What you must know when you rent vacation apartments!

• What they don’t tell you about apartments in Buenos Aires.
  
  Even if you choose not to rent an apartment at http://www.BuenosAiresStay.com , we want you to have a fantastic stay in Buenos Aires and find a great apartment in Buenos Aires, so here are some Buenos Aires travel tips:
  Check out how long a company has been around on the internet
  It is very simple to find out who own a website and how long ago it was purchased. When web domains are purchased they are automatically registered with ‘WHOIS’ or ‘ICANN’ registries that tells you the date of purchase and who owns the website. Longer established websites at least means companies have been around for a while. Longer established companies at least demonstrate track record. Check out www.BAStay.com and www.BuenosAiresStay.com , we have been around since 2004 and online since 2005.
  
  Search Engine Ranking
  It is tough to get your website a top 10 rankings at www.yahoo.com or www.google.com. An unseen and fiercely fought battle is being waged between all those companies who believe quality content achieves good ranking. Those of us at the top work hard to achieve good search engine rankings and it takes much dedication. We are on our fourth month of website optimisation and already exasperated! www.buenosairesstay.com is no.9 for ‘apartments in buenos aires’ at Google and no.3 for apartments Buenos Aires at Yahoo.
  
  Have a closer look at the website
  A website tells you an awful lot about a company. Forget design, which is a matter of taste. Look for well constructed websites that have multiple pages and lots of well thought out content with easy navigation, these factors are good indications that a company cares about its image and your ability to find the information you need quickly.
  
  Is there good quality informative travel advice?
  When you travel, tour and vacation, accurate local travel information that helps you make the right decisions is of vital importance. If a company takes time to write informative guides that help you make the right choices you can be sure they care about you, the customer.
  
  Have you seen that apartment in Buenos Aires before?
  Be wary of sites that carry the same photographs as those posted on our website. We check out all our apartments in Buenos Aires and usually take our own photographs. That ensures you get what you pay for. Seen it before, let us know!
  
  Do not use the crooks!
  Websites that steal copyright information do not hang around for long, they call us and other established companies like Buenos Aires Stay offering referral clients. We refuse of course. Their sites have no database infrastructures, so no advanced search or reservation facilities – avoid these sites.
  
  What should you pay?
  Fee structures are much the same from company-to-company. Some charge an administration fee and others surcharge rents. Have a look around and ensure that your one bedroom apartment in Buenos Aires (check out the surface area modern conveniences, furnishings and quality compared to other listings) is not overpriced against the market - if you are happy with the rent – book early to avoid disappointment.
  
  Making a reservation
  Do not pay more than 20% of the total rent and an agency fee in advance of booking an apartment. Our landlords immediately block-out your dates on our website the day you pay your rental deposit and apart from acts of god – Buenos Aires Stay’s apartments in Buenos Aires are guaranteed for the duration of your stay in Buenos Aires.
  
  Take time to read the terms and conditions of business
  Ensure that you carefully read the terms and conditions of business and FAQs at each website. Check carefully to ensure if the apartments in Buenos Aires are not as advertised (print a copy of the apartment in Buenos Aires as advertised on the webpage and take it with you to your check-in), and the travel agency agrees, the agency will seek a full refund from the landlord and find you an alternative apartment in Buenos Aires.
  
  Making payments
  My peers are offended by this statement, ‘do not give your credit or debit card details to any company in South America by telephone or email’ – our staff will never ask you for your card details. Only use secure methods of payment such as www.PayPal.com.
  
  We hope that the above Buenos Aires travel tips prove helpful and you find great apartments in Buenos Aires and have a fantastic Buenos Aires Stay!
  
  [email removed]

  06 May 2008, 06:26 BuenosApartments

Replies

• Hey there!

  I am being asked to pay 50% upfront and they want my CC details is this a good ideas?

  Mike 06 May 2008, 10:28 - Report

• BA standard practices!

  It is unusual for comapanies to take such a large upfront payment, but I might add that property owners are conscious that the market is slow and some USA clients are not turning up, so there may be a seachange. My advice still stands, do give credit card details to those who cannot offer you a secure merchant payment service. They may be a good company, but do their security procedures mean that their staff will not have access to your details? Fraud and deception are significant problems in Buenos Aires.

  raemac@bastay.com 06 May 2008, 10:33 - Report