It is easy to get caught up in the hype of a good online holiday accommodation deal and before you know it, you are scammed out of your hard earned money and have no holiday to show for it either.
Always double check what's included and remember that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
READ: The dos and don’ts of last-minute holiday renting
According to the Seeff Property Group there is an explosion of online holiday and accommodation advertising and booking sites, and it is easy to get caught.
Seeff gives some advice and a few important “need to knows” when it comes to booking holiday accommodation.
Do your homework:
Research to ensure you know who you are booking with as there are so many stories of scammers. Check the legitimacy of the booking agent or site as well as the establishment being advertised. Never transfer money unless you are one hundred percent sure of the legitimacy of the advert and booking agent or site, she says. Be especially scrupulous when it comes to unknown sites.
Some well-known sites:
Find credible local short-term rental agencies.
Budget correctly:
A next important aspect is budgeting correctly and verifying the actual costs. These adverts are often unclear in terms of what is included and what is not. It is not uncommon for certain activities to be add-ons to the advertised price and there is nothing worse than arriving for your holiday only to find that meals are not part of the deal or you cannot participate in all the activities.
Double check details
Double check what is included and whether the advertised rates apply to the period of your booking as peak season rates are usually much higher. You should also research the costs of restaurants and other facilities in the area to ensure that you budget correctly for your holiday.
The terms and conditions of the booking should also be scrutinised so that you know exactly what you are in for. Internet research and social media can be a great way to find out about unknown places or establishments. Be sure to confirm your booking before departure and find out where to collect the keys and so on.
Research the location:
Properties advertised on sites such as Airbnb are often not clear about where they are located and holiday makers can be very disappointed to find that they are not actually getting a beach location but have to take transport to the beaches.
Check facilities and amenities:
Find out what the accommodation offers, especially if it is self-catering. If you are looking for extras, check up on this, alternatively you may be better off upgrading your booking for better amenities.
Scammers and fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated and at this time of year use holidays as one of their tools to scam you out of your hard earned money. They know that people look for good or last minute deals and literally millions are lost to fraudsters in this way. An important final tip is to know that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
To help homeowners prepare for any upcoming trips away from home, RE/MAX of Southern Africa share the following household safety precautions: (Click here to read the full article)
- Test that all sensors on the alarm system are in working order.
- Cut back any plants that are near to your outdoor security beams.
- Double check the batteries on your alarm system. Consider back-up power supplies for when load shedding occurs.
- To avoid having the home appear unoccupied, set some lights to an automatic timer or arrange for a house sitter.
- Double check that all burglar bars and safety gates are securely fastened.
- Avoid posting on social media until after you have returned, as this might alert cyber criminals to the fact that your home is standing vacant.
- Before leaving, be sure that all windows and doors are securely closed and locked.
- Ask a neighbour to collect any mail from your mailbox to avoid having flyers pile up and alert criminals to the fact that nobody has been home in a while.
*article updated 18 December 2023
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