Country Girl Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 We have just booked tickets to Hawaii in Jan. and now I need to find a place to stay. I have been looking at what is available at VRBO but have never used them before. Does anyone have experience renting through them? Any tips for questions we need to make sure we ask before agreeing to rent? Are there things I need to be aware of? Any way to protect ourselves from being scammed? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acurtis75 Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I have used Vrbo as both a renter & to rent out my family's lake house. We've never had a bad experience. Lately i've been using home away instead because they offer deposit insurance which saves us from sending off a big check & having to wait to get our money back. I paid $39 for a house we rented in July instead of sending a $1500 deposit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I got us both a cabin near Yosemite and a condo in Oceanside, CA through them...felt it was a good experience for both us and the owners - seemed like lots of safeguards on both ends. I would not hesitate to use VRBO again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I've used it several times in different situations. It's always worked out reasonably well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2l&j Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 (edited) We used VRBO.com to rent a place on Oahu that was fabulous! We had a great experience. We have a place booked on Maui, through VRBO.com, for December. Each owner handles things a little differently. You need to make sure if cleaning fees are included or extra. Also, deposit guidelines vary. I looked at the reviews on VRBO and then searched the same place on tripadvisor.com until I felt comfortable with a place. ETA: a couple of the things we verified...if any extras are included (beach chairs, coolers, snorkel equipment), cleaning fees (some places always charge, some waive if you stay more than 5 days, etc.), cancellation policy, view (important for us to know what to expect) Edited October 17, 2011 by mom2l&j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mona100 Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I love VRBO.com. I used it 4 years ago for a cabin in the Smoky Mountains. No problems at all and got my deposit back. I used it again this year for a cabin in the Smoky Mountains. We leave next Monday. So far so good. Love that website. I like it that you deal directly with the owners and talk to them. On this cabin, after I put my request for information into the website, the owner called me an hour later and we talked for about 30 minutes. He was very very nice. He worked with me about payment since I have only one credit card with a very small limit. He let me pay it off in 3 payments versus two equal payments. You still sign a rental agreement that outlines everything. It gets sent thru email. I also think the website offers vacation insurance thru a different company but I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalknot Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 We use it as owners. For a property in Hawaii :D Which island? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMOm Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Numerous times & all great experiences! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Girl Posted October 17, 2011 Author Share Posted October 17, 2011 We use it as owners. For a property in Hawaii :D Which island? Big Island. Feel free to pm me the link to your property if it is on the BI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 We've used it probably 10 times. VRBO is great, and all the owners we've rented from have been great too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 We used it when we stayed in Sundance with our extended family. It was a fun time. Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 We used VRBO to rent a house in Vermont for a week. Very nice experience. The owner was great to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 We've used VRBO many times (Hawaii, Costa Rica, Florida). It's always my first "go to" site when planning a vacation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Yes, we've used VRBO as well as homeaway.com. Never a bad experience on either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Girl Posted October 17, 2011 Author Share Posted October 17, 2011 Thank you everyone for the replies. It sounds like VRBO is the real thing. I hadn't even heard of it before I happened to stumble across it last week when I was trying to plan our holiday. I am so glad to hear that so many of you have used it with success..... it sounds like we can use VRBO with confidence. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Girl Posted October 18, 2011 Author Share Posted October 18, 2011 Just a quick question..... has anyone ever rented a place that doesn't have reviews? There are a couple of places that don't have reviews that really interest me, but my husband says no way! Just wondering if anyone has done it or if that is a sure way to get burned. Does VRBO have any type of controls in place to make sure that the places listed are at least real and listed by real people? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 We have used it, but not on the Big Island. Trip Advisor is really helpful for getting advice on specific areas of the Island you are looking to rent. Two things we learned while looking for a condo on Maui: "short walk to the beach" might mean across the busiest highway on the Island. ( very true on Maui) Also that beach is public and there will be no beach chairs. "Cool Island breezes at night" might mean no A/C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Just a quick question..... has anyone ever rented a place that doesn't have reviews? There are a couple of places that don't have reviews that really interest me, but my husband says no way! Just wondering if anyone has done it or if that is a sure way to get burned. Does VRBO have any type of controls in place to make sure that the places listed are at least real and listed by real people? Thanks! Yes, we did. I called the owner and spoke with him directly and then felt comfortable renting it. He has now opted to post reviews on his property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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