This Just In...

Avoid Vacation Rental Scams

Stay & Play Destinations

Here are 8 tips to help you get exactly what you’re looking for when booking a vacation rental.

There are many benefits to booking a private home for your next vacation. Most short-term vacation rentals offer more space than traditional hotels, giving you a bigger bang for your travel buck. Access to a kitchen and common areas can be a huge perk for people traveling in groups and those planning to stay more than a few days in a location. And in general, vacation rentals offer a homier experience compared to large hotel chains, as well as the chance to feel more like a local in a destination.

But booking a short-term rental can expose you to more risk than booking with an established hotel chain. As of early April, the Better Business Bureau had already received more than 90 travel fraud reports in 2019.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ensure a listing is legitimate. Here are 8 tips to help you get exactly what you’re looking for when booking a vacation rental.

1. Pay attention to photos. Legitimate listings will include multiple photos of the home’s interior. Be wary of listings that only show photos of the region,surrounding areas, or only have one or two interior shots. A good host will also be glad to accommodate any requests to see additional photos of the house, a specific room, etc. If you’re still unsure, do a Google reverse image search. If you see the same photo on unrelated listings or stock image sites, run.

2. Map it! If you can get the address of the home, do a Google Maps search to make sure the property exists, said Robert Siciliano, who owns an Airbnb and is the CEO of Safr.Me. You can also use Google Street View to explore the area.

3. Ask questions. Hosts want you to book their short-term rentals and should be happy to accommodate any questions. Ask about the city to validate the property management team is actually based in the area, advised Jim Prugh, owner of Lindsborg Vacation Rentals. What are their favorite places to shop and eat? Where do they buy their groceries? Then check to see if these places actually exist nearby.

4. Be wary if someone asks you to send important documents during the booking process, like your passport, ID, or Social Security card. You could become a victim of identity theft, warns the Better Business Bureau.

5. Trust your gut. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is, said Scott Dobos, director of rental operations at Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty. The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers will try to lure you in with deals or hard-to-believe perks. Search for similar listings in the area to see what a rental normally goes for.

6. Use a trusted booking site. Sites like TurnKey Vacation Rentals vet all of their listings. Other popular home sharing sites will list which details of the listing have been verified, including the photos, listed amenities, and the host’s identity. Be wary of listings on sites like Craigslist, which don’t offer this kind of protection.

“You might find the same home listed on the large vacation rental platforms and on Craigslist. While it may be tempting to supposedly book directly with the homeowner and save money, those are often scams,” said Veronica Hanson, owner of Vacay Visionary.

7. Don’t wire money. Booking a rental via a credit card offers you more protection than paying by cash or wiring money, said Siciliano. If there is a problem with your rental, you can dispute the charges and reduce your liability.

8. Read all the reviews. But don’t just do a quick scan. Dig in to see what each user says. If you’re keen to rent a house because of a feature like a beachside terrace or pool, search for reviews that specifically mention this amenity.

By following the tips above, you’re more empowered to find the vacation rental home of your dreams for your next vacation. If you do find a scam while planning your trip, report it directly to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.

See Original Post

Airfarewatchdog
Pono Chem-Dry Special
New Hot Deals From Under $9 a Day - Fox Rent A Car
The Un-Cleanable Carpet
By Stay & Play Maui March 5, 2020
We’re proud to keep Maui homes healthy and clean! Pono Chem-Dry is locally owned and operated, and it’s our privilege to serve our neighbors. With our revolutionary cleaning process and non-toxic, green-certified cleaning solution, we'll leave your home not only cleaner but safer and healthier, too.
By Stay & Play Maui February 24, 2020
This is a perfect Second home or move right into an ongoing rental operation making with this complete turnkey Unit. There is over 1700 square feet of living space including the large lanai, making this one of the best floor plans currently available in this price range. The unit has tile and waterproof vinyl floors throughout. Air conditioning in the Living room/Master Bedroom area. Nicely appointed and fully furnished this is currently operated in a successful rental program. There is abundant storage including an additional secured exterior storage area. Exceptionally big Ocean views from this very open floor plan. This is a perfect Second home or move right into an ongoing rental operation making with this complete turnkey Unit. In addition to direct access to the beach the Sands of Kahana features two swimming pools, two heated outdoor spas, three tennis courts, two fitness rooms, Restaurant and Bar, several gas Bar B Que areas, 24 hour front desk, 24 hour security patrol, putting green, large koi pond, concierge desk, sea kayak and stand up paddle board rental onsite. In addition, there are five more restaurants, shops, activities, Whaler General store, gas station and additional amenities and services all within walking distance. Call your favorite Realtor today to set up a showing today.
By Stay & Play Big Island January 19, 2020
Science and Hawaiian Culture Lock Horns on the Big Island Hawaii's Largest Selection of Activities On Hawaii's Big Island protests by Native Hawaiians have flared for years against the construction of an 18-story telescope atop the volcano Mauna Kea. In a sense these protests have roots in the creation story told from one generation of Native Hawaiians to the next: Wakeia, the union of Sky Father, and Papahānaumoku (Papa, for short) and the Earth Mother gave birth to the Hawaiian islands with its highest summit, Mauna Kea, as its piko or navel. Some Native Hawaiians consider Mauna Kea to be their living elder sibling. Mauna Kea’s summit is believed to be where the gods reside. Some families still place umbilical cords on the summit after childbirth because of a living connection to their ancestry tradition. The conflict between Native Hawaiians, scientists, government and its legal system over construction of The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is very complex, involving issues of indigenous rights, sovereignty and environmental stewardship. The TMT is not the first such project to break ground on Mauna Kea. Rather, over the course of 50 years, thirteen telescopes have preceded it, ever since Hawaii and the University of Hawaii foresaw the possibilities of an astronomy boon for the economy. For scientists, Mauna Kea’s summit is an ideal site in the northern hemisphere, even the world, for astronomy and its quest to find signs of extraterrestrial life. The Hubble space telescope can see objects 200 times sharper than Galileo’s telescope. The TMT will be able to see objects three times sharper than the Hubble: planets orbiting stars, details of the galaxy at the beginning of time. Understandably this is all very exciting for scientists, but even current astronomy facilities already threaten Mauna Kea's fragile ecosystem and have destroyed habitats for native species. The summits of both Mauna Kea and Haleakalā are home to unique ecosystems and rare and endangered species, many of which are found nowhere else on our planet. These summits are themselves part of the larger ecosystem of the entire Big Island. And each of these volcanoes is part of a complex and uniquely Hawaiian eco-cultural system involving freshwater, land, plants, animals, ocean, and people. Managed today by the state of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii, Native Hawaiians have never relinquished their claims to either Mauna Kea or Hawaii’s almost 2 million acres of land. No surprise, therefore, that TMT has resulted in Native Hawaiians mobilizing around aloha 'aina, their core philosophy that translates into deep love of the land and guides the relationship of Hawaiians to Mauna Kea and the rest of Hawaii’s environment. Guided by aloha ‘aina, protesters refer to themselves as “protectors” making a stand for their native land and Hawaiian culture. They view TMT as an act of cultural desecration that also is detrimental to the ecosystem. Protests that began locally have gone global, especially after the Supreme Court of Hawaii validated TMT’s construction permit a year ago. Adding to the complexity of the conflict, polling has consistently shown that a majority of Hawaii voters support the construction of the telescope by a margin of more than 2-to-1. Polls even have shown that a majority of Native Hawaiian support the TMT project. So what really is at stake? How should visitors to Hawaii interpret the conflict between Native Hawaiians and most of Hawaii’s population? Is this just a case of native beliefs versus modern science or is something more fundamental in play? For those of us who help visitors find their way to and experience Mauna Kea, this great mountain symbolizes the conflict between different ways of knowing and experiencing the world. For many Native Hawaiians and other indigenous peoples elsewhere, sacredness means much more than merely a concept. It is a lived experience of oneness and connectedness with both natural and spiritual worlds. Native Hawaiians are not protesting science. They are embracing some of the same core values that attract visitors to Hawaii. Visitors are attracted to the Hawaii because it lies far out in the middle of the Pacific and far off the beaten path. Yes, the atmosphere is much cleaner and mountains like Mauna Kea are the best places on the planet for astronomical observatories. But since climate change and other mounting environmental issues are pushing more and more people to view our planet’s environment as challenged and even in jeopardy, increasing numbers of non-indigenous peoples are coming to places like Hawaii in search of a genuine respite and, at the same time, are truly respectful of the need for stewardship for our planet and its special places like Hawaii.
Maui Snorkel Tour
By Stay & Play Maui August 30, 2019
Is taking a Maui snorkel charter better at certain times of the year or at certain times of day?
By Stay & Play Maui July 26, 2019
What to do on your last day on Maui
By Stay & Play Maui June 9, 2019
Our favorite boats and destinations
By Stay & Play Maui April 8, 2019
Healthy Tips
By Stay & Play Las Vegas April 3, 2019
Zippy’s to Open in 2020 on “Ninth Island,” Vegas
By Stay & Play Maui March 4, 2019
Maui's favorite jet propelled snorkel and fishing boat
More Posts