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By now you have probably seen Timeshare Vacation Tour offers that seem too good to be true. They can offer breathtaking adventures to remote locations and beautiful resorts for low prices. I’m sure you’ve said to yourself: “What is the catch?”I know I have.

To be honest there isn’t really a big catch. In most cases all you have to do is lend some of your time to preview a vacation resort. Not a big deal at all.

A timeshare vacation might be a good choice if you are in search of a romantic vacation or just want to go on an exciting trip with some friends.

What is wrong with saving hundreds of dollars for a once in a lifetime opportunity? Would you say no to a tropical vacation just because you have to take part in a resort tour? I know I wouldn’t… especially if I might a stay in a beautiful tropical resort villa that comes complete with a Jacuzzi tub.

Of course if you are not interested in taking a tour of a resort, but still want all the comforts of the tropical villa, I would suggested a Vacation Home Rental. You can still save some money and get all the comfort and privacy you need.

Disappointment is probably the biggest risk when you are renting any sort of vacation home, apartment, condo, or cottage. Quite simply, it is not getting exactly what you have paid for. You often pay for your vacation rentals upfront and in full before you even have a chance to see the home. To add to that, many vacation rentals have no provision for refunds after you arrive. You have a great deal of money at stake when it comes to renting a vacation home.What you want to look out for when renting a vacation home is misrepresentation of property, and the old bait and switch.

Anyone who is renting out their properties wants to rent them as often as possible so they can make as much money as possible. One way a vacation rental owner can do that is by stretching the truth when listing and describing the property to make it sound and look better than it actually is. It is similar to padding your resume when you are going to your first job at 16. A 10-minute drive to the beach can become “easy access to the beach.” Shabby or run down magically becomes “charming.” The bus that comes three times a day becomes “great access to public transport.” “Sleeps six” might even mean four beds, a couch, and a cot.

On rare occasion you run into people who pull the bait and switch. These dishonest rental agencies and owners will get you out to your location only to “inform” you that the apartment or house you have rented is being repaired. They then offer you a run down, out of the way location that is not what you paid for. Nor is it anywhere close to where you wanted to be.

There is nothing anyone can do to guarantee that you will not be disappointed, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something you can do. Don’t tolerate a bad rental. If you believe the property was misrepresented, take action as soon as you see the problem. Call the rental agency wherever it might be and ask for immediate correction or refund. In foreign countries, immediately explore your rights as a consumer in the local jurisdiction.

Do you have a Vacation Rental horror story that you would like to share with us, to help warn people of what to look for? Let us know, leave a comment.

Happy Independence Day to all the Americans out there from the Vacation Rentals International crew. We hope that your BBQs, family gatherings and fireworks go off without a hitch. So here is the question we are asking you – What are your plans to top it next year?

July 4th is an important celebration. Not only is it a celebration of the United States’ independence, it is also an important family gathering. Families traditionally come together to enjoy giant cookouts with friends and family. Sure, it is great to have it in your back yard but just imagine getting the whole family together at a beautiful beach house rental on Virginia Beach. Or make the 4th of July extra special by renting out a home in Miami Beach. These are all great possibilities, but you have to plan ahead. That is why we are giving you the heads up now.

You might be wondering why you would want to plan this early. What is the point of planning July 4th 2007 on July 5th 2006 right? Well the fact of the matter is that there are already families all over the United States who celebrate the 4th of July in style in beautiful Vacation rental homes every year. Many of these families have vacation rentals they go back to every year. So if you want to start a great new family tradition it is best to take the bull by the horns and get started now!

If you have a second vacation home you are looking to rent, you don’t neccisarily have to go through a property management company. Infact renting out your vacation home without help from a property management company could save you as much as half your rental income. The stigma that vacation homes are just for the wealthy is no more.

We have found a few great tips and websites that can aid you in making a profit from renting your vacation home out. Christine Karpinsk, a self-taught vacation property owner, can offer you a few good tips right out of the gate.

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I was surfing the web today and found a warning to vacation rental owners on Travel-Library.com that everyone should be aware of. If you are a vacation rental home owner listen up:

Owners, watch out for suspicious emails as there are many scams out there trying to get money out of owners. For your protection, ignore any emails that look suspicious and where you suspect pishing or identity theft scams.

Also if you get emails with no substantial information requesting that you call them back - it is generally better to ignore, because if it is not fraudulent it will most likely end up being a waste of everyone’s time. If the request is legitimate, they can include the dates of travel and other relevant information in the request.

Read the whole warning to vacation rental owners

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Freelance writer David Leonhardt has come up with 10 very good reasons why renting a vacation home is far better than getting a hotel room for your vacation. We thought you would enjoy them.

1. Not toiling to find ideal, adjoining rooms.

2. Everybody gets privacy, without having to worry about where the kids are.

3. You don’t have to share the common area with strangers, but you can still lounge around together.

4. More than one bathroom. Need I say more?

5. Lots and lots and lots of more room. This is usually the main selling feature.

6. Private pool, in most cases.

7. Usually cost less than hotels.

8. Store cold drinks, ice creams, fresh fruit or any other snacks you fancy, which is a huge cost saver, suggests villa owner Christine Creasy.

9. Barbecue anytime you want. You can still eat out, but you don’t HAVE to.

10. You don’t have to take home several weeks’ supply of dirty laundry.

A successful vacation can be what you make of it. If you have children or teenagers vacations can be a little more stressful. We have composed a list of vacation Rental tips to help making taking all your kids along on vacation much easier for you and for them.

• Choose a destination that suits everyone’s age. The last thing you need is to go on a trip not everyone in your family can appreciate. Have a family meeting and get everyone’s input, that way when the time comes to choose everyone can have something they want.
• Commit you time. Make sure, if your teenager works, he or she can get the time off. There is nothing worse than planning a trip only to have one of your own kids unable to come with you.
• Lay down the law before you even leave the house. Your kids need to know what is considered appropriate behavior while on a trip, especially if they are younger and unsure of what to expect.
• Give your children responsibilities. Let them back their own suitcase, and give them their own carry-on bags to be responsible for. Make sure they have something fun to do while traveling like coloring books, videos games, or books to read.
• Carry current photos of your children. That way if your child gets lost you can easily identify them.
• Always pack a first aid kit. No matter where your vacation rental is located, you never know if someone will get injured, and you aren’t likely to receive a large first aid kit from the owners.

Do you have anymore vacation rental tips that you think can be useful, let us know in a comment.

If you are new to the world of Vacation Rentals, you may be curious as to how you go about actually finding a Vacation Rental home that suits you. There are a lot of details that first time renters may over look or not think about when beginning their search for a summer rental property.

If you and or your family are thinking about renting a summer dream home, stop thinking now and get going. Starting the search early is probably the most important part of finding your summer home. In any popular place you will find families and groups of friends who rent the same places ever summer. These loyalists book time year after year and if you don’t try and book earlier you may miss out.

You are also going to want to know what you want. If you don’t have a specific vision in your mind when you are looking, you may over look something important. Do you have a pet that you want to bring along? You will have to find a rental property that allows pets. Do you have small children or are you traveling with older people? You might want to find a property that is close to the beach or the specific attraction you are interested in. Don’t worry about being picky, if you want a big grill for family BBQs, search out the rental home with the biggest grill. There are enough Vacation Rental homes around that you will find something that suits almost all your need.

And finally something that we all think about, but sometimes overlook, read the fine print. Before you sign anything know that this is a serious commitment. It is very important you know all the fine details, terms, physical layout of the home or apartment, if there is a repair service, rules, furnishings, local transportation, financial arrangements, deposits, insurance, the list could go on and on. Knowing all the details will minimize the risk of any unwanted surprises. Be sure you know what you are getting yourself into.
It sounds like a lot to remember, but take everything step by step and you will be fine. Just don’t forget have fun in the process. This is your vacation after all!