Too Good To Be True? How to be sure what you see online is what you get with vacation rentals

After months of trolling the Internet, virtually wandering through villas, condos and casitas in search of a vacation rental, Hank and Ingiberg inspected photos of canopy beds and adobe fireplaces and settled on what would be their home during their trip to Arizona from Norway—a romantic, eco friendly casita. And I was to be their host.

"I want your vacation to be carefree" read the note I sent to them with their rental agreement and instructed them to look behind the flower box for the key.

Upon arrival they found the key easily. And as they opened the door to their new home-away-from-home, they breathed a sigh of relief seeing the casita was even better than it was described on the Internet.

It may be tough to believe that arrangements made thousands of miles away for a house in an unfamiliar country can actually work out so well. But it did, and that is one reason why renting online is a booming part of the travel business, six percent of all lodging and climbing.

Short-term vacation rental homes offer an alternative to big box hotels, resorts, timeshares and condos. Often far cheaper than stays in a hotel, with bigger rooms, self-catering kitchens, and more privacy—people have their own unique reasons for renting from a private owner instead of a faceless corporation.

Those of us with allergies can finally travel without getting sick by staying in low toxin, healthy homes. Smokers can stay indoors and light up in another smoker’s vacation home. People with pets can give up expensive pet sitters and guilt by taking Spot or Tweetie bird on the road with them to a pet-friendly rental.

You may want to consider the pros and cons like giving up luxuries such as being served breakfast, getting travel advice from helpful staff, and encounters with other travelers—but for many people these can be an advantages. And if you shop smart, you can find an owner who will give sound advice or provide a gourmet breakfast.

While Ingiberg says their rental experience exceeded her expectations, things don't always work out so well. I booked a vacation rental once that showed pictures of the beach I assumed were taken from the house. I arrived to discover the pictures were of the beach, but the house was 12 blocks away in an industrial park.

Get a Guarantee. Use a listing site like Home Away which provides a trip guarantee of $5000. If the rental listing is not legitimate and you registered your trip with them, they pay you. Other sites remove owners after just one serious complaint.

Read Guest Reviews. If the reviews are written in a similar "voice" or could have been posted from one computer, take care. Most listing sites will not allow more than one or two postings from the same computer or from the owners, ensuring the legitimacy of the reviews. You can always ask the owner if you may email or call the review writer for verification. Shortcomings like being 30 minutes from a grocery or next to a highway will often be mentioned in the reviews.

Check Photos For Clues. Owners should show photos of both the interior and exterior. If you only see one or the other, it can be a warning sign that they’re avoiding showing you something--worn out furniture or a noisy location. Not showing any photos is worse. Avoid listings that don’t have photographs, it’s not worth your time to deal with someone who doesn’t take their listing seriously or know enough about the process to get pictures posted.



Ask Questions. I’m always surprised that most of our guests book online without ever asking a single question other than how much it costs. It may be that my description is thorough and our booking process answers their questions. But as a recent guest pointed out, she didn't ask questions, booked a property she thought was described as the same as another one bedroom because it seemed to have better views only to find the place is basically a furnished garage. From the photos the patio table appears to be on a nice gravel terrace. Surprise! The “yard” is also the driveway.

A few sharp prospective guests ask me questions about what they know make them comfortable during a trip. And they ask in such a way that I can’t slip around a shortcoming. For example, they don’t ask, “Is the hot water plentiful?” If I wanted to give a legal answer, I could safely say yes to that question no matter what the supply might be. What’s “plentiful” to me could be a 60 second rinse. A savvy prospective guest asks, “How many 5 minute showers would you say you could take before the hot water runs out?”

A guest who wants privacy asks, “Is anyone else on the property?” And, “I understand the view is great OUT of the windows, but I’m wondering, how easy is it for people to see IN?” You’d be surprised how many rental properties don’t have shades.

Swimmers get specific about how they want use the pool, “I want to swim laps in the pool, is it long enough for lap swimming without encountering ropes or kids in the pool?”

People who want peace and quiet ask, “How far is the property sited from the nearest highway?” Some use Google Earth and other mapping sites to help visualize the proximity to busy roads and other buildings and developments.

Cooks and those who don't want to spend time driving want to know, “How far is the nearest grocery store?”

Parents and healthy home advocates ask, “What repairs have you made recently?” They know new paint, glue and other materials can outgas harmful toxins with not only an unpleasant smell, but chemicals that may damage your lungs. Asking about repairs and improvement is also a good way to find out the condition of the property. Owners who haven’t made any upgrades or changes in a few years probably have an overused or worn out property which is great for beach parties and college kids or a car load of pets, but may not be what you’re expecting. Ask how long ago the photographs were taken and what’s been changed since that time.

If a condo unit is in a complex, ask if you are guaranteed a particular unit. Find out which units have the best furnishings and how they compare with other units. Find out what housekeeping services are offered and the cost of more frequent services.

Last but not least, consider how you’re asked to pay for your vacation rental and get the details about deposits, damages and cancellation in writing, I post them on our website and we have an agreement letter. Home Away has tips on how to protect yourself when renting. The most common Internet scams involve cashiers checks. Don’t use them. Personal checks have more laws to protect people on both sides of the transaction. Better yet, use a credit card. While owners have to charge you more to cover the fees, if there’s a problem, you can dispute the charge with your credit card processor.

KT Tunstall's Green Travel Tips

In a recent interview, muscian KT Tunstall says her fave green travel practice is banning housekeeping from her hotel rooms, which saves water and toxic cleaning products. When I try that, the head housekeeper on the other end of the phone says, "Too bad, we're coming in, we have to check the rooms everyday," and the room gets cleaned anyway. Guess I need to be famous for that green tip to work.

What I found more interesting in about this chat was what the interviewer suggested as her green travel tip. Very sexy to a sun-worshiper like me.

For easygoing vacation tips for the not so famous, click here.

Going For The Green: Thoughts on Greenwashing and Guilt

"These days, it seems just about every business is finding a way to go green, making it that much harder for well-intentioned consumers to distinguish companies with green products and services." --Entrpreneur Magazine

Green guilt, extreme green, green washing—the over-exposure to green messages leaves me feeling eco-fatigued. Businesses greenwashing in hopes of getting attention has created a backlash of cynicism against the green trend. What's an easy going green gal to do?

I confess, I'm not a purist, I find it to be rigid and confusing. Twenty percent of going green requires expensive, complicated, difficult choices about which most people disagree. I focus on the 80% that is clear and has impact instead of giving up because of the debatable 20%.

The way I see it, lots of people doing 80% makes a bigger difference than a few zealots doing 100%. I set a rational, reasonable example that people can follow, rather than condemn those who are unable or unwilling to adopt a perfectionist’s all-or-nothing approach.

Is that a cop-out? Is that nurturing? Economists say it is the law of diminishing return. The last 20% isn't worth the trouble it takes to go after.

Having said all that, I lose respect for businesses that claim to be green for common sense things like recycling. Lodgings that claim to be green because they ask guests to use less water or because they switched to flourescent light bulbs make me laugh. I give my business to those who assert their green-ness in writing with green policies. Certification from third parties that verify their claims offer credibility, and I have a few for my business just for that reason. But the field of listings is so crowded, most consumers can't tell one from the other so many green businesses don't bother.

Savvy consumers expect socially responsible practices from all businesses and won't just hand over their money because of marketing.

The Latest Trip

The latest guilt-trip seems to be going green. And now it's time for summer vacation--bringing more opportunities to feel guilty about the jet trails from flying, gas prices, and our "footprints," --click to measure yours in a fun quiz, no ads.

If you know me, you know what I say about guilt, "No way!" Here's how I'm making my summer vacation green and guilt-free:

Do what I can to save on gas when renting or buying a car and then don't sweat it. Hybrids do get better gas mileage, but the verdict is still out on how green they really are with their toxic batteries and carbon producing manufacturing. Enterprise Rentals let's you add carbon offsets to the price of your rental at booking. Offsets for my two week rental in Phoenix was just $2.90. Couldn't have been easier. This site has a gas mileage comparison tool and rates the 100 Top Green Cars. I pick a car with great gas mileage and GO.

Fly nonstop and fly during the day. Take off and landing takes most of the fuel used on a flight. Jet emissions do more damage at night.

Try these easygoing green vacation tips (ad-free pdf). Print out a few copies on recycled paper for fellow travelers or vendors who may need encouragement to go green or who may feel overwhelmed by all the environmental bafflegab.

Take FREE tours. I get locals to show me around for free through Couch Surf. This social networking site verifies users at three clever levels and connects you with people offering a place to crash or a cultural education of their area.

Florida Nature Vacations? Oxymoron or Best Kept Secret?

You've heard the jokes about Florida, "Why is it so hard to find a dentist in Florida? Because everyone just mails in their teeth."

Or as my Delray Beach friend, Buz likes to say, "It's not all the old people, it's their parents." And then there's the one that gets applied to the entire Gulf Coast, "It's not the heat, it's the stupidity."

I confess, in the past I have not been a fan of the Sunshine State. Growing up, my father called it, "God's Waiting Room," and insisted no respectable intellectual would set foot in the state. The rest of my family hated the heat and the tourist traps. But I was born in Fort Lauderdale and once I got past the population density and BLING of places like,"Boca Dunes Phase II," I discovered a natural wonderland that isn't crawling with tourists or 90210 Wannabe's--it is in northeast Florida. For nature and romance, nothing beats St. Augustine.

Ten reasons to Vacation in St. Augustine, FL:

1. The Old Florida Lifestyle. Easily found and has not been boxed like a commodity the way Cajun and so many other cultures have been commercialized. Details? Check out Minorcans, especially their food and plants on your walking tours. You can also email me and I'll send you a map and itinerary for a self-guided culinary tour.

2. Charm. The oldest US city settled by Europeans reminds me of a tiny Spanish village washed up on a golden beach. No cars, just a walkable town with authentic history and architectural interest.

3. It's not as hot as the NE. It's cooler than most places in the NE and Southern US in summer. You won't miss the sweltering heat and air pollution from areas near Wash., DC, south Florida, or Georgia. Breezes from the ocean keep it cool, low population density and abundance of parks, preserves, and green space keep the air clean. Details? Compare the zip codes for air quality.

4. You don't even have to leave your vacation spot to get uplifted. Sunrise from the balcony of the Riverview a vacation rental, is amazing. You can watch the yachts and dolphins cruise the Intracoastal. When you book your vacation spot, be sure to SKIP the big box condos on the beach and get an updated vacation rental in a quiet location.

5. Learn about the birds and bees. In just six days I saw swallow-tailed kites, broad-tailed hawks, a ruby throated hummingbird, eight kinds of terns, three adolescent, pileated woodpeckers, red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers, marsh wrens, wood thrushes, wading birds, a Chuck-Will's-widow, and a nighthawk.

6. You're 16 minutes from one of the best beaches in the world, Crescent Beach boasts an inlet and a beach wide enough to walk or bike for miles.

7. St. Augustine Beach boasts an undeveloped beach, Anastasia Park. Even if you don't like beaches, the natural wonder, history and sheer beauty might give you the inspiration to take a long walk or just nap on the sand.

8. Alligator Farm Park offers thrills and education. The nesting birds in the rookery make the trip worthwhile for even the most anti-zoo family members. Wild birds flock there to nest in the safety of the gator pens, no predators climb the trees to eat those eggs, not with the gators at the bottom of the trees.

9. Guana River State Park. Hiking trails to historic Indian ruins, canoeing, and fishing. A 2,400 acre coastal park at the tip of 12,000 acres of conservation and recreational areas. Shell mounds, over 226 species of birds, bobcats, sea turtles and other endangered animals make this a world-class nature preserve.

10. More Beautiful Parks. Princess Park for horseback riding, Old Florida flavor, boating, and beautiful flowers. Moses Creek for eagles nests, letterboxing and kayak or canoeing. Crystal River, Manatee Springs, Cedar Key, the list goes on...

Summer Travel Deals on Rental Cars

Many rental car companies have been running specials as steep as 50% off regular rates. The bad news is these rate specials end in June and most companies plan to increase rates over the summer.

There are a few exceptions. Hertz has a fleet of gas saving, green vehicles. To promote the new fleet, it will offer $25 off a weekly rental on these eco-cars this summer. If you're calling, use the promo code 113503 for the Green Collection.

And you can save 10% if you reserve with Alamo on its Web site and pre-pay with a credit card.

Click here for ad and guilt free green car rental tips and easygoing green hiking tips.

Get Away and Still Save Money: Staycation Trend

The hottest summer vacation? "Staycations" where you stay close to home, visiting sites within a day's drive or in your home town. Vacationing close to home or even staying home, saves money on air fare and cuts carbon.

Vacation rentals outside of major cities make a good choice for spending smart if you can't stay with friends. You can reach destinations like Sedona in a day from Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, and nearby states. A day's drive takes folks from Atlanta to posh locations in northern Florida.

If you're staying home for your vacation, a good way to return to work more rested is forget the chores. Those who choose to stay at home for their staycation tend to end up doing projects and tasks from their to-do lists. If you're going to skip the packing, airport check in lines, and traffic, you may want to skip the chores too.

Get tips on how to negotiate prices with vacation rental owners from the Wall Street Journal. Check rate specials the big vacation rental websites like VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) and HomeAway, which owns most of the smaller vacation rental websites, including VRBO. Free vacation planning available when you book at ecoLuxury Lodging.com, you'll have a personal conceirge.

Gimme a Break, Coffee Break, that is...

Sometimes I want to throw my hands up at all the contradictory and confusing information out there about what's healthy and what's not. "Eat organic, eat local--vegetarian isn't healthy for you, but it is for the planet--cut fat, eat fat."

I make it easy on myself and hopefully, the planet by doing what I can the majority of the time and forgetting about the rest of it. I'm not 100% anything all the time. I eat organic when I can, but I don't obsess about it. I figure everything in moderation means less stress for me and my traveling companions seem to appreciate it, too.

Organic coffee is one thing I skip, especially given the cost of coffee. Buying organic foods usually means less exposure to pesticides and fertilizers, but coffee is one exception. The roasting at high temps removes toxic residue in conventional beans according to Sandra Marquardt, Organic Coffee Collaboration spokesperson. This means there's no real health benefit to choosing organic over regular. But choosing organic it does support environmentally sound harvesting and farming practices.

Tonic for the Soul--Mothering is our Nature

On Mother's Day, I wandered out on the mudflats of the river to watch a family of raccoons scamper on the shoreline. It was a tonic for my soul. Breathing in the wonder of the outdoors nurtures me. When I am low, I find solace in nature. When I am outside, I am more myself. Nature writer Diane Ackerman describes our need for the tonic, "There are noble reasons for protecting the environment...but we also need a healthy, thriving, bustling, natural world so that we can be healthy, so that we can feel whole."

Right there on the mud flats, I made a commitment to take care of myself as well as I take care of others. "Taking care of yourself is your right and your responsibility," says Vimala McClure. And it is said, she who values her body more than dominion over the empire can be given custody of the empire. I want to value my soil and sea, as much as I do the bodies of others.

And in doing so, I cannot help but wonder how much richer, cleaner, kinder the planet would be if mothers everywhere started caring for themselves in this way--nurturing the mother, the nature in us all.

Dictionary for Eco Newbies

Eco. Prefix referring to ecological terms.

Eco-tourism. Defined in Wikipedia as a form of tourism appealing to ecologically and socially conscious individuals; focuses on personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet; typically involving travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.

Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is in the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for the local communities.

Ask what makes the destination "eco" or green. Green washing is common, not only because people want to jump on a hot trend, but most often because they're uninformed. My properties are certified by the Green Vacation Hub which has fair, but deeply green certification standards. You can use their list to ask businesses about their green policies or initiatives. Just being in the jungle or have a recyling been doesn't make it "eco" in my book.

Eco-luxury. A high comfort, low impact way of life promoted by yours truly. In my home it means a natural home that is easy on me & the environment WITHOUT compromising my gracious standard of living. We use only fragrance free cleaning products, furnishings & building materials. Low-toxin environment, no harmful out-gassing, no chemicals. I'm not talking yurt with a composting toilet. I don't wear earth shoes, I eat meat (occassionally) and I'm into my "soft surroundings."

GHG. Green House Gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), the leading green house gas contributing to climate change. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon into the atmosphere. During the combustion process, the fossil fuels are turned into carbon dioxide.

Green or Sustainable Design, Green Building, Green Remodel. The goal of green building is to minimize the impacts on people's health and the environment and the efficient use of energy, water and materials during construction. For homes, this includes architecture, landscape and renewable resources. For example, a green home might use a cistern to capture grey water from indoors and rain water outdoors. This prevents polluted dishwater, laundry wash water, and runoff from pavement from entering the streams, lakes, or ocean . The cistern water is then used for drip systems in landscaping to water plants.

IAQ. Indoor Air Quality. Mold, bacteria, allergens and carbon monoxide are among the many elements that can negatively affect a home's IAQ. Cleaning products, fabric softeners, air fresheners, scented candles, and other household products with synthetic fragrances usually contain harsh chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic-most of which irritate respiratory systems.

The EPA reports that about 70% of indoor air is more polluted than the air outside. To help you evaluate your exposure to household pollutants and find tips for improving indoor air quality see the information at the American Lung Association. Switch to unscented cleaners or better yet, replace them with white vinegar or baking soda and water.

LEED. Stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED awards points based on fulfilling requirements in six major areas: Sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation and design. New buildings can earn certified, silver, gold or platinum awards based on how many points it achieves. LEED is mostly used in new construction and to rate a project on its level of greenness and does not apply to remodeling. A few states have green certified remodeling certifications based on LEED criteria. Even if contractors in your state cannot be LEED certified for remodels, they can use the project checklists. Items included would be:

• Recycling or reusing packaging and materials removed from the home during the remodel instead of adding to the landfill.
• Use of wood furnishings and finishes that are either recycled, reclaimed, or from harvested in ways that did not threaten old growth or rain forests.
• Water Efficiency. Low volume toilet and shower head. Showerheads that remove chlorine. Most chlorine exposure comes not from drinking water, but from our skin while bathing. Use filtered water in the shower and you may notice your hair color lasts longer (if you get it from a bottle).
• Energy Efficiency. Use Energy Star rated appliances and heating, air conditioning units.
  

For more easy tips download 16 Easy Ways to Green Your Home.

Slow Movement/Slow Food/Slow Travel. The cultural initiative, SLOW FOOD has burgeoned into a whole way of life known as the Slow Movement, which emphasizes connection — connection to food, connection to families and, in the case of travel, connection to local peoples and cultures.

Slow travel is not so much about the transportation on your vacation as it is your mindset. It can mean renting a cottage for a few weeks or hiking and biking while at your destination to get a feel for the land. A slow itinerary gives you a break from the blurring pace of American or business life. Slow travel is also kinder to the environment and your wallet, as vacation rentals are less expensive than hotels and resorts with comparable amenities. Staying in one place often reduces transportation costs and by cooking instead of eating out for every meal, you save even more.

VOC. Volatile Organic Compounds found in many building materials such as dry wall, paint, wood, glue, or carpet, paints and finishes. To avoid them, look for construction or remodeling from reclaimed or untreated wood, upholstered furniture that has long since out-gassed sizing and other chemicals, no carpeting as most carpet padding and glue contains toxins, including formaldehyde. Xenoestrogens and nanoparticles are the latest offenders. More on those later or send me links to articles about it! 5/10/08 by Dana Ghermine Mayer

Living on the Edge

By Guest Blogger, Fran Palmeri
Nature Photographer

When I moved to Florida I thought it was kind of cute that yard birds were the live kind. Then I realized birds were in people’s yards because they had nowhere else to go. They’re forced to coexist with humans on chemically treated lawns, mulch, concrete and asphalt. Sandhill cranes take up residence on pesticided sod by an algaecide treated pond, wood storks hang out in a dumpster behind a restaurant, and ibises nest in a mountain of debris on a construction site. Dumps are another common habitat for birds and other creatures with no where else to feed.

Our fellow creatures often live life on the fringes of developed areas. Our ignorance, lack of concern, greed, and short sightedness has forced wildlife to make do with hideous substitutes for all that is natural, that is real, that is YES, to paraphrase Cummings.