Home Away From Home

What could be more authentic than staying in a real home instead of a hotel on your next vacation? Imagine getting to know the neighbors and feeling like a local without having to sacrifice luxurious surroundings.

Rental homes are also great for families or groups of friends traveling together who pay considerably less than they would for a flock of hotel rooms while enjoying more space, privacy, and conveniences.

While I’ve previously worried about ending up in unacceptable circumstances (think dump), I believe the chances of that happening have been reduced by popular websites that make it easy to “out” the bad guys.

As I write this, a friend is packing for a trip to the Loire Valley, where he’ll be staying in a private home he’s rented for a week. “Anna,” his landlady-to-be, “has been helping make local arrangements” and he’s looking forward to meeting her in person.

Gary found his French digs through http://www.vrbo.com/, the granddaddy of the private residence rental websites. Vacation Rental by Owner offers 130,000 places to stay worldwide, and – as the name states - travelers deal directly with the owners.

A relative newcomer to this business, http://www.airbnb.com/ offers everything from a spare bedroom in someone’s home in New York to a castle in Yorkshire that rents for $2,000 a night. Payment is made via the website, where renters can post their experiences.

Upscale serviced apartments, primarily catering to business travelers, are available though several sites. One of these is the UK-based http://www.frasershospitality.com/, which operates in 13 countries and claims to offer “impeccable service and the caring touch of an indulgent mother.”

Luxury travelers definitely want to avoid CouchSurfing.com (don’t even think about it) and Craigslist, which has a reputation for misleading rental ads and information.

If you’ve used these or other sites to find a home away from home, will you post a comment and share your experiences?

Thanks – and bon voyage.