hotels offer pools, beach access, and are close to dining and entertainment.
Hotels off Water

No water access , more expensive if downtown

  • Top Option: A luxurious 1-bedroom suite with bay views at $8618
  • Affordable Option: A 2-king suite at $3234
  • These hotels offer pools, onsite restaurant and bars.
Cottage Courts on Inland Lakes

Rustic yet practical, perfect for water activities.

  • Cottage/Duck Lake: 3-bedroom, 1-bath, full kitchen for $3,037. Shared amenities like a pool and coin laundry; guests bring their own linens and towels.
  • Cottage/Spider Lake: 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath for $4,408. Similar setup with shared amenities and a rustic charm. Guest bring their own linens and towels.
Image showing the living room, the lakeside of the house and a view of the lake. Also show the guest favorite seal and the 4.94 rating and that Marisa is a superhost.Dyer Lake Vacation Home

Our Airbnb-listed home has a 4.94 rating and an Airbnb “Guest Favorite” seal. You can read what guests have to say about Dyer Lake Vacation Home by clicking here.

Staying at Dyer Lake Vacation Home would have been a dream come true during my family’s vacations. With 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and spacious living areas, there’s plenty of room to relax, cook, and enjoy. It has the conveniences we longed for back in the day: full-size appliances, plentiful cookware, central air, and privacy. You can lounge on the private deck, take a kayak or paddleboat out on the lake, or enjoy family meals in a well-equipped kitchen at a table.

For the July week in question, the cost is $4,840 through Airbnb. Book directly, and you save a little over $500 at $4,331 – competitive with other options but offering so much more privacy, flexibility, and comfort.

Why Choose Dyer Lake?

Hotels have their perks – pool access, room service, staff on site and nearby amenities – but there’s no replacing the benefits of a private vacation home. At Dyer Lake, you have your own space to spread out, make noise, and create memories without a dozen other families around. You can save on dining out, enjoy your own kayaks and paddle boats, and wake up to lakeside views. For a family, the choice is easy. Just bring the kids (and pets, for a small fee), and let the vacation begin.

When we think back on family vacations, the best memories come from those stays where we could truly feel at home. Dyer Lake Vacation Home is designed to offer exactly that: space, privacy, and a welcoming atmosphere that we’d have loved for our family trips. Why settle for anything less?

Visit our photo gallery to see all the pictures of Dyer Lake Vacation Home.

Ready to book your stay? Book direct and save or you can book through Airbnb if you prefer.