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Choosing between a vacation rental and a hotel/resort is a daunting task. You should take into consideration several factors of your trip before deciding these options, especially if traveling overseas to a country you've never visited before. While a vacation rental may seem the "cheapest sometimes," form of travel, you can sometimes get more than you bargained for.

People in the US are fairly spoiled. We don't think of the modern marvels of today being eliminated from our trips overseas, but for the most part, if you stay at a home in any part of Rural Europe, you'll find you're headed for a shock. Lots of those 2,000/week bargains that you think you're getting are stone homes, with no central ac, no cable, no Internet, and most of the time very little to do unless you've planned your trip to examine each and every facet of your auto hire, dinners, and activities. Let's just say, if the price tag seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If you do decide on a vacation rental, price should not be your main concern. Although some of us travel on a budget, you should remember that if a house is less than your hotel suite, there is probably a good reason. In today's market, where there are more and more people foreclosing, you will find that there is a huge inventory of vacation rentals. Yet, not just any kind of vacation rental, the kind that is still somebody's home. There are old towels, old sheets, old furniture, and old linens, glasses, and appliances. Personally, I would rather enjoy an overpriced hotel over someone's thrown together home where I have to clean everything prior to even staying there. So keep cheap to the rental car, not the home.

There are a few things to note when deciding on a home.

1. Do not say the word "cheap." You will get what you pay for.
2. Always ask if the furniture is new or old, if there is AC, and local phone.
3. Always ask for an address, make sure the home is somewhere central.
4. Always ask for references, for someone who has stayed there.
5 Always ask for a contract, do not pay for something without one. The last thing you want is someone taking your money and leaving you high and dry.
6. Never pay with something other than a check or a verifiable bank transfer! Owners or companies should disclose their names, local phone numbers, and banking instructions.
7. Use a company to get you started. A company is an agency that handles the owners marketing, there are plenty of them. Make sure they have visited the home and can have

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