- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
Comments (10)
Print
Save/ShareI've long assumed that renting a vacation home meant rounding up eight people for a week-long getaway. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s common to book a rental for merely a long weekend.
A case-in-point: The average booking for a home, cabin, or condo is just four nights on Zonder.com, a site that lists private, professionally managed rentals in the U.S., Caribbean, and Central America. The average group size is only four to five people, which is also smaller than I expected.
Q: How is the economic downturn changing the way vacation rentals are being handled?
A: Because of the recession, many management companies are loosening their booking restrictions, and we are taking advantage of that. Negotiate by asking these questions.
• Is there any flexibility with the minimum stay? Though one-night stays aren’t common, sometimes you can get a three-day rental for a long weekend.
• A Saturday-to Saturday stay is especially popular in ski destinations. See if that requirement can be waived.
• Can the lead time be shortened? Some management companies require you to book at least seven days in advance but that causes them to miss last-minute reservations.
Q: Other than thinking you need to rent for a week, what are other common misconceptions that people have about vacation rentals?
A: Don’t assume popular destinations have limited inventory. Just outside of Orlando, for example, you could recently book a five-bedroom home with a pool for less than $200 per night, versus a 12-by-12-square-foot hotel room for the same price. Even in Hawaii, we have condos for under $200 per night, such as this recent deal.
Q: Any other tips?
A: Go in off-season. Stay away from bank and school holidays, like spring break. Even going one week before or after the peak season can save you money. Consider visiting mountain destinations in the summer. For example, a two-bedroom Park City townhouse recently went for $479 per night during peak season. An off-peak rental would cost just $234 per night, or about 50 percent less. If you aren't finding what you need online, call 866/613-3166. Our booking agents are available 24/7 and are good at finding properties.
MORE RENTAL WEBSITES
Budget Travel's Vacation Rental Handbook
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
This economic downturn really does mean great travel deals, if you can afford to travel, of course. And piggy-backing on that things like off-season travel is a great idea. I live in the mountains of Colorado, and I'm amazed at how few people take advantage of summer here--it's gorgeous! You can find great deals, and even enjoy things like mountain-biking at the ski resorts for a fraction of the winter costs. It's my favorite season.
Posted By Irv on January 21, 2009, 1:41 PM
The economic downturn also means great deals for vacation rental owners as well. For instance ravant.com is one of the largest vacation rental listing sites online and they offer absolutely free listings to owners and managers with no limitation on photos or the number of listings.
Listings never expire and there are lots of necessary features included with every free listing.
Posted By howard on January 22, 2009, 12:03 PM
One possible issue with renting a vacation rental for only 1-2 nights is the ubiquitous cleaning fee, often $75 - $100. Most vacation rentals I have stayed in require this one-time fee, regardless the length of your stay. On occasion, I have negotiated out of it by doing the cleaning myself.
Posted By Lauren from Northwest Cheapsleeps on January 24, 2009, 12:31 PM
Most European "in city" vacation rental homes and apartments have minimum stays of less than one week... and most are for couples and small families, not large groups. (Here in Lisbon, Portugal, three nights is the normal minimum.) Better yet, for the price of a basic hotel room, you can enjoy a lovely fully-equipped home with room to relax. Vacation rentals are fantastic; just be careful to choose one that has been independently "vetted" by an organization like SpecialPlacestoStay.com, YourHolidayMatters.com or one of the incognito online travel writers (MSNBC's Well-Mannered Traveler), bloggers, etc. Happy travels!
Posted By Deb Kleber on January 24, 2009, 1:51 PM
Hmm, food for thought there! I just wouldn't have thought it was possible to go self-catering for stays of less than a week. But the advice of looking only for approved properties is one worth taking on board - thanks for the tips!
Posted By Jane on January 31, 2009, 9:27 AM
Here in Ontario weekly rentals only are common in the months of July and August because there is very high demand. Outside of that pretty much anything goes with mostly a two-night minimum. Cleaning is rarely offered - the usual deal is that renters leave the place the way they found it. Finding a cleaning service in cottage country is like the proverbial hen's teeth. Finally, renting with an agency does not cost anymore than a private rental, and you can be assured that the place has been independently reviewed. Cottagenews.ca is a good place to start.
Posted By Heather on February 1, 2009, 10:55 AM
does anyone have some good sites for budget vacation rentals in europe, northern africa, and/or india?
Posted By lisa on February 2, 2009, 7:11 PM
We are currently offering shorter stays in our self catering Maine vacation rentals here in the Moosehead Lake Region of Greenville Maine.
Those guests who are able to stay a week get rewarded for staying the week with a discounted rate. In these times, not everyone can afford to stay the entire week. The Cozy Moose is offering economic relief in the form of shorter stays / nightly rentals. Traditional vacation rental weeks during the summer may be broken up into three and four night stays. Everyone needs a vacation, and shorter stays are economically feasible for vacationers who wish to travel and need a break
from everyday life.
Last minute maine budget lodging discounts and specails are offered as well. So what are you waiting for, plan a visit to the Cozy Moose and enjoy moose watching, hiking, biking, boating, rafting, kayaking, and experience a lakeside vacation in Maine.
Posted By Heather Davis on March 11, 2009, 11:35 AM
Since the down turn of the economy, many vacation rentals are offering tremendous discounts.
Posted By Phyllis Hall on August 10, 2009, 9:17 AM
As an owner of two vacation rentals in Savannah, Georgia, I thought these tips were good. I'd like to add one more: take advantage of last-minute rats. Many owners (like ourselves) will give last-minute rates for bookings within the next two weeks. These are often 15-35% off the standard rate.
Posted By Rachelle Allouche on November 27, 2009, 12:46 PM