Choosing vacation accommodations does not necessarily need
to result in lodging at a chain hotel or resort. Many times, vacationers will
consider renting a condo, cottage or villa from a private owner. One of the
more popular sites for finding such vacation rentals is through VRBO.com or
homeaway.com. This website has listings of vacation accommodations for just
about anywhere around the globe. The concept of this website is brilliant as it
provides a site for private owners to list their properties and describe their rental
to the open market of renters visiting the website. Each rental listing
typically includes pictures, description, availability calendar, list of
amenities nearby, map and pricing. It is an ideal marketplace to navigate a
desired location and pick that one spot that looks ideal for your next
vacation. I have been using this website for nearly thirteen years and learned
a few helpful tricks and tips that are worthy of mention.
Before falling in love with the glamorous picture of that
Maui villa or mountainside cabin in Aspen, the prospective renter needs to
consider carefully these points below before deciding to book a stay through
this site.
1.
Read all prior
renter reviews carefully. Most vacation listings have a history of comments
by previous renters. Pay attention to these comments. A few comments on the
board about lack of cleanliness or noise complaints can be a red flag to move
on to the next listing. I try to keep an open mind on some of the testimonials
as even the most generous and meticulously clean landlords will occasionally
have a one or two negative reviews on their listing due to occupants that had
unrealistic expectations.
2.
Avoid
rental cost surprises. Most listings
show the different rates charged to renters for the duration of their stay. Typically
the rates will fluctuate by high and low seasons. Read all the fine print on
listing and on rental agreement. Most owners will charge the weekly fee, then
also add in a security deposit/damage deposit and perhaps also charge a state
tax. If the vrbo listing by owner is vague on actual price, then e-mail the
owner to request a complete cost breakdown for the duration of stay. It is always
a good idea to get the total cost breakdown in writing before making that PayPal
or credit card deposit. A negotiated amount over the phone can get lost in
translation, so keep it in writing.
3.
Make use
of the map features when searching a property. If the listing has a map
link, you will certainly want to click on it to know where the accommodations
will be in proximity to other places of interest (water, amusement park,
restaurants, etc.). That great deal you were quoted for a week’s vacation may
be low because it is in a poor location.
4.
Scrutinize
rental pictures closely. If the unit description explains that the rental
has two bedrooms, then make sure the pictures of each bedroom are shown on the
listing. Also be wary of listings that show
only interior pictures of unit and no outside pictures. If falling in love with
unit is only based on inside the property, consider e-mailing the owner to get
an exterior picture.
5.
Consider
the “extras” included in the rental. Several property listings may include
items in the weekly rental price that a vacationer may have to purchase extra
for. For example, renting a villa or condo on the Outer Banks that includes
bicycles or beach cart for the week may save money when considering the extra
cost one would have to pay renting these items ala cart from a local store.
Similar amenities may include access to pools, tennis courts, or golf courses.
These can be excellent perks to your next vacation.
6.
Considering
a pet friendly rental. I actually
stumbled upon VRBO several years ago through a search engine when perusing
South Carolina coastal properties that were “pet friendly” as we like to take
our mild mannered golden retriever along for the week. The website has a filter
that will list only those properties in which the owners allow renters to bring
their dog for the week. Typically there is an extra pet deposit required for
such rentals. This is also important feature for those people highly allergic
to pets that need to avoid such properties.
Bottom line for newcomers to VRBO is to read the listings
carefully. Do not hesitate to ask ownership regarding any concerns prior to
booking the trip. If there are no reviews on a listing, then do some detective
work and request more pictures from owner. Also Google the address to see if
there is something revealed that might send up a reason not to rent.
