VRBO for private rentals

A subscriber asked for info on renting rooms through Airbnb.com (Aug. ’16, pg. 15). Despite being veteran travelers, my husband and I have had no experience with Airbnb, but we have used Vacation Rentals By Owner, or VRBO (www.vrbo.com), where you go online to rent an entire apartment, studio or house. VRBO has properties all over the world, and you can get good deals.

In states from Florida to Hawaii, my husband and I have rented many properties through VRBO, including houses, condos and studios. Each of these was clean and a good value and had amenities such as items for preparing breakfast, use of a phone, parking, the use of “toys,” etc.

I do take care to thoroughly read the reviews. You have to “read between the lines.” After a bit, you can determine which ones ring true. I have sent payment in full in advance for only two of the properties, this after repeated phone conversations to ascertain an element of “knowing” the owners. Typically, I prefer to pay with a credit card, which I feel gives me some recourse should there be a problem.

My daughter used VRBO to rent a small house in Provence, France. 

In Europe, we usually go through Booking.com, Hotels.com,
Priceline.com or Venere.com for small, bed-and-breakfast-type accommodations. We also have booked with small hotels on their respective websites.

Also, I rent only from listings that include pictures. Often, a listing will have a website or be listed elsewhere, which may give a different slant.  

This is a lot of work, but it’s work I enjoy. To have the best experience, you must do your due diligence, i.e., do the research.  

HILDY MIGNONE

San Diego, CA