Renting a private home for your vacation is a great way to stretch your budget. And in my opinion, it's much more fun than staying in a hotel. You get the chance to experience local life on a whole different level, and really get the feel for what living in that part of the world is all about. Regardless of where you are traveling, there are a few things to consider before settling on a house and area.
1. Where to go. Once you've settled on a country, decide if you prefer a city, the country, or something in between. Coast or inland? Close to well-known monuments and sightseeing (or at least with easy access to major roads)?
2. When to go. What's the optimal time to avoid the crowds but still enjoy nice weather? Is there a special event you'd like to see or be part of? "The Celebration of Peppers" in the Basque village of Espelette (the last Sunday in October every year)? Midsummer in Sweden (on or around June 20th)? Truffle harvest in Croatia (October)?
3. Type of home. House, apartment, houseboat? Tipi, yurt, tree house? Deciding on this early on will make your search a bit easier.
4. Is it kid and/or pet friendly? If you're traveling to another country and plan to bring your pet, also make sure you know what's required. If you suffer from allergies, you probably want to stay away from homes that allow pets (or are situated on a farm). Pet hair and dander always seem to linger, no matter how carefully you clean.
5. Privacy. If you're renting a house, is it private or part of a group of several rental houses (which sometimes is the case when an entire farm has been converted to a vacation rental)? That might mean you have to share certain areas (such as laundry, or pool) with other vacationers.
6. What's included in the price? Make sure you know ahead of time if taxes and housekeeping/cleaning fees are included. Are there any extra perks? Someti
7. Staff or not? Does the house come fully staffed? Or just with a chef? Or maybe just a house keeper and gardener a few days a week? Do you have the option to hire a chef if one isn't included?
8. What are your responsibilities? Do the cushions on the patio furniture need to be moved inside every night (very common in Europe)? Are you expected to keep all shutters closed during the day to keep the heat out? Do you need to clean the home before you leave? Make sure to get all details in writing (in a language you understand) so there are no unpleasant surprises.
9. What amenities do you need? If you're renting in Europe, keep in mind that many of the comforts Americans take for granted are not so common over there. Things like window screens, air conditioning, heated pools, and even shower curtains are often not considered necessary.
10. Local help and advice. Is there anyone local who speaks English you can contact in case something happens? Or if you just need help figuring out how to get the stove going?
I hope this somewhat daunting list has not made you reconsider renting a private home on your next vacation, but it's always better to think everything through before signing a contract and handing over a deposit. Once you're sitting on the patio of your temporary home, enjoying the view (Tuscan landscape? Emerald green lagoon? Snow-capped mountains?) with a glass of wine in your hand, you'll be glad you did your homework and decided to go off the beaten hotel path.
Cattie writes about private holiday homes and the many different options available.
