FWIW- I think portia's info is excellent but agree that the link to her rental violates Fodors rules for advertising. So it isn't a matter of a poster disapproving, it is taking what was a good contribution to the forum and then going one step too far.

If you really want to just be helpful, ask the editors to remove the post and then repost it without the link. To notify the editors, just click the yellow triangle. {Make sure you copy and paste it somewhere before you do, so you won't have to retype it}.

We had a similar situation to B_Goolsby. I was amazed recently when a good friend rented a Holland Park flat in London through HomeAway. All appeared to be quite good until 48 hours prior to departure, when she still had not received arrival instructions. Emails started to go unanswered, phone messages (although someone did answer the phone at the flat management) were not returned. In the final 24 hours, we had to find 3 hotel rooms to accomodate her family. I was stunned that HomeAway took no responsibility for helping her. She was never contacted by the management company again. It appears to have been a complete scam.

This experience soured me on HomeAway, who advertised that they "provide travelers with memorable experiences and benefits". When it went wrong, they provided nothing. They take no responsibilty for vetting the listings. We are in hopes that my friend will at least get her money back because she did pay with a credit card.

Know that whoever you rent through, you are most likely still dealing with HomeAway, Inc.

From Wiki:
"HomeAway, Inc., based in Austin, Texas,.....representing approximately 700,000 paid vacation rental home listings......The HomeAway portfolio of websites includes HomeAway.com, VRBO.com and VacationRentals.com in the United States; HomeAway.co.uk and OwnersDirect.co.uk in the United Kingdom; HomeAway.de in Germany; Abritel.fr and Homelidays.com in France; HomeAway.es and Toprural.com in Spain; AlugueTemporada.com.br in Brazil; and HomeAway.com.au in Australia. In addition, HomeAway operates BedandBreakfast.com"

As DebitNM mentioned it is against the rules - hence your post lacks credence, good advice or not.

If my post violates rules, it can be deleted by the administrators. I posted to be helpful to those that are new at or confused by vacation rentels and how vacation rental portals operate.

My vacation property listing at the bottom of my remarks can be seen as an advertisement or as a way to educate yourself about the type of information to look for when researching/renting a property.

If you do not want to give credence to my knowledge, that's fine. I posted to be helpful. That's all.

Best to all.

I had rented from VRBO in the past without any issue. However all it takes is one bad experience which unfortunately happened to me when renting a property from VRBO in Stowe, VT. I tried to submit negative review to warn others and VRBO would not allow. To make matters worse the owner who had refunded us our security deposit then stopped payment on the check b/c I tried to post a negative review. Please let this serve as a warning to never pay by check only credit card. I learned my lesson the hard way and will never again use VRBO.

I own a condo and rent exclusively through vrbo/homeaway. I have only been renting for about 1 1/2 years but I am not sure what you all are talking about when you say that vrbo does not post negative feedback.

I haven't ever received a negative review but my sister who owns a condo across the street has; as well as my friend who owns a condo on the beach about 10 minutes away.

It is true that the condo owner gets a copy of the review a few days before it is posted and has a chance to leave an "owner comment" with the review.

However, I don't think I can, as the owner, block or edit the review in any way.

In this case, a credit card would have been good because the credit card company would have provided some sort of defense.

My family rented VRBO 240500 in Stowe Vermont. We were asked to provide a separate check for the (very large) security deposit of $750. Prior to our arrival I wrote the owner and asked if we could bring our dog.

She replied IF I was willing to pay for additional cleaning costs. However, I was able to find another place for my dog while we were traveling and did not bring it.

The homeowner met us at the house and took us around for about 30 minutes, telling us to take off our shoes, how to open and close the windows and window coverings, how to work the tv, etc.

She could clearly see we did not have a dog with us, did not ask to see a dog, did not ask about a dog, and was there when the rest of the group finished emptying the car.

When it came time to get my security deposit back, she had cashed and KEPT the check, saying she was keeping it because we brought a dog.

The terms of the contract say that after the property is found to be in good condition, the deposit would be returned. I have contact the owner, as well as VRBO, but the owner refuses to return the deposit. Further, she has not even documented what her "additional expenses" were, but simply kept the entire amount.

VRBO does not stand behind the contracts, and the owner certainly did not comply with hers.

In addition, the property was noisy with 3 different construction projects going on around it, starting at 7AM 6 days a week.

We have owned a rental property on Grand Cayman since 1995. I started Advertising on Homeaway, VRBO and Flip Key/Trip Advisor approximately 15 years ago.
I keep in touch with our rental Guests through the rental process with advice and recommendations. My rental guests can email or call me anytime for anything. If there is a problem during their stay I am available to have my property manager on Island solve the problem. My property is in top 3-4 booked homes and has 65 or so Guest Comments. The renters know they are working with the owner and appreciate it.
Homeaway and VRBO ( and other sites they now own) are trying to get into the Booking Business with their new “Click to Book” which will have them do the booking, hold the money and basically cut out the Owner. Of course they will be charging the owner for this “Service”.
VRBO will not be Vacation Rental By “Owner” anymore. No contact with the owner at all. Hopefully another Website will come along and supplant HAW and VRBO.
HAW and VRBO are downright Greedy

Too bad you can't make as much money so easily using VRBO's website. I think you are the greedy one. It's not your website, advertise on Craigslist if you want something so cheap. I suppose you don't want to do that because you think you are getting something of value from VRBO, right? I think it is a service to have VRBO act as escrow agent. I believe that's what AirBnB does and they have to get with the competition.

Besides, VRBO has BOok It Now as an option, no one is required to use it.