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Finding a Vacation Rental

The lodging information on 1st Choice Vacation Rentals is provided and maintained by vacation rental managers and owners. The information contained in the vacation rental advertisement is the only source of information 1st Choice Vacation Rentals about the vacation rental. 1st Choice Vacation Rentals provides visitors the ability to act as their own travel agent by viewing vacation rental information, requesting availability dates and reservations, and contacting the vacation rental manager/owner directly to book the vacation rental. 1st Choice Vacation Rentals' support department does not provide additional vacation planning services.

Tips for finding the perfect vacation rental.
  1. Choose a destination from our set of destination links on the home page of our site. Or use the DestinationFinder by selecting Search from the menu bar.
  2. Search in your desired vacation destination for the right location/dwelling type.
  3. Review the vacation rentals available and select a vacation rental for more details.
  4. Request dates after you have reviewed the rates, availability, & vacation rental policies. You can request availability of a number vacation rentals at once by using the Add to NotePad feature.

DestinationFinder

Find a vacation rental easier now with the DestinationFinder! This search will quickly return the vacation rentals in the destination of your choice. You can use the advanced search options, such as price range and bed type, to further define your vacation rental needs.

Our search will first try to find an exact match for the Advanced Search Items and Destination you've selected. If Advanced Search Option matches are found, it will list those vacation rentals for the country, state and sub-categories. If no vacation rentals are found for the Advanced Search Options it will bring up the country, state and subcategory listings you've selected.

Getting Started:
  1. Begin by selecting the Country of your destination. This will change the State/Province Menu with the Country Sub-categories
  2. Select your State Destination. This will update the City Menu with the State Sub-categories
  3. Select your City Destination. This will update the Property Type Menu with the City Sub-categories*
  4. Select your Property Type (if available)*.
  5. To find your destinations select the "View Properties" button.

*If a drop-down menu has "View Properties" visible then there are not any sub-categories available for that country and state.

Advanced Search Options:

If you have other needs such as Property Type, Price Range, how many Bedrooms, or many of the amenities offered by our vacation rental owners you can select these options to the right of the destination selections.

Using the NotePad

Add vacation rentals to your NotePad by pressing the "add to Notepad" button at the top of each vacation rental page. When you've gathered a list of vacation rentals you can submit a single email requesting availability. Your email will be sent to the entire list. Also, keep track of destinations and categories of interest by adding them to your NotePad as you browse the site. Print your NotePad if you'd like a record of the vacation rentals you've requested availability for. For more tips on using the NotePad go to the About NotePad section.

FAQ
Q: What is 1st Choice Vacation Rentals?
A: Since 1994 1st Choice has provided the most convenient way for vacation shoppers to connect directly with vacation rentals in destinations worldwide. 1st Choice has brought thousands of renters and vacation rental owners together over the years. With over 4 million vacation seekers coming to 1st Choice every year, up to 20,000 each day, 1st Choice has proved to be the best online resource for vacation rentals.

Q: What makes 1st Choice different from other vacation rental sites out there?
A: We've built the best self-managing tools for our owners to list their vacation rentals, and we continue to lead the way for technological developments, value added features, and web design services. Being known for this attracts thousands of quality vacation rentals in destinations all over the world. We are also recognized by sites such as Forbes.com, Google.com, Yahoo!, and publications like New York Times as the best online vacation rental directory.

Q: How do I know that the vacation rental I'm interested in is as good as it advertises?
A: With the use of our "Property Testimonials" you can read about first hand experiences others have had with a vacation rental owner/manager found on 1st Choice. Contact emails are given so that you can do your own research for third party references.

Q: What does it mean if there are no dates highlighted in the availability calendar?
A: For the time period you've chosen, if there are no dates highlighted it means that the vacation rental owner has availability during that entire time. Submit an Availability Request to confirm the dates you are interested in and start a dialog with that vacation rental. See About NotePad for more shopping tips.

Q: How do I contact a vacation rental owner about their rental's availability?
A: There are three ways to check availability for any vacation rental listing on 1st Choice. Under Property Resources you can view an availability calendar showing available dates within a calendar month. You can also send an Availability Request email outlining your vacation dates and needs. And finally, contact phone numbers are available for most vacation rentals.

Q: Does 1st Choice staff locate and book vacation rentals for renters?
A: No, 1st Choice allows visitors to act as their own travel agent. We provide all of the necessary information and tools to contact vacation rental managers and owners directly, taking the middleman out of the process.

Q: Is a travel agent commission available for vacation rentals on 1st Choice?
A: This is an policy to be set by the individual vacation rental managers and owners. Since 1st Choice does not handle the booking of the vacation rental, please contact the owner/manager directly to inquire about their commission policy.


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