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Considerations When Renting a Vacation Home Abroad

Booking international travel vacations can require a lot of planning before hand – if you’re the organized type. You’ll want to make sure you’ve got the necessary visa applications, transportation lined up, and accommodations booked in order to make your vacation magical and memorable! If you’re the type of traveler that prefers renting a vacation home instead of a hotel, its definitely a lot easier to book now with many options including VRBO, HomeAway and Airbnb.

To help you prepare for your big vacation, we’ve outlined the top things to consider before booking a vacation home. Unlike large hotel franchises, where you can expect the same level of hospitality across the globe, vacation homes can vary between each homeowner and the travelers exceptions. It’s important to find the perfect home away from home that has all the comforts and flexibility you need for a fantastic holiday.

Choose a reputable rental source

When looking for home rental vacations, it’s so important to choose a reputable company or vendor. This may mean paying a little more, but it’s a wise investment for added value and peace of mind that you’re renting from a trusted source. When it comes to choosing the best place for you, one option is to use an international rental company that will provide an online booking service and have a robust customer service protocol in place, should any issues surrounding refunds or relocation’s arise.

For a more personal rental experience, independent suppliers are the way to go – offering one-on-one service and possibly better rates if you book direct. If you opt for a small or independent supplier, communicate with them directly over Skype and check out customer reviews on online forums – this will give you greater insight of the rental property and the landlord before you agree to part with your hard earned cash.

Find the right location

Location Location Location

Once you’ve pinpointed your destination location, there are a few things to consider when settling on a vacation home. First, you’ll want to make sure the home is easily accessible to the hot spots on your itinerary. Make sure that you’re in a central location that eliminates lengthy drives or public transportation, after all you’re on holidays, you don’t want to spend the whole time in transit.

Secondly, Google specific locations and neighborhoods to get a feel for the area and discover the local amenities close by. From parks and grocery stores to banks and medical centers, it pays to be in the know when spending time in a different country. If price is a concern, a good tip is to avoid home rental properties close to major tourist attractions. Instead, try looking a little further afield to get better value for money and avoid the crowds. You might need to shell out a little more for transport, but the accommodation savings will more than make up for this.

Pay close attention to the interior of the rental

A picture is worth a thousand words, and that applies when you’re looking for a rental property online. Typically a listing will showcase a few exterior and interior pictures, but that’s not always the case. If a listing doesn’t show any interior pictures, or the pictures give the impression that the home is not clean, or the furniture seems tired, maybe it’s a good idea to move on. You’re traveling a long way for a relaxing vacation, so it would be quite the disappointment to get to your destination and not be satisfied.

Be sure to scrutinize the interior photographs and the list of property amenities and facilities and clarify what’s included in the rental price. Some properties may charge extra for things like heating, linen and pool cleaning – so, if you have any queries, have these answered before you book.

Travel insurance for your vacation

Vacation Planning

Probably the most important item to consider when planning your vacation, is making sure that you have a travel insurance policy in place with adequate coverage. These policies can protect you while you’re away for short stays or long term travel, and can provide comprehensive coverage for anything from emergency medical expenses to missed flights and lost baggage. Trips can become expensive depending on your destination and accommodations, and can get even more expensive if a medical emergency occurs. Make sure to minimize your chance of a financial loss and take the trip that you always wanted.

Obviously this post is a little biased in weighing the importance of travel insurance, after all it was published on an insurance brokerage’s blog, but it’s still important nonetheless. If you are planning a vacation, please contact one of our brokers to review your policy options or get an instant online quote from our rater below.

 

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