Your safety checklist for staying in any vacation rental

The last thing you should worry about while on vacation is whether your rental is safe (and legitimate). Unfortunately, vacation-ruining scenarios can happen before you even arrive at your destination. So far in 2025, nearly 10,000 travel, vacation and timeshare scams have been reported to the Better Business Bureau. Knowledge is power, and prevention is key: That's why the team at Ooma has created a list of vacation rental safety tips to help protect you and your family. These tips are for both before your trip and during your stay, so you can enjoy your hard-earned vacation without worry. In the article below the vacation rental safety checklist, we'll address red flags for Airbnb guests, Airbnb safety tips, how to keep kids safe on vacation, how to spot a rental scam and much more.

How do I make sure a vacation rental is legit?

One of the first steps for safely booking a vacation rental is to do a preliminary investigation of the rental property listing to verify its authenticity. Fraudsters can be exceptionally devious, so it's vital to do a thorough check to protect your safety and your bank account. Here are some common vacation rental scams travelers have reported that we hope to help you avoid:

• Choosing a vacation rental that seems luxurious and full of amenities, only to discover that the rental is in a sketchy neighborhood and/or the photos are outdated and misleading.
• Last-minute reservation cancellations with no option for a refund.
• Receiving last-minute notice of an "issue" with the advertised rental and having to switch to an alternate property owned by the host, which is in poor condition.
• Arriving at the vacation property only to find that it does not exist at all.
• Ordering food delivery from a fake menu left for guests, leading to stolen credit card information.
• Using "free Wi-Fi" that opens up your information to theft.

How to spot a vacation rental scam

While some red flags for vacation rentals can be obvious, others can be more subtle. Here are some tips on how to identify a vacation rental scam from the start:

• Make sure there are multiple ways to contact the owner or agent besides email. Is the phone number's area code local? If the host insists on external communication (especially on WhatsApp), that's another red flag.
• Don't let yourself be rushed into a decision - any pressure from the vacation rental owner is an immediate warning sign.
• Ask the agent questions to confirm their familiarity with the area, like recommendations for places to eat or the distances to beaches and other popular destinations.
• Check the address on Google Maps Street View to confirm its legitimacy. Does it match the photos in the listing? If it's a hotel or resort, call the front desk to verify that it's real. For private homes, research the owner's name on Google, social media, and public records to see if the person seems real.
• Be cautious if the agent requests payment via wire transfer, check, gift cards, Venmo or other third-party methods. If booking through a platform like Airbnb, only pay through the official website or app.
• Never share personal information such as Social Security or bank account numbers. Legitimate rental agents won't need these. Some scammers offer to deduct costs directly from your bank account - never agree to this!
• Check if the rental offers a refund policy. If nothing is listed, proceed with extreme caution.
• Be suspicious of last-minute alternatives offered by the host, often claiming that there's an issue with the rental you booked. Instead, make sure that the host cancels the listing (if on a platform like Airbnb) and watch for extra charges. Only book alternative listings through the platform.
• If the listing seems too good to be true, it probably is. Compare it with others nearby to gauge fair pricing and amenities.
• Examine the links and language on the listing. Are there typos or odd sentence structures? Are the URLs legitimate? Scam links can be very subtle. Here are some helpful tips for verifying if an Airbnb email or website is genuine.
• If there are no reviews, proceed with caution. If there are many reviews for a new listing that are all positive or seem generic, this can also be a red flag.

To summarize, abide strictly by these practices to avoid a vacation rental scam:

• Keep all interactions and transactions on the hosting platform.
• Never pay with cash, wire transfers, gift cards or any other method outside the hosting platform. Use a credit card when possible.
• Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
• Verify the listing by using Google Street View, call the help desk if applicable and ask specific questions.

Now that we have addressed how to verify that a vacation rental is legitimate, let's look at what to do upon arrival to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for the entire family. While we included these tips on our vacation rental safety checklist, these resources can also help you prepare for and enjoy your well-deserved getaway.

General vacation rental safety tips

• Ten Things You Need to Do to Stay Safe at an Airbnb
• Airbnb Host and Guest Safety
• Vacation Rental Safety Tip Sheet

How to keep kids safe on vacation

• Nine Things to Look for When Renting an Airbnb With Kids
• Vacation Safety Tips
• Tips for Safe and Stress-Free Family Travel

Does your vacation rental have a pool? Check out the National Drowning Prevention Alliance's vacation rental host water safety toolkit. While it's geared toward vacation rental hosts, there's also a guest vacation rental checklist you can use.

Vacation rental privacy policies

We explained how to check for hidden cameras and other surveillance devices in your vacation rental, but it's also important to understand your rights and whether surveillance is allowed in a vacation rental according to the host platform's policies.

• Vrbo's Policy on Surveillance Devices at a Property
• Informing Guests About Security Devices (Airbnb)
• Requirements and Regulations for Surveillance Devices (Booking.com)

Why it matters to Ooma

When you're staying at a vacation rental, safety and peace of mind matter just as much as comfort. With Ooma's home phone service, you'll always have a reliable way to connect, whether you need to reach emergency services, contact your host, or call loved ones back home. Unlike cell phones, which can be limited by spotty coverage, Ooma provides a crystal-clear, dependable line you can count on. Guests also enjoy perks like unlimited nationwide calling, voicemail access, and easy call forwarding so reaching the right person is never a hassle. Plus, with Ooma's advanced robocall blocking, you won't be interrupted by unwanted calls during your stay. By choosing a property equipped with Ooma, you can relax knowing you have both safety and convenience at your fingertips.

Sources

Airbnb: airbnb.com/help/article/241

National Fire Protection Association: nfpa.org/downloadable-resources/safety-tip-sheets/airbnb-vacation-rental-safety-tip-sheet

United States Environmental Protection Agency: epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs#signs