What to Do Before You Book That Vacation Rental

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection recently released its 2022 State of Travel Insurance Report, which found nearly three-fourths of millennials plan on renting a homestay property more frequently, or much more frequently, this year, compared to last year. However, renting a homestay — no matter if you go with Airbnb, VRBO or any of the up-and-coming platforms — comes with its risks. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers a few tips to help mitigate those risks.

Read the Fine Print

Before you book a vacation rental, read the fine print. While you may think you’ll pay one price, you might actually incur some additional fees later on that you did not expect, such as cleaning fees if you don’t perfectly clean up after yourself before leaving the property. Beyond that, you could find some hosts put certain rules in place you might not expect if you’re more accustomed to hotel stays.

Do Your Research

You probably know to look at the reviews on a listing, but have you mapped out the property? Have you looked at the neighborhood and its amenities? Don’t just take the listing’s info as truth. Do your own research so you can be assured you’re getting what’s advertised.

Check Your Credit Card’s Refund Policies

When booking travel, you can often take advantage of extra travel protection when you book with a credit card. Depending on your card, you could receive refunds for travel fees or even entire purchase refunds if your card is charged by the rental host without your knowledge. However, before booking, you’ll want to check your credit card’s refund policies to see exactly what protection it offers you.