The world of travel and tourism has exploded. There exist many choices for every segment of our travel world. Most people taking vacations want comfort and wish to relax of course while staying within budget. Considering the costs associated with travel these days due to the rise in fuel prices and fall of the dollar, many people are compelled to look for saving every dollar they can. This is leading to an explosion of private sector, small scale internet style vacation rentals which are immediately seen of better value than hotels and big chain resorts for families.
Unfortunately, this same explosion of options for accommodations has also brought along the frequent complaints of being duped and of enduring hassles. Most people reserving on the internet or by phone typically only view a few pictures and obtain a general idea of the homes or condo they would be renting for their hard earned vacation. They frequently have no idea of the quality of either the home or the identity or integrity of the owner or the property manager.
Upon arriving at the rental home they frequently find the home to be in a bad shape or in some cases much smaller or having broken down appliances and furniture, a totally different picture than that advertised and sold on. So, how do you avoid these pitfalls so you don't have the next deer in the headlight moment?
Pretty simple actually- Check 3 things-
1. Make sure the management is local. Make sure you talk to the owner or property manager or email/communicate with the manager to make sure they are local or at least have local at the site staff. This ensures you get immediate help if needed and if you find a problem with the home.
2. Ensure that you have the contact numbers of owner/manager before you arrive at the home. Understand the procedure for check-in and the procedure for reporting problems.
3. Inquire if there are pictures available of the homes and if the pictures are of the actual units and they are not altered in any way. If you hear that pictures are just representative or of samples that should ring a warning bell immediately.

The above 3 tips are the minimum basic rules you should employ when looking for a place to stay for your vacation. These should at least make you feel comfortable that you are not alone when you are at the rental home. Keep it short and simple - do your research before landing at the rental place.
Good wishes.