Tips on booking BC vacation rentals accommodation

Thinking about a vacation in beautiful British Columbia?  Consider the smart alternative to booking a hotel room.  For vacationers, there's an affordable, comfortable and convenient alternative to booking a hotel room. It's renting a whole house.

Hotel rooms don't have the extras that make a BC home rental even more of a deal and that add to the pleasure of vacationing. 

In a hotel room, there's a television, a desk and a bed but many BC vacation rentals have multi rooms, big screen TV's, stereos, DVD players, barbecues, fenced yards, game rooms, pool tables and other family-friendly alternatives all under one roof.

Global is a British Columbia vacation home service.  We offer you a selection of British Columbia vacation homes for rent.

Vacation Home Renters

Plan ahead

Many travelers begin planning their BC holiday six to nine months  before their arrival date. Some families secure their vacation home in Whistler  for Christmas and New Year,  12 months ahead of time.  Some travelers  rent the same house for the same period of time year after year.  For the best choice of  BC vacation rentals you should start planning your vacation as early as possible.  

Know what you want

If you're like our family, you'll want to bring the family dog with you on vacation. Make sure pets are allowed.  Have small children?  You may need to check that the vacation home  is equipped with baby gates for the stairs.  If you are vacationing with a less able family member, ask if the vacation home is accessible.  There are plenty of BC vacation rentals available - plan early for the best accommodation choices.

Read the fine print

Before making a commitment to any BC vacation rental property, be sure you understand the terms and conditions.  As a renter you have a right to view the terms and conditions before you sign on the dotted line.  Important things to consider include the rules, furnishings, cleaning and repair services, proximity to services you will need, financial arrangements and obligations, deposits, liability and property insurance.

Sometimes it pays to book last minute.

Even in the most popular time periods, supply can outweigh demand.  As the high season approaches, some vacation rental owners will be offering better deals to fill the last of their rentals.  If you are somewhat flexible with your travel dates and open to property amenities, you're likely to save  money on vacation rentals by waiting for last minute deals.

Understand what you are getting for your vacation home booking

Some renters are concerned that the vacation home they booked isn't as nice as the photos they saw online. 

• Get a written contract. Don't rely just on an e-mail confirmation that you're booked for that week.
• Ask specifically about amenities that are important to you: baby-proofing, linens, in-house laundry facilities, off-street parking.
• Guarantee that those amenities are part of the deal by adding them to the contract.
• If you can, visit the home before signing the contract.
• Ask what's included in terms like ''fully equipped kitchen.'' To one person, that may mean a microwave and plastic plates; to another, it may mean enough gear to cook and serve a three-course meal.
• Ask how and when the unit is cleaned, and if it's cleaned by professionals. If you want maid service, ask for the name of the housekeeping company and arrange for its staff to come by during your visit.

Avoid Scams   

We have found most BC vacation rental owners to be honest and sincere about offering properties for rent.  Never deal with any vacation rental transaction that requires you to wire money or send  a money order.  These are scams.  Although most scams seem to be centered in the New York, Miami and London markets, it is possible that new ones, especially immediately before the winter Olympics may intrude upon the BC vacation rental market.  Many of these scams advertise non-existent properties, on free advertising sites hoping to lure unsuspecting renters into their deceit.  As a renter, contact rental properties on a reputable site and avoid scams by refusing to wire money and by doing your homework.  If you are uncertain about a property get the address from the owner and search it out.  Ask the owner local questions that they should know.  If they can't answer your questions - move on to another rental.

View all BC Vacation Rentals listings with photos

For more Vacation Rentals please visit:

BC Vacation Rentals vacation rentals on Vancouver Island, BC Gulf Islands, Vancouver, Whistler, Okanagan, Kootenays, Sunshine Coast.  

Vancouver Island Vacation Homes  including Sproat Lake, Shawnigan Lake, Sidney, Lake Cowichan, Maple Bay, Victoria, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Qualicum Beach, Comox, Campbell River,  Black Creek & more

Gulf Island Vacation Homes  vacation homes on Pender Island, Mayne and Salt Spring Island 

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We are a British Columbia based vacation home accommodation service, advertising vacation homes since 2001