If you’re in search of a vacation rental this festive season, you’re likely already aware of a major pain point: the steep prices.

This became evident during my recent search for a rental in Dublin, where I found two-bedroom apartments nearing $200 a night. It felt as though somehow all the Airbnb hosts were synchronizing their rates, as if guided by an unseen influence.

This isn’t just a figment of my imagination. Eric Goldreyer, the CEO of bnbfinder.com, a direct booking vacation rental platform, confirms this pricing trend. “A significant factor driving up vacation rental costs is that hosts often inflate their prices to offset fees that they are also incurring from these platforms.”

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This year, average nightly rates have surged nearly 2%, according to AirDNA, a consulting firm. While prices have decreased a bit during the low season, AirDNA anticipates they will rise again.

So, what are the common pitfalls for vacation rental customers? And how can you navigate around them? They encompass both innovative tools and tried-and-true tactics. By combining these approaches, you can still secure an affordable rental for the winter holidays.

Ways to Reduce Your Vacation Rental Costs

An excellent way to lower your rental expenses is through the site HiChee. Faced with exorbitant prices in Dublin, I contacted Justin Gordon, the publisher of HiChee. This company provides a Chrome extension that facilitates quick comparison of rental prices across Airbnb, Vrbo, and any independent listings, if available.

“This helps you find the most affordable option,” he stated.

HiChee also enabled me to create a wishlist of properties in Dublin and monitor their prices and availability. I noticed price fluctuations as my intended check-in date drew near, suggesting that the market in Ireland would soon tilt in my favor.

<p;>And indeed, when I reached out to some landlords, many willingly reduced their nightly rates by up to $50. How did I achieve this? Simple – I messaged them and asked. This strategy helped me secure an affordable vacation rental located in a prime area of Dublin.

Even though I utilized one of the prominent platforms, experts suggested I could have snagged a better deal.

“By searching for reputable hosts’ direct booking websites, you can save up to 15%,” noted Amirali Mohajer, CEO of hostAI, a platform favored by rental managers.

However, trust is key. Mohajer emphasized the importance of checking the rental manager’s site for reliability.

What Other Vacation Pitfalls Should You Know About?

After tackling high prices, there are still other traps to be aware of. These include:

• Misleading Images. Technology has made it astonishingly easy to create pictures that portray vacation rentals as overly appealing, according to Ari Lightman, a digital media and marketing professor at Carnegie Mellon University. “Do your homework and scrutinize the images for any oddities,” he advised. (For instance, AI tools might generate exaggerated lighting or incorrectly placed objects.)
• Hidden Charges. The most egregious are additional cleaning fees that are added to the rental price. Other properties impose vague “service” fees that might cover unspecified extras. A few even add costs for parking or utilities. Although some rental platforms clarify these charges upfront, travelers often remain unprepared for them. You can sometimes negotiate these fees down by inquiring before securing your rental. “Thoroughly read the entire listing and all related rules,” recommends Steve Turk, a partner at Tangy Management, a property management firm. “Scrutinize the price breakdown before finalizing your booking.”
• Questionable Reviews. Recent concerns about the trustworthiness of rental reviews have made me wary. It’s all too convenient for hosts to wipe unfavorable reviews, claiming a “terms of service” infraction, as critics point out. Consequently, reviews on many rental platforms tend to be inordinately positive. Matt Berk, a real estate investor from Jacksonville, Fla., who has experience as both a host and guest, stated he has lost faith in reviews. “I’m fed up with the situation,” he remarked.

These examples highlight merely a fraction of the potential pitfalls. Vacation rentals can turn into quite a headache. In fact, during a past stay at a rental in Bali, I encountered extra charges for water, while another property in Cyprus surprised me with an unexpected utility fee. When I inquired about these charges, the hosts pointed…

It turns out that these hidden issues were mentioned in the property details. At the very bottom. In tiny print.

Seriously.

Essential tips for booking a holiday rental

If you are searching for a condo or apartment this winter, here’s my top recommendation: Avoid making assumptions.

For instance, don’t assume the property includes a washer or dryer, or even air conditioning. Don’t assume cleaning services are part of the deal. Never assume the property description is truthful or accurate. Do not take for granted that you are seeing the best price available. And don’t even assume that the price displayed is what you’ll actually pay.

Perhaps the vacation rental market continues to flourish despite its hidden fees and extra charges because guests often make these assumptions. They believe that vacation rentals are fundamentally different from hotels, thinking that individual hosts are always more transparent than corporate property owners. That’s not necessarily the case.

Before finalizing your booking, dive deeper than the attractive images and prices that seem too good to be true. Tackle your rental choice with a healthy dose of skepticism and thorough research. Remember, in the world of vacation rentals, what you see is not always what you will receive.