5 Things to Consider when Booking an International Vacation Rental

Booking an international vacation rental is our favorite way to enjoy a different culture, save money, and have more space and amenities for our kids to use compared to a hotel.  Here are the top 5 things we consider when booking an international vacation rental:

Search for the Best Option

When using Airbnb.com and VRBO.com, the filters can be extremely helpful, especially when there is a hard to come by amenity that is critical to your stay.  For example, in Paris, we wanted more than 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms which immediately cut our search results in half.  Once you locate a couple properties that you want to stay at, see if there is a direct booking site available (sometimes it is cheaper to book direct).

Amenities and Supplies

Most vacation rentals do a great job of listing out the amenities and supplies that are provided.  Make sure you check with your post on what is included and what you need to buy.  For example, they may set out a small amount of coffee to get you started. Before rushing off to get more for your whole stay, check to see if they can provide additional supplies.  If you plan on checking emails, working during your stay, or your kids’ bedtime routine includes Bluey, make sure you check on the internet connections, get the WiFi password and know what subscriptions that are offered.

Reviews and Ratings

Read the reviews but use your judgement as well.  If you find a negative review for a property that interests you, don’t write it off completely – look to see how the host responded to the comment.  If there are more than a few bad reviews on the same topic, that is a red flag so go back to your search results.  It is great when a previous guest leaves a review that covers the place but also the surroundings, we have planned full days based on what past travelers wrote about in their reviews. 

Cancelation Policy

Vacation rentals can have a slightly stricter cancellation policy compared to hotels. Make sure you consider the specific policies, terms and conditions for the rental.  If you arrive at the vacation rental and it does not meet your standards or has false advertising, make sure you have the issues in writing. If you make arrangements with the host or property management company to address the issues, make sure you have photographic evidence and again, everything is in writing.  This will help if there are any disputes later on. If you are traveling to a climate that has unexpected weather, or could expect traveling delays due to your flight path, you may want to consider travel insurance.

Check-in and check-out procedures

Prior to your arrival, make sure you know how to access the property, especially if you are arriving early in the morning or late in the evening.  Most hosts are very accommodating as long as they know your schedule.  In the past, we have stayed at places where the owners use lock boxes, keyless entry codes that are sent prior to our arrival and many have greeted us personally to walk through the property.  This is especially common if your destination requires you to pay a local tourist tax and/or provide your passport.

The check out is just as important as the check-in.  Make sure you understand the check-out requirements, any cleaning you are responsible for, and how to lock up the property when you leave. 

I hope this helps you find the perfect vacation rental for your next trip.  Follow, comment and let me know if you have any questions.  I’d love to hear from you!