How to Find the Perfect Vacation Rental
Over the years, and through a few trials and errors or my own, I have developed a formula for how to find the perfect vacation rental. Has every rental been perfect? No.ย However, we do have a decent track record of choosing great vacation rentals.ย We have stayed in vacation rentals here in the United States and abroad. Here are some tips and lessons I have learned over the years that might just help you as well.ย ย ย ย ย ย
Look for Experienced Hosts
Whether they are called Super Hosts (Airbnb) or Premier Hosts (VRBO), begin your search by looking for rentals with an experienced host. I always look for a host with a proven track record and the reviews to support it, not someone new to the rental game.
Read the Reviews
Ideally, you want to choose a vacation rental that has several guest reviews. In fact, the more reviews, the better. In some instances, though, you may stumble across a property that does not have many reviews but whose host is a super host. In those situations, you are dealing with an established, experienced host, and this is simply a new property listing in their portfolio. For more tips on deciphering travel reviews, read this post for a few tips.
Research the Area
By reading guest reviews and looking at the map to view the property location, you will garner information about the area. Are you searching for something that is within walking distance from town? Are you looking to be in a remote area? With a bit of research, you should be able to answer that question.
Google Earth Your Vacation Rental
Google Earth can be your best friend when finding the perfect vacation rental. When we first began using vacation rentals, I made mistakes in choosing a perfect rental because I skipped this step. Just because the listing photos look amazing it does not mean that the property is flawless. Is there a train track behind the house? Does the rental back up to a noisy highway? Rarely would a listing point out issues such as these; they want you to book with them. We learned this lesson on our trip to Ireland. Throughout our nine-day trip we stayed in three different vacation rentals. Two were amazing, and located in great areas, while the third rental in Killarney, Ireland was not. We were safe, and the flat and host were delightful, however had we used Google Earth before booking our stay, we would have chosen a different location.
Flexibility in the Cancellation Policy
Read the fine print when it comes to the cancellation policy for the rental. The last thing you want is to choose a rental with a strict cancellation policy. Some rentals allow a 30-day cancellation with a full refund, while others may allow you to cancel while forfeiting a portion of your deposit or payment. Life happens, so be prepared.
Communication with the Host
Communication is key. Before booking your rental, you are in the honeymoon phase with your host, meaning they should be on their best behavior to win your business. If you message the host with questions, you should get a timely response. For me, poor communication is a huge red flag. If that happens, I suggest you do what I do- move on to the next listing.
My final word of advice is to begin your vacation rental search well in advance of your trip. The best rentals tend to be snagged up fairly quickly. Booking a rental can be a bit intimidating, especially if this is your first time, but by following these guidelines, you are on your way to finding the perfect vacation rental.
