5 Tips For Choosing Vacation Rentals You Need To Know

Most travelers find it torturous selecting vacation rentals from everything that’s available. Usually the only information you have is the description and pictures on the website or in the catalog. If you look with a ‘trained eye’ the photos tell you a lot about the listing. But there’s much more than photos that you need to make sound decisions. You can read the description, talk to people who have vacationed there and even ask travel agent hard questions.  However, the most important thing is to have a checklist that ensures your holiday will be a success. Here are some tips.

1. The place. Find out if it is an apartment or a house in the city town or village. Get to know if it is an independent house in the farm, countryside or if it has any historical significance. This it will help you make comparisons with other vacation rentals of similar nature. You will also get to know if you are getting value for money. You simply can’t use the price listing alone to make a decision.

2. The size. Get to know the number of people who can sleep. Find out the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Investigate the square footage of the rentals. This will help in your planning. And keep away surprises. If a house has three bedrooms and you are traveling as a family of six, then you need to know and make provision for sharing.

3. The situation on the ground. You need to know if it is totally a private residence. You need to be aware if it is a place that has a town or shopping mall in the vicinity. Find out if it is a place you can freely walk. Your security is of paramount importance. And rarely will the Internet listings or classified ads say that there is a security challange in the area you are about to visit.

4. Important amenities. Depending on when you are traveling, you need to know if the facility has air conditioning, a heating system or a fireplace. Find out if there is a swimming pool and the terms of use. Get to know if there is a TV, telephone, Internet and sports facilities. It all adds up to the enjoyment of the holiday and planning of family or group activities.

5. Other checks.  Some things you need to know become important depending of you particular circumstance. Check about the condition and type of stairs if you are disabled. Look at the kitchen facilities if you intend to cook. Scrutinize the furniture, quality and quantity especially when you are traveling as a group. And of course honeymooners will be interested in different things. So will a business traveler. So it is important that you check the specific items that will be of utmost importance to you. A business traveler may list Internet connection as a must while this may not be critical for a vacationer. And above all always use your intuition. It is rarely wrong.