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Which "rent from owner" websites do you like best?
- Thread starter Pauline
- Start date
Heidi
100+ Posts
Jan, I remember your Campo dei Fiori apartment right on the lively & loud Campo ~ when the partiers left in the wee hours, the venders arrived to set-up the food market. Was there ever any quiet time?
My apartment does have some stairs but there is an elevator, and a first for me, a concierge....
A month in Venezia ~ wow!
Lisa in Ottawa
500+ Posts
I think I answered this question in the thread about reviews. Just to summarise, I've used many of the vacation rental sites. Most are owned by 2 companies (TA and VRBO). Many including Airbnb, are not actually owner owned rentals but agencies promoting their rentals. Many of the apartments/flats/houses are cross advertised. I find it irritating when the assumption is that the owner is advertising their home.
Airbnb has rooms and I think those are probably people wanting to share their home. But not all the time. I'm not interested in rooms so don't pay much attention.
I think apartment rentals have become big business and everyone is jumping on board. The sites are becoming unwieldy and there doesn't seem to be much oversight. I used to really like VRBO.
I've also used private management companies such as Nice Pebbles.
It depends on where I'm going and what is available and looks good and trustworthy. I communicate with the owner/manager in advance. I never reserve w/o that contact.
For Oxford, I've used Sabatical Homes altho the site isn't great. It just happens to be where we found our flat.
I don't entirely trust photos esp by management companies. They know how to take a good picture. I read the desc. and look at layout if there is one. Having said that, the photos are lovely to have and look at. I just keep in mind that the actual apt may look a little different.
While researching Oxford, I emailed people who had stayed in several of the flats and asked some questions.
I've never had a bad experience. Some of the places(not many) have been disappointing but not truly bad. Hope my luck continues.
If I can pay with credit card, I'm happy. Paypal next best method. But for this long term rental in Oxford couldn't use either but am still doing it b/c it just seems perfect for us.
Airbnb has rooms and I think those are probably people wanting to share their home. But not all the time. I'm not interested in rooms so don't pay much attention.
I think apartment rentals have become big business and everyone is jumping on board. The sites are becoming unwieldy and there doesn't seem to be much oversight. I used to really like VRBO.
I've also used private management companies such as Nice Pebbles.
It depends on where I'm going and what is available and looks good and trustworthy. I communicate with the owner/manager in advance. I never reserve w/o that contact.
For Oxford, I've used Sabatical Homes altho the site isn't great. It just happens to be where we found our flat.
I don't entirely trust photos esp by management companies. They know how to take a good picture. I read the desc. and look at layout if there is one. Having said that, the photos are lovely to have and look at. I just keep in mind that the actual apt may look a little different.
While researching Oxford, I emailed people who had stayed in several of the flats and asked some questions.
I've never had a bad experience. Some of the places(not many) have been disappointing but not truly bad. Hope my luck continues.
If I can pay with credit card, I'm happy. Paypal next best method. But for this long term rental in Oxford couldn't use either but am still doing it b/c it just seems perfect for us.
