Last updated on December 13, 2015
Nowadays a huge number of travelers opt to stay in rental apartments while on a trip to a foreign destination. This is mainly because of the advantages that come with staying at a vacation rental as compared to a hotel room. Whether you are on vacation or on a business trip, the option of having a completely furnished apartment to yourself with a variety of amenities is a welcome idea.
However, there is one very costly downside to holiday apartments – you can fall for scams. Vacation rental scams are all over the internet with the scenario always being the same. They usually involve a fake listing, request for payment mainly by wire transfer or credit card and an end of communication from the supposed home/apartment owner once payment is made. Before you realize it, your money is gone and you have no place to stay. Nobody wants to end up in such a situation and lose hundreds of dollars. Therefore, follow the following tips and protect yourself the next time you hunt for holiday apartment rentals.
Go For Known Properties
If possible, only rent an apartment that someone you know has already stayed in. Ask for referrals from anyone you know. This is by far the safest, easiest, and fastest way of finding a holiday apartment. What’s more, you can also ask for rental policies, payment methods and any other concerns you may have. Alternatively, you could rent through vacation rental websites that you know and are sure of their legitimacy.
Think Twice
If the deal is too good to be true, take a step back, think twice, and investigate further. While rental vacations vary depending on location, available amenities, number of rooms, and special discounts offers, it is wise to be careful. You should be wary of holiday apartments that offer huge discounts. Check for rental prices of houses within the apartment’s location so that you can get an idea of the going rates. Then proceed to do further investigations to determine whether the apartment exists and if the asking price is actually true.
Consider Mode Of Payment
The safest way to pay for a holiday rental is by credit card therefore ask the apartment’s owner or renting agent if they offer this option. Try as much as possible not to pay through checks, wire transfers, cash, western union or other similar methods as they are the modes of payment commonly asked for by scammers.
Verify Existence Of Property
There are a variety of applications such as Google Maps, which you can use to verify the actual existence of the rental apartment you are interested in. Most scammers use false addresses or real ones that house offices, warehouses, or vacant lots. By searching the given address, you will be able to determine whether the apartment exists or not.
Do Online Searches
Always conduct a thorough online search on the apartment of interest before making any type of payment. There are several ways in which you can conduct an online search. You can search for the owner’s name, images of the property, the property address, who pays the property’s taxes, or the owner of a rental website when using one. Also, check out accommodation reviews on travel sites and business directories such as Trip Advisor, TripWolf, and Yelp to find out what other people have to say about their stay at various establishments.
Gabe Stone has travelled all over the world mostly to the UK due to his busy working schedule. Gabe’s favorite place to stay is Edinburgh Pearl Apartments and he recommends them the next time you find yourself in the UK for an extended stay.
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