10 tips for renting accommodation in the mountains
The winter season is upon us, and you're ready to strap on your skis and don your wetsuit. As far as accommodation is concerned, you'll be renting a little chalet at the foot of the slopes for your next mountain vacation... Be careful, though, and protect yourself against the frauds and scams that abound on the Internet. Many tourists fell victim to them last season, so follow our 10 tips to avoid them!
1- Ads on the Internet
Beware of ads for vacation rentals in the mountains that seem vague and have beautiful, almost unreal photos for a price that is often derisory.
2- The advertiser on the Internet
If you have any doubts or suspect fraud, you can contact the website that displays the ad in question to check that the advertiser is not on a blacklist of fraudsters.
>> Calculate the insurance premium for your next trip <<
3- The telephone number
Check that the telephone number on the ad is real and belongs to the owner of the property. If you get an answering machine or a third party, always ask to speak to the owner.
4- E-mail exchanges
If you mainly exchange e-mails, pay attention to the way you write and watch out for automated replies.
5- Your personal details
Before giving your precise contact details and other personal data to the person who posted the ad, wait several exchanges, as they could use them to fill in a fake rental contract with clauses you won't see.
6- Mountain rental address
When you're interested in a rental, always check that the address given is correct, to avoid arriving at a non-existent or already occupied property, or one in an unpleasant location (the side of a freeway, rubbish dump, etc.).
>> Calculate the insurance premium for your next trip <<
7- Your rental contract
Once you've checked everything out and everything seems to be in order, ask for a copy of the signed contract and read all the clauses carefully to avoid extra charges. If only for a week, you have the right to ask for a contract to be drawn up.
8- Payment terms
If you're renting in Switzerland, be sure to check that the IBAN of the account to which you'll be paying the deposit is from a Swiss bank, by looking at the first few digits. If you have a choice of payment methods, always prefer a bank transfer or credit card.
9- Receipt
Always ask for a receipt of the payment you have made, showing the rental reference number.
10- Archives of your exchanges
Keep a careful record of your exchanges in a folder in your e-mail inbox, and always ask the advertiser to write down what you discussed and agreed upon.
Once you've done that, all you have to do is wait for your mountain holiday to begin. For peace of mind and protection on the slopes, consider Europ Assistance's mountain insurance for you and your family in Swiss and cross-border ski areas. Our lift pass insurance combines mountain insurance and assistance, so that if the unexpected happens, you're perfectly covered.
