I've never rented a
vacation home before. How does the experience differ
from renting a hotel or motel room for my vacation?
An
individually owned home or condo is, first of all, more
spacious and more private than a hotel or motel room.
You will have the entire home, including fully-equipped
kitchen and often more than one bath, at your disposal.
You will not have, of course, room service or valet
parking. But you can often arrange for daily maid
service if you would like it. Just ask the reservation
agent. In comparing cost, you will likely find that the
cost per bedroom to rent a vacation home is
significantly less than the same number of hotel rooms.
Can
I pay for the accommodation with my credit card?
Most
vacation rental agencies take Visa and Mastercard.
What will I need
to bring with me?
For many
vacation rentals, you need only arrive with your clothes
and your groceries. These units come complete with bed
and bath linen and soap and paper products. For others,
you may need to bring bed linens and cleaning supplies.
Be sure to check with the agency to see what is
included. Check out our inventory page to see how most
vacation rentals are equipped (click to go there now!)
Is there a
security deposit involved?
Most
agencies require a security deposit of $500 to $1000,
possibly more for holidays and special events. You may
also be asked to sign an agreement that authorizes
excess cleaning charges or damages to be charged to your
credit card.
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Are all the
utilities on in my vacation home when I arrive? What
about telephone and cable TV?
Vacation
homes have the utilities on when you arrive. For rentals
of one month or longer, you are asked to assume the cost
of some utilities, such as gas or electricity.
Telephones are provided in most units and local calls
are usually free. You will need a calling card or a
credit card to make long-distance calls. Most vacation
homes have standard cable service for the area.
Am I expected to
clean the vacation home before I depart?
Most
vacation rental companies engage housekeepers to clean
the unit after your departure and prepare it for the
next guest. You will probably pay a separate cleaning
fee for this service. However, you are usually expected
to leave the home "broom clean" which means bagging your
trash, cleaning your own dishes, and leaving no major
messes for the housekeepers to clean up.
When is the most
economical time to book a vacation rental home?
Most resort
areas have high and low seasons. If you can book during
non-peak times (low season) and avoid holiday times, you
can obtain the best rates. You may also want to ask if a
better rate is available for a longer stay.
Can I make
reservations at the last minute?
Yes!
Although it may be difficult during high season, it
never hurts to call at the last minute. There may be a
cancellation, and there may be vacancies available that
the vacation rental manager will fill at a discount.
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