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how to pick a vacation
rental
by: Barbara
Pfieffer
what you need to know about vacation
rentals That
time of the year is finally here. You know what I'm talking about,
the one or two weeks you get every year to escape from "real life"
and just be you. Relax, eat and drink well, enjoy your family, catch
up on some much needed sleep. But, before you pack up and head out,
rethink the all-too-normal hotel stay. Believe it or not, you have
options, one of which is the vacation rental.
Wouldn't it be
nice to leave your own home, arrive in your destination city and
settle into a "home away from home" for your next vacation? That's
what vacation rentals are all about. These are homes waiting to be
rented out by people on vacation. Each vacation rental owner will
have different criteria in what type of renter they are looking for,
each vacation rental house will vary in amenities, and each price
will be dependant on the time of year and the length of stay. So, it
sounds like a great idea, but how do you figure out how to make it
all happen? Not a problem. Below you will find answers to frequently
asked questions regarding vacation rentals. Read on, my friend, your
next "home away from home" vacation rental is right around the
corner.
Frequently Asked Questions on
Vacation Rentals
What are the advantages of a vacation
rental?
Do you ever wish your hotel room had just a little
more personality? Yeah, I thought so. Well, renting someone else's
home for your vacation might just be the thing you're looking for.
Usually offering larger living spaces than hotel rooms, these
vacation rentals are all about living like you were in your own
home. They offer greater privacy than hotel rooms and most rentals
have a kitchen area for cooking, which in the end will save you
money if you prepare some of your own meals.
You'll enjoy
several rooms, and maybe even different levels, instead of one big
room where the whole family sleeps. Many owners will leave
information on things to do and see in the local area. Vacation
rental homes are clean, friendly, comfortable and inviting. This is
because many of them aren't just rental homes, but also function as
the owner's own residence for part of the year.
A majority of
vacation rentals tend to be cheaper on a per night basis than their
hotel counterpart. By renting directly from the owner you will avoid
taxes, tips and other extraneous charges. However, there is a wide
variation among costs based on a number of factors (see How Much
Should I Expect to Pay below)
What are
the drawbacks of a vacation rental?
Of course, there's
always the other side of the coin. As vacation rentals are not
usually monitored by a central managing company, you'll only know
what you're getting yourself into when you actually arrive to your
rental. Many owners require pre-payment, or at least a large deposit
fee, before arriving. Therefore, if things aren't the way you
anticipated after arriving, or if you find your dwelling
unacceptable and decide to head to a local hotel, you may lose any
money you prepaid. This is also true for last minute cancellations.
There isn't usually a refund. You always run the risk of getting
less than you expected, but, it's rare.
Most times, vacation
rentals tend to be cheaper than an average hotel room per night.
But, not always, so make sure you are comfortable with the price you
will be asked to pay.
Another disadvantage to vacation
rentals is the lack of a managing member on site to deal with any
problems that you may encounter with the home or during your stay in
general. Most owners get around this by having a list of emergency
numbers, utility companies and other such items available to the
renter should they need anything.
What
amenities are included in a vacation rental?
Since every
rental is owned by a different owner, each will include different
amenities. Some come with swimming pools, hot tubs, others with golf
packages, and horse stable privileges. In cities with tourist
attractions, some owners include tickets to local
attractions.
Most vacation rentals come with the essentials:
TV, equipped kitchen, towels, linen, and everyday appliances, but it
never hurts to ask these questions when searching for the perfect
place. Be sure to understand exactly what you are paying for before
sending in the payment.
What types of
rentals are available?
Pretty much any type of dwelling
that you would want to live in during your vacation is available
somewhere. From studios in downtown Manhattan to a villa in the
south of Spain, you'll be able to find what you're looking for. The
range of available options is mind boggling. Additionally, each
week, month and year there are new possibilities as owners put their
homes up for only certain weeks or months of the year, the choices
are constantly changing.
Are vacation
rentals only available in the US?
Vacation rentals are
available worldwide. They can be found in every state of the US and
almost every country in the world. Don't be fooled by their
different names, though. Vacation rentals are also known as holiday
cottages, tourist rentals and holiday rentals. If you are looking
for one in Europe, the Italians call them agriturismi, while the
French say gites. If you are in Germany you will be looking for
ferienwohnungen (yep, try to say that three times fast with a
bratwurst in your mouth!)
Regardless of what you call it,
though, a vacation rental is a great option for those getting ready
to take a few weeks off from reality and enjoy the good life a
bit.
How do I find a
property?
There are several ways to go about finding the
perfect vacation rental for your next trip. Check with your local
travel agent to find someone in your area that specializes in
finding owners and renters and getting them together. Another option
is the yellow pages. Finally, there is a wealth of information on
the Internet. Type in a search for "vacation rentals" and over
13,300,000 websites can be found just on www.google.com alone. Some
websites only list vacation rentals in the United States while
others specialize in vacation rentals worldwide. There are some
sites that will allow the potential renter to look for a residence
by specific search criteria such as a particular destination,
certain number of bedrooms and types of amenities that are included
in the property.
Most of the vacation rental services on the
internet are only the "go-between" or the "classified" section of
the newspaper. They take no responsibility for the truth or
correctness of the ads that are listed on their sites. So, do your
homework by making phone calls, speaking with the owner and asking
specific questions. Make sure you feel comfortable with the answers,
if not, move on to the next rental, there are plenty.
If
you're not comfortable with the whole renter/owner thing, there is
another way to rent a vacation home. Some companies exist that
strictly buy and rent out homes to vacationers. They offer a bit
more security so that you feel you are truly getting what you
bargained for (although nothing is ever 100% fool proof).
Additionally, sometimes these agencies will give you cancellation
insurance. In other words, if you cancel before arriving, they may
be able to refund a portion of your deposit or payment instead of
keeping it as most owners do if a cancellation occurs. With some
agencies you'll find that you pay a higher price than going directly
to an owner. This is how the agencies make their profits. There are
always pros and cons to each scenario. Ensure you know which one
works best for you.
How much should I
expect to pay?
This is a tough question to answer. The
amount you pay will depend on what country or state you are
visiting, number of days you are staying, and type of house you are
renting. Some owners offer package deals including tickets or
sightseeing events along with the rental, others include bonus days
if you stay for a certain length of time. There are other owners who
may offer free or add-on house cleaning service with your stay while
some go to great efforts to ensure you have everything you need,
even additional items such as a crib, highchair or wheelchair. Each
vacation rental will be entirely different than the next. Your best
bet after deciding on your destination is to review multiple rentals
to determine which is better suited to your needs and overall
budget.
Are there any hidden
fees?
Hidden fees usually only emerge after you have
arrived. These may include extra for phone calls, house cleaning
service, extra person fees, excess heat and air-conditioning bills,
pet deposit, computer access... etc. Again, be extremely thorough
when interviewing the owner of your prospective vacation rental. Ask
about any "extra" fees, or if the house is "all-inclusive". Do you
have free access to all the pantry and food items? How about the
laundry supplies? All utilities? It never hurts to ask!
Vacation Rentals
In summary, cover all bases
by asking lots of questions. Getting your agreement in writing is
also a very smart idea. After these basics are out of the way you
will be ready to take off for your home-away-from-home vacation
rental. Try one this year and see for yourself that vacation rentals
can be a fantastic means to really getting the full enjoyment out of
your next vacation.
About the
Author: Barbara Pfieffer lives in Oregon and loves it. She shares
her information about things to do on an Oregon vacation. Visit her
website, Vacation-In-Oregon.com for more
information. | |
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