Guide to Owning a Vacation Home Rental Property

As Covid restrictions ease and people travel locally and internationally, the demand for short-term rental property is rising. With remote work, people travel for extended periods, and staying in a hotel for weeks can be inconvenient. More people are looking for homey, unique accommodation rather than staying in hotels.

Owning a rental home that you can rent for vacations and short-term leases may seem like a lucrative investment, but before you buy a property, there are some things you must consider.

Location

The location of your vacation home rental property is vital. Not only do you need to consider popular tourist destinations, but also think about points of interest close by and access to transport.

Properties within walking distance of restaurants, bars, beaches, and shops are sought after. If it is too far to walk, look for properties close to a bus stop or the subway, as guests may be

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Top Apartment and Condo Rentals

Downtown Havana Apartment

Havana: Apartment


2 BDR •
2 BA •
Sleeps 4 •
#234931

85 to 85 USD/night

To truly experience Cuban culture, you need to be in the center of it all and that is exactly where you will find yourself – walking distance to the National Hotel, Habana Libre Hotel, University of Havana, Sea Walk(Malecon), and the US Embassy. At the surrounding hotels, you can find internet service, currency exchange and tours & excursions to book. We are also surrounded by incredible Paladars & Restaurants – Old Havana & The Cathedral are only a 10-min cab ride away.

Close to many cultural, tourist and local attractions, our building is located in a very central street. With cabs driving by constantly, you will easily be able to get around town at a moments notice. We are also surrounded by many amazing Paladares (Privately

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How to Find Last Minute Vacation Rentals

Vacations are always times of great joy. There is nothing better than planning your activities, looking up places to eat, and choosing a relaxing abode to come home to. But an impromptu vacation can make it difficult to locate last-minute vacation rentals that meet all of your needs. In this piece, we’ll show you how to find a rental that fulfills your requirements with the least amount of hassle.

What Exactly is Last-Minute?

Los Angeles indeed has something for everyone, from its beaches to museums and even restaurants. Being so popular, finding the perfect place to stay may be difficult, especially if you are doing this just before leaving. Here are a few ways to find a rental house in L.A. 

  • Start by checking online: Begin your search online, as many lodging options now allow immediate reservations. Just enter your details and click the “submit” button. OwnerDirect.com even has a
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Your guide to booking mountain cabin vacation rentals

Smell the fresh, crisp, mountain air as you pull up to a gorgeous scenic view and your mountain cabin rental. See the nostalgic touches of friendly open porches and welcoming front doors. Enjoy the modern-day conveniences like fully-equipped kitchens, inviting living rooms and bubbling hot tubs. Mountain cabin vacation rentals are the perfect place to reconnect with nature, and recharge over a holiday. There are all types of cozy getaways just waiting to be discovered.

The special features of mountain cabin vacation rentals

Breckenridge Mountain Cabin Vacation Rental
Fabulous for families, this delightful 4BR Breckenridge mountain home has a secluded setting, Quandary Peak views, and over an acre of land for outdoor fun. ID 253209

Spacious Retreats

Whether it’s just the two of you or the whole fam including grandparents, aunties and uncles and all the cousins, there is a mountain cabin to stretch out, unwind and enjoy. Most mountain cabin vacation rentals are set

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Why Traveling with Friends/Family is the Best Way to Spend Time

Owner Direct Vacation Rentals Study Away Scholarship 2022 – Winning Essay by Mattea Kott

We don’t have control over a lot of things in our life. A phone call, knock on the door, or a trip to the store can change our lives in unfathomable ways. What we do have control over, is what we do with the time that we have. The best way to spend that time is to travel with friends and family. There is a massive world out there to explore and learn about, cherished memories to share, and only one life to live, so why not make the most of it while we can? As wisely said by Donna Sherridan, “I don’t know what my future holds, but the world is wide and I want to make some memories”.

Earth is composed of seven continents, one hundred and ninety five countries, ten thousand cities and

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How to login to Airbnb

If you advertise a vacation rental on multiple booking sites it can be difficult to manage availability and bookings across different platforms at once. That’s where a channel manager can help you. A channel manager is a web-based software tool that allows vacation rental property managers to maintain availability and pricing rates across all connected channels, from one central place. This allows you to distribute your listings across multiple platforms, such Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor. When a booking is made with one of these booking sites, the channel management software updates availability across the channels which it is linked to – keeping everything up-to-date and preventing double bookings. Examples of channel managers include Lodgify and Smoobu. 

It’s important to be aware that there are some downsides to using a channel manager. Having originated to benefit those in the hotel industry, many channel managers are aimed at high scale property

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Sustainable travel guide for vacation rentals

Sustainable travel options are in demand more than ever, as energy costs continue to rise and there is an increasing need to protect the environment. As a host, there are a number of things you can do to make your vacation rental property more sustainable. Take a look at how you can encourage guests to be eco-friendly when travelling, and how you can be a more environmentally conscious traveller.

By Kate Wilkinson, Content Marketing Executive

Gothenburg has been named the most sustainable city in the world

What is sustainability?

Sustainability is the practice of using natural resources, like energy and materials, in a way that meets our current needs without compromising future generations. Understanding how to minimise environmental impact by taking steps such as using renewable energy sources, conserving water and reducing waste is hugely important going forward. Reducing our carbon footprint is important because it allows us to protect

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Scotland short-term let regulations – TravelNest

Following on from the introduction of short-term rental regulations in Edinburgh, the rest of Scotland will now follow suit. The newly introduced short-term let licensing scheme will make it mandatory for all short-term let providers across Scotland to posses a licence. Short-term let hosts who operated before the 1st of October will have until the 1st of April 2023 to apply for a licence, while new hosts will not be able to accept bookings and welcome guests until they obtain a licence. All existing short-term lets in Scotland must be licensed by the 1st of July 2024.

Applications for short-term let licences should be made to the local authority in which the rental property is located. Hosts can use this tool to find out if it is necessary to apply for a licence. The licencing law will apply to all types of properties, from apartments to B&B’s as well

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Top destinations for travel in 2023

As 2022 comes to a close, the travel industry has experienced growing numbers of vacation rental guests, and also distance travelled. With increasing preference for international travel over domestic, it is expected this trend will continue. Therefore, you might be wondering where the best place to buy a holiday home is going forward. These are the top 5 destinations to have on your radar for 2023, whether that is to travel or host. 

By Kate Wilkinson, Content Marketing Executive 

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, offering visitors a unique blend of East and Western cultures. Based on data from Expedia, the second most popular destination for travellers visiting Asia in 2022 was the South Korean capital. From traditional Korean temples such as Jongmyo Shrine to modern skyscrapers like the 63 Building, there is plenty to see and do in Seoul. The city is also home

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Carbon monoxide safety in a vacation rental

Make guests aware of the procedures they should follow, should the carbon monoxide alarm go off whilst they are staying. Provide guests with emergency contact numbers in your welcome pack as well as instructions for how to use any of the above appliances (including portable back-ups). For example, avoid using any of these appliances being used near open windows. 

Alarms should be installed on every floor of your property, ideally outside of rooms where guests may sleep so it is easily audible. Make sure to test these alarms every month. Appliances should also be cleaned and inspected regularly, and exhaust flues should be kept open. Fire vents should also not be closed until a fire is completely out.

This guide in non-exhaustive and there are other ways you can take measures in your holiday home. Please do read other sources, for example our Airbnb partner channel help guide

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