We've rented cottages or a condo from the same management company for the past 5 years. We found them on either Vrbo or Airbnb, can't remember which. Anyhow, the owner messaged me directly the first year and said if I booked direct I didn't have to pay the site fees- YAY! Cottage rental is weekly, and we bring our own sheets, towels, kitchen towels, so we take them all home with us when we go. It's worked out well- she even gave us a return-guest discount of 10%- until this year. No more return guest discount, rates have gone up $50 a night (! that's a lot when renting for 2 weeks), cleaning fee is $250, damage deposit is $500 (but it's refundable, they've always returned our money- without interest- within a week). The cottage is lovely, 2 bedrooms, LR, dining area, full kitchen, full bath, nice sunroom, 5 min walk to the ocean, gas grill, etc. It's near where I grew up, my sis and brother and their families (kids are all in their 20s-30s now), my cousins are within an hour's drive, so it's really been ideal for us. However, this is probably our last year. This place IS reasonable for the area- about $330 a night for a full cottage/house- but it's just a lot for 2 weeks now, even without paying the Vrbo/Airbnb fees. If we hadn't already been planning get-togethers and such, we probably wouldn't be going this year, but I'm not quite ready to give it up- and if we aren't rebooking, there isn't a prayer of finding a free week to rent. (FYI hotel rooms, without roaches, are about $350+ in this area during the summer...)
