Next time you go on a vacation, why not consider renting a home or condo? Hotels are great because they basically look after your every need while traveling, but the extra costs add up such as parking, taxes, food and beverages, resort facility fees etc. The upside is that if you stay at a brand hotel, you know the kind of facilities and service to expect.
If you stay at a vacation home, you have to rely on photos and previous customer comments and even then you never really know until you get there whether or not you have made a good choice. But if you find the right spot, it is usually cheaper than a hotel with more space and often more amenities. Just to be able to cook your own meals (not only cheaper but healthier) and have a supply of cold adult beverages on hand that didn't cost you 500% over retail, makes a vacation home an attractive proposition. It gets even more economical if you have a large family or a few friends traveling together, because you can also find a home with several bedrooms.
We went to Phoenix about a year ago and found a great spot that was well located, large and had many amenities for about 1/2 the price of a comparable hotel room. But it did take a lot of searching through various sites to find it. While I love Craigslist, I found that properties advertised on it were often hinky when I got replies back. One wanted the full amount up front by money order. Yeah-right.
A new site, Otalo, not only combines several sites into one search but it is incredibly easy to use. So far, they claim to have over 200,000 properties around the world.
A couple words of caution in a vacation home rental is to make sure you understand all charges eg:taxes, cleaning charges, deposit etc. Try to put the transaction on a credit card and only put a minimal deposit up front and don't charge the rest until you see the property. That way, if there any problems you can get the Card provider involved. Ask for references and follow up on them. Also, don't be afraid to bargain. When the owner of the Phoenix property asked me to sign a 4 page contract, and I told him to forget it and then asked for an even lower rate, he agreed immediately.
You can check out Otalo by clicking on the graphic.
Thanks for sharing Otalo with your readers. Great to hear that you found it useful! We'll do our best to keep making it easier to find that perfect vacation spot.
Posted by: Michael Giles | January 08, 2009 at 05:12 PM
Ajijic vacation rental homes are better than Ajijic hotel rooms.
You are right on, renting a home or condo is definitely the way to go, especially when traveling in Mexico. Hotels load you up with extra costs for long distance calling, parking, taxes, food and beverages, gratuities being required at some locals, resort facility fees etc.
Vacation rental homes in Ajijic, Mexico for example are usually cheaper than a hotel, you get more room and better amenities.
I will definitely check out the site you mention, Otalo.
Retire Early in Ajijic Mexico and Lovin it!
Joe Chapala
Casa Preciosa Ajijic, Mexico
Posted by: Joe – Ajijic Vacation Rentals Mexico | January 11, 2009 at 08:11 PM