Payment Issues - Renting a vacation home over the web
There are several different ways of reserving a house on the web--you can rent from a local owner, a website, or an owner who just might be in your own country.
Renting from a European owner is usually the most difficult. Often an overseas owner will require you to provide a deposit into his bank account overseas--and that can be expensive for both parties, as banks charge each a huge percentage to transfer and convert funds. Ask about the terms before you decide to rent, and figure in the bank charges into the mix--a wire transfer may cost up to $40--plus you'll take a hit on the exchange rate as well.
Renting from someone in your own country is easiest, especially if you can call and ask questions about the property.
A cooperative of owners or large corporations on the web will often offer an easy way to pay the deposit and hold the property with a credit card. You may pay a premium to rent through a large rental company, but it'll often be easier to deal with payment through them.
Sometimes you'll have to pay a deposit to hold the house and another one for breakage. While this might be a hassle, I'm not sure it's a bad thing. If the owner is sure that breakage will be paid for, it's likely that he or she can offer the property for less. So I wouldn't pass up a bargain just because there's a breakage deposit.
Other Hints and Tips when renting a house in Europe
Kitchens and food
Kitchens can vary wildly as far as suitability for actual food preparation goes. On a recent trip to Italy I was told by an agency that more than half the renters of their vacation homes don't cook a single meal in the kitchens. So if you're planning on doing some serious cooking, ask about the facilities.
A "corner kitchen" is a term used to designate a small area in the corner of a room where you'll find a couple of burners and perhaps a microwave--perfect if all you want to do is make coffee or tea in the morning but less than adequate for serious cooking.
Don't expect sharp chef's knives in rental kitchens. If you're serious, bring your own or buy one there. A vast majority of renters will slash away at their meat and produce on marble surfaces--would you like to see your $75 dollar knife abused this way? And another thing I've learned--most of the pans will be warped on the bottom. I don't know how people get them this way but if they'd use their heads--oh, wait, that just might be the problem....
Oh, and here's one that's got me twice--if you can't find the silverware in a rental home, look for a drawer in the dining room table. It's in there, probably.
Towels and Sheets
Most rentals include adequate numbers of towels and bedding for your party. You won't want to bring that stuff unless you're a bit of a luggage masochist, eh? But make sure that it's included, especially if the price is impossibly low. Most rentals are set to go, you shouldn't have to bring anything special unless it's noted on the website.
Outside - Terraces, patios, and the like
For a summer rental in southern Europe, you'll probably want to eat your supper outside. Some city apartments don't have facilities for such things. If the house is on a side street, you can always set up a table on the side of the road like most everyone else--if you're a brave soul and don't mind the occasional Alfa Romeo bombing past your table with inches to spare. You might want to ask if there's a more private outside area to dine in.
Phones and Internet Connections
A few houses offer some kind of Internet connection, or allow you to use the telephone. Don't count on it, however. A wired phone in Europe is very expensive to use, even for local calls. One of the reasons everyone has a "free" Internet account is that the Internet provider gets a piece of the per minute telephone charges--and in Italy this can amount to .7 Euro per minute. So, don't expect to get free use of the telephone. Get a prepaid phone card to use at a public phone or buy a cell phone if you really need to make lots of calls.
Contacts, language and clothes washing
If you don't speak the language of the country in which you wish to rent, make sure there's an English speaking contact you can use when things go wrong.
For example, one of the main draws of living in a house for part of your vacation will be having a clothes washer, but if the instructions are not in your language and you haven't used one of these machines before, you'll likely be baffled and in need of some assistance. (Don't worry if it just takes a long time to wash your clothing, they're all like that!) And don't expect a dryer--clothes in Europe are well hung.
Resources for Self Catering Vacation Rentals
We've assembled some links to respected rental companies with English language web sites: Self Catering Vacations in Europe.
Have fun. I highly recommend a self catered vacation--especially if you're looking to blend in a bit with the locals in a place you really enjoy.
