Want to rent a holiday home, but don't want to get scammed or waste money on the house that you THOUGHT was your best choice, only to find out that you made a big mistake? Or are you interested in getting cheap holiday homes or even package deals!

Below are some solid tips you can use to find and rent your vacation home without any hassles or problems, and even save money.

• Know what your getting

When you look for short-term vacation rentals, everything should be included. Always double-check for hidden charges on the invoice. Do you have Wi-Fi or internet? Is it basic or premium? Does the price involve the whole months cost? Maybe the internet is free up to the first 5 Gigabyte.

What if you have to leave early? will you get a partial refund? They might tell you that everything is included, but check the invoices just to make sure, because it might be up to some amount.

• Knowing the manager

Knowing the manager of the holiday house is very important. Your contract should say they're exact contact information for when you need help. What if your washing machine breaks, or the hot water won't work anymore and you need to stay another 3 weeks on holiday.

Try keeping the contact information in and out the holiday home, so you can always get in touch. If you can get a second person to contact, do it! Make sure you have at least the telephone and e-mail of the owner.

• Family and Pet friendly

If you are with a pet, look for pet friendly vacation rentals! Imagine traveling all the way to your holiday home just to find out that pets are not allowed in the house. Some people don't like it when the previous guests had a pet (hygiene).

Or if you have 3 kids and the guest-room only has a king-sized bed, this could be a big problem. Make sure you see enough pictures of the house, to make sure. Check the location, is it safe for the kids? Is it close to local activities?

• Booking early

Book early to make sure that everything will be as promised. Certain times in the year, villa rentals are very busy due to holiday seasons, so try to book early. You can look for holiday homes with the availability slightly out of season time, to get better deals.

Don't be shy and contacts the owner/manager of the property, most of these villa renters have package deals. They might be able to offer a rental car, cheap flights, attraction tickets, and more. Just ask and see for yourself.

Now you have the tips needed to rent a holiday home that fits your needs. But... this final tip is the most important one. Especially if you're from out of the country, and don't want to get scammed, conned or your money taken...

Learn to rent holiday homes safe and smart.