I am looking for anyone who has used this or similar service to rent a condo directly from an owner. Specifically, my concern lies in making full payment before my arrival at the condo, not to mention whether the person is indeed an owner of the condo. Is there a good way to confirm ownership, availability and condition of the property before payment?<BR><BR>Also, any personal experiences would be appreciated.

Sammy,<BR>I used the website to find a condo in Turks/Caicos for our 25th wedding anniversary trip and this venue for finding a condo was a most pleasant experience. The owner was a most kind man, emailing several times about any and every question I had, sending me names and telephone numbers of day trip businesses, restaurant suggestions, tips of places not to miss, ease of getting here and there, warning us about outrageous telephone charges, best places to purchase wine/beer, just all the tips that someone who lives where you are going to vacation can give you. He was a jewel of a man, even came and picked us up at airport and guided us to condo, checked on us via phone a couple of times during the week to see if we needed anything, just a great guy. We wired 1/2 of the money to him prior to arriving and he even let us bring the other 1/2 when we arrived.<BR>The condo was beautiful and upon checking with us about anything we needed, we mentioned we were big iced tea drinkers and there was not a tea pitcher in the unit, and the same day he brought us by a beautiful pitcher that was almost too beautiful to put tea in.<BR>This was our experience and I hope all are as great as ours. The cost was significantly less than what we would of paid the resort directly and we did not have the 19%taxes/fees tacked onto the quoted resort prices.<BR>Hope this helps.

I would rather go directly through the resort so if you are not happy with your room you could most likely in a reputable place get a room change. Through the owner would be share luck with a 50-50 chance they are honest & the room is to your liking (unless you have good references or know the owner). I'd rather pay the extra money & not have to spend my time prior to my trip worrying that my experience would end up positive.

I used VRBO for a rental in Mexico but dealt with thw owner directly & only paid a deposit with the rest due on arrival. I suppose all owners can set their own rules. I had the same experience as denette with getting tons of info from the owner on the area. I think that itself would be a good indication. Were we went the owner had a house on the property so there would be an outlet to complain if necessary, but there wasn't.

I have used vrbo several times - twice in Grand Cayman, once in Hawaii, and twice in FL. Never had a problem. Units were as represented but I don't think I would choose a unit that did not post pictures. We did pay in full ahead. However, I do take precautions. I always telephone owner first to get a "feel" for him/her. Then, I contact the website to see if they have had any complaints about that particular owner and then I contact the property itself to make sure the person is the owner and is free to rent the unit. I also go to the website for the property itself to check it out. Doing this re: 2 units listed on A1vacations by the same owner, I discovered that the guy did own the places but was not free to rent because of a rental contract he had with the resort. I wasn't surprised because it took him weeks to return my initial phone call so I knew something was fishy. We think that you can't beat the prices, sometimes almost 1/2 off, and will continue to use them.

Thanks for the comments. I like the idea of knowing exactly which unit I am getting, which is something the condo mangagement has not been able to guarantee. However, I would prefer a set-up like Peggy's, pay the remainder upon arrival.<BR><BR>Denette, your experience sounds like a good one, do you know if that owner is still renting? Which unit was it?<BR><BR>Jackie, your idea to call the property to confirm ownership is a good one. Did you just call the reservation desk?<BR><BR>Thanks again!<BR>

Sammy,<BR><BR>I try emailing the property directly first and then, if I don't get a reply, I call the front desk or the manager's office or whatever they have on site. When we went to Maui, we got a 2/2 condo directly on the beach at a luxury property for $265. The office price was $425. You can get some excellent deals. The only downside, if you want to call it that, is there usually is no daily maid service but, to save all that $, I can make my own bed and put a few glasses in the dishwasher! Good luck.

Dinette....seeem that you've had a most pleasant vacation. Can you put me in touch with this condo or this jewel owner *smile*<BR><BR>Regards <BR><BR>Guy

Guy,<BR>If you will go to the vrbo website,Turks/Caicos, it is under the heading Grace Bay Condo-Coral Gardens, listing #11679, you can email the site and within about 24-48 hours will get a reply and then can start corresponding with the owner directly. I have had several people who have seen my posting and contacted me and I assume their vacation plans came together without any problems?? I do know for a fact that I have recommended this website and particular condo to a personal friend here in Tennessee, and her family has finalized plans with this particular owner, talked to him via email and personally over the phone and they are going to vacation there over the Christmas school break.<BR>Hope this helps. Glad you got a smile from my southern phrase of "a jewel of a man", we have so many here in the south.<BR>Let me know if I can help in any way. <BR>Provo has great snorkeling, beautiful beaches, wonderful restaurants, and a really laid back pace of life, friendly people. I hope it all works out for you.