Vacation rentals: 5 tips to avoid unpleasant surprises
According to a recent study (Europ Assistance 2023 vacation barometer), the Swiss prefer renting a house or apartment for their summer vacation, after hotels. It's an excellent option for maintaining a certain level of comfort, especially if you're traveling in numbers. To avoid unpleasant surprises, you need to take a few precautions: here are our 5 tips to make sure you get the most out of your trip and your vacation rental.
Consult Internet users' reviews
It's become almost automatic with internet booking, and more and more people are giving their opinions, which makes it possible to quickly assess the quality of a vacation rental. Take the time to look on review sites, Google or the site where the rental is advertised, to see if the experience of previous tenants has been good. Don't hesitate to contact the owner if anything is unclear. This will enable you to know exactly what to expect when you arrive, and avoid unpleasant surprises such as a room that isn't really a room, a sea view that leaves something to be desired, questionable hygiene...
Use a trusted site
If possible, always choose well-known and reliable vacation rental platforms. These include Airbnb, HomeAway, Abritel and the famous Booking.com. There's a guarantee of security, although scams are always possible, but they're quickly detected and reported. They also have a strict rating and refund policy, so you're well protected. Choose reputable and reliable vacation rental platforms. If you happen to see a very interesting property on a little-known platform, don't hesitate to type part of its description into Google: in many cases, if it's a serious vacation rental, you'll find it on several other platforms: sometimes, prices are higher on Airbnb, Booking...but you'll be better protected in the event of a problem, so it may be worth paying a little more.
>> Insure your stay: calculate your free premium here <<
Read the rental conditions carefully
Before confirming your reservation, take the time to read the rental conditions carefully. Yes, it's not always a reflex to read pages and pages of conditions, but it can be very useful... Make sure you understand cancellation policies, any additional charges and the specific rules of the vacation rental. Pay attention to any restrictive clauses or special requirements. If anything seems unclear, contact the owner for details.
Contact the owner of the vacation rental
Before you leave, always make initial contact with the rental owner: even if it's just to indicate your arrival time, ask for details about access, the handing over of keys...You need to establish contact with him or her, as it also allows you to make sure there's actually a person behind it all. Good communication can help prevent potential problems and resolve certain situations quickly.
Protect yourself and insure your vacation rental in the event of cancellation
You're just a few days away from departure and you have a little accident that prevents you from leaving... Most reservation platforms offer free cancellation, but only up to a specific date. If you miss that date, you'll usually have to pay the full rental charge, which is 100%. To protect yourself financially, consider taking out cancellation insurance to cover your vacation rental booking.
At Europ Assistance, we include it in all our options because we believe it's the essential cover for any trip. In the event of cancellation or interruption of your stay, we will reimburse you for any cancellation fees for your vacation rental (or other accommodation) that remain your responsibility.
But that's not all.
You also benefit from other guarantees such as medical assistance (emergency transport, repatriation), coverage of your medical expenses, your luggage, etc. Discover our 4 travel insurance options here.
