When thinking about a vacation to come and imagining the place in which we will stay, it is only natural to hope for a place that is close to all the big attractions, spacious, has great views and equally wonderful facilities. We all want our vacation rentals to be in the very best locations, but above and beyond all that we expect to get the room, location and level of service that we paid for.
This is something that we can often take for granted, but things can go wrong and, in truth, do so more often than anyone would like. This is why we’ve compiled a list of hints and tips to help you avoid any issues with your vacation rental this year.
Best Advice for Vacation Rentals
Check out the Vacation Rental beforehand
This is, of course, not always possible for you, especially if the location is new to you or is too far away to make a quick trip to, but if it is a possibility we would highly recommend doing so, especially if you’re already in the area and would like to return to the area next year. Being able to actually walk through a potential vacation rental is a huge bonus. If you can’t, however, we would recommend getting the rental agent to walk through the property and send you photos.
Nowadays, you could also ask for a video or a Skype call.
Viewing a possible rental yourself, or through an agent, makes it possible for you to ascertain whether or not there is false advertisement at play. On a website, for example, a third bedroom could mean a large closet and being a stone’s throw from the beach might mean ‘within view, but a ten minute walk away from the water’.
Curated Properties and Vacation Rentals
If checking out the property yourself is not possible you should book through an agency that has a list of curated vacation rentals; this means that the properties will have been checked and vetted by the agencies staff many times before. These agencies will generally have a smaller array of rentals and be a little more expensive, but they are also of higher quality and are generally kept in better condition. You also have the added bonus of having a professional contact while you are staying in the property, should anything go wrong.
Checklist of Damages
When you arrive at your vacation rental it is recommended that you and your companions witness the agent making a note of any previous damages. You should also get a copy of the damages and ensure that you and the agent sign both copies to note that both parties are aware of existing damages. This means that you definitely won’t be charged for things you didn’t break, and you’ll get your full deposit back (so long as you didn’t break anything).
Use a credit card
You should definitely pay for your vacation rentals with a credit card and not cash or transfers; this will ensure that there is a paper trail should anything go wrong. If there’s a mix up when it comes to dates, cancellations or the length of time paid for you’ll have evidence of what you paid for. A credit card is usually only necessary for the reservation and deposit before you arrive and you can pay the remainder by cash upon arrival.
