Casa Caracol / 4 BDRM ocean near vacation rental in Playa del Carmen
1. Weigh the pros and cons of booking options. Renting direct can be more personalized and less expensive, since owners aren't paying hefty commissions to real estate or property management companies. On the flip side, agencies pre-screen properties and promise 24-hour, on-site support if something goes wrong. A third alternative: "peer to peer" sites such as Airbandb.com and IStopOver.com that connect guests and owners (and take their own cut of the rental fee), but offer some protection against fraud.
2. Be diligent. "Because, by their very nature, rental homes don't get the same kind of traffic that hotels do, you need to become a detective, carefully studying photographs, asking questions and getting references from past renters," says author Pauline Frommer.
Casa del Mar / 3 BDRM ocean front
2. Be diligent. "Because, by their very nature, rental homes don't get the same kind of traffic that hotels do, you need to become a detective, carefully studying photographs, asking questions and getting references from past renters," says author Pauline Frommer.
Casa del Mar / 3 BDRM ocean front
Another suggestion from BudgetTravel.com: "Plug the address into the satellite view on Google Maps or Google Earth. Scope the area for nearby attractions both bad (factory complex) and good (local park). The property might be three blocks from the beach as stated, but there could be a four-lane highway in between." You also can check local property records, and do a search for the specific vacation rental or owner's name.
3. Have a phone conversation. Initial contact can be by e-mail (and if you don't hear back promptly, consider it a red flag). But particularly if you're renting from a private owner, phone conversations can give you a better sense of whether the property is a good match — and above board. "It's fair to ask questions like 'Is this
rental legal?' and 'Do you collect sales-and-use tax?' " says Carl Shepherd of HomeAway.com.4. Get it in writing. A detailed rental agreement should spell out payment and the responsibilities of both renter and owner, whether an individual or management company, on everything from security deposit refunds to cleaning fees.
5. Weigh payment options carefully. Never wire money, and use a credit card (many U.S. owners now accept them through PayPal) if possible. To minimize your chances of booking a foreclosed property, or one that has been targeted in violation of local ordinances, try to arrange your rental as close to your vacation dates as possible, suggests John Romano of VRWD.com.
6. Consider trip cancellation insurance. Vacation rentals generally won't give refunds within 30 to 60 days of arrival.
Casa Grande / 4 BDRM with spectacular ocean view
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6 Tips Courtesy by USA TODAY TRAVEL
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