Renting Holiday Accommodation Online
Posted April 18, 2008 by:
Comments(0)Advice on Renting Holiday Accommodation Online
Holiday villas and apartments have become a popular
alternative to Hotels and B&Bs for tourists going on
holiday. Advantages include greater privacy, the
opportunity to cater for oneself, a more homely feel, more
space and better value for money for groups and families.With so many holiday villas and apartments available in
destinations such as the Algarve, Majorca and Florida how
does one get the best rental property for the lowest price?
The first step is choosing a destination. If price is
important then opt for a destination where rental
accommodation is more affordable. Such destinations include
Bulgaria, Goa and Mexico. In Europe there are often better
deals in the north of Portugal and Spain than in the south
and even cheaper properties in nearby Morocco.
Try going further inland where one can find considerably
bigger and more affordable villas and apartments than those
by the beach. Benefits can include a quieter, more rural
location and with a hire car many beaches can still be
reached after a short drive. As always location is
everything when it comes to property so if you are prepared
to compromise you can often get a better deal.
Renting in the shoulder seasons, in the spring or autumn is
another excellent way to save money. With less demand for
holiday villas and apartments during these periods you will
be able to choose from a wider selection of properties and
rates are usually a good 30% less then they are in the peak
season. Furthermore it is often possible to get
considerably better deals on hire cars and flights during
the shoulder season so your total savings can add up.
Look out for properties rented by the owners direct! Many
rental properties are advertised by agencies who will take
a proportion of the rent as their fee. Renting with the
owners direct can save you money as some of these savings
may be passed on to you. Owners may also be able to offer
added value in the form of advice on local restaurants,
excursions, cheap flights and car hire and it can be
reassuring to be able to speak with the owner and to have
their number should there be any problems during your
holidays.
Book your flights early. By booking your airline tickets
well in advance you should be able to secure a good deal.
Research which low cost airlines (e.g. Easyjet and Ryanair)
fly to your preferred destination and sign up with their
mailing lists so they can notify you when flights go on
sale. As a general rule it is always best to book flights
at least two weeks in advance and midweek flights are often
more affordable then those on the weekends or during
holiday periods.
Use long tail search phrases. Search the internet using
detailed search phrases rather than simple short terms. Try
using quotation marks to force the inclusion of important
attributes such as “internet access”, “a swimming pool” or
a “garden” in your search. Also, try including words like
“affordable”, “value”, “owner” and “discount” in your
search.
Prepare an email in notepad or your word processor with
details of your holiday plans, the dates you would like to
book and any important requirements. It never hurts to ask
if it is possible to get a discount especially if you
intend to stay for 2 or more weeks in the low or shoulder
season and you could ask about feedback from previous
guests. When you see a property you are interested in paste
your email into the web form or your email program and send
out plenty of emails. You should then receive further
details about properties that are available and get a
feeling for which renters are most responsive and helpful.
The next step is to telephone the owners of properties on
your short list. Find out as much as you can about each
property and get to know the people renting the property.
Often you will find someone who you get on well with and
feel comfortable doing business with.
Follow your instincts. If you feel good about a certain
property and trust the person you have spoken with you
should be confident to book with them. When you know in
your heart that you are dealing with good people and have
found a good deal you are ready to book and make final
preparation for your villa or apartment holidays.
Read up on the location you are going to visit. There is a
wealth of information online that will help you make plans
for your holidays. Consider what you are going to do with
your time and decide on some things you would like to do.
Print out or jot down notes so that when you are on holiday
you are prepared to make the most of your holidays. When
the time comes to travel, relax and make the positive
decision to enjoy every moment of your villa holiday to the
max. Schlage
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Martin Thompson is a web developer who makes his living
from his website that offers holiday villas and apartments
for rent in the Algarve, Portugal.
http://www.holiday-villa-rental-algarve.co.uk/
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Tags: cheap vacations