How to choose a family stay in Hot Springs

What to look for when you are booking a rental for kids, grandparents or a reunion in Hot Springs.

Start with the head count

The city caps short-term rental occupancy at two guests per bedroom, plus two. A three-bedroom house can legally sleep eight, no matter how many beds the listing shows.

For reunions, count everyone, including kids, before you shortlist houses. A host who agrees to squeeze in extra guests is putting their license at risk.

Safety checks for kids

Water. For lake houses, ask how deep the water is at the dock, whether life jackets are provided and in which sizes, and whether there is a ladder out of the water.
Pools and hot tubs. Ask whether they are fenced or covered and whether gates latch.
Decks and stairs. Hillside homes often have high decks and steep stairs. Look at the photos closely.
Gear. Ask about cribs, high chairs and baby gates before you arrive rather than after.

Plan around the ages in your group

Hot Springs National Park has 26 miles of trails, and leashed dogs are welcome on them. The bathhouses have age limits: the Buckstaff's traditional baths are for ages 10 and up, and Quapaw Baths and Spa is for ages 14 and up.

Lake Catherine State Park, south of town, has cabins, lake access and trails if you want a park setting.

Questions to ask the host

What is the city STR license number and licensed occupancy?
How are the beds set up, room by room?
Is there a fenced yard?
How many parking spaces are there?
Are there house rules about quiet hours?

Compare the total price, not the nightly rate. Cleaning fees, pet fees and taxes add up. In the city of Hot Springs, stays under 30 nights carry about 14.5% in state, county and city taxes, which Airbnb and Vrbo collect at checkout.

Stays we have checked

We only feature family stays here after we have confirmed the listing is real, active, and (inside city limits) licensed with the City of Hot Springs. We do not rank properties or accept payment for placement.

Verified stays

We only feature real, bookable family stays that we have confirmed with the host. None are listed yet. If you run one in Hot Springs and want it considered, email us or call 501.365.1001.

Common questions

Why is there no top 10 list here?

Our old list described properties we could not verify, so we removed it. We now feature only listings we have checked are real and licensed, and we do not rank them.

How much are taxes on a Hot Springs rental?

Inside city limits, stays under 30 nights carry about 14.5% in state, county and city taxes. Airbnb and Vrbo collect them at checkout.

How many people can stay in a rental?

Inside city limits, two per bedroom plus two. A four-bedroom house tops out at ten guests.

Ask us about a stay

Send us your question about staying or hosting in Hot Springs and we will point you to the right local resource.

Sources

Questions about short-term rentals in Hot Springs?

Call or text 501.365.1001, or send a note and we will get back to you.

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