Home away from home

A condominium in Manhattan. A six-bedroom house with private pool and hot tub overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. A cozy cottage nestled in the mountains of Colorado.

Depending on your pleasure – and your budget – all of the above, and much more, can easily be booked for vacation rental. All you need is time, access to the Internet and a phone.

“When I first started in this business, about 10 years ago, there weren’t many vacation homes on the Internet – maybe 1,500,” says Christine Karpinski of HomeAway.com, an online vacation home rental marketplace. “Now, just on our sites, there are more than 150,000 properties.”

The best time to rent a place for the summer is right now. Some prime properties have already been booked for peak summer weeks, but there’s still plenty to choose from, especially if you act quickly.

Start here: First, decide where you want to go. Type your destination, along with “vacation rental” into your search engine, and multiple listings will appear. For example, when we Googled “Outer Banks” (in North Carolina) and “vacation rental,” 509,000 possibilities popped up.

Plan to devote several hours, if not a few days or weeks, to this project. The more you surf and scroll, the better idea you’ll have of what’s available and how much you’ll have to pay.

On the Internet: Any good site will offer details about the rental, including the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as several pictures of the inside and outside and the price per night, week or month. Some sites include other features you might want, such as a private or community pool, hot tub or screened-in porch. Don’t be afraid to call the owner or management firm to ask for more details.

Great view $$$: It’s a cliche, but location decides how much an owner can charge. Expect to pay at least $1,000 more a week for a house on the ocean than on a street back. The better the view, the more you pay.

Also, the size of the property, its amenities and furnishings figure in the price. If a house is large and loaded – pool, hot tub, game room, surround sound – it’ll cost you.

Agency vs. homeowner: Some sites require you to make arrangements directly with the rental homeowners; others work through a management agency. The main advantage of dealing with homeowners is personalized service: If you like to hike, for example, they can suggest good places to go, along with dining options, family fun activities, best ways to avoid traffic and other information not always found in guide books. You’re also likely to find the refrigerator stocked with condiments and toilet paper on hand.

Some renters prefer agencies because they take credit cards, require contracts and are on hand should something go wrong. It may be easier, too, to ask questions of someone other than the owner because that person isn’t as invested in the property.

When renting from homeowners, make sure you know what to do in case of emergency and where to pick up and drop off the key. Feel free to ask for a written contract.

Other considerations: No matter from whom you rent, ask a lot of questions about the property and the neighborhood. Some sites have maps that show how close the house is to the ocean. How close is the property to its neighbors? Also, ask how recent the Web site pictures are and if any changes have been made since they were taken. The more questions you ask, the more likely you are to get a feel for the property and whether you want to rent it.

Don’t be shy about asking for references. Karpinski, of homeaway.com, says while checks are the standard way to pay when renting from homeowners, you may want a Paypal account set up so that you can pay by credit card. Then, if something goes wrong, you have a better chance of recouping your money.

Also, find out if the property will be professionally cleaned before your arrival. And before you bring your pet, make sure it’s OK with the owner or rental agency.

Rental advantages: Often, a rental can be cheaper than a hotel – and a lot roomier. With a full kitchen, you can cook gourmet meals or at least save a few bucks by eating breakfast and lunch “at home.” Many properties come stocked with board games, DVDs, bicycles, beach chairs and other frills that make renting feel more like home.

Disadvantages: If you like someone else to make your bed while on vacation, book a hotel. Though not entirely unheard of, most vacation rentals do not offer daily maid service. You may be able to arrange for it, but you’ll have to pay for it, too.

Also, if you arrive and the weather is dreadful, you can’t cancel and go elsewhere. While you can often get your money back if you cut short a hotel stay, the same isn’t true with a prepaid vacation rental.

Most vacation properties require a security deposit from renters, which make some people – especially ones with children who tend to break things – uncomfortable.

What to bring: If you’re driving, bring food, especially nonperishable items. Groceries at vacation destinations tend to be pricey, so by bringing cereal, drinks and snack foods, you can save money.

If you’re renting from homeowners, ask about cleaning supplies and items such as toilet paper, paper towels and laundry detergent. Also ask about bikes, beach chairs, boat slip availability and sand toys because these things may be included.

Often, when renting from a homeowner, linens are included, but that isn’t typically the case when renting through an agency, so ask. Even if towels are included, it’s best to bring along extra ones for the beach. If not on-site, bulky items, such as cribs and beach umbrellas, are often available for rent, so ask about them, too.

Be realistic: It’s easy to get obsessed with finding the “perfect” rental. You start searching and the next thing you know, you’re consumed with finding the best property at the best price.

Relax. Allow yourself a finite amount of time to look, then make a decision and go for it. Chances are if the property looks good and has the amenities you want, others will want it, too. The sooner you seal the deal, the sooner you can turn your attention to the vacation itself.

Helpful Web sites: The Vacation Rental Management Association site (www.vrma.com) lists hundreds of real estate firms, by state, specializing in vacation rental.

For rentals by homeowners, try www.cyberrentals.com; www.vrbo.com; www.homeaway.com; www.beachhouse.com; www.A1vacations.com; www.greatrentals.com; www.rentalo.com; www.triphomes.com and www.holiday-rentals.com (for the United Kingdom).

Craigslist.com also posts many vacation rentals. And it’s a good idea to call the local chamber of commerce and ask for vacation rental agency referrals in the area.