Travelers Blog - Vacation Rentals by Rentalo.com

When traveling to a foreign country and specially one with a foreign language, travelers are exposed to all kinds of possible scams. Being aware of them and staying alert is the best way to avoid getting ripped off. Scams are usually classified in into three different categories: overcharging, deceiving and simply outright theft.  Whenever possible, do your homework and research your future destination. Try to know in advance how much things like a taxi ride cost, and which things may be subject to scam. Nowadays it is very easy to get this information as there are numerous travel blogs and online communities that can help you with this task.
If you are not able to get this information, then common sense is a good option. Inform your travel companion of your itinerary, try to avoid answering simple questions to strangers and don’t carry big amounts of cash and valuable things with you. Remember you are not required to be polite, instead be a little suspicious of extremely helpful people; it might save you from being robbed.

Too Friendly to Be True?

Friendly locals are one of the most common scam strategies. Based on the idea that you will rely on the scammer’s “local knowledge,” these people will give you advice that is actually deceptive. An example of this scam strategy can be those people that offer to get you a good deal but “under the table” on something that you were not really asking for a discount. Instead of giving you a good deal they sell you a fake item. Usually most of them simply get you to pay more on the item of what you should really pay, so if people are being too helpful, it might just be too friendly to be true.

Too Much for a Good

This scam strategy is very similar to the previous one. With this strategy scammers base on the tourist’s ignorance of local prices and get you to pay over the market rate for goods. A good example for this scam is taxi rides. In many countries taxi rides can be “negotiated” between the taxi driver and the passenger. Just because you look foreign or because they hear you speak another language, taxi drivers may try to overcharge a ride just to see if you pay whatever they say. This is one of those situations in which being well informed about local prices becomes very handy.

Too Pretty to Be True?

In this scam, scammers trap you in a bad situation and force you to pay money to get out of it. Nightlife tours offered by attractive women are an example of such situation. Good looking and well dressed girls approach gentlemen with the excuse of having some drinks. Those who accept may end up at a deserted joint with a bill that runs into thousands and with  no way out other than paying the bill. So, if you want to go for some drinks with a pretty girl beware, because she might just be too pretty to be true!

Have you ever thought of how much of your knowledge and desire to travel to other places in the world is influenced by the movies you watch? It has always mesmerized me to see the power that the film industry exerts on tourism.

A recent example is the Mama Mia movie. The setting of this movie is a Greece island called Kalokari and the main character runs a beautiful hotel called Villa Donna. Apparently after the movie was released this island and the hotel became so popular that people were trying to book their vacation in both Kalokari and Villa Donna. Funny enough, neither the island nor the hotel exist. The real name of the island is Skopelos and the hotel was built on the 007 stage at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.

Another good example is the Harry Potter movies. According to BBC News, these films “led to a 120% rise in visitors to Northumberland’s Alnwick Castle” in England; and “have brought about £9m worth of tourism to the region.”

And if we look at examples in the U.S, things don’t change much. Few people visited Fort Hays in Kansas until Kevin Costner’s Indian saga, “Dances with Wolves.” The movie is set there and after its release people flocked to Fort Hays, but what not many people know is that it was really shot in South Dakota.

Movies are constantly bombarding us with information about other places. I believe that if this information is used correctly it can lead us to discover some of the most amazing destinations, which otherwise we might have never thought of. To be honest, after watching Mrs. Doubtfire and the charming San Francisco Cable Car and beautiful streets I was one of those film-influenced tourists who booked a flight on their next vacation. Films can be a great source of information when deciding what destination to visit next. So next time you are watching a movie pay close attention to its settings, you might find your dream destination. But be careful, not all you see in movies is always true!

Leave us a comment! Have you ever decided a vacation destination after watching a movie?

Traveling during these times of economic hardship may seem like a crazy idea to many; but smart travelers know that it may be an opportunity for fun traveling. After all, regardless of the situation a vacation is always important to charge our batteries and believe it or not budget traveling may result quite an adventure!

Transportation: The Expensive Part of Traveling

We all know that one of the most expensive parts of traveling is almost always transportation. Airport taxes and fuel and security taxes only add to the cost, making air traveling very pricey. However, there are different websites on the internet that can help you find that rate you are looking for. Kayak.com and bookingbudy.com are two excellent alternatives. These two websites are very easy to use and help you find quickly an affordable alternative. You may have to travel at night or during the week but prices are worth it.

Lodging: Hotels vs Vacation Rentals

I am doing this blog for Rentalo so of course my option when it comes to lodging is vacation rentals. And yes I am a little biased, I truly consider vacation rentals a good alternative for families, but is up to you to prove it. Besides lower night rates, vacation rentals also offer the comfort of having a fully equipped kitchen where to cook. Instead of spending lots of money eating out you can cook at the comfort of your own vacation rental, saving money in food as well.

Dinning: Locals Know Better

If you don’t want to spend time in the kitchen, there are also other ways to save in dinning. A rule of thumb is going with the locals. Street stalls with a lot of people are almost always good and cheap. When it comes to restaurants try to stay away from main streets and give a chance to smaller side street restaurants Another alternative is to have big lunches and small dinners. Many restaurants have specials during lunch time, so in order to save you can enjoy a nice restaurant lunch at a lower price and later have a grocery store type of dinner instead.

Destinations: Don’t go to Paris, Go to Buenos Aires

Another good way of saving when traveling is to visit less touristic places. There are a lot of destinations that offer incredible entertainment opportunities and are not as expensive and crowded as the more popular ones. Try searching for a destination that offers a good exchange rate; Latin American destinations are a good example. Most of the times these destinations result more interesting than what one thinks. If you want to travel in North America then apply a similar concept, don’t stay in San Diego, stay in Oceanside instead.

The most important thing when trying to lower travel costs is to spend a good amount of time researching before leaving. Good planning will always make a difference in your overall travel experience and hopefully in your pocket!

Winter time is approaching and many of us are planning road trips to visit our loved ones and spend an incredible holiday season. Driving during winter can be a scary experience especially if you are a first timer; so before you head to your lovely destination there are a few things to take into account when planning your trip. From the most obvious aspects such as taking warm clothing to more serious things like checking your vehicle for proper conditions, good planning will prevent you from having a bad winter vacation experience and ensure a safe road trip.

The Basics

There a few basic precautions to follow, common to all road trips regardless of the season. When traveling by car, make sure to take a well appointed first aid kit, extra non-perishable ready-to-eat food, an in-vehicle cell phone charger, (and cell phone, of course) and a portable radio with AM band and batteries even if your vehicle has one. Remember also to bring a spare vehicle key to carry with you at all times. These items will allow you to properly react on an emergency situation.

Driving

Driving during winter presents extra challenges to the driver. Cold weather tests your abilities and your car’s mechanical abilities as well. If you are the designated driver, try to stay alert at all times, slow down and stay in control. Drive according to the highway and weather conditions and keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you; you will be able to avoid such situations in which you have to push the brakes suddenly on a slippery road.

Use extreme caution when driving downhill and remember that you cannot drive at highway/ freeway speeds with chains on. If your vehicle has ABS anti-locking brakes, do not pump the brake pedal if you start to skid. If you are already in a skid, steer in the direction of the skid by looking where you want your vehicle to go and steer towards that spot. This technique will allow you to regain control of your vehicle.

Sometimes mountain passes are closed. Never try to get around them by using local roads. If the pass is closed, most likely it is for a good reason. Trying to save a day or two is not worth risking your life and the life of those traveling with you.

What to Bring

There are some winter-specific items to bring along with you that will make your life easier in case of an emergency. Bring blankets in case you may need to sleep in your car after a snow storm, a lightweight snow shovel and an ice scraper with a brush. As far as clothing goes, warm garments including ski caps, globes and rubber boots that fit over shoes are always recommended. And last but not least, do not forget your tire chains or cables.

Check your Vehicle

Before leaving for your vacation, always check your vehicle. Make sure brakes are in good condition and check the tire air pressure. Remember to take a spare tire and a jack. Always bring tire chains and have your battery replaced if it is near or over the pro-rated warranty period as it may not work in cold weather. Replace the wiper blades if they are worn, and check anti-freeze (coolant) levels. Finally make sure the heater and defroster are working properly.

Emergencies

If you find yourself in an emergency situation there are also some guidelines to follow. Always stay inside your car as it provides shelter and protection. Run the car engine 5 to 10 minutes every hour with the heater on to the max. In case you need to leave the car to search for help, do so only during morning hours after sunrise.

You can check more information regarding winter driving at the National Safety Council. We hope you have a safe winter road trip and have an unforgettable experience this holiday season.

So after hours of research and e-mailing back and forth, you finally found the vacation rental of your dreams; a beautiful home with a nice view, private pool and only steps from the beach, best of all, at a ridiculously low price. You are so happy with your choice that you decide to make the deposit payment right away; the courteous owner that has replied to every one of your e-mails, asks you to send money through Western Union. What do you do? Run and wire the money before he rents it to somebody else, right? Wrong!

Unfortunately, and although we believe most owners are honest people, travelers must be aware of internet fraud and scams, know how to detect them, avoid them and report them. The situation described above is one of the most common vacation rental scam scenarios and happens more often than what we would like it to. Malicious individuals looking to make easy money legitimately acquire listings and subscriptions of beautiful properties in vacation rental directories, post them at incredible rates; collect the money from innocent travelers usually via Western Union, Moneygram or any other wire service and disappear after receiving the payment. These properties were bogus and travelers head to their vacation destination only to find out that there is no such property and they have been scammed.

Regrettably, in cases like this there is not much that vacation rental directories can do. Directories are advertising and promotional services and their function is to list properties. You would not call the Yellow Pages to complain on a plumber that never made it to your house. However you should definitely let them know about the fraud and any other mishap you face as a traveler. Responsible online directories will remove the property immediately to avoid other travelers from running into a similar situation and report the incident to antifraud authorities.

So at the end what can you do to avoid being ripped-off? The first and most important thing is to actually be aware that situations like these do happen. Try to find out as much as you can about the property you are planning to book. See if the listing includes comments from other travelers and ask the owner for references. If possible find out how long has the property been listed on the directory; chances are that a property that has been there for more than two years is not a scam.

Another very important thing to consider is the suggested payment options. Avoid by all means wiring funds via Western Union, Moneygram or any other wire transfer service. These are the most popular payment methods used by scammers. Try to make the reservation with a credit card, but never give out key financial information such as a bank account number or social security number.

Whenever possible it is best to deal with owners that you can meet locally. If this is not the case, try to be skeptical and ask as many questions as you can. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t!

Finally, if you suspect that a property ad may be part of a scam report it immediately! Visit Rentalo” Following is a list of organizations that can help:

- FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)

- FTC online complaint form (www.ftc.gov)

- Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501

- Internet Fraud Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov/)

- Non-emergency number for your local police department

If you are suspicious about a Rentalo.com property, please write us an e-mail at: abuse@rentalo.com and visit Rentalo’s Avoiding vacation rental scams and frauds page.

First, lets start with the definition of each lodging type:

A Vacation Rental is a privately owned, furnished apartment or house which is rented as a whole unit on a short term basis (typically weekly or monthly) by the owner or a property management agency. There are several types of vacation rentals including studios, houses, apartments, cabins, villas, cottages, chalets, castles, etc.

A Hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging, usually on a short-term basis. Basic accommodation consist of a room with one or 2 beds, and an en-suite bathroom. Hotels typically have several common areas such as lobbies, restaurants, pools, meeting rooms, gyms, etc.

What are the Pros of each lodging type?

There are some advantages when staying at a vacation rental as compared to a hotel or B&B:

- Most vacation rentals offer considerably more space (multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, separate living areas) than then typical hotel room.

- More amenities (fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, private hot tubs).

- Vacation rentals often offer greater privacy than hotels or bed and breakfasts.

- Vacation home owners and rental agents are often able to provide you with tips and hints that only the locals know. This can make a huge difference in the enjoyment of your trip.

- Specially when comparing the cost of 2 hotel rooms with the cost of a vacation rental (typically 2+ bedrooms, vacation rentals tend to be much cheaper.

- In general, renting a vacation home offers the affordability, great value, and more personal attention. 

There are some advantages when staying in a hotel, as compared to a vacation rental or a bed and breakfast:

- Hotels usually provide daily maid service and room services to guests.

- In general, hotels often enjoy the advantages of brand recognition, familiar reservation processes, and on-site staff for problem resolution.

- Hotels tend to offer more mainstream amenities that vacationers may want in their accommodations. Some of the most common amenities offered by hotels are room service, maid service, internet access, gym, laundry rooms, jacuzzi, sauna, and tour groups.

- Location and availability are other key factors when selecting a hotel. Typically you can find a hotel anywhere and anytime you want to go.

- Typically reserving a hotel room takes less planning, and have availability up until the last-minute, greatly depending on the destination and the season, of course.

 Which Lodging is best for who?

Vacation rentals are ideal for family vacations, family reunions, and wedding gatherings.
Hotels are the best choice for individuals or couples traveling for leisure or business.

About www.Rentalo.com - An award winning travel lodging website that offers travelers the ability to receive and compare offers from all types of lodgings properties: vacation rentals, hotels & bed and breakfasts.