I’ve been reading reviews around the web on vacation rentals.  Repeatedly, the listing related to those reviews and their guest comments are old.  And you may have guessed by now, the reviews on the listing are great but the reviews elsewhere aren’t.

Here’s an example: http://www.vrbo.com/159287#comments

You’ll see the comments are over two years old.  The bad review site said, among other things: “this is the filthiest place we have ever encountered.”

http://www.vrwd.org/vacation-rentals-complaints/palm-springs-vacation-rental-disaster-216.html

So here’s the learning point: if you are solely basing your decision on reviews on the listing site itself (which is a stupid idea,) make sure the reviews are current.

A site with old reviews can say a lot about the owner or management company.  There are a lot of third party review sites for vacation rentals out there.  I’ll write a post about them soon.

I write extensively about guest comments in The Vacationers Guide to Vacation Rentals.  Go here to get your free copy of Chapter 4: What To Do When You Arrive At Your Vacation Rental.  Based on the feedback we’ve received, it’s the most important chapter in the book.

Make some trails!

I have no idea how long this tool has been up on TripAdvisor.com but it’s there and IT ROCKS!

What is it?

It’s a costing tool, (my words, not theirs) that helps you calculate “Which stretches your travel budget farther” Vacation Rentals or hotels?

Here’s how it works.

You enter the city you are interested in.  Actually just the first few letters and the Tripadvisor website will start to populate cities for you.

You choose number of adults and kids.  Then choose number of nights.

Then, and here’s the cool part, you tell it where you are going to eat.  Here are the options
We’ll eat some meals out.
We’ll eat out all of the time.
We’ll cook for ourselves.

Then click “Compare and Save” and it then gives you an estimate of lodging and meals cost, sums them, then does the math.  And shows you how much you save with a VR.

According to TA: *Estimates represent total cost for your party based on average lodging and meal costs in the selected destination. Additional taxes, fees and tips may apply.

So how cool is that huh!  At the moment I have no idea how they crunch the numbers, I’ll do some checking around and report back.  If you know how they do it, please, post here!

But THAT is one awesome tool!  USE IT!

And remember, the first thing you need to do is download a copy of chapter four of The Vacationers Guide To Vacation Rentals and then buy the full blown copy for your vacation planning, executing and following up.

Here’s the TripAdvisor tool.

After you figure out where you want to go and if you’re going to save money by renting a vacation rental, go here to choose one:
HomeAway is the vacation rental network with over 115,000 listings

Make Some Trails!

T

I just finished with the entire menu of videos HA posted on their site.  The ad that ran in the super bowl is just a taste of the smorgasbord of videos they now have.  I’m only going to speak to the Super Bowl ad.

First of all, I liked the ad.  I think it could have gone further but, it’s not my dime they are spending and I’m sure they spent a few.

Let me start with the end: “Rent a house for half the cost of a hotel.”  Well… maybe.

:: ::
HOLD UP! … ARE YOU SAYING A TV AD IS MIS-LEADING… THE INHUMANITY

:: ::
While explicitly saying “half the cost” is accurate in some instances, it’s not for everything offered.  I think this could create push-back from new potential renters.  But what I’m wondering is the pushback from the VR owners.  Especially those that are already discounting prices.

I’ve been watching this Super Bowl ad deal at HA evolve since October and don’t recall anyone from HA reaching out (I get their emails) to the VR Owner community  requesting feedback or suggestions.  If they did and I missed it, please let me know.  My suggestion would have been: “Rent a house for a fraction of the cost of a hotel.”  More accurate; more ability to manage expectations; less “hypie”; creates mental theatre where the viewer defines “fraction.”

:: ::
I love the idea of the Griswolds.  Frankly, it’s brilliant.  Where the idea loses water with me is that anyone who has watched any of the Vacation series knows they run into problem after problem.  It’s evident in the 30 second spot.  What is not evident, and maybe this is the gist of the ad I don’t know, is how HA can solve the problem.  But they appear to be solving a “financial” problem, and not an accomodation problem.

:: ::
I just looked at the 26 responses to the ad on HA.  One guy hates it as he has to wade through the flash video to get to checking, however, he took the time to write such.  One person said they clicked through to HA off of the add.  Many VR owners pimping their own properties.  Most everyone loves the ad.  So that’s 1 out of 26, just shy of a 4% response REMARKABLE!  From a pure mathematical stance that shows this ad is a 100% winner!

:: ::
Back to the critique: I would have liked to have them bash the hotel less and show the benefits of vacation rentals more.  Show them entering the Napolean Suite then cut to the grand kids in their spaceous rooms; show the valet kid then show the personal (and secure) garage; show the guy at the counter, then show the kids/grandkids excitedly coming out of the house to greet the grand parents.  AHHHH hell… this could go on and on.  I’m no Madison Ave. ad exec, I’m just postulating.

:: ::
Bottom line: I laughed at the ad; found it compelling and am glad that HA spent the cash to spread the word about vacation rentals.  Good job HA!

:: ::
Remember to download your free copy of chapter 4 of The Vacationers Guide to Vacation Rentals and then get the full edition to make your next vacation unbelievable.

:: ::

You can see what HomeAway has to offer here:
HomeAway is the vacation rental network with over 115,000 listings

:: ::
Make some trails!
Terry

In an article published yesterday by The Yorkshire Evening Press: “… the longer people spent online, the less likely they were to be happy.”  Well, DUH!  The user group must have been trying to find a vacation rental online.
Takeaway to renters: do your homework before you start your search.
Takeaway for owners: make it easier for me to find you!

To make your searches shorter, more exciting and worth your while, get The Vacationers Guide To Vacation Rentals.

Make some trails!
T

Cleaning the Vacation Rental Before You Leave
I am not afraid of putting in the effort to follow the vacation rental house guide when it comes to cleaning up after myself. Usually the cleaning instruction list is straight forward, easy to understand and simple to carry out but not always.

Leave it the way you found it
With the exception of laundry or bedding, most vacation rental cleaning lists look like: remove all used bedding, put the dirty laundry in the bath tub, wipe down the counters, take your stuff out of the fridge, take the trash out, fill and run the dishwasher, (sometimes) put a load in the clothes washer and run, maybe run the vacuum. Basic stuff. Easy to follow.
These activities, if you are maintaining the rental during your stay and have responsible people with you, take up all of, maybe, an hour. Maybe.

The cleaning list from hell
However, once (and only once) was the list somewhat extensive. It included everything from above but also had the following:
Wash all non-carpeted floors using the supplied mop, bucket and cleaner. (It was a terrible mop and we had to buy one.) Wipe down inside of refrigerator. Clean out inside of microwave. Make sure all dishes are cleaned in dishwasher and put away in their proper spot (had to buy more dishwashing detergent.) Wash and dry masterbedroom linens, have them folded and put on master bedroom bed. Wipe down all toilets!

Read the housebook upon arrival
The house book said: “If any of the above items are not done you will not receive your deposit back.”
I read the house book upon arrival and was furious. I called the owner and she was direct and said something like “Well, it’s in the house book, and we told you you had to do some typical cleaning before you left. You knew this before you signed the agreement so that’s all I have to say.  A few descriptive adjectives flew into my head as she told me this but I bit my tongue. I looked at my copy of the rental agreement and she was right, it said “typical cleaning prior to leaving is required.”
I’m sure I could have pushed her on this as I had my computer with me with ALL of my previous rental agreements on it and could have given her a “real” description of “typical cleaning” requirements but that would have taken longer than actually cleaning.

How to handle a vacation rental clean freak
During our stay, we fastidiously complied with the potential cleanup list. We did as she asked, exactly. As I said, I did buy the new mop and other cleaning supplies, but we did not charge her. We followed the instructions exactly and in the end got our deposit back.  In other words: do what they ask you to do.  Remember, you have the right to post a review later.

What really pissed me off was that we had some friends with us. They were aghast at what they had to do during their vacation to keep track of their “filth.” I felt sorry for them and for that matter those future vacation rental owners due to the owner’s onerous demands.

Our friends travel a lot and I thought they would appreciate seeing what it’s like in a rental as opposed to a hotel. The mom was miffed and I mean way mad at what she had to tend to with her kids during the stay. She said she would never rent a house again if this is what she had to do each time.

How it turned out
After I got back my deposit I posted a scathing review of the owner, not her house, on her site. Which, surprise, never got posted to her site. I have the posting on my computer and will post it to a site for reviews soon, probably on www.flipkey.com.  (You’re welcome Flip.)

Bottom line to cleaning Vacation Rentals
When renting a home, know what you’re in for on every front. Make sure you understand what your responsiblities are from entrance to exit.

The Vacationers Guide to Vacation Rentals
The best way to get the full spectrum of things you need to cover is to buy The Vacationers Guide to Vacation Rentals, What to do Before, During and After your next Vacation.
Make some trails! (But keep them clean!)