6 Ways to Find An Affordable Vacation Rental

Let’s face it: we all need a vacation. It’s that simple.

South Beach, Venice, Paris, Athens. It would be great if we can just getaway from everything that has made us tense or perturbed. Why not?

Before you call up a hotel, perhaps you should consider the benefits of a condo vacation rental. You don’t need to spend chunks of change on a dirty hotel room that comes with shoddy service and a view that overlooks the street.

A condo vacation rental is far superior. A view of the ocean, a terrace with a fireplace, a luxurious kitchen to cook with ingredients from local markets. It sounds heavenly.

Here are six tips to find an affordable condo vacation rental:

1. Determine What You Want from a Rental

What you want from a condo vacation rental will pretty much determine what you’re going to pay for accommodations. Prioritizing your needs and wants can help you in the end.

For example, if you want a view of the water, you’re going to spend more. However, if you’re indifferent to space, then you can save money on foregoing the extra bedroom or solarium.

Before you start scouring the market for the best rental, make a list of what you want.

2. Know Who You’re Renting From

In the era of the sharing economy, many consumers are renting from other consumers rather than a property management company or a hotel. Although this does provide its benefits, especially pecuniary ones, it does offer its own risks.

With this in mind, it is essential to know who you’re renting from. Otherwise, you could fall victim to a scam or succumb to the unscrupulous pariahs.

Do your research, phone around, perform your due diligence, peruse your contracts (see below). If you do these things, you can be assured that everything is fine.

3. Reserve Your Rental in Advance to Save Money

The earlier you book your rental, the more money you can save. It’s that simple.

Like airplane tickets, reserving your rental far in advance can yield savings. This is because property owners know that they have a condo vacation rental already booked several months ahead. So, it is important to book a rental a few months before you visit Savannah or Spain.

4. Did Past Guests Enjoy the Accommodations?

If the condo vacation rental is routinely rented out to guests, then you can likely find reviews, testimonials, and ratings from past guests. You must seek these out.

Did previous visitors enjoy the accommodations? Does it have at least a 3.5-star rating? Did the property owner respond to the negative reviews? How many people have shared the same experiences? Does anyone recommend the condo vacation rental?

It’s these things that can encourage or discourage you from using this condo vacation rental.

5. Time Your Visit

Are you visiting for a special festival? Are you staying in town during the busiest part of the season? Are you vacationing when everyone else is? Well, expect to pay big bucks.

That said, if you want to save a few loonies, it’s important to time your visit, like going off-peak or just missing out on the busy crowds (January, April or September).

6. Carefully Read Through the Agreement

The best way to protect yourself, ensure you have rented from a responsible owner or business, and guarantee that you’ll have a great time without worry is to carefully read through the agreement. But we’re talking about really combing through the policy, terms, conditions, and overall contract before you sign on the line that is dotted. Also, be sure to ask for a copy of the agreement.

We all just want to get away from it all. The concrete jungle, the emails, the deadlines, the in-laws, the monotony of life. It can all be too much to bear. A getaway to somewhere fun and exotic is the prescription that most would recommend. But before you book a hotel room, perhaps you should consider a condo vacation rental that is a bit more luxurious and affordable than your typical Hilton or Holiday Inn. Why not get an ocean view with a terrace? How nice!