Renting a holiday home is often done this way, with a click of the mouse, you have a dream home.
What are the important points to look out for when you are looking for that dream villa on the beach or that fantastic apartment in Spain?
1. Early booking guarantees that you can search the best houses
It is very popular nowadays to search for the best holiday home at the best price just before departure. That is of course also possible. However, often the best houses have long been rented out. Internationally, a holiday home or villa is reserved on average 3 to 6 months before departure. And if you are looking for a property with a special characteristic, for example a group accommodation or a holiday home close to the water, then it is good to know that these properties are often booked months in advance for the holiday periods. That does not mean that you are too expensive. Research has shown that early booking discounts often offer the best prices in advance, especially in combination with the quality of the homes that are being booked at that time.
Early booking has the advantage that you also have ample opportunity to read in the area. Also at Bungalow.Net you can find inspiration for online search for a holiday home on the coast of Zeeland or a villa in Tuscany , towards the mountains in France or opt for winter sports in the Black Forest.
2. Is there a supermarket in the area?
This is important for anyone who does not intend to eat out every night. Many holiday homes do have their own kitchen. If you can do good shopping at a short distance from your home, you can save by regularly enjoying culinary delights at home. Aside from the fact that you can save a lot with a well-equipped kitchen and supermarket nearby, for many women (and men) it is true that certain luxury is still desirable on holiday, such as a dishwasher. Take this holiday home on the Costs, for example for two people, it also has a dishwasher ideal for a romantic getaway without washing up.
3. Do you need a car rental and is parking available?
If you've already found your holiday destination, that's just fantastic. Now you have to think about how you are going to get there. You can go by plane, but you have to be nearby and also look for an airport for a means of transportation from the airport to the accommodation and back.
Or maybe it is easier to rent a car, but then you need to know if your vacation home has a parking lot, and if you have to pay extra for parking. Nowadays you fly from Eindhoven, Schiphol, Rotterdam or from Brussels to almost every European destination. Renting a car from the airport gives comfort and for car enthusiasts the opportunity to drive something different. You can save by taking the train to the airport, parking at the airport is often as expensive as renting a car, reservations can often also and is much cheaper. If you really want to make a calculation whether it is cheaper or not, when considering self-driving or flying in combination with renting a car, always keep in mind that you save a lot of time because you do not have to return for 2 days to drive. Before you book, don't forget to keep an eye on the arrival and departure times so that they match. If these do not connect, please call Bungalow.Net's travel advisers, they are able to make tailor-made arrangements with the park or owner that are ideal for you.
4. Are you looking for a family holiday?
We all know that traveling with children changes everything. A family holiday is a great experience but you have to be really well prepared on your way.
Whether you choose Spain as your destination or you like nature in the Belgian Ardennes, your accommodation should be child-friendly, for example with a playground, non-smoking and preferably close to the beach if that is the case. With small children it is wise not to sit too close to the pool or water, but just next to the playground. Most guests book the best bungalows on the water or on the edge of the forest because of the view, but with small children, your fun and that of your offspring is best served next to the playground, you can keep an eye on things from your lounger. Ask for it before you book!
5. Is there a good internet connection?
Let's face it: we're living in the age of internet technology, and while we may be on vacation, we're still curious to see what Facebook has to say, or maybe we want to do a little research online to find the best restaurant in near our vacation rental or find the best things to see and do nearby and so on.
Regardless of the location you are looking for, make sure that you specify this directly in the filter criteria when you search, this way you will only find holiday homes with an indispensable internet connection, such as this house on Lake Balaton .
6. Read the full lease
This is quite important advice that is often skipped. Bungalow.Net is a member of the organization, which means that the rental conditions are standard and have been drawn up in consultation with, among others. the Consumers' Association. In addition to the standard travel conditions, there are often also specific conditions of the owner. These can differ per home. Here you can find details such as that you can only park 1 car, or that you cannot book with a group of young people. You will always find these conditions before you make a reservation. Another tip that we would like to give you is to check the house on arrival and report defects immediately to the owner (this because of the deposit). If the defects are so serious that you actually want to leave immediately, please contact your Bungalow.Net travel advisor immediately. The owner always has 1 day to resolve the defect or to give you a replacement home. If you do not report it and / or just make a right turn, your right to compensation will lapse. And that is of course a shame. To avoid all this, you can always see what other tenants thought of that house. You can find the reviews (if any) directly on the Bungalow.Net website.
7. Can a homeowner have special rules?
As you can read, house rules apply to most homes. Most are quite obvious things to avoid surprises, it is wise to read this in advance. In some houses, pets are not or are welcome, smoking or not allowed. In some houses, there are rules about noise or that you can be a nuisance (eg close to the disco, etc.). Everyone has different wishes and preferences. It is therefore wise to read this carefully and if you have any questions, please contact the Bungalow.Net travel adviser. Incidentally, if you want to search directly for a holiday home that is suitable for pets, you can specify this yourself in your search criteria, click here to search for homes suitable for pets .
8. Do you now also have to pay a deposit? Will you also get it back?
Most homes often have a deposit. A deposit is a collateral of often a few hundred Euros because of any damage to the house. Think for example of crockery that dies, a night light or the like. In certain cases you are insured for this, always ask for a statement from the park or the owner for your insurance nature. You can always submit this. In certain cases, consumption costs such as electricity will be deducted from your deposit. If you have no damage, you will always get the deposit back from the party to whom you paid it. If you have not received your deposit within 2 weeks, even if this has to come from the owner or the park, please call your travel advisory at Bungalow.Net. We find that out for you, sometimes only an account number is missing.
9. Do you get enough privacy?
Most of us always find it pleasant when an owner waits for us and walks around with us to explain where we can find something. If the owner makes a cup of real Italian espresso, that is also pleasant, or a fruity wine in the garden. Also an owner who has a vegetable garden and occasionally brings some fresh fruit or eggs, welcome. But occasionally the owner lives above or below you, or the grandmother sits by the pool as standard and reduces your privacy to zero. That is of course a damper on your holiday. It is also possible that you are in an apartment complex with many other groups of people. If you do not book an independent home, you sometimes run a risk in that area. To be sure, you can just call us to indicate what you want to exclude. Incidentally, it is precisely the local character of these encounters that are very special. For example, we once booked a villa with our family that belonged to the Medici. This home has had a very special story from which one of the richest and most influential families has lived. A special house with a lot of history.
10. Check everything on arrival
Holiday homes are often rented out through the season. Except for the cleaning lady, there is not always a good check on the quality of the house. So always pay attention on arrival. First take the time for yourself, you really do not have to immediately investigate everything as a detective, but in any case the same day it is wise to check everything whether it is present and whether it works. Sometimes it is possible that something small is missing or broken, please report this to the owner or reception. That is important because in this way you do not end up in a discussion whether this is caused by you or not. Should you encounter major defects or your house just does not match what you have booked? Be the first to contact the owner and let us know what you don't like and what you expect. Always be friendly, kindness often works wonders when it comes to issues like this. Always contact our service team, we speak the language and contact the owner for you. If this is reported on the first day, a good solution is almost always available so that you can quickly start a good start to your holiday.
