FAQ - Renting a Vacation Home

We have assembled the following series of questions and answers to try and help those of you who are interested in renting a vacation home. Please keep in mind that VacationHomes.com operates as a listing service only and does not get involved in the rental process. Questions about individual vacation rentals need to be directed to their respective managers.

How does it work?

VacationHomes.com lists thousands of rental properties around the globe. Most of these properties are vacation homes, perhaps second or even third homes that the owners are renting out to people much like yourself. You simply choose from these homes and contact the owner or responsible party representing the home directly. You and the property owner / manager will make all the necessary arrangements, and you are off. Once you have returned from your vacation, you can leave feedback about the property and your experience for the rest of the world to see. You get to stay in world class accommodations, enjoy a unique experience apart from the standard hotel, and possibly save a bundle. The owner / manager of the home ensures that their home does not go unappreciated, or underutilized.
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How do I know I will like the place?

Of course, it is simply not possible to predict what you will like and not like. How happy you are with a particular property will have a lot to do with whether your expectations of the property are met. To this end we encourage you to begin a dialogue with the property owner as soon as possible and ask a lot of questions, and to take to heart the feedback left about a property by other people who have rented that same property. Every listing on our site includes the option for previous renters to leave comments about their rental experience.
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How can I protect myself?

Renters understand that each listing sets its own refund and cancellation policies and the rental agreement is strictly between the manager and the renter. The following tips should make the renting process go as smoothly as possible.

  1. Plan ahead and make reservations early! Many rentals are booked 6 months to a year ahead of time, especially for peak holidays like new years. Generally you will have less selection and pay more money for the rental the closer you get to your travel date.
  2. Research the rental carefully to make sure it fits your needs. While some rentals provide things like coffee and condiments, do not expect them.
  3. Ask for verifiable references. Many times rental property managers have a relationship with a cleaning company or maintenance company.
  4. Be sure to get everything down on paper before you send any payments! This should at least include dates of stay, the cost, if there are any additional charges for anything and the deposit/cancellation/refund policy. Make sure you remember to make your deposits on time. Missing these deadlines can cost you money, forfieture of your reservations or both.
  5. Find out if bed linens are included, some rentals do not provide this or do for an additional charge. Also if you need beach towels make sure you bring some. Very rarely are they provided.
  6. Ask how much cleaning are you expected to do? Cleaning is included with some properties, some offer it at an extra charge, and some expect you to clean. Regardless of the policy, you should always leave the property in decent condition.
  7. Get complete instructions in advance! The three most important things are
    1. Having complete travel information before departure (airplane, car, bus, boat, etc.).
    2. Make sure three or more weeks ahead of your travel date that arrangements have been made to get the keys.
    3. Be sure to have and test the owner/managers phone number or that of their local agent so that you have someone to contact should the unforeseen arise.
  8. Once you have the address, look at a map so you understand exactly where the property is located.
  9. Last but not least, get Travel Guard travel insurance. It offers protection against trip cancellation penalties, travel interruptions and delays, emergency medical expenses, lost baggage and more. Plus, every Travel Guard policy includes our 24-hour "911" travel emergency service for emergency medical assistance, last-minute or emergency travel changes, lost luggage tracking, pre-trip travel advice and more. It generally costs between 3% and 8% of the total trip cost.

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What are the policies when renting a property?

The terms and conditions of each property should be clearly outlined on the property rental listing page. If you have any questions about the terms and conditions of renting a particular property, be sure to contact that property owner to get your questions answered. VacationHomes.com does not participate in any part of the rental process. For more information please see the legal notice here on VacationHomes.com.
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Will you sell my personal information to others?

No! The personal information collected on our site is for our own internal use only. The public information on our web site (property listing information) is distributed to our network of partner sites. For more information about our information gathering practices and your privacy on our site please see our privacy agreement.
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Why list your vacation property with us?

VacationHomes.com is the most popular vacation rentals web site on the Internet. Once you take a look at what we have to offer, you will have to agree that we offer the best marketing value on the Internet!