Vacation Rentals

Colorado vacation rentals
Fort Lauderdale vacation rentals
New York vacation rentals
Orlando villas for rent
Destin vacations
Florida short-term rentals
Breckenridge vacation cabins
Hilton Head villa rentals
Kauai oceanfront homes for rent
Lake Tahoe luxury vacation cabins
Las Vegas condo rentals
Maine oceanfront lodging
Maui house rentals
Michigan cottage rentals
Myrtle Beach lodging
San Francisco lodging
Outer Banks beach rentals
San Diego beach houses
South Lake Tahoe ski lodges
Vail vacation condos

USA

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wasington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Europe

Serbia, Ukraine, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-hercegovina, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom

Caribbean

Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bay Islands, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, San Andres & Providencia, St Barthelemy, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, Virgin Islands

Mexico

Baja, Mexican Riviera, North Mexico, Central Mexico, Southeast Mexico - Oaxaca, Yucatan / Mayan Riviera

Central America

Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama

Middle East

Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates

Africa

Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tansania, Tunisia, Mauritus

Canada

Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick

South America

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

Australia & South Pacific

Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Vanuatu

Asia

Hong Kong, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia (Bali), India, Japan

What is a Vacation Rental?
By definition the travel industry term "vacation rental" refers to a furnished home that is rented out on a short-term basis (usually weekly). A vacation rental serves as an alternative to traditional hotels and is typically occupied by vacationers or tourists.

Vacation rentals are sometimes called holiday rentals, villa rentals, self-catering rentals, holiday villas, agriturism, gites, etc... In certain countries, including Spain, France, Ireland, and England, the government sponsors its own vacation rental programs. Other governments certify rental locations or promote properties to attract tourists.

Pros and Cons of Renting a Vacation Home
There are several reasons an individual or family would want to rent a vacation home. Most often, vacationers who utilize a villa rental find they save money and have more room to relax in. In addition to a low cost and more space, people who rent vacation homes are not subject to traditional hotel fees including taxes, tips, and service charges. In addition, because a vacation rental is a dwelling, it comes with a formal living room, kitchen, and bedroom. In other words, a vacation home rental provides all the luxuries of a conventional home.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage in renting a vacation home is, the booking process takes getting use to. Consumers who aren't familiar with renting holiday properties may find it difficult to adjust to the idea of booking an entire home versus a room at a hotel which is perceivably easier and faster. However, this process is equally simple and definitely worth trying.

Another common "disadvantage" to leasing a holiday rental is booking the property via the homeowner, no customer service representatives to assist the visitors, uncertainty regarding quality, and simply be unfamiliar with the location. However, these worries are often unfounded. Many vacation rental properties are managed by an agency that provides quality services including housekeeping, 24-hour maintenance, check-in, and even concierge services.

Most often, the benefits of leasing a vacation property far outweigh any disadvantages associated with the practice. Vacationers receive more space for less money, several bedrooms and often multiple bathrooms, a separate living area and an abundance of amenities including fireplaces, kitchens, and hot tubs. Villa rentals also tend to be located conveniently close to local attractions including the beach, city centers, or resort areas. As an added bonus, holiday rentals offer considerably more privacy than a hotel room.

One of the best attributes to renting a vacation home is the diversity they represent. A traveler can rent a simple, one-bedroom apartment for a single night or splurge on a luxurious, well-situated home that boasts the best accommodations. Some vacation rentals offer exceptionally luxurious accommodations including private beaches, cooking lessons, on-staff chef, and fully staffed facility.

Property Managers
Many vacation homeowners contract a vacation rental manager to advertise and manage their vacation properties. Property Managers, promote, rent, and oversee all operations of the property. This means, renters work through the management company instead of going directly with the homeowner.

Several property managers list their services with VRWD.com to showcase their business to both travelers and property owners.

Listing Services
Vacation homes can also be booked directly with property owners through listing services such as VRWD.com, VacationRental.org, MasterpieceRentals.com, etc... These sites typically provide vacationers with property information including photos and property details as provided by the homeowner. It is important to realize, however, that a listing service is not equivalent to a property management company and is not legally obligated to verify the information provided by the homeowner.

It is recommended that because listing services are not required to verify property information, potential renters request additional information, such as lreferences, before signing a rental agreement. Furthermore, because homes found through a listing service are managed by an individual and not an agency, the vacationer is subject to that person's payment/deposit requirements, check-in procedure, cancellation policy, and so on. However, a vacationer can sometimes cut costs by utilizing listing services instead of an agency that typically tacks on additional fees to make the venture worthwhile.