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McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - Here are some of the well-known companies offering vacation rentals. The following list places agencies in categories where they have a concentration of homes; note that these agencies may also have homes in other destinations. Owners sometimes list with more than one company.

Highlights

By Jane Wooldridge
McClatchy Newspapers (www.mctdirect.com)
3/16/2009 (1 decade ago)

Published in Travel

WORLDWIDE

Four Seasons: Luxury hotel chain also offers rentals in select "residences" (fractional and wholly-owned homes or apartments) worldwide. Renters have access to all hotel facilities and services, including daily maid service; the company will also pre-stock refrigerators. Costs start around $2,000 per night for a two-bedroom villa. U.S. destinations are in Whistler and Jackson Hole; in this hemisphere, residences also are offered at Great Exuma, Bahamas; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and Peninsula Papagallo, Costa Rica. www.fourseasons.com (though in this case its easier to call, 800-819-5053.)

Hideaways International: 30-year-old company offers 10,000 homes worldwide, ranging from small Italian cottages starting at $1,200 per week to luxury homes with staff, cook and butler; a handful are in the United States. Anyone can rent; join for $195 per year and get discounts, specials and access to reviews by previous renters. The company also offers some hotels and other travel arrangements. www.hideaways.com.

Homeaway: Web site offers 125,000 condos and homes from individual property owners and management companies worldwide, with many in the U.S. and almost 19,000 in Florida. Though most require 7-night stays, many are offering shorter stays, multiple payment policies and "special offers" and discounts. Traveler reviews offered; owners are able to post a dozen photos per property. www.homeaway.com; the same company owns vrbo.com and vacationrentals.com; all offer a limited guarantee on rentals. Tip: Put in the search term "world," then sort for specials.

Redweek: Timeshare Web site includes rentals available to nonowners, with locations around the globe including many in Florida and throughout the United States. www.redweek.com.

Rentalo: Miami-based Web site in operation since 1999, with 200,000 offerings worldwide including many destinations in the U.S. and Europe, offered by individuals and property managers; the site also offers hotels and B&Bs. Arrangements vary but increasing numbers are offering stays of less than 7 days. Prices start from less than $100 per night for a studio, to more than $15,000 per week. The site offers free "worry free guarantee" up to $5,000. www.rentalo.com.

ResortQuest: Vacation rentals throughout the world, with many in the U.S. at ski, golf and beach destinations, including Florida. About 10,000 are managed by ResortQuest with on-site staff; none are timeshares. www.resortquest.com.

Villas and Apartments Abroad: 30-year-old New York-based company arranges luxury rentals in Europe, the Americas (including some in Florida) and beyond. www.vaanyc.com.

Villas of Distinction: Offers upscale rentals in the Caribbean, Europe, Napa, Hawaii and Mexico; some specials including free nights now offered. www.villasofdistinction.com.

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Wimco: 25-year-old company offers reservations from owners and managers for more than 1,600 upscale villas in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe (mostly France and Italy), Mexico and Morocco; five to seven-night minimum stay. On St. Bart's, a two-bedroom villa costs from $137 per person per night. In some locations, rentals come with discount cards for local dining. www.wimco.com.

NORTH AMERICA

"In the "worldwide" category, above, also see" Hideaways, Four Seasons, Homeaway, Redweek, Rentalo, ResortQuest. "In the "Europe" category, see" Interhome, Untours.

Hotels.com: Click on the "condos" tab, then opt for vacation homes and/or condos when running your search. Most are professionally managed condos in beach destinations, Las Vegas, Hawaii and New York, with real-time bookings and short stays allowed.

Hyatt Vacation Club: Timeshare arm of Hyatt Hotels offers units (often two-bedroom, two-bath apartments) for rent to non-owners at locations in the U.S. and the Caribbean, including Key West and Bonita Springs in Florida. Expect resort amenities, 24-hour staffing and minimal timeshare pitching. To search for them, go to www.hyatt.com; under "brands" select "Hyatt Vacation Club."

Marriott Vacation Club: Timeshare arm of Marriott Hotels offers units for rent to non-owners at locations primarily in the U.S., with some in the Caribbean and Europe. Resort amenities include 24-hour staffing, daily maid service and children's programs; don't expect extensive concierge or 24-hour room service. Timeshare pitches are by request only, say company executives. Units are available by as little as a single night, without security fees; advance payment and cancellation policies are the same as their hotels. Find them www.marriott.com; search them by picking the Marriott Vacation Club brand from the homepage.

Residences by Ritz Carlton: Luxury hotel chain offers rentals in select "residences" (condo apartments) that are part of its resort complexes in Fort Lauderdale, Key Biscayne and Bachelor Gulch, Colo., in the U.S., also in Grand Cayman and Maui. Guests pay 10-20 percent more than for standard hotel room and get all regular hotel services and amenities. Policies regarding bookings and cancellations are the same as at the hotels. Ask when you call to book if residences are available. www.ritzcarlton.com; 800-542-8680.

Vacation Rental by Owner (VRBO): Web site offers 115,000 condos and homes, primarily from individual owners. U.S. offerings are extensive, though other international destinations are also offered. Since most listings are by individual owners, prices, terms and conditions vary and may be negotiable; often pets are allowed. Owners have the option of removing negative traveler reviews. This site is owned by Homeaway and offers the same guarantee to $5,000; read terms on the Web site carefully. www.vrbo.com.

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Vacation Rentals: Web site offers 35,000 vacation homes and condos, most in the U.S. but with some offerings in the Caribbean, Mexico and Beyond. This site is owned by the same company as Homeaway and VRBO, and has similar policies. www.vacationrentals.com.

Vacation Roost: In business since 2001 (formerly known as Ski West), Vacation Roost consolidated three companies and now rents about 100,000 units in ski and beach destinations around the U.S.; all are professional managed with on-site support. Many allow rentals for long weekends or mid-week period rather than a full 7 days. The company also helps with some other travel arrangements, including car rentals. This is one of the few sites that allows online credit-card bookings; support personal is also available to discuss specific properties before you book. www.vacationroost.com.

Zonder: Web site offers real-time online bookings of more than 35,000 properties, all from professional property managers with on-site support, most in the U.S. (10,000 in Florida) but some in Central America and the Caribbean. Many offer bookings of fewer than 7 days; a typical Orlando-area booking costs $600-$1,000 for five nights in a 3-5 bedroom home. www.zonder.com.

CARIBBEAN

In the "worldwide" category above, see Four Seasons, Hideaways, Homeaway, Rentalo, The Villa Book, Villas and Apartments Abroad, Wimco. In the U.S. category, see Marriott "and" Ritz Carlton.

EUROPE

Also see the "worldwide" category above.

Gites: Farms, bed-and-breakfasts and homes in France, often highly affordable, typically for seven-night stays. www.gites-de-france.com.

Home from Home: Offers apartments in London, typically for 7-night stays. A two-bedroom flat suitable for four people starts around $1,300 for a week, depending on time of year. www.homefromhome.co.uk.

Interhome: 40-year-old company offering more than 30,000 villas and apartments, primarily in Europe but with some in the U.S. and other locations. Look at last-minute and early booking specials. www.interhomeusa.com.

Landmark Trust: Not-for-profit organization in the U.K. updates historic properties (think modern bathrooms) and rents them to vacationers for 3, 4 or 7 nights. Options include a manor gatehouse suitable for two, an apartment in Hampton Court (Henry VIII's former home), urban rooms and a private island suitable for a crowd. Prices are least expensive when British schools are in session; in winter a four-night midweek stay can cost as little as $125 per night. Most properties are in the Britain. www.landmarktrust.org.uk.

Untours: Well-known company arranges villa and car rental with one and two-week packages; local representatives supply support and advice. New York and Quebec now offered in addition to European destinations. "Sampler" packages combine several destinations. Trips offered with or without air; one-week in Provence, France, land-only, including lodging and ground transportation costs $1,630 per person. www.untours.com.

The Villa Book: More than 800 city apartments and out-of-town villas, primarily in Europe but also in the Caribbean and beyond. Most rentals are for one-week periods. The site is cleverly arranged as a book. www.villabook.com.

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VACATION RENTALS

Though each vacation rental varies with its owner, understanding the categories that fall into will help you decide which type of rental is best for you.

RENTALS BY OWNER

These are second homes, usually decorated to the owner's taste, ranging from simple houses or condos to grand villas with staff. The owner will set all rental terms _ and may be more flexible than some professional managers. Often, these are the best values.

Required length of stay: Varies, often a week but increasingly, owners are willing to take shorter stays

Terms: Security and full payment required, though payments may be staggered; often payable only by check. At least a month or two is required to cancel with refund; some allow cancellations only if the owner can re-rent.

Amenities: Vary; daily maid service typically not offered.

24-hour support: Often not; ask for recommendations for groceries, doctors and attractions in advance.

Ask for: Contacts for previous renters/references (if no web reviews), all rental policies including payment and cancellation, additional photos.

Tip: Get the exact address and check it out on Google maps before you book.

MANAGEMENT COMPANY RENTALS

These second homes typically are individually owned and often decorated to the owner's taste but managed by a professional company that handles agreement details; most offer on-site support. Some offer cancellation insurance via reputable third-party travel insurers.

Required length of stay: Varies, often a week

Terms: Security and full payment required in advance; these firms are more likely to take credit cards. At least a month or two is required to cancel with refund.

Amenities: Vary; daily maid service may be available for an additional fee.

24-hour support: Generally yes, but it's still wise to request recommendations for groceries, doctors and attractions in advance.

Ask for: Contacts for previous renters/references (if no web reviews), all rental policies including payment and cancellation, additional photos.

TIMESHARES

These vacation options may be offered by large developer/managers, such a Hyatt Vacation Club or Marriott Vacation Club, or they may be offered by individual owners who aren't using their weeks. Some are offered by smaller owner/developers who use rentals as a way to familiarize vacationers with their product in the hope that they will buy.

Required length of stay: Hyatt and Marriott allow stays as short as one night; those offered by individual owners usually require at least a week. Those offered by smaller developers vary.

Terms: If offered by Hyatt or Marriott, regular hotel policies regarding booking and cancellation usually apply. Owner-offered weeks mirror owner policies above. Those from smaller developers vary.

Amenities: Vary; most do not offer daily maid service.

24-hour support: Usually offered, but hotel services like 24-hour food service may not be available.

Tips: Timeshare author and expert Lisa Schreier (www.timeshareinsights.com) says this is not the time to buy a timeshare from a developer _ but you may get a good vacation deal by staying at a timeshare resort and agreeing to listen to the pitch in exchange for extras like show tickets or helicopter tours.

If you book from an individual timeshare owner, she says, be sure to get a letter from them alerting the timeshare office that you are authorized to use the week.

HOTEL 'RESIDENCES'

Luxury hoteliers who sell residential condos or fractional ownership _ such as Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton _ also offer "residences" rentals at select resorts. Expect to pay more than for a hotel room, though the amount will vary.

Required length of stay: Usually mirrors regular hotel policy.

Terms: Same as hotel policy.

Amenities: Residences guests have access to all regular hotel services and amenities, including daily maid service.

24-hour support: Absolutely.

___

© 2009, The Miami Herald.

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