Category Archives: Vacation Rentals

Avoiding Whistler Vacation Rental Scams :: Tips & Advice

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There has been a tsunami of growth in Whistler VRBO accommodations (Vacation Rentals by Owner) with many holiday travelers renting Whistler condos or a chalet instead of hotel rooms.

When planning your Whistler vacation, you really should consider a private rental home. After all, you have extra room in these private homes. You can cook in your own kitchen, if you'd like. You may have laundry facilities for your convenience, especially handy if you are skiing with the whole family.

Vacation rental by owner is a better choice if you have a large group of people, and vrbo deals are usually quite a bit cheaper than staying in Whistler hotels.

But beware… there has been an increase in vacation rental scams, so you need to be careful.

Unsuspecting travelers are arriving at the vacation rental home they thought they had rented, only to find another group of guests already staying there. Or, the vacation rental may not even exist. The property manager they rented from could actually be an Internet scammer who preys on unsuspecting renters.

If you book a fraudulent vacation rental in Whistler, it obviously puts a huge damper on your holiday plans. You will lose your rental deposit or maybe even the full rental amount. You probably won't be able to get a rental refund if you wire transferred your payments… and you have nowhere to stay in the busy resort. Really bad news for your Whistler vacation.

One sure-fire way to avoid Whistler vacation rental scams is to book through a reputable VRBO website like www.WhistlerbyOwner.com or www.ResortAc.com. These websites have been renting scam free vacation rentals in Whistler for over a decade. Members in good standing with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau, with zero complaints… and hundreds of happy customers. Read Whistler vacation rental reviews here…

For tips on how to avoid being ripped off by vacation rental scammers, check out this article: http://skiing.about.com/od/skitravel/a/avoid-vacation-rental-scams.htm

If you think you may have been scammed, you can see real examples of emails and fraudulent Craigslist ads on this Whistler blog.

Whistler Ski In Ski Out :: Luxury Hotel vs Vacation Rental by Owner

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If you are looking for a Whistler luxury hotel with ski in ski out access, you may want to reconsider your accommodation preference… Hotel vs. VRBO

Canadian FlagWhistler ski in ski out lodging options for rent by owner include: Whistler condos, townhouses, chalets & private homes. Whistler VRBO is short for Vacation Rental by Owner.

Of course there are only certain Whistler neighborhoods that have ski in ski out rental homes. You may want to check out a Whistler hotel map to see for yourself which Whistler vacation rentals are actually ski in ski out. You want to locate the best rental locations before you make your reservations.

Depending what you’re after, you should also consider lodging that is ‘Walk to Lifts’ if you want to find a better Whistler deal. For example, Intrawest Resort Club is between the Fairmont and Four Seasons luxury hotels. It’s not true ski in ski out, but it’s pretty close… and definately a convenient location relative to the chairlifts on Blackcomb.

Whistler Ski In Ski Out Rentals (50 listings) here.

Now, if you are a bit nervous about rental by owner (VRBO) have a read thru this story about Dave. Matt (from www.VacationRentalMarketingBlog.com) tells us,

“Why Dave Cancelled His Hotel Reservations In Favor Of A Vacation Rental”

Dave McCormick is like a lot of people. As the Owner of Pro Kitchen Gear, Dave travels a lot. And whether for business or pleasure, he has been a hotel traveler all his life. He’s always liked the standardization, the amenities, and the comfort in knowing precisely what he was booking prior to arrival. As a matter of fact, he used to work for Sheraton a number of years ago. So to say Dave was opposite to a vacation rental traveler would not be an exaggeration. Until recently that is…

You can tell that Dave kinda wanted to switch to a vacation rental and forgo some of the conveniences of hotel travel. So Matt asked him what were the real concrete reasons he was happy he stayed in a rental. We wanted to live like a local. We wanted to feel like we were coming home every day and being able to cook in our “own” kitchen. It made the experience unforgettable since we weren’t rushing around trying to find food every 4 – 5 hours and had remarkable views and half the price.

Dave goes on to explain all the details about living like a local in the vacation rental he rented. You can read the rest here…

Whistler Hotel Maps

Whistler Accommodation Maps

Whistler Village, Blackcomb Upper Village, and Whistler Creekside all offer Ski In Ski Out rentals. Here are some Whistler condos and chalets in each area:

3 Bedroom Ski In  Ski Out
2 Bedroom Ski In Ski Out
1 Bedroom Ski In Ski Out

 

Whistler Accommodation Maps (Village Ski In Ski Out Locations) here.
Whistler Accommodation Maps (Upper Village at Blackcomb Base) here.

Whistler Scam Free Vacation Rental Directory

In case you haven’t heard, there are scammers on Craigslist and other free vacation rental directories. Photos and descriptions of legitimate rentals are swiped, then the scammers create a free listing with the hijacked pictures and details. Potential vacation rental guests are asked to wire transfer money to bogus bank accounts and, ultimately, lose their hard earned money.

When you are looking for a great Whistler rental, always verify who you are renting from. You should have a written rental agreement, references from past guests, and contact with the home owner or manager.

Whistler Vacation Rentals by Owner