We have stayed in some remarkable vacation homes during our travels over the last (almost) decade. We’ve also stayed in some not-so-great places, too. Over the years and through all of our travels, both domestic and international, I’ve learned what to look for when researching vacation rental homes. Today I’m sharing five things I look for each time I’m booking a trip to find the perfect place to stay.

1. When Possible, Avoid Rental Property Companies

In my experience, homes that we have rented on Airbnb that were listed and managed by a rental company were never as clean or well kept as those listed by the actual owners of the home. However, when we were in HI we did rent a condo from a property management company because there were not enough options that met our specific needs for that trip. When we did this, we booked directly through the management company’s website and saved a lot of money booking that way as opposed on Airbnb.

2. A lot Of Reviews… But not too many

I’ve stayed in places that I was certain would be incredible because it had over 300 reviews and was rated 4.75 stars… only to find out the home was run down and dirty. Just because there are a lot of reviews does not mean it’s a great place. Spend time reading through what people are saying. If reviews are only talking about location, but nothing is called out about cleanliness, communication, etc. then it might not actually be that great. This was the case with a houseboat we rented on the canals of Amsterdam. I was sure it was going to be so fun because of the reviews. But the houseboat was dirty and honestly pretty gross. People only loved it because of the location and that they got to sleep on a houseboat. Other than that, the experience was less than ideal.

3. Read About The Owners

Does it seem that whoever is listing the property is involved and actually stays at the house when they are vacationing? Is there an Instagram account for this property where you can see even more photos of the house? All of these things are great indicators that the home is cared for and frequently updated. We stayed at a home in Neskowin, OR and the owners had an entire ‘About Me’ on their listing page talking about how they bought the home and gutted the entire house and how they enjoy spending getaways at the home. Needless to say, this was a fantastic house that I’d definitely rent again.

4. What Is The Approval Process?

Does the listing allow for literally anyone to stay at the property? Or is there a submission process where the owner of the Airbnb or VRBO needs to actually approve each guest? This is a great indicator on how the state of the home will be. If the person who owns the house does not actually care about who is using the rental home, and just wants to make money from the rental, then the house will likely not be in great condition. However, sometimes you will not have an option with this. When we stayed in Yosemite, the demand for Airbnbs and rental homes is so high that they are churning out guests so quickly and making a lot of money. There is no real incentive to upkeep the rental homes because there are so many tourists coming to the valley. So, depending on where your travels are taking you, this might not be an option.

5. Utilize Google Maps

Google Maps has been tremendously helpful when deciding on which rental home to choose for vacations. The aerial view helps show me how close homes actually are to certain locations and, when possible, I will utilize the ‘street view’ option to really get a feel for where the house is and what the street looks like. I know the actual address is not typically provided until the home has been booked, but I can still get a good idea of the area and sometimes I’ll be able to find the home I’m considering renting when using street view. I’ve changed my mind and gone with different options countless times by utilizing Google Maps.