How To Rent A Vacation Condo Directly From The Owner And Save Big Money! by:Larry Levine
In today's challenging economic times, everybody is looking for a bargain
. And as the stress of the economy weighs heavily on people, they also find they may need to get away and take a vacation. This article will give you some advice on how to find a great vacation rental at an affordable price by staying in a condo versus hotel and renting directly from the owner.What is your idea of a dream vacation? A trip to Maui, lying on a tropical beach? The warm desert sands of the Palm Springs desert? Or maybe a family get-away at a luxury resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. Whatever your tastes, there is something for everybody if you take a moment to search the internet using your favorite search engine such as Google. Just type in the city or specific resort you are interested in, and a few words like "vacation condo rental", or "condo for rent" and you're on your way!
My suggestion to find a great value is to stay away from hotels, and book a condo directly from the owner. There are many reasons to do this. First, the owner doesn't have to pay any fees or commissions to a broker or agent to rent his vacation condo, so you will almost always get a better price by going direct. Also, when on vacation other expenses can add up, such as car rentals, entertainment and food. With a vacation condo rental, you will almost always have a kitchen at your disposal, and you will be able to prepare simple meals for yourself instead of being at the mercy of those high-priced tourist restaurants located in and around the large hotel chains. Of course you can always ask the owner for his favorite local restaurant suggestions also!
Most vacation condo rentals are located in very highly desirable cities. The owners usually enjoy visiting their own properties often, and most maintain them in good rental condition. I personally have condos on Kaanapali Beach, Maui; Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida; and Mountain Shadows in Palm Springs, California among others and visit them frequently.
Some questions you may want to ask an owner when renting directly are what their deposit and cancellation policies are. Most owners will take a deposit once a reservation is made, and a final payment well in advance of your arrival. Another important question to ask is if there are any other charges, such as cleaning fees, Resort charges, parking fees, etc. Another question might be to ask what types of beds are available, if it is not spelled out on their webpage. And when the last time the vacation condo may have been upgraded or remodeled. The owners are always happy to answer your questions to give you a feeling of comfort when renting directly from them. It benefits both parties when all the information is shared and there are no surprises.
Using these techniques and booking directly via the owner, I think you'll be surprised to find that you can save as much as 50% off the rack rates of condos that rent out by their own front desk programs, and even more when looking at hotels!
Happy Hunting,
Larry
About the author
Larry has been licensed in Real Estate in the State of California since 1973. He has worked in the airline industry for over 25 years, which has allowed him to travel worldwide. He owns or manages vacation rental condos at Edgewater Beach Resort, Panama City Beach, FL; The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach, Maui; Mountain Shadows in Palm Springs California; Hermosa Beach California; and Munich Germany under the umbrella name of Rentacondo. He can be found online at http://www.1rentacondo.com The Best Literature to Read Whilst Camping in France by:Lorraine Waddell The Natural Wonders Of Oludeniz Holidays by:Maria Reilly Airport Taxi Service in Spain by:Michael J Lee Taxicab Transfers in Spain by:Michael J Lee May and June Orlando Weather by:Michael McDougall How to Hire a Motorbike in Brisbane and the Gold Coast by:Nick Dinic Five Items You Must Check on Your Policy by:Patrick Chong Travel Destinations - Top Ten Vacation Spots by:Saiful Adli Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia Q&A by:Shereena Lingiah The Angels and Demons Walk in Rome by:Tony Maniscalco When Traveling, Is A Tour Guide More Useful Than A Traditional Guidebook by:Chief Exploring Officer Why Renting A 5-Star Villa In Phuket Is A Better Option by:Darren Lockie Cheap Holiday Apartments in Florence by:Elena Angelillo