VacationMouse Vacation Rentals - Your Home for Vacation Rentals

VacationMouse is the place travelers go when they want a one-of-a-kind vacation! Homeowners around the world, in the most desirable destinations, rent their homes to travelers who are looking for more than just a hotel room when they travel. VacationMouse is a community that brings homeowners and travelers together, to assist both in reaching their goals.

How does it work? - Top

To book your Vacation Rental Home, first choose the property or properties you are interested in. Then, check the owner's 'Availability Calendar' to see if your desired dates are open. Note: not all property owners update their calendars. Once you determine the availability, then 'Contact the Owner' directly by submitting an email inquiry on their property listing page. They will then respond to you via email, and you can get answers to any questions you have. Lastly, book your rental with the owner! Please see The Rental Process for more information.

What is a Vacation Rental Home? - Top

A Vacation Rental Home can be a house, condo, apartment, villa, chalet, cabin, etc. where you stay on your trip. You make it your home away from home when you are on vacation. A Vacation Rental Home includes amenities that make you feel the comforts of home; from the luxury of a full kitchen and spacious living room, to a private outdoor pool and terrace. Travelers enjoy the special features of a private home along with the opportunity to experience their vacation from a local’s perspective.

Who is a Vacation Rental Owner? - Top

A Vacation Rental Owner is someone who puts their home up for rent, for vacationers to use while the owner is absent. The homeowner lists their property for travelers to find on VacationMouse. It is typically the homeowner who lists their home, but often the homeowner has a property management company who manages the rental for them.

Why choose a Vacation Rental Home over a hotel? - Top

By renting a vacation rental home, you get an all around superior place to stay, and usually pay less money than you would for a hotel rental. Why stay in a small hotel room when you can rent an entire home with lots of amenities for less money? It’s a no-brainer!

Traveler Questions

What is VacationMouse? - Top

VacationMouse is the place travelers go when they want a one-of-a-kind vacation! Homeowners around the world, in the most desirable destinations, rent their homes out to travelers who are looking for more than just a hotel room when they travel. VacationMouse is a community that brings homeowners and travelers together, to assist both in reaching their goals.

How does it work? - Top

To book your Vacation Rental Home you first choose the property or properties you are interested in. You then check the owner's 'Availability Calendar' to see if your desired dates are open. Note: not all property owners update their calendars. Once you determine the availability, you then contact the owner directly by submitting an email inquiry to the address on their property listing page. They will then respond to you via email and you can communicate with the owner and get answers to any questions you have. Lastly, you book your rental with the owner! Please see The Rental Process for more information.

What is a Vacation Rental Home? - Top

Who is a Vacation Rental Owner? - Top

A Vacation Rental Owner is someone who puts their home up for rent, for vacationers to travel to while the owner is absent. The homeowner lists their property for travelers to find on VacationMouse. It is typically the homeowner who lists their home, but often the homeowner has a property management company who manages the rental for them.

Why choose a Vacation Rental Home over a hotel? - Top

What does it cost me to use VacationMouse? - Top

Nothing! The site is free for vacationers. Owners pay to list their properties on the site. Vacationers are free to browse, and use all the features the site offers including contacting homeowners, at absolutely no cost!

How much does a Vacation Rental cost to rent? - Top

VacationMouse offers homes for every preference and every budget; the selection is endless, as we have homeowners offering small properties, to homeowners offering historic mansions on the waterfront. You may input your preferences on the site to find just the right type of home you are looking for, that meets your budget.

How do I search for a property? - Top

As a traveler using VacationMouse, you have a wide range of beautiful, one-of-a-kind properties around the world to choose from. You can begin your search by typing your destination into the 'Search' box on the Homepage, or by clicking your destination on the map. Once you submit your desired destination, you will then be given a list of properties at that destination. You can then browse and view properties, contact owners, as well as narrow down your search location and desired details. If you already have a property you have viewed and would like to review the property listing again, simply type in the Listing # in the 'Search' box, and you will be navigated to that property.

How many vacation rentals can I inquire about? - Top

You may inquire about as many properties as you are interested in. To save yourself and the owner time, make sure to review all Owner’s Calendars to first check if your travel dates are available.

How can I tell if a property is available? - Top

On the property listing page, halfway down, there is a tab for 'Calendar'. Click on this tab. This will show you the calendar for that property and when it was last updated. You can then see if your dates are already booked (shown in red), or if they are available (shown in purple).

What do the different colors on the Calendar mean? - Top

Owners update their calendars to show travelers when their property is available. The days that are colored in red are already booked. The days that are colored in purple are available.

How can I be sure that the home pictured and portrayed will actually be the home when I arrive? - Top

At VacationMouse, we pride ourselves in maintaining authenticity throughout our website. Our number one priority is that travelers who book with owners through our site experience a positive vacation rental experience. There are a number of ways we provide the authenticity our site offers: Management reviews all the details of each and every new listing that is submitted through our site. No listings are posted live on the site until they have gone through this scrutinizing review process. Any little detail that is abnormal or strange is further investigated and authenticated before the listing can be posted.

What is the best way to pay for my rental? - Top

The best way to pay for your vacation rental is through check, credit card, or PayPal. Not all owners accept credit cards, so you must inquire about this before booking your stay. We recommend you do NOT pay with cash, wire transfer, or through Western Union. These are usually red flags, and you are opening yourself up to high risk of fraud.

How do I receive a refund? - Top

Make sure that your rental agreement includes the Owner’s Refund Policy. If you are in accordance with the Owner’s Refund Policy, you must contact the owner to be issued your refund.

What should a Vacation Rental Owner provide for me? - Top

The address of the property you will be staying at, once your trip is booked.
What the total amount is you will be charged, including any additional fees.
What is the required security deposit.
Confirmed dates of your stay.
The owner’s policies on cancellation.
How and when the payment should be made (full or partial payment).
Instructions on obtaining keys and access to the home during your stay.
Directions to the property via car, train, bus, or plane.
Owner’s address, phone number and email address.
Contact for any maintenance emergency at the home (often the owner themselves).
Address and phone number of property.

What is the cleaning situation? - Top

Most owners have their home professionally cleaned between vacationers. This is often a fee that you are responsible for, and should clarify this with the owner. If the owner says the home is not professionally cleaned, there is a possibility that the property will not be up to your standards. The cost of cleaning is small in comparison to the cost of losing any enjoyment on your stay.

How do I know if the property allows pets? - Top

If you are looking for a property that allows dogs, you must select that option in the details drop-down menu of the property listings page. There you can select 'Woof OK' and your search will be restricted to those properties. Some owners also state on their property listing, 'Woofs Considered'. In this case, you would need to discuss the situation with the owners themselves.

How do I know if the property owner allows smoking at his/her property? - Top

If you are looking for a property that permits or prohibits smoking, you must select that option in the details drop-down menu of the property listings page. There you can select 'Smoking OK' or 'Non-smoking' and your search will be restricted to those properties. It is very common for owners to have strict 'Non-smoking' policies at their properties. Please realize that this is a serious policy, and if you need to smoke, choose a property that allows this conduct to avoid losing your security deposit.

How do I avoid problems? - Top

You should always acquire phone and email contact information from the owner whose property you are staying at. One advantage of booking with an owner is that the home is theirs, so they can answer any and all questions you may have. Also, it is nice to be able to speak to the owner directly before you book, before your trip, and during your stay in case of an emergency or if you require assistance. It is also important to read owner's reviews on their property listing page, as it is a great way to hear what other previous travelers have thought of their stay at the property. Also, make sure to get everything in writing. Many owners will have you fill out a renter's agreement or contract.

What do I do if a problem arises? - Top

Any problems or issues need to be worked out with the owner directly. It is our number one priority to have a secure website where vacationers can feel safe booking their trips time and time again. We want every person who uses our site to have a pleasant and successful experience. We strive to avoid any type of illegal activity, and urge you to report any activity that you believe to be suspicious or fraudulent to us immediately. We take security very seriously and work hard to make sure you are protected.

How do I write a review for a vacation rental I have stayed at? - Top

The VacationMouse community and future travelers really benefit from reviews. We appreciate you taking the time to write a review for the property you have stayed at to assist others in the future. To write a review, go to the Property Listing that you stayed at, and click on the link that says 'Reviews' then 'Write a Review'.

What is the difference between a half bathroom and a full bathroom? - Top

A half bathroom does not have a shower or bathtub. A full bathroom has a shower and/or bathtub.

How is VacationMouse giving back to the environment? - Top

At VacationMouse we feel deeply responsible to give back to the beautiful planet that we are all so blessed to travel on! We have partnered with CarbonFund.org to support their global effort to offset and reduce carbon emissions. Organizations like CarbonFund.org require our support to continue their much needed research and work towards finding new solutions to make us a more sustainable planet. We are committed to fighting global warming as it is a reality not a theory. A portion of every new membership to VacationMouse is donated to Carbonfund.org. To learn more about our 'Green Alliance' click here.

Home Owner Questions

How do I create a new listing? - Top

To create a new listing as a new user to VacationMouse, go to 'Join Today!' and follow the prompts to create your listing and become a member of one of the top rental communities on the Web. If you are already a user and you want to add more than one property, you must create a separate listing for each property. You cannot advertise more than one property on each property listing. You must login to your account, click on 'New Listing', and follow the prompts to create another listing on your account.

How do I edit my listing? - Top

To edit your listing, you must first log into your account. From the Owner’s Homepage, you must click on 'My Listings' then 'Edit Listing'. You will then be able to edit all aspects of your property listing, save your changes, and preview your listing.

How do I preview my listing? - Top

To preview your listing you must first log into your account. Once logged in, you need to click on 'My Listings' on the Owner’s Homepage and click on the listing you want to preview. From there you will be shown the layout of your property listing as it will appear to the VacationMouse community. If you have made changes that do not appear in your listing preview, you may have to click the 'refresh' button on your web browser.

My listing has expired, or is about to expire, how do I renew it? - Top

Go to the Owner’s Homepage and click on 'My Listings' and 'Renew Listing'. Then follow the prompts to renew your property listing. Some memberships renew automatically.

When will my listing go 'Live'? - Top

Once all the required fields are completed on your property listing, and payment has been received, our staff will review your listing and usually approve it within 48 hours. Once we have approved the listing, it will immediately go 'Live' on the VacationMouse site.

When will changes to my listing be published? - Top

Once you make changes to your listing, they will be put into the queue to be approved by our staff. Changes usually take 24-48 hours to be approved.

How do I 'Hide' my listing? - Top

From the Owner’s homepage, go to 'My Listings' then 'Edit Listing' and select 'Hide My Listing'. This will hide your listing from public view. When you wish to make the listing 'public' again, go back to the same 'Edit Listings' page and change your desired listing’s status to 'Show My Listing'. It is now in public view.

How do I advance my position on the list of properties? - Top

Properties are listed in order by number of photos. The properties with the greatest number of photos will be at the top of the list. They are then listed in order by listing number; the lower listing numbers being higher on the list. If you want your property to be moved up the list, you should add more photos to your property listing.

How do I upload and edit photos for my property listing? - Top

Go to the Owner’s Homepage and select 'My Listings' and 'Edit Photos'. Once the 'Edit Photos' page opens, you will have an option to upload, delete, or move photos. Once you have an empty photo box, you can click 'Browse' and select the photo you choose to be added. You can also choose to delete a photo by clicking the 'Trash Can' to the right of the photo you want deleted from your listing. To move photos around to the order you want them to appear, simply click on the photo and drag it to the desired place you want it to appear in your photos list. Once you are happy with your listing photos, click 'Save'.

How do I improve the quality of my photos? - Top

It is important to post photos that are taken from a variety of angles, and in good lighting, so travelers can clearly see what your home looks like. You should never use photos that are scanned onto your computer, as they will look blurry on the website.

Why does it say 'Pending' on my photo(s)? - Top

VacationMouse requires photos to be reviewed by our staff in order to provide a safe site where everyone can enjoy their experience. Photos are usually approved within 48 hours, where they will then be live on your listing and the 'Photo Pending' will be removed.

How do I change my thumbnail photo? - Top

From the Owner’s Homepage go to 'My Listings' and 'Edit Photos'. You can move your photos around in the order you want them to appear on your property listing. The first photo box is your 'Thumbnail' photo and will be seen by users when they are reviewing the list of properties within the selected destination.

How do I edit my calendar? - Top

From the 'My Listings' page, click on 'Manage Calendar'. You will be able to select the month, block off booked dates, clear dates for availability, and manage traveler’s reservation, etc. When you are finished with editing your calendar, make sure to click 'Create Now' to save the changes you have made.

How do I view my property listing inquiries? - Top

Once signed in to the Owner’s Homepage, go to 'My Listings' and 'View Inquiries'. This link will take you to a list of all your property email inquiries. You can sort through your inquiries by date, name, email, or phone number.

Can I change the layout of my property listing? - Top

No, the layout of your property listing can not be changed. The reason that VacationMouse uses one template and does not allow users to change the layout of their listing is to give consistency to the site, which facilitates ease of use for travelers.

What are the most important sections of the listing I should complete? - Top

We recommend that you complete all the sections requested for your listing, as it is all information that travelers look for when comparing properties. The more information you provide, the more interested prospective renters will be in renting your property. If you are vague and do not give a lot of information on your property, travelers will be more likely to look for alternatives. Although your email is required so that we may forward inquiries to you, it is not disclosed to travelers on the site. However, when you later reply to your inquiries, your email will then be disclosed. It is optional to have your phone number displayed to users on the site.

What do I do if I have forgotten my username or password on the site? - Top

If you forget your 'Password', no worries! On any page, in the upper right hand corner, click on 'Forgot Your Username or Password?'. You will be prompted to enter your email address and 'Submit'. An email will be sent to you with instructions on resetting your password.

What do I do if I suspect my password has been stolen? - Top

If you suspect your password has been stolen, change it immediately and contact us.

What is phishing and how do I avoid it? - Top

Phishing is a type of scam where people try to obtain your personal information, such as password, credit card information, etc. Often, this is done by people sending you an email disguised as a VacationMouse email, asking you to enter your user name and password, or your credit card information, etc. We recommend that you should not direct to a website through an email. If you receive an email from VacationMouse asking for any information, we recommend that you open your internet browser and go directly to VacationMouse from there, rather than clicking on any links in an email. Once you are logged on to VacationMouse, you can then input any requested personal information.

If someone is trying to scam you, they can put a link in an email that will re-direct you to a site that looks like VacationMouse but is not. If you suspect you have received a scam email, please contact us immediately at VacationMouse. Our user's security is our number one priority and it is important to notify us if you feel you have received anything suspicious.

How long does it take for a check to clear so that I know it is not a fake? - Top

It takes two or more days for checks to clear in the United States, and an average of 5 or more days for checks to clear from other countries. Unfortunately, because checks do not clear immediately, you may not know if a check is a fake or if there is not enough money in the account to cover the check until this wait period is over.

What are some important ways to protect myself from being scammed? - Top

First, never give out your personal information (this does NOT include your phone number and address of your vacation rental). Second, absolutely NEVER accept more money than what is due for the rental. If someone tells you to cash the check and send them the difference, stop contact immediately. In addition, never send a money or wire transfer to a person you do not know. Also, if someone in another country wants to use an escrow service, this is a big red flag.

Can I change my property listing to advertise a different property? - Top

You may not change your property listing. Once a listing # is designated to a property address, it is that property’s listing # permanently. We do not approve or allow owners to switch properties on the same listing number. This causes great confusion to travelers who search by listing number.