Travel bargains come with all the comforts of home

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - When Patrick Cameron and his wife head to a Colorado ski resort, they book a house or condo directly from its owner through a vacation home rental Web site. It's cheaper than a hotel _ and they can take their dog.

Julie Besser of Massachusetts and her husband rent vacation homes when they travel with their grown children. She likes the space, privacy and ability to cook meals.

Jayme Anthony of Maine found bargain accommodations for the Florida trip she and her husband, their two teens and an adult friend are making next month for a wedding: a three- bedroom house in Pompano Beach for $100 a night.

They've got company. Increasingly, travelers are opting for vacation rentals _ especially when they're traveling with family or friends. Last year, Americans spent twice as much on vacation rentals as on tour packages _ and almost twice as much as they spent on cruises, says Douglas Quinby, who studied the trend for PhocusWright, a travel research firm.

The big attraction, says Bob Barnes, vice president of Zonder, a growing vacation rental Web site, is price. "Vacation rentals are a tremendous value over hotel rooms." Instead of flying away for vacation, he notes, "People are staying closer to home and renting a cabin or beach house."

A vacation home also eliminates the need for a group to meet in crowded, pricey locations like hotel bars and restaurants, notes Julian Castelli, CEO of VacationRoost, another Web site.

Case in point: When Cameron, 35, who lives in Boulder, Colo., went skiing in Steamboat Springs with his wife's family, the entire five-day rental cost just $150 per couple.

"It's such a no-brainer option," he says. 'You can find rentals anywhere."

Cameron, 35, uses VRBO.com (short for "vacation rental by owner," which puts travelers directly in touch with a home's owner. "Why do I need a middle man in this equation? We're all very comfortable buying on the Internet."

Renting a house at the beach or mountains is nothing new, but in decades past, it meant phone calls to the chamber of commerce in the desired destination to locate a local rental agent months in advance _ and likely booking a house without seeing photos first. Renting abroad often involved large country houses good for a gang but too large for a couple, or agents who specialized in luxury accommodations beyond the bank account of many travelers.

Choices have grown dramatically, say experts, due partly to the real estate boom earlier this decade in which many people bought second homes. Today's uncertain economy has pushed many owners to rent their vacation getaways, often using Web sites that didn't exist even a few years ago.

Add units from timeshares and fractional ownership resorts that also rent to travelers, and the prices come down while the options add up: more than 200,000 offerings on Miami-based Rentalo.com, 125,000 on Homeaway.com, 115,000 on VRBO.com, 100,000 on VacationRoost.com, 35,000 on Zonder.com.

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And while many of those rentals are condos on a golf course, cottages on a beach or farmhouses in the Italian countryside that require security deposits, advance payment and a seven-night stay, others are urban retreats that require only three or four nights or apartments in timeshare resorts that let vacationers book for a single night and cancel just days in advance _ just as they would in a hotel.

"The trend is to be closer and closer to the hotel industry," says Alfredo Purrinos, CEO of Rentalo.com. "More and more owners realize they have to lower their minimum stay and minimize cleaning and security fees."

Still, booking a vacation home usually isn't as simple as popping down your MasterCard on Hotels.com (though it does list some condos). Some sites connect you directly to the owner; others give you a phone number for a management company. Few _ such as Zonder.com _ provide real-time bookings.

One reason: Unlike chain hotels with standardized policies and services, each vacation rental is different. Sorting through them takes time _ and diligence.

Does the property come with linens? Accept credit cards? Require a security deposit? Have a fully equipped kitchen or just a fridge? Must you check in on a set day? Is it handicapped accessible? Are pets accepted? Is wireless or high-speed Internet access available? How often is the unit cleaned? Is a cook, daily maid or other staff available for an extra fee?

Consider this range of choices:

_On Rentalo.com, a two-bedroom condo on Sanibel without water views lists rates of $125 per night in summer with a three-night minimum stay; payment by personal check with a $200 security deposit required.

_On VRBO.com, a two-bedroom apartment near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., starts at $199 per night with no minimum stay. A cleaning fee of $100 per stay is extra; credit cards accepted.

_On Homeaway.com, a five-bedroom house in Italy's Umbria region starts at $1,295 per week _ and includes a pool; a security deposit of 300 euros ($378) typically is required. A three-bedroom, one-bath mountain cabin near Asheville, N.C., lists on the site starting at $125 per night; linens provided, credit cards accepted, two-night minimum.

_At Marriott's Crystal Shores Vacation Club on Marco Island, a two-bedroom villa rents for $489 in early May. At the Hyatt Vacation club Windward Pointe in Key West near the airport, a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment costs $450 per night this spring. Both can be rented for a single evening, with a credit card, no security deposit.

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And then there's the question of what happens if something goes wrong. That's why some renters stick to professional management companies that promise on-site support and a 24-hour contact. (That includes all VacationRoost and Zonder properties, most on Hideaways and many on Homeaway.)

But often, the best values and greatest flexibility are found by dealing directly with individual owners. And that, say experts and experienced renters, means asking up front for a 24-hour contact number and the location of services (grocers, gas stations, doctors) _ and coming prepared.

Says Julie Besser, who has rented frequently through Hideaways International, "I always bring a full medicine cabinet with me: antibiotics, cold medicine, seasickness medicine, antibiotic lotion, bug spray."

To prevent disappointments, Web sites offer multiple photos and, increasingly, traveler reviews. Several _ including Rentalo, Homeaway and VRBO _ offer free insurance up to $5,000 for renters who register their trips.

That's some comfort, but such guarantees won't cover you if you have to cancel beyond the required period, which may be 60 days or more. That's why many experts recommend purchasing a travel insurance package that includes cancellation, delays, transportation and medical coverage.

Or you may simply wait later to book your vacation rental. In years past, the choice homes might have been taken. This year, with so many options, you may not snag a palace at the last minute _ but you probably won't get stuck in a tent.

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RENTING A VACATION HOME

PROS

Vacation-home renters praise these features:

_Value: Rentals typically cost less than comparable hotel rooms.

_Space: Nearly all have living rooms; houses often have yards or pools.

_Togetherness: A group can stay together; in a hotel, you may be on separate halls or floors.

_Kitchen facilities: These offer a low-cost option for dining.

_Privacy: Rent a house, and noisy hallways aren't a problem. And your group can get together without being in a public place.

DRAWBACKS

Before you book, consider these differences from hotels:

_Security deposits: Most vacation rentals require a security deposit; a security insurance policy can minimize the expense. (Rentals at timeshare resorts are an exception; few require security or other deposits.)

_Advance payment: Most vacation rentals require payment in advance. (Again, check out insurance policies as a hedge.)

_Cancellation policies: These typically are stiffer than those you'd have at a hotel.

_No 24-hour desk: Though rentals in some resort and timeshare communities come with 24-hour staffing, a private home won't.

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© 2009, The Miami Herald.

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