Every year millions book a seaside rental excited to finally getaway…only to completely regret their choice when they arrive. Poor location. Hidden fees. Lack of communication from the owner.
Yep…it happens way too often.
But it doesn’t have to happen to you.
Knowing EXACTLY what to look for in a seaside rental before booking can help you avoid costly mistakes and find a stay that exceeds expectations. Villa? Beach home? Condo rental right on the water…doesn’t matter. You can find the perfect rent by owner vacation rental IF you know where to look.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What you’ll pick up:
- Why Seaside Vacation Rentals Are Such A Huge Trend Right Now
- 3 Things to Always Check Before Booking ANY Seaside Stay
- How to Easily Identify a Legit Owner Direct Listing
- Red Flags All Travelers Should Steer Clear Of
Why Seaside Vacation Rentals Are Such A Huge Trend Right Now
Want the truth about why everyone wants to book vacations near an ocean or lake these days?
It’s because they can.
Thanks to the rise of vacation rental platforms roughly 74% of travelers prefer coastal destinations over any other type. That means more options than ever for beach goers.
As people can afford to travel more, they naturally want to visit beautiful destinations. A seaside rental offers everything travelers are looking for:
- Prime location
- Large, customized homes
- Privacy
- Space
- And fun in the sun.
The resort and condo rental market alone is growing annually by more than 11%.
While this means more options for travelers, it also creates more competition between vacation rental properties than ever before. The difference between a poorly managed rent by owner vacation property and a well cared for gem has never been more dramatic.
That’s why doing your research up front is so important.
3 Things to Always Check Before Booking ANY Seaside Stay
Booking that perfect seaside getaway can get you excited. Which often leads to rushing through the process.
After landing the perfect spot in your dream destination you simply can’t wait to review all of the property details. But that’s where many travelers trip up.
Not booking strategically = higher chance of getting burned.
Here are the biggest things to consider with any seaside rental before you book.
Location Is Everything With Beach Rentals
This one should come as no surprise. But you’d be surprised how many places market themselves as “beachfront” when they’re really not.
Some seaside rentals are located right on the sand. Others are a 20-minute drive away.
If you book a beach rental you should ideally be able to walk to the beach.
Aside from the distance to the water there are other location details to consider:
- Proximity to restaurants/shops/groceries
- Safety of the neighborhood
- Are there public beaches nearby? If not you’ll likely be paying daily beach fees.
These may not seem like a big deal but little things like “how long does it take to get to the grocery store” can end up costing you more money and ruin your trip.
When it comes to renting by owner along the beach you get what you LOCATION.
Confirm the Rental Has Key Amenities
You can tell a lot about a rental by the owner by the type of amenities included.
Too many beach goers look at pictures and make their decision based off of how pretty the property looks.
If you do that you’ll end up regretting your choice.
Instead of getting sucked into beautiful beachfront property pics, focus on the amenities that are most important to YOU.
A few things to always look for include:
- Air conditioning
- Kitchen
- Outdoor living space (deck, patio, balcony)
- Wi-Fi
- Parking
Don’t skip over the amenities when booking your seaside rental. Make sure you know exactly what’s provided so you know what to expect when you arrive.
Know The Price Up Front
Nothing is more frustrating than finding the seemingly PERFECT rental only to find out the price is way above your budget.
And rental prices are no different online.
The rental price you see may not be the price you book.
Many rental owners hide additional fees (cleaning fees, service fees, security deposits) only to significantly raise the price at checkout.
Ask to see a price breakdown before you book ANY rental.
Especially if you’re booking directly from an owner.
Knowing the vacation rental game means you’ll often be able to negotiate on price. Another benefit of renting directly from an owner.
How to Easily Identify a Legit Owner Direct Listing
Booking directly from an owner means you cut out the middleman.
Literally.
While booking directly can save you money there’s NO vacation rental platform standing behind your booking if something goes wrong.
So how do you weed out sketchy owner listings from legitimate ones?
Here are a few things to look for when booking directly from owners.
High-Quality Listing with Lots of Details
If the listing description is vague…move along.
This includes property photos/videos as well. No stock images! If the photo looks like it was pulled from a stock image website, ask for current photos.
Responsive Owner
You should expect your rental owner to reply to any questions or concerns within 24 hours. If not, they’re probably not the owner you want to work with.
Verified Reviews
Booking directly from an owner means you won’t always find reviews like you would on big rental platforms. That said, you should ask for references from past renters. Ideally rentals that have been rented out before will have some sort of reviews you can read through.
Clear Cancellation Policy
Don’t ever book a rental until you know the cancellation policy. You should know EXACTLY what you’re getting into BEFORE handing over your hard earned money.
Red Flags All Travelers Should Steer Clear Of
By now you should know that not all vacation rentals are created equal.
But there are some specific red flags you should run away from when booking your next seaside stay. These are deal-breakers for any traveler.
No Rental Reviews
No reviews? No renting.
Unless the owner can provide some other form of verification that they actually own the home you’re about to book. Don’t do it.
Price Too Good To Be True
You know the saying. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
There are scams out there where owners will list their “dream home” beachfront property for a steal. But once you latch onto the home they jack up the price and expect you to pay more. Don’t fall for it.
Unprotected Payment Requests
If an owner asks you to wire money or use an unprotected payment method, avoid them entirely.
Any owner that doesn’t ask you to book directly through a rental platform isn’t on the up and up.
Avoid renting from anyone that asks you to book outside of platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, or VRBO.
Terrible Communication
If an owner takes days to respond to you BEFORE YOU BOOK imagine how they’ll communicate with you if something goes wrong during your stay.
Outdated Property Photos
Again…stock photos are unacceptable.
If the property photos are taken from a catalog or are more than 2 years old, don’t rent.
Simple.
Wrapping Everything Up
Booking a seaside rental shouldn’t be overwhelming. In fact, it should be one of the most exciting parts of planning a trip!
By knowing WHERE TO LOOK and WHAT TO LOOK FOR travelers can find top quality rentals without getting burned.
Let’s recap:
- Location Is Everything
- Check the Amenities
- Know The Real Price Up Front
- Do your research on the Owner
- Use your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t book.
There are so many amazing rentals by the water. Don’t settle for something just because you failed to put some effort into the search process.
