Due to the controversies started by people who booked rentals online and found out that the accommodation doesn’t even exist when they got there, there has been quite a debate whether rentals are worth it. There have been indeed a few isolate cases, but that shouldn’t make tourists doubt all owners. As a matter of fact, if you’re a bit careful, you’ll never be scammed by fake ads.
For example, Ontario, Canada has plenty of cottage rentals that offer a trustworthy and inexpensive way to spend the vacation. Many hospitality companies are trying to make booking rentals more reliable and to be able to compete directly with well-known hotels. They bet also on the fact that these rentals, especially cottages, imply a lower cost and offer a particular appeal.
When you want to book something, it’s of course ideal to go in a safe place that you already know. But renting directly is quite difficult when you’re miles away, so you have to try online booking. You can either find agencies that have on-site support and pre-established holiday opportunities or look for “peer-to-peer” sites that connect owners and guests.
It’s obviously harder to fake you have a hotel, as hotels are usually well-known and easy to spot. If you study the map and reviews from past renters, you should easily notice if the accommodation is for real. Just add the address on the satellite view on Google Maps and see the area. In this way you can also detect eventual misleading terms. For example, if the owner claims the beach is nearby but it’s actually very far away. Google Maps allows you to see attractions of the area. Wandering around can help you detect the good and the bad such as nice parks and playgrounds or noisy factories and railways.
It’s compulsory to call. Anytime you rent from a private owner, you should have a phone conversation where you can double-check the details specified on the site and see whether the property is a good match or not. If you don’t live in Canada and you’d rather send a mail, watch out for red flags. If you don’t get a reply promptly, you should check out another cottage rental. A good owner takes good care of business and replies fast to existent or future clients. Also, try to book your rental quite close to the vacation dates. Still, don’t push it as it can be indeed challenging to find the best cottage rentals in Ontario on a very short notice.
Cottage Rentals 