Cheap Holiday Rentals Rent cheap villas, cottages and apartments

Book the right way and holiday rental sites let you snap up five-star private accommodation at two-star hotel prices.

This guide shows the top holiday rental booking sites, how to grab late deals and tips to haggle the price down. Plus find out how to protect against fake villas and pay safely.

Also see Cheap Hotels, Cheap Flights and
50 Overseas Travel Tips for more tricks to save

Is a holiday rental right for you?

Whether it's a villa in Vendée, a cottage in Cornwall or an apartment in Amsterdam, mega bargains are available by booking private holiday properties directly from owners. Facilities vary wildly, but most are great for self-catering, and many include pools, terraces and barbecues.

These pads aren’t for people who like to be waited on hand and foot – guests usually do their own cleaning and washing up. But if you don’t fancy battling for a sun-lounger each morning, villas offer space for large groups of friends, or families with kids who need to let off steam.

You can slash food costs by cooking up a storm in the kitchen, and cut luggage space if a washing machine’s included.

Hotels vs villas

As a rule of thumb, the larger the group, the bigger the per-person saving. Couples may find hotels sneak ahead of private rentals, though it’s always worth checking - see Cheap Hotels. For families of four and bigger groups, villas can whoop hotels’ bottoms on price.

We found a one-bed villa for a couple in north Majorca for £950/week in August, yet a comparable double hotel room nearby was just £600/week. However, a two-bed villa for a family of four came in at £1,080, saving £120 in total on a hotel (assuming two per room).

The biggest savings came on villas for six or more. A four-bed villa, sleeping eight, was £1,200 – half the hotel’s price.

Similarly, a one-bedroom gite in France’s Dordogne was £650/week in July, while comparable hotels in the area were £400. A two-bed gite cost £700, compared with £800 for the hotel. A four-bed place was £1,000, but four hotel rooms would have cost £1,600.

So the more folks you cram in, the better. If guests kip in the living room (check ahead if there are sofa beds), the savings can rocket.

Some inspiration ...

Many MoneySavers swear by holiday rentals. Please add your feedback to the Cheap Holiday Rentals forum discussion.

We've stayed at wonderful places in Europe and the Caribbean using rental sites and have always been delighted. Barbecues on relaxing evenings with glasses of wine, jump in the pool anytime, do washing as you go. Loads of privacy and space to enjoy yourselves as a family ... I love it.

It's also way more cost effective than hotels. You can tell a lot by the effort the owner puts into the advert and reviews from previous renters. - mrsdee

We stayed in a stunning two-bedroom San Francisco apartment with all mod cons for less than half the price of a decent hotel room.

We also had greater flexibility (rented bikes for several days and stored them in the apartment) and a quiet neighbourhood. We plan to go back to the US later this year and will certainly do the same again.- uzubairu

I've booked self catering accommodation through holiday rental sites for 10 years and have had some amazingly cheap deals. Now my family have grown up and left home, we go out of season and get even better prices.

The owners we've dealt with have been genuinely lovely and, as it's their personal holiday home you're staying in, don't expect cloned, uninspiring boxes! Highly recommended way to holiday. - oysterlover

Step 1: Follow the DOs & DON'Ts

It's possible to stay in palatial villas and other holiday homes for paltry prices by booking directly with the owner. You search for properties on holiday rental sites, and pay the owner, rather than a tour operator.

This can mean rock-bottom prices, as you're cutting out the middleman, but there's less protection if things go wrong. So follow our dos and don'ts.

Step 2: The top holiday rental sites

Direct booking sites make trawling for holiday rentals a cinch. Use at least three websites to set a target price before you book. Though remember ...

Holiday rental sites effectively just list adverts.
You're booking directly with the owner.

While incidents are rare, you need your wits about you. Always check the property exists and pay safely. While it is possible to book via agencies, such as VillaSelect and AffairTravel, these tend to be pricier, as you're adding a middleman.

HomeAway.co.uk* Best for global reach

Powerful site HomeAway.co.uk* features more than 410,000 properties worldwide. The search filters are specific, eg, you can request only properties with a pool, web access or air-conditioning. Full info & safety details

HomeAway also owns VRBO and Owners Direct. While it's strarted listing most of VRBO's properties on its site, Owners Direct still covers separate rentals, so is worth checking seperately.

Special offers: The late deals page on HomeAway* featured 900 special offers when we checked.

Dispute resolution: Fill in an online form or call 020 8827 1971.

Payment method: Credit card, paypal or bank transfer, depending on the owners' preference.

Some owners also accept payment through the HomeAway payment system, where it processes your card payment itself and passes the money onto the owner.

Use HomeAway's system and payment will be automatically covered against internet fraud for up to £10,000, but the downside is if you pay an intermediary for services supplied by someone else, Section 75 credit card protection is unlikely to apply.

Extra protection?

Even if you don't use its own payment system, HomeAway says if you're a victim of fraud, it will refund 50% of any rental fees you've paid, up to a maximum of £700.

However, there is a long list of exclusions. You must tell it within 15 days of realising there was a problem. In particular, you must have followed its safety tips to be eligible, including never using instant money transfer services such as Western Union.

You must also have tried to claim back the cash from your credit or debit card provider first and provide proof of email, telephone, written or other communication with the bank. HomeAway can request proof that the advert was published on its site, so take a screenshot. See full terms.

We've little feedback from MoneySavers on whether it pays out, so never rely on this. Always do your own checks and pay the right way.

Villarenters*Top for easy payments

Particularly strong in Europe, Villarenters* lists 20,000+ properties. It processes card payments itself, so there's no bank transfer hassle. It also says it'll refund 100% of your money if the property turns out not to be available.

The catch is credit card payments are unlikely to be covered by Section 75 protection.
Full info & safety details

Special offers: If you're after a last minute bargain, check its late deals page.

Dispute resolution: Fill in an online form.

Payment method: Villarenters processes your card payment itself and passes the money onto the owner. The downside is if you pay an intermediary for services supplied by someone else, Section 75 credit card protection is unlikely to apply.

You may still be covered by the card networks' chargeback schemes though – of course, if you'd paid an owner by bank transfer, you'd get even less protection. See Pay The Right Way.

Extra protection: Your contract's still with the owner, but Villarenters says it will refund 100% of your money if the property turns out not to be available. To qualify, you must tell it within 48 hours and provide invoices for alternative accommodation – read full terms.

TripAdvisor* Best for search options (incl Holidaylettings)

The holiday rental section on TripAdvisor* collates listings from two big letting sites, Holiday Lettings and FlipKey. The majority of those sites' listings are there, but for belt and braces you may want to check those directly too. Full info & safety details

Sliders help you narrow down options by rating, property type and stay length. There are nifty extra views such a map view and a deals page (you need to search by area to see them). As you'd expect, properties come with reviews.

Special offers: After you search for an area, click the 'deals' tab to bring up a list of discounted properties. Also check Holiday Lettings' early and late deals pages.

Dispute resolution: TripAdvisor says holidaymakers must speak to the owner - it does not offer dispute resolution.

Payment method: Credit card, paypal or bank transfer, depending on the owners' preference.

Extra protection? TripAdvisor does not have a protection scheme.

Owners Direct* Best for UK boltholes

Particularly strong on UK properties, Owners Direct*'s hugely popular with MoneySavers.

The downside is you can't sort by price. Though owned by HomeAway Inc, Owners Direct's run separately and features properties not on HomeAway.co.uk, so it's worth checking both. Full info & safety details

Special offers: Owners Direct* features a special offers deals page dedicated to early and late deals. Typical offers when we checked included £350 for a week in a French gite in July, reduced from £700.

Dispute resolution: Call 020 8827 1998 or fill in an online form.

Payment method: Credit card, paypal or bank transfer, depending on the owners' preference.

Extra protection? Owners Direct says if you're a victim of fraud, it will refund 50% of any rental fees you've paid, up to a maximum of £700. However, there is a long list of exclusions. You must tell it within 15 days of realising there was a problem. To be eligible, you must have not paid by instant money transfer services such as Western Union.

You must also have tried to claim back the cash from your credit or debit card provider first and provide proof of email, telephone, written or other communication with the bank. Owners Direct can request proof that the advert was published on its site, so take a screenshot. See full terms.

We've little feedback from MoneySavers on whether it pays out, so never rely on this - always do your own checks and pay the right way.

VRBO.com* Top choice for USA rentals

If your destination's North America, VRBO* is your best bet. MoneySavers have bagged bargains in Florida, Las Vegas and Hawaii.

It's owned by HomeAway Inc, and most of VRBO.com's properties are now included on there too. It features some search functionalities not found on HomeAway.com, so it's worth checking both. Full info & safety details

Dispute resolution: Fill in an online form or call 00 1 877 228 0710 (use the International Callchecker to find the cheapest way to call).

Payment method: Credit card, paypal or bank transfer, depending on the owners' preference.

Some owners also accept payment through the HomeAway payment system, where it processes your card payment itself and passes the money onto the owner.

Extra protection? If you use its own system, payment will be automatically covered against internet fraud for up to $10,000, but the downside is if you pay an intermediary for services supplied by someone else, Section 75 credit card protection is unlikely to apply.

Even if you don't use its own system, when you book via VRBO, it gives you the option to buy its rental guarantee which pays out in the case of fraud, double bookings and other mishaps. The price varies depending on the property's price, but starts at $39. The maximum amount covered is $10,000.

However, there is a long list of exclusions. One of the biggies is you must have not paid by instant money transfer services such as Western Union. See full terms. We've little feedback from MoneySavers on whether it pays out, so never rely on this - always do your own checks and pay the right way.

eBay.co.uk* Fab for UK late deals

You might be used to using eBay* to gadget grab or spruce up your wardrobe, but did you know you can use it to rent holiday properties too?

Many property owners use it to offload unsold holiday dates, especially at the last minute. Try searching its travel section or just search for 'holiday cottage' or 'villa holiday'. Full info & safety details

eBay sellers have a feedback rating that acts as a useful guide to whether they've dealt fairly in the past. As a guideline, look for a seller with over 98% positive feedback, and a high feedback score of at least 30.

A big warning. eBay might feel safer than booking direct with the owner. Yet its buyer protection scheme doesn't cover 'intangible' products, including holiday properties. Worse, pay by Paypal and you've no Section 75 protection. See Pay The Right Way.

Step 3: Haggle for discounts

Step 4: Ask the right questions

Always pick up the phone and chat to the owner before paying. Use the official number listed on the holiday rental site. For dirt-cheap overseas calls, use our International Callchecker to find the cheapest number.

Here are some of the key questions to ask before you hand over your cash. Remember to be polite – they don't have to rent to you. But if they're unhelpful, keep your cash in your wallet.

• What is included in the price? Check for additional charges.
• How far is it to the beach, restaurants and supermarket?
• Is it family-friendly? For example, are pools gated?
• What cooking equipment is there?
  
• How do you get there from the airport or station?
• Do you supply bed linen, towels and loo roll?
  
• When and how do I pick up the keys?
  
• Is there a local keyholder who can help us when we arrive?
  
• Are there cleaning fees?
  
• Does the place have mobile reception/internet access? What's the wi-fi key?
  
• Is there a TV or DVD player?
  
• Is the property smoking or non-smoking?
  
• Is electricity included in the cost? If not, what's a typical weekly bill?
• Does the owner live nearby in case of problems?
• Is a deposit required?
• Is there a washing machine (can reduce luggage costs as you need less clothes)?
• Are the beds doubles or twins? Are there cots if you've babies?
• If there's a swimming pool, is it currently fit for use? (Some are covered in winter months, so in spring or early summer it may not have been serviced.)
  

Step 5: Pay the right way

Most owners ask for a 25% non-refundable deposit on booking, then the balance four to eight weeks before. We're often talking £1,000s, so pay the right way to protect your cash.

Pay by credit card

Book holiday properties directly and you’ve little protection. Yet pay the owner directly for a holiday property (even overseas) costing £100+, specifically on a credit card and Section 75 laws say the card company's jointly liable with the retailer. Always clear the card in full each month to avoid interest though. A booking fee's also likely.

If the holiday home turns out to be non-existent and you can't resolve the issue, ask your card company to sort it. For full help, see the Section 75 guide.

Confusingly, some holiday rental sites have options to process your card payment on their sites and pass the money onto the owner. The downside is if you pay an intermediary for services supplied by someone else, Section 75 credit card protection is unlikely to apply. You may still be covered by the card networks' chargeback schemes though.

For transactions under £100, Visa, Mastercard and Amex offer chargeback schemes. These aren't legal like Section 75, but part of the rules banks abide by to offer these cards. You can claim money back within 120 days if the retailer hasn't fulfilled its side (180 days for Visa). Full details in the Visa & Mastercard Chargeback guide.

What if they don't accept credit cards?

While a credit card's safest, the trouble is many owners don't have credit card payment facilities. If they don't, think carefully about going ahead. Pay by bank transfer and, frankly, you've zero protection. It's also highly unlikely your travel insurance would cover this type of fraud. Always follow the checklist above to avoid booking a fake property.

If you do pay by bank transfer, never pay money into an account in a country which isn't where the owner told you they lived, or in different person’s name. Always double check the account number and sort code of the account you are transferring money into. If money is transferred into the wrong account, you may not be able to get it back.

Never, ever wire money

Alarm bells should ring if you're asked to pay by an instant money transfer service such as Western Union or MoneyGram. While you've no protection when you pay by bank transfer, at least these are usually traceable.

Instant money transfer payments cannot be traced at all in cases of fraud, so are highly popular with scammers. Holiday villa rental sites guarantees' will not cover you if you pay this way.

If someone asks you to pay by MoneyGram or Western Union, be highly suspicious. Never pay this way.

What about Paypal?

There's a misconception that Paypal’s safer, but it's not true. Its buyer protection does not cover 'intangible' goods or services, which includes holiday home rental.

If you pay by credit card via Paypal, Section 75 protection won't apply, as technically you're not using the card to buy the goods or services, but to charge a Paypal account.

If you do pay by Paypal and use a Visa, Mastercard or Amex, one possible route to get your money back is the card networks' chargeback schemes.

Full details in the Visa, Amex & Mastercard Chargeback guide.