A hotel is a hotel - and can be the same in Houston, Hong Kong, or Halifax. Think about booking a vacation rental, instead - to really feel a part of the place you're visiting! Vacation rentals can also save you money - your extended family or friends can share the home - a great savings over the cost of a hotel stay. Save your restaurant dining for the evenings, have an adventure shopping in local markets, and cook at home to save even more!

When investigating your rental, look for bargains in the off-season. For example, here in Yucatan, rates are lowest in May, June, September, and October - often our loveliest months of the year.

Once you've decided when to travel, ask yourself - and the home owner or manager - the following questions:

Location - get a good idea of exactly where the home is. Ask for pictures showing the area surrounding the rental, too. How close are the neighbours?

Transportation - will you need to rent a car or is public transportation readily available?

Bedrooms - how many and how many beds are available?

Bathrooms - how many?

Furniture - is the home fully furnished - including outdoor furniture, if applicable?

Ambience - Is is quiet and private?

Amenities - such as a swimming pool, jacuzzi, Cable TV, DVD player, Stereo, telephone or cell phone, internet, air conditioning, mosquito screens, etc.

Lighting - I like to read in bed, are there bedside lamps?

Guest services - is there maid service, pool maintenance, gardener, laundry service, garbage collection etc?

Medical care - in case of emergencies, is there a clinic or doctor on call?

The Welcome Upon your arrival, a good property management company or landlord will be at the home to greet you, give you keys, and show you through the home. They should also be available 24/7 should any problems arise. Will they stock the fridge for you in case you are arriving late in the day? They should be able to help plan tours, give info on the best restaurants, sites of interest, etc.

Doing some planning ahead of time will help ensure the very best experience in your vacation home!