Jacqueline Harmon Butler

In this three-part article, Jacqueline Harmon Butler shares tips on how to successfully rent a home, villa, or apartment, for your next vacation.

Why rent a home instead of a hotel?

How to choose a vacation rental agency

Recommended rental agencies

Whether you rent this luxurious chateau in France or a modest apartment in Venice, you can be "at home" in Europe.

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Why Rent a Home Instead of a Hotel?

Staying in a moderately-priced (not even a deluxe) hotel in Europe can be expensive, especially if you have kids along. Budget hotels often have tiny rooms, thin walls and few amenities. Having to eat every meal out each day adds to the expense, and not being able to prepare between-meal snacks for the kids, for your midnight munchies, or even a cup of hot tea for yourself, is inconvenient.

That’s why more and more Europe-bound vacationers are renting homes abroad. You can rent a manor house in the Cotswolds, a castle in Dordogne or a palazzo in Venice for a princely sum, but many vacation rentals, in virtually every country in Europe, offer exceptionally good values. For example, a spacious one-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen in the Latin Quarter of Paris—with a view of the Pantheon—can be had for around $115 per day. Much less than the cost of staying in a run-down hotel in an out-of-the-way neighborhood.

Homes in the countryside often offer even more dramatic values. Imagine the fun of taking the entire family to a small villa in the Chianti region of Tuscany that accommodates ten, complete with swimming pool, for only $1,800 per week? That’s only $180 per person for the entire week. Or in the south of France you can live like a movie star in a chateau near Cannes, complete with views of the countryside vineyards and a sparkling blue swimming pool, for around $1,200 per week.In Ireland it’s possible to rent a suite in a castle, a small cottage, or your own country house. Vacation Rentals in Western Europe represents Hidden Ireland, which offers a wide variety of sumptuous private heritage houses, and Elegant Ireland, an exclusive collection of castles, country houses and holiday cottages. For example, a 400-year-old, two-bedroom cottage on the northwest coast of Ireland, close to the River Shannon and just a two-hour drive from Dublin, rents for under $800 per week.

The number of agents who offer short-term rentals is exploding, and many advertise online. By doing a quick internet search it’s possible to click your way through a variety of companies providing short-term vacation rentals. Once on an agent’s web page, you will be prompted to either click on various selection buttons or asked for explicit details of the city or country you are interested in, the type of accommodations you require, price range, and in cities, the neighborhood you desire.

Perhaps you want to rent a small apartment in Paris. You might try visiting PSR’s, Paris Sejour Reservation, (website: http://www.qconline.com/parispsr), which is easy to negotiate, with photos of the apartments, floor plans, and complete descriptions of the units and their neighborhoods, including the nearest Métro stations. After deciding on an apartment, it is easy to make your reservation online. The agents will follow up by sending the contract and related documents through regular mail.

On the other hand, some people prefer to talk with a “live” person on the telephone. David and Emily Brown were planning on attending a five-day meeting in Florence, Italy. A colleague had rented a vacation home a few years back with excellent results, saying it was much more comfortable and far cheaper than any other accommodation. This appealed to David, and when Emily saw an article about a company called Vacation Rentals in Western Europe, they decided to get more information. They telephoned Vacation Rentals and spoke with Christine Whitelaw, a rental agent. The Browns were impressed with Christine’s approach to their practical needs, matching them with potential properties. After discussing several rental options, they decided to rent an apartment within a larger villa.

Their arrival at the villa coincided with the birthday of the caretaker and within moments they were included in a party that had begun several hours earlier. Over champagne, lasagna and salad, out under the stars in the garden, they met the other villa guests and carried on conversations in at least four languages simultaneously.

Their overall experience was very positive, stating that the apartment was clean, the facilities as described, which made their Florentine experience a pleasure. The only negative things were: the final bill was somewhat complicated, and they never could get the phone to work properly. The Brown’s also suggested that one should allow extra time when planning activities, otherwise one might feel unnecessarily rushed, and may miss part of what makes Italy such an exciting and wonderful place to visit.

Jim and Patricia Caldwell decided to rent a villa in Tuscany with two other couples. They were tired of staying in impersonal hotels in large cities and the thought of mingling with residents in a small town in rural Italy appealed to them. They rented their villa through Vacation Rentals in Western Europe. The villa turned out to be an imposing building that could easily house ten persons, situated near Arezzo, on top of a hill with an lovely view of the valley. The other couples had rented vacation homes twice before, so they had some idea of what to expect. Used to being independent, each couple rented a car, and made daily excursions to visit the sights of Tuscany, returning to the villa in the early evening to prepare dinner as a group and share stories of their adventures. The Caldwell’s felt the high point of their Tuscan stay was being a part of the local scene and cooking meals at home using the myriad fresh ingredients available.

As a result of their enjoyable Tuscan holiday, the Caldwell’s, along with another couple, subsequently rented an apartment in Venice, also through Vacation Rentals in Western Europe. Venice is an expensive city; however, the two-bedroom, two-bath apartment was a good deal at around $2,400 per week. The apartment, 67 steps up with no elevator, was modest but comfortable and had a tiny rooftop patio where they ate breakfast surrounded by angled roofs and panoramic views across the city. It was centrally located in a quiet residential area so they could easily get around on foot or take the Vaporetto (boat-bus). Venetian addresses are notoriously difficult, but getting lost was part of their fun and finding their way through the tangled maze of alleys then recognizing a street corner or a shop that meant they were close to home was a thrill. They particularly liked being part of a neighborhood and buying their daily food and wine at the small local shops. They walked miles every day, returning home in the evening to cook a meal while sipping Venetian wine.

The Caldwell’s so enjoyed the unique thrill of “living” in a foreign locale that they have since rented another property in Umbria and are planning a trip to Provençe in Southern France this summer.
Judy and Gary Gray chose their rental home in Tuscany by looking through a catalogue provided by Vacation Rentals in Western Europe. They spent two there weeks with their nine-year-old daughter and Gary’s parents.

Their villa was about 30 miles from Florence, near Castellina. The old stone farmhouse dated from the 12th Century, and contained four separate apartments. The grounds were lovely and featured a large swimming pool. The owners, who resided in the nearby farmhouse, were very helpful in suggesting places to visit and sites to see, according to each guest’s interests. Again, cooking at home seemed to be a delight for everyone and Gary’s father told her she should have opened a restaurant. The high point for their daughter was meeting the owners’ daughter, who was also nine. The girls became such good friends that they continue to write to each other.

Traveling with a baby presents its own challenges, as Deanna and Howard Reynolds found out. Wanting a “baby-proof” setting in rural Italy for their 16-month-old, they presented a comprehensive “needs” list to the Barclay International Group. The Barclay Group not only met the Reynolds home specifications, but also negotiated with a car rental agency for a lower weekly rate and an infant car seat that was compliant with U.S. safety regulations. The Reynolds had checked out several other companies on the Internet but chose Barclays because they are a reputable firm and would be available in a crisis or if any problems arose.

Deanna and Howard were thrilled with their rental home, located near Empoli, just outside Florence, and situated in the middle of a working farm. The original farmhouse had been divided into three apartments, and theirs was a two-bedroom unit overlooking the olive groves. The spaciousness and comfort of the apartment surprised them. Everything was perfect except for the baby crib, which although beautiful, was below safety standards because the bars were too far apart and they couldn’t be sure unleaded paint was used. Fortunately they brought their own portable crib. The baby was a big hit with the Italians, and everywhere they went, from restaurants to museums, people went out of their way to be friendly and helpful.

Older children present different travel needs. Several years ago Edward and Janet Fuller traveled to London with their five children, ranging in age from 12 to 19 years. Edward contacted Barclay International Group and decided on a large apartment within easy access to the Underground, as well as shops, grocery stores and tourist attractions. The advantage of having everyone in the same living quarters, as opposed to being spread out in several hotel rooms, was not only economical but also much more enjoyable. Although they ate their lunches on the run and dinners out, they congregated around the table each morning for a large breakfast while they planned their day’s itinerary.

Having had a good experience renting through Barclay’s, the Fullers decided to use them again last year on another trip to London. This time they were traveling with Jane’s mother and their 23-year-old daughter. They chose an apartment near Hyde Park because of its proximity to their individual areas of interest. The apartment turned out to be somewhat less than expected. It was smallish and the sleeping arrangements less than desirable. It was listed as sleeping six, and since there were only four in their group they thought this would be fine. However, the sofa bed that was supposed to sleep two turned out to be so uncomfortable that their daughter preferred to sleep on cushions on the floor. When notified, Barclay’s quickly offered to move the family to another apartment, but the Fullers decided against moving; they felt location was more important than amenities, but were glad of Barclay’s prompt response.

Cindy Miller was intrigued by an ad for The Parker Company in a magazine, offering not only vacation rentals but also full service travel arrangements. It was perfect timing because she and three other women friends were planning a trip to Italy that summer. When Cindy contacted The Parker Company, they sent her a catalogue with color photos of available properties, along with floor plans, exact locations, and prices. Cindy and her friends decided to rent a small, 19th-century stone farmhouse just outside Cortona, Italy, and let Parker book their airfare and rental car as well.

The property owner greeted them when they arrived, showed them around the house, explained the quirks of the fuse box and how to use the appliances. He assured them that he lived nearby and was available 24 hours a day in case of emergency.

The women loved living in the little villa. The local people were friendly and always ready to point out things of interest and offer directions and opinions. One evening, on their way to dinner, the women became confused by the directions to a particular restaurant. When they stopped and—in their very limited Italian—asked guidance from a shopkeeper, he went into the back of his store, put on his hat, turned out the light, and walked them to the restaurant.

The experience was so enjoyable that Cindy and her friends rented another property through the Parker Company in Terissini, Sicily, and are planning a return trip later this year.

With so many reputable rental agents and properties available all over western Europe, in every category of residence and price range imaginable, maybe this is your year to begin living in Europe—a week at a time.

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How to Choose a Vacation Rental Company

Answering the following questions is the first step to finding the right agency:

1. First of all, does the company’s sales staff have knowledge of the country or region where you plan to rent?

They should have first-hand knowledge of your area of interest, and be able to guide you with regard to places of interest, the climate, and the best mode of transportation to use.

2. What is the agency’s commission?

While this amount may vary depending on the length of stay, it should not exceed 20 per cent.

3. Does the rental agency represent property management companies in the destination country or do they represent property owners directly?

Look for an agency that represents management companies in your destination country. This means that you will have someone nearby who can handle problems that might arise, serve as a go-between with the owner, and provide help in English. Another benefit is that property management companies provide a more objective evaluation of their properties - much more than an individual owner possibly can. Only a company located in the destination country has the resources to visit and assure the quality of all their homes.

4. Will the rental company share both positive and negative feedback (from previous clients) on the various properties?

This is important. Be wary of any agency that provides no feedback or only positive comments from previous customers.What to ask the rental agent

Keep this list in front of you when you contact the agency.What is the minimum stay?

1. What is the cancellation policy?
2. Are there extra charges besides the basic rental price?
3. How much is the required security deposit and when do I get it back?
4. Where exactly is my vacation home? (Maps and explicit directions are necessary and usually provided. Do a bit of research on your own so that you know where you want your rental to be located, i.e. near transportation, shops, museums, central city, or if in the countryside, how far from the nearest grocery store, etc.)
5. Are there any local holidays that I should be aware of? (Towns can be very crowded during holidays, and some shops and restaurants closed.)
6. How do I find my vacation home once I arrive at the airport (or nearest town)?
7. What is the best way to get there from the airport (or nearest town)?
8. Will someone meet me at the airport, train station or at the property?
9. How do I get the key?
10. Do I need a rental car?
11. Where do I park my rental car?
12. What amenities does my rental have? (Usually linens, kitchen tools, coffee maker and dinnerware are included. Ask about TV, radio, exactly what type of kitchen appliances, telephone service, and computer internet hookups. Computers are still somewhat rare in rural areas, although Cyber cafés and Internet offices are cropping up even in small towns.)
13. What type of sleeping arrangements? (Sofa beds are universally uncomfortable for adults. In larger homes accommodating bigger groups, the bedrooms can differ immensely with respect to space, decor and comfort.)
14. What type of bathroom? Is there a tub or shower? How many bathrooms?
15. Is there a special hot water heater? Is it automatic?
16. Is there a washer/dryer? (Dryers are rare. Usually a clothes line or drying rack are your options.)
17. Is my rental air-conditioned? Or, when traveling in winter, what type of heating is provided? Will I have access to the temperature controls?
18. Is there maid service? How often? (Usually weekly maid service is provided, with a change of linens)
19. Will I need to supply my own cleaning products?
20. Does my building have an elevator? Some old buildings don’t, so be sure to inquire as to which floor your apartment is on, bearing in mind that the first floor in America is considered ground level in Europe, and our second floor is actually their first.
21. What do I do in an emergency?
22. What do I do if something breaks down?
23. What do I do if I simply hate my rental? ( Refund? Change of place?)
24. When my rental period is up, where do I leave the key?

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Recommended Rental Agencies

And finally, here’s a list of reputable agencies who will be happy to help you live out your fantasy of living in Europe—a week at a time:

Barclay International Group
3 School Street
Glen Cove, NY 11542
tel: 800-845-6636 fax: 516-493-2184
http://www.barclayweb.com e-mail: information@barclayweb.com
Barclay has been in business for over 36 years, with the majority of their properties in England, Italy and France. They also have properties in Greece, Portugal, Spain, Holland and Austria. They can help with all aspects of your trip—car rentals, theater and sightseeing tickets, phone cards, subway passes and, of course, airline tickets.

The Parker Company
Seaport Landing
152 Lynnway
Lynn, MA 01903
tel: 800-280-2811 fax: 781-596-3125
http://www.theparkercompany.com e-mail: italy@theparkercompany.com
The Parker Company offers a wide selection of vacation properties in Italy, and you may request a color catalogue if you wish. All properties have been fully inspected by a Parker employee. They can also assist with low-rate car rentals and airfares.

PSR - Paris Sejour Reservation
645 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 638
Chicago, IL 60611
tel: 312-587-7707 fax: 312-587-9887
http://www.qconline.com/parispsr e-mail: psrusa@aol.com
PSR offers a selection of over 600 apartments, everything from small studios to large luxurious three bedroom apartments priced from $75.00 to $350.00 per night. The apartments have direct line telephones, color televisions, fully equipped kitchens, weekly cleaning with change of linen, and access to a 24-hour emergency hotline. For additional fees PSR offers a concierge service, Minitel (a special French computer information network), VCR, fax, answering and photocopy machines. They can also arrange special airfares, airport transfers and chauffeur service.

Vacation Rentals in Western Europe
4348 Shell Beach Road, R.R.#1
Ladysmith, B.C. V0R 2E0
Canada
tel: 205-245-8707 fax: 205-245-8701
http://www.vacationrentalseurope.com e-mail: whitelaw@mail.island.net
Vacation Rentals in Western Europe has been in operation for three years and represents nine companies, including the oldest and largest villa rental company in Europe. The properties offered are privately owned, but managed for the owners by these companies. They include castles, farmhouses, manor houses, cottages and apartments of every description, ranging in price from budget to luxury. While most of the properties offered are in the countryside, some are in small villages and towns and a few are located in large cities such as Paris, London, Rome, Florence and Venice. All the companies they represent are well established, reputable and fully insured. Most publish annual catalogues, some of which are available for purchase at cost. Alternatively, relevant excerpts from the catalogues can be sent to clients by e-mail, fax or regular mail, for their consideration.