Choosing the right vacation rental is vital for the success of your well earned break and booking well in advance gives you time to consider important details. What sort of accommodation will suit you and your family? Do you want a city, rural, beach, or mountain location? Once you’ve chosen your destination and you have a general idea in mind, it’s time to make a booking. You can approach an agency specializing in vacation rentals or rent from someone privately. Renting privately may be cheaper but weigh this against a company that can give more support and services. Browsing the classifieds online for newspapers local to the destination wanted can yield results. There are vacation rental websites that offer lots of information. Always look at properties that have an accompanying photograph.
Decide which amenities are the most important. You may want a fully equipped kitchen to save money on eating out all the time. Find out about laundry facilities and if there are board games or a DVD player. If pampering is important, then you’ll need a hot tub. If you have a baby, make sure a cot is available. Find out if there are any safety concerns with regard to young children. If you want to bring a pet along, ask about the policy on this. Keeping in touch with family or with the office will be easier with a good cell phone reception and / or internet access.
Reading the small print is essential when booking a vacation rental. A rental agreement should detail every relevant aspect including what deposit is required and when, what liability is in place for any damage caused, and if there are any extra costs. Check out the cancellation policy and consider taking out travel insurance that covers this. You will need to know the checking in / out times and where to collect and leave the keys. In case of any problems, get the contact details of the person you need to deal with, such as the owner or the agent. The vast majority of vacations go without a hitch but just study the complaints procedure, should it be needed. You want your journey to the vacation rental to be as smooth as possible, so ask about local traffic conditions and what is the recommended route from your location.
It takes a little time to settle into new surroundings but this can be speeded up if you have clear instructions on the household equipment, so ensure that you will know how to operate the stove or the washing machine. What are the collection days for garbage and recycled material?
Find out what’s in the area and directions for the nearest grocery store and restaurants. Knowing how to get to the local hospital or clinic is also important. Ask about local attractions and excursions, and find out about access to the beach, lake, public pool, mountains or whatever is relevant. When you’ve ticked off all these boxes, you can relax and look forward to your vacation!
Author Resource:
Chad Rutt is the Director of Marketing for the online lodging site http://www.abetterstay.com and the Managing Editor of its accompanying Vacation Blog http://www.abetterstay.com/blog/
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