Finding vacation homes on the Internet is a popular pastime.
One Web site alone, HomeAway.com, claims more than 100 million annual traveler visits to browse a database of more than 160,000 vacation rental homes across 100 countries. The Texas-based company has affiliates in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain.
A Miami-based competitor called Rentalo offers both travelers and travel agents vacation and business travel properties in all price ranges in cities and resort areas.
If these inventories don't show you anything interesting, there are scores of travel message boards where vacation rentals are posted. Do a simple search for "vacation home rentals" and your destination and you should find postings if the area is a popular spot.
With the Internet, these opportunities are easier to advertise to a geographically diverse audience. Their availability is so widespread that the popularity of this option seems to increase each year.
But are such rentals a good deal?
Not for everyone. Rates at some locations will approach or exceed what you'd pay for a resort room. That beautiful three bedroom home on the water in Eleuthra will cost $800 day and perhaps afford you fewer recreational options than a resort hotel. You must shop carefully.
Larger travel parties often benefit more from these deals, as do people who tend to want to relax. Renting a house on a lake with great fishing might be ideal for enthusiastic anglers, but not such a great buy for those who want to combine a variety of activities and sightseeing with their fishing.
Click "next" and read some tips for home stay advertisements and find some additional resources.
