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Hi everybody!
I started traveling around the US of A extensively and stayed in my first vacation condo in 2002. I haven't been in a hotel since! Except for a beer or two of course.
Where do you find is the best place to find vacation condos? I tend to lean towards homeaway, especially with their rental guarantee. Another one I like is www.FindYourVacationHome.com. They offer free listings so they get a lot of vacation home owners. Where does everyone else find their vacation rentals, especially along the eastern coast?
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VRBO has been great for me. In fact I'm typing this from a VRBO apartment in LA (West Hollywood) and I've just reserved it again for a week in Sept. on my way to Hawaii. This is one of the best I've ever found (for my own needs and wants) at one of the best prices I've ever had. Last week I did a VRBO in San Francisco, and while it worked out fine and the newly redone apartment itself was really nice, frankly I'd have been embarrassed if I had any visitors as the building itself seemed like some old derelict hotel. Very unappealing.
I'm not familiar with FindYourVacationHome -- but it seems odd that you mention since the listings are free they get lots of owners. But more important would be what kind of follow up they do, or what kind of guarantee they offer. VRBO at least now offers a guarantee that the place you rent does exist.
With any of that type of website, of course, you are at the mercy of the individual homeowner, and we all know there will be good ones and bad ones.
You might try cyberrentals.com
We just finished a week at one of "theirs" in Cape Cod
Another good website where you can find great deals on vacation rental homes is http://www.bestbidvacationrentals.com, which helps vacationers find the best deals on lodging in a house offered by homeowners or rental agencies. With a winning bid, you can also secure reservations for certain peak days or weeks that are often booked far in advance at other rental agencies.
Through Best Bid Vacation Rentals, agencies and homeowners list rental property with specified days or weeks for auction. You can post a home’s description, the type and number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, and add up to three photos for a listing in your vacation rental auctions. When an auction ends, the winning bidder’s contact information is provided to you and your contact information is provided to the bidder for confirmation of reservations.
I use vrbo.com a lot also but I think the same company now owns several of the sites mentioned icluding cyberrentals. I have used cyber in the past but they also include other property types that aren't really what I am looking for.
We use vrbo a lot and are finding that, in this economy, many owners are willing to bargain so don't automatically think that you will pay the asking price. You may get a better deal. It's all about supply and demand.
isy is correct, I always look at their available dates & if it has been sitting empty, I'll make an offer in my original e-mail. I've had some people not budge on 3 day minimums, etc. & such & so they sit empty. I have lots of options, no skin off my back.
For the best deals, I've always heard to go to vrbo.com also.
Since this was Firebird first and only posting, sounds more like Buzz marketing.
Just found this one today: www.flipkey.com. It actually has reviews from renters who have rented through the site. I looked for an area in Colorado and found over 700+ rentals just for the one area I was looking in. Comprehensive and great photos and details!
With any website, stuff happens. I just got an email that the VRBO apt I've rented for a week in September has now sold and is no longer available so they are refunding my money. I did this way ahead for a great chance of getting my first choice and at a good price. Now I must start all over again.
I just started working for another vacation rental site called http://www.vrul.com
While it's older and doesn't have all the bells and whistles of some of the newer one's it features some really great deals on rentals. We are in the process of revamping the site and adding some really great features for vacation rental owners and renters. We welcome all feedback and ideas.