Vacation Rentals – How to Avoid Being SNAD

Posted under Info, Travel by admin

According to a survey, many Americans quoted SNAD as the number one reason for not booking vacation rentals. SNAD stands for “Significantly Not As Described”. In travel industry, it represents the phenomenon where a property looks good only in its pictures. It is an unfortunate occurrence and completely ruins the holiday. According to many observer of the tourism industry, SNAD is a major hindrance in the growth of the industry.

When it comes to vacation rentals, there are two major types of SNAD. The most common one is known as property SNAD. In it, the property is anything but the pictures posted in the advertisement. There is no white cabin nestled amongst the green fields or the hut beside the beach. Instead, there are leaky roofs and small cramped room. If there is a family involved, it worsens the situation because of lack of room and the hassle of finding another place to stay. The other and minor form of SNAD takes the form of inadequate amenities. Many listing are advertised as being near to a particular landmark. In reality, it takes forever to visit the place.

There are a couple of precautions you can take to avoid becoming the victim of the unscrupulous owners. First and foremost is to deal with reputed companies. There are a number of companies that offer to book vacation rentals for you. Orbitz and Expedia are among the best known third party websites that carry verified listings.

Beware of too good to be true bargains. Always compare the listed rent with similar vacation rentals in the area. If the rent is too low or the terms are too generous it is probably a SNAD. For cities, use Google Maps or Map Quest to check out the neighborhood.

Lastly, get references. If the property is any good, the owner or the company will gladly provide the reference of previous tenants. Talk to them to get the first hand view of the property and the surrounding area.