For many people traveling abroad, enjoying the local food is part of the experience, says Jason Cochran, editor of the travel site Frommers.com. "So many foods you can't bring back with you. If you have a private flat or home, you can bring it back and cook it yourself," Cochran says.
Rented homes also work well for families, he notes. Instead of renting several hotel rooms, a family vacation could become a lot more comfortable by renting a house in the area with enough bedrooms for everyone.
One drawback, however, is that these properties can be a bit further away from the most popular attractions, whether it's amusements parks, theaters or museums, Cochran says.
Safety Tips
To be safe from scams, rent through an agency that has inspected the property rather than just responding to postings that come directly from owners, Cochran recommends.
It's also important to ask whether the management is available in the event of a problem, anything from a plumbing issue to getting locked out.
Use a credit card for booking if you can, suggests consumer advocate and travel expert Christopher Elliott. And pay particular attention to cancellation policies. Unlike most hotels, by-owner sites tend to want money in advance.
Becoming A Landlord
For homeowners who want to get into the business, the high-end bookers say you should know that not every property is going to pass muster. And when you sign up to rent your place, you should expect some requests to make certain changes - anything from getting a new chair in the living room to upgrading the bedding.
After staying at Time & Place-managed properties in such disparate locations as New York's Fire Island and Buenos Aires, John E. Stiner, vice president of Breckenridge Design Group in Washington decided to use the company to market his 4,700-square-foot (0.37-square-metre) estate on Nantucket for rates than run from $3,500 a night to more than $5,000 a night.