Travel tip

November 16, 2008 12:38 am

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When vacationing, rent a house instead of staying in a hotel

NEW YORK — Renting a house or apartment can be cheaper than staying in a hotel in many places around the world, especially when you factor in the cost of eating out three times a day compared to preparing some of your meals in a kitchen.

The November issue of Budget Travel magazine offers a "Vacation Rental Handbook" to help you navigate the many choices for staying in someone else's property.

Advice from Budget Travel includes checking references, buying insurance, finding out what's included (linens? towels? DVD player? Internet access?), asking whether the property is childproofed, if pets are allowed, what appliances are in the kitchen, and whether there is air conditioning.

Also be sure to find out in advance who to call if something goes wrong or you have a question about how something in the house or apartment works.

The magazine also recommends the best vacation rental Web sites, including HomeAway.com, Rentalo.com, ResortQuest.com, VRBO.com, and Zonder.com.

— Associated Press