Decided to take a last minute or well thought out vacation? Here are some ideas on where to start when choosing your accommodations.
First, consider your needs. Do you prefer the amenities of a hotel and room service and nice in-house amenities, location, restaurants and room service? Do you prefer your own space? Want to cook from time to time, and be able to sprawl out as though you were in the comforts of your own home? If the latter is the case, you are probably a good candidate for a vacation rental accommodations. There are deals right now in the hotel, vacation rental and B&B business.
OK, how do I start? “I am afraid of what I will get when I get there”. Been there done that!
Start at the place most consumers start. Go to your browser and browse vacation rentals in the appropriate geocit (area) you want to travel.
Once there, look for sites that are easy to get around, professional and easy to read.
If you click on a site that is all over the place, messy outdated, thrown together, just guessing, but that is probably what your accommodations will look like when you get there.
ALWAYS ALWAYS look for a virtual tour of the unit you wish to book. One can make a dog house look good with just one or two photos. Look for testimonials, and equally important, a live phone number to speak directly with a representative. ASK QUESTIONS! Is the manager easy to get a hold of, both at the time of booking and when you arrive, or are they in another location? Who would you call if something went wrong while there? How is the management company to work with (again, another clue how your stay is going to go should you need assistance in anything during your stay).
Does your initial contact with the management company have a “fill in here and we’ll get back to you form”. You should find a company that has an automated system to get you an immediate calendar and quote without submitting any form initially. If it is a “fill in here and we will get back to you form”, move on. They are not sophisticated and likely managing as a mom and pop. That’s OK if you have a good referral or stayed before, but not a good sign from your initial search.
Is the unit turnkey (just being your clothes and toothbrush) or do you need to bring essentials? Is there Internet connection? The obvious, smoking vs, non smoking. Beach/oceanfront location/activities and proximity to other attractions and local information. Can your company offer travel insurance, rental car discount, activity discounts. A lot of things to consider when weighing your options on choosing a management company to work with.
When you find a management company that offers great units for the price and great customer service, stick with them and refer them to others. It’s a lot easier to go with a company that is great to deal with, than starting all over with godzilla next time around! The good companies normally have an array of equally nice accommodations vs. a few good ones and rest junk.
Common sense will answer most of your questions, just make sure you use it!
