aristokat

I've read it's best to use an owner that accepts credit cards as an added protection when renting from VRBO. Does this include using PayPal? I'm really new to using VRBO so I'm nervous about having a horror story. I'm contemplating about just renting a hotel room, but the extra space of a Condo would be really nice with a child.

Thanks in advance!

soogies

Well, is your PayPal account set up with a credit card or is it directly taken out of your bank account (debit)? Not that it makes too much difference as I believe with debits you have the same rights as credit card (or at least we do).

What are you afraid of - there not actually being an apt? Apt being not as listed? The owner using your credit card fraudulently?

LindainOhio

We have used VRBO many times and have always paid by check. We have never had a problem. Ww have always signed a contract.

montereybob

We have also used vrbo several times and never had a problem.

go_laura

Ditto the others, used it many times, paid by check all of them, signed contract, no problems at all.

I sympathize with your fear, tho' - the first time I used vrbo, I got so scared after sending the deposit that I figured out the email address of one of the people who'd reviewed the place, and emailed them to make sure it wasn't a phony review and the place was as stated. The person emailed me back and I felt very reassured. I guess that's only an option tho' if there are reviews and if you can track someone down from one of them!

djkbooks

PayPal offers protection only when purchasing items. Same goes for credit card protection.

It's a good idea to select a property that accepts credit cards or PayPal - as opposed to Western Union funds only.

longhorn55

We've used VRBO a couple of times and each time we got a contract and paid by check.

I had no problem paying by check once I had had a long conversation on the phone with each owner. I would suggest doing that rather than just corresponding by email.

charli

We, also, have used VRBO many times in North America. Almost always received a phone call from owners "checking us out", always a contract, paid mostly by check with deposit mailed at booking confirmation and remainder paid on arrival. You can always ask for a reference, but of course, that could be biased, too. I think VRBO sells insurance, but I've never read what it insures as I've had no reason to pursue that.
Talk to the owners, ask as many questions as you can. Good luck. (yes, it is great to have extra space versus a hotel room, even for 2 adults, with a child more so I'm sure.

mclaurie

Vrbo is merely a listing website. People pay to advertise their properties. What city are you talking about renting in?

aristokat

We're looking into a condo in Maui where I guess it is very common to rent condos from owners. I was considering a rental property mangament company to ease my fears, however, I don't like that they assign you a unit when you get there. So there's really no say as to what place you get.

I guess I'm just scared somebody might take our deposit and run? Although the place that I'm looking into, the owner has been very responsive, given me her cell number (I haven't called), and appears to be genuine. Her listing has been on VRBO since 2006 so it's not a new listing either.

I'm a paranoid person by nature so the thought of paying that much money (50% down, and rest 60 days prior to arrival) scares me a little.

So to the PP who mentioned that CCs and PayPal only protect you when making purchases, does that mean the condo rental is not included????

NeoPatrick

Someone above mentioned Western Union payments. When they ask for Western Union only, it's very likely a scam (even Craigslist advises against paying for anything with Western Union). I think I'd feel safer putting cash in an envelope and mailing it than I would using Western Union.

Wow, Jennifer. That was news to me that VRBO is a subsidiary of HomeAway. I'm curious how many others knew that.

I've noticed that homeaway guarantee, but I believe you must include it before your initial booking of the apartment, something I've failed to do twice until it was too late to add it. But I too have never had a problem with vrbo either.

patandhank

Good to know about guarantee. Unfortunately my sister just had one of those bad experiences where the owner misrepresented the location of the property and the place wasn't clean when they got there. The owner wasn't willing to clean or compensate so my sister put a stop payment on the check.

Pamela_Echsner

VRBO is as reliable as the owners that post through them. The problem is that they do not allow negative posts about their properties and they confer with the homeowner before posting anything. Since the screen their reviews in an effort to protect the owners rentals, you could set yourself up for a bad experience.

If anyone had an issue with a deposit (which I did recently on an island rental that I go to regularly and never had an issue) you will never know because VRBO WILL NOT POST NEGATIVE COMMENTS. I think you should be able to post anything you feel others should know. If the homeowners have a comment to share about their side of things, they could post that also.

BEWARE of Renting through VRBO for that reason. If this is a once in a lifetime vacation, go somewhere else.

NeoPatrick

How nice of you, Pamela, to register here to trash a source that has worked very successfully for so many here so often.

Barblab

When I am considering a VRBO property I always check tripadvisor and also do a google search on the property name and or address to cross check for random reviews. Almost always it will show up somewhere else on the internet.

I have used VRBO for both domestic and international rentals and have had nothing but good experiences. If you are ok with not being able to get a refund if your plans change, and do not need someone on site to help you then it is a GREAT way to go on a vacation.

LindainOhio

We have never had a problem with VRBO and we have been renting condos for years. You can purchase trip insurance if you are worried. You also want to check the landlord's cancellation policy before you book. I have purchased trip cancellation insurance if there is a strict cancellation policy.

See www.insuremytrip.com to compare policies. We usually use Travelgard.

spirobulldog

I have rented with VRBO 4 or 5 times and never had a problem. On 2 occasions the place far far exceeded my expectations. However, there is some risk with VRBO and i have always thought exactly the way pam mentions it. I think it would be great if it were like ebay and listed positive and negative remarks. I must say though, I have been screwed over by hotels several times not living up to things or having hidden charges. Or not even having my reservation at all.

I currently have a rental with VRBO just outside of Glacier for a few days in July. Now you have me nervous. Not so much for the money, but for the fact that lodging would be extremely hard to find should this not pan out.

My nieghbor(a lawyer)rented a VRBO unit is Seattle only to find that the day he arrived the bank had forclosed on the property. The owner did find another spot and everything ended up fine.

SAnParis2

I have used vrbo probably in excess of 100 times, including this past weekend. The one problem I did have (basically misrepresentation of a property by leaving out a lot of information - including a gravity fed water system that didn't work.) & vrbo helped me get a full refund when the owner & I could not agree.

susanwr

We have used vrbo.com in Athens, Munich, Vienna, Paris, and South Hampton in Europe and the Big Island,Kaui, San Fran, and Whitefish in the USA and finally, in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile. Never had a problem. Some places we paid with Pay Pal, some by check and some in cash when we arrived. Some accept credit cards. Some asked for a deposit and some didn't. Never had a problem. I think HomeAway.com now owns vrbo.com. It's important to review features you really want - ask if there is an elevator or a "good" internet connection, for example. You can even use google earth/maps to get a good look and idea of neighborhood.

B_Goolsby

I am getting nervous. I am in the process of renting a condo through vrbo.com, and just made my final payment through paypal. It is a verified email address that I paid to, and everything seems to match up, however since I made the payment two days ago I have not received email confirmation from the owner, or the packet that was promised to be sent with the passkey info, parking pass, etc. I have not previously spoken with her on the phone. I tried to call today and just got a machine. I guess she could just be out of town, but I have a lot of money riding on this and am extremely worried about it.