FAQ – Vacationing Guests

What exactly is a vacation rental?

Vacation rentals are properties that are generally located in areas that are typically used for vacation purposes. These properties may be homes, condos, villas, cottages, chalets or cabins. They may or may not be located on or near a body of water (Ocean, river, lake, etc.) or close to a major tourist area (Ski resort, beach resort, etc.). In some cases they may be in major cities that see a lot of tourist traffic (Toronto, New York, Tokyo, London) or they may be set up as a themed vacation site (like a hobby farm, .Fishing hut, etc.)

The one thing that all these properties have in common is that they give you more value for your dollar (yen, pound, etc.) than traditional hotel rooms. With the same and often better price than a hotel room, you’ll get a unit with a full kitchen, more rooms, multiple bedrooms, private hot tubs, garages laundry rooms and amenities you can’t find in a hotel room. You can choose from a 10-bedroom luxury home to a rustic cabin or villa on the beach. Our vacation rentals offer more selection, better service and lower prices, making it easy for families, groups and couples to find the perfect rental to suit their needs – whether it’s a luxury vacation home in the heart of the action or a quaint romantic getaway.

What are the advantages of booking your vacation rental with the Last Minute Family Vacation Rental Network?

Vacation rentals represent a huge growing sector of the vacation industry. The proliferation of the internet has made it easier and faster then ever to find vacation rentals making it very hard to tell the good ones from the bad ones. Our goal was to take the guess work out of the process. Booking with us means you always get;

• A system that is designed to help you get the best deal on your rental requirements.
• The ability to easily find rentals on a last minute and discounted basis.
• A screening process and membership structure that minimizes the need for large security deposits and long waits for refunds..
• On-line booking, payment, and reservation system.
• The benefit of using your credit card to book your vacation and to protect yourself from fraud.
• The ability to handle large groups or corporate events.
• The best rates and the widest possible selection.
• World wide availability
• We employ our own audit team that makes sure all of the rentals listed on our system are maintained up to our high standards of quality.
• Access to a system that actually lets you earn income while you vacation.

 

Why should I choose a vacation rental?

A vacation rental has many advantages over other vacation alternatives but the most common reason to book a vacation rental is that it will cost you less money and you will receive more value. You will get access to your own kitchen, multiple bedrooms, private hot tubs, garages and other amenities that you just can’t get in a hotel. Please refer to our “Why Use Vacation Rentals” page for additional information.

What is so important about renting a “professionally-managed” vacation rental?

Sadly, not every owner takes proper care of their properties and on occasion you may find that your idea of clean and the owners are not the same. A professionally-managed vacation rental is run by a property management company. They ensure that the property is maintained to a certain standard and ensure that proper cleaning is done between tenants. They provide someone to handle problems when they occur on site and ensure that the customer (tenant) has the best experience possible.

The Last Minute Family Vacation Rental Network helps property owners prepare their properties for the vacation rental market and ensures that all the properties that participate in the network maintain the highest standard of excellence. This avoids the often disappointing discoveries that can result from bookings that are made directly with property owners. The condition of a rental in this case can often be a mystery beforehand, or be full of “surprises” on arrival, and the owners can be hard to reach (and living thousands of miles away).

Do you offer Traveler’s some sort of Guarantee?

The Last Minute Family Vacation Rental Network offers all the travelers that use our system our quality service guarantee. Please refer to our LMVR guarantee page for more information.

Why should I book my vacation rental using the Last Minute Family Vacation Rental Network?

The Last Minute Family Vacation Rental Network was formed by a group of people that included; property owners, property managers, sales associates and young families that wanted a safe, secure and effective way of managing their vacation rental experience and bringing their properties to the vacation rental market.

We are owners ourselves and want the best caliber tenants. We are families that rent vacation properties on an annual basis and we want to ensure we get the best possible vacation experience at the best possible price. We are the property Managers that want the best tools and resources available so that we can provide the best service to both our clients (Owners and Tenants) and we are the sales associates that sell this service and want the best possible products that we can get to offer to our clients.

We only list vacation rentals that provide the best service to their guests, We have all the tools that owners and property managers need in order to efficiently manage a rental business. We offer an owners guarantee that protects the owners real estate investment and we offer our renters a service guarantee that ensures all properties maintain a certain standard of excellence in order to ensure the best over all customer experience. That is why you should book your vacation rental with the Last Minute Family Vacation Rental Network.

Can I book large groups?

Large or small we can handle them all! Yes, group rates will apply to all rentals of three vacation rental properties or more. Call an LMFVR agent today for details.

Are the properties timeshares?

Nope. They are all privately-owned accommodations that have been offered for rent by their owners.

 

If I have a problem with a rental what do I do?

The first person you should contact is the onsite property manager that is responsible for this unit. If you still have a problem you should then contact the actual owner of the property. If you still are having a problem then call the Last Minute Family Vacation Rental Network and we will ensure that the issue is resolved to your satisfaction.

What is the availability of the properties?

Included in our system is a full suite of property management tools that provide our property owners and property mangers with access to real time reservation information. This means our website does show real-time availability. Please look at the property profile and consult the availability calendar to see if your desired property is available for your chosen vacation period.

 

Are vacation rentals the same as “fractionals?”

No. Fractional ownership is the term used to describe a property that may be owned by two or more people. The equity of the property is divided up and each owner is responsible for a certain percentage of the equity, and maintenance costs and may use the unit for a certain percentage of the calendar year.

 

Some of the properties we have listed in our system may be owned by multiple people. In this case the owners will each decide when they want to use their properties and then will make any remaining time available to outside tenants.

Regardless of how many people own these properties you as a tenant are taking it as a vacation rental. You are renting the property for a specific period of time, for a set price and have no further obligations beyond that rental contract.

Can I reach the owner directly?

Yes, every property listed on this system provides the contact information for the person that is managing the rental. It may be the owner or it may be someone that is designated as his authorized representative.

How do I make a reservation?

There are two ways that a booking may be made. You may use the online reservation system to book your vacation rental or you may call the owner/Manager of the property and make the reservation over the phone. In short order you will also have the option of calling our reservation HOTLINE and booking the reservation that way as well.

What sort of charges can I expect as part of the rental agreement?

In most cases charges for the rental include the following: A rental amount, Security Deposit, Cleaning Fee, and applicable taxes. The actual amounts of these charges may very from one owner to another.

 

Some owners may offer other special services as well that they charge extra for. A typical example of a special service might be “Airport Pickup” where the owner or his agent will come to the airport to pick you up and bring you to the property. Extra Services are always charged on top of the basic rental fees.

Am I expected to pay a deposit on booking?

Yes, a deposit is required on booking. The actual amount of the deposit may very but it usually ranges between 10% to 50% of the total contract amount.

Where can I find detailed information about the property like check-in times, etc? Every property listed on our system as a detailed profile that includes all the pertinent information a potential renter would need in order to make a decision on the property. Sections of the profile include check-in/check-out times, pet information, etc.

How are cancellation and refunds handled?

The cancellation policy associated with your rental agreement or lease should clearly communicate penalties associated with canceling your contract. Note that cancellations due to weather conditions are not usually permitted unless specified in the rental agreement. It is always best to purchase travel insurance to protect your vacation investment if unforeseen circumstances occur. You may purchase travel insurance HERE

What type of pre-arrival instructions should I expect?

In addition to directions to the property, you should be provided with either a key or the name of the person who will greet you at the rental, as well as the name and telephone number of some one at the location who you can contact if anything goes wrong. On occasion some property owners may provide you with special instructions to turn on power or heat. Usually however all of this type of stuff is done prior to your arrival by staff that are available on site.

What happens when I arrive at the property?

Some owners send you a key in advance, some actually live on site and will meet you, and some arrange for their representative to meet you at the property. Make sure you are given details of some one you can contact if something goes wrong. If you are delayed, Please inform the owner or property manager so that they are not waiting at the property for hours prior to your arrival.

What if there is a problem during my vacation?

It is in your best interest and the owner’s interest to fix any problems immediately. Contact information for the owner or their local representative should be included in pre arrival instructions and posted in the rental. The person you have been directed to contact will be your best resource to quickly resolve any issues.

 

What happens when I depart?

Check out policies should be part of the instructions you were provided. Since cleaning standards vary, it is important to know how much the owners expect you to clean up prior to departure. At minimum, the rental should be left tidy.

When you are ready to leave, the owner or their representative will usually check you out of the property, and assuming there is no damage, will refund your security deposit. This refund usually occurs within a couple of weeks.

Are the vacation Rentals equipped with air-conditioning?

Some properties may have central air while others may not. Please refer to the appropriate vacation rental property profile for detailed information on your selected property.

 

Are there any restrictions regarding children?

That policy is established by the individual owner of the property. If the rental unit is situated on a cliff, or is filled with breakables the owner may decide to restrict who may use the place. Some owners may place age restrictions or ask for liability waivers. Please refer to the appropriate vacation rental property profile for detailed information on your selected property.

 

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How much does it cost to rent a vacation property?

There are rentals for every budget. Prices may range from $500/week up to $50,000/week.

Is there a minimum night stay?

The minimum stay duration is a policy that is set by each individual property owner. Some properties have a minimum of 2 or 3 nights where others do not. Some properties owners will only allow bookings in weeks so the minimum stay is 7 days. Please refer to the appropriate vacation rental property profile for detailed information on your selected property.

 

Is there a daily meal charge?

Most vacation rentals in this system are self catering which means every tenant is responsible for bringing up their own food and planning their own meals. Some property owners however do offer special services that may include meal planning, stocked pantry, etc. Please refer to the appropriate vacation rental property profile for detailed information on your selected property. To see a list of possible special services please see our special services page.

Is it possible to add additional guests later?

Yes, as long as there is sufficient room. If there is a per guest or per bedroom charge, you will be billed for the additional costs.

Is the photo in this link the exact villa we would be staying in, along with the views etc.?

Yes. The Last Minute Family Vacation Rental Network does allow owners to post multiple properties to this system and each property does have its own property profile so the pictures you see should be of the unit you will stay in.

Can we hire a cook while we are there?

In many cases it is possible to request special services at an additional cost. Please refer to the appropriate vacation rental property profile for detailed information on your selected property.

Do any of the vacation rentals have a pool?

Some units have pools and many do not. Please refer to the appropriate vacation rental property profile for detailed information on your selected property.

Is there a pool shared with other guests?

The vast majority of the units that do have pools have their own private pools. Occasionally, some may be shared with other guests. Please refer to the appropriate vacation rental property profile for detailed information on your selected property.

How far is the beach? Walking distance?

That depends on the property. We have some vacation properties that are not located on any body of water (though most of those do have pools). Those that do have water access may have a beach right outside the door, a short drive away, or a short walk away.

Is there any night life? How far away?

That depends on the rental unit and its location. Some properties are fairly secluded from the action, with the intent on providing maximum privacy while others are right in the heart of town and close to all the bars and restaurants. Please refer to the appropriate vacation rental property profile for detailed information on your selected property.

Who would be our contact for anything we may need while we are there?

Depending on the rental unit, there might be a property manager or owner who lives on the property or very close by. In an emergency you can also call our travel hotline and we will do our best to help you.

Are cribs available to rent?

That really depends on the location of the unit and if the service is available in the area. Please refer to the appropriate vacation rental property profile for detailed information on your selected property.

Is the price of the unit per person?

No. Most rates are listed per rental unit. You may have as many guests stay with you in the unit as you like as long as you do not exceed the total capacity of the place.

What are some extra expenses I might incur (e.g. travel from airport)?

The rental does not include food costs (unless there is a meal plan included), transportation, activities, tax, or special services.

How are groceries obtained?

Vacation Rental pantries can be pre-stocked with a list you provide before arrival. Most rental units have grocery stores nearby.

How much privacy will we have around the property?

Most of our properties are as secluded and private, often with land or vegetation providing a buffer. Some may be part of a community, but remain private in so far as your specific unit is concerned. On occasion some of these units may be in close proximity to each other and may share access to certain facilities, like pools, game rooms, etc.

Is it possible to hold a special event at one of these properties? Can you help with arrangements?

We are happy to accommodate any special requests you may have. Wedding ceremonies, family reunions, and corporate events are just a few of the possibilities. We can have a local event coordinator get in contact with you to help you with the details.

Who cleans the vacation property? Is the maid included?

All of our vacation rental properties are professionally cleaned and maintained to the LMFVRN standard. Every property is cleaned and sterilized after use in preparation for the next set of tenants. Some properties do have a maid service that is available during your stay. Consult the properties profile for additional information.

Can you tell me what there is to do in the area (e.g. where we can play golf)?

Every vacation rental property profile provides details outlining what services and tourist attractions there are in their areas. Please consult the properties profile page to find out what is available and to ensure that your interests may be accommodated.

Is there Internet access?

Most of the vacation properties listed in our system have Internet access; connection speed, costs and equipment available varies. Please visit the appropriate property profile for detailed information.

Is there satellite TV?

TV connections and channels vary depending on the location. Please visit the appropriate property profile for detailed information.