12 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Renting a Vacation Home

Follow this expert advice to avoid booking regret.

By Rachel Chang

Rachel Chang Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist who contributes to Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and more.

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Updated on October 25, 2026

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As I neared the address of the Airbnb I booked, barred windows began appearing on the homes I passed. It was my first time booking a vacation rental on a solo trip, and I had turned down offers to stay at friends’ homes because I was so mesmerized by the photos of this property I found in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

I thought I had done my research, knowing it was a private room in a space with shared bathroom facilities—and a private bar.…