A Clean Stay Is a Happy Stay: What Every Traveler Should Know Before Booking
Booking your next private villa vacation should be exciting.
Having your own villa, pool, and zero strangers sharing the property? Yeah, that sounds amazing. But…
Not all vacation rentals are created equally.
Things like cleanliness can drastically change your getaway from dreamy to dismal. But how can you spot the dirtiers properties from the cleanest? Well, before you book your next villa rental, there are some signs you should know.
In this article:
- Why Cleanliness Should Be Your #1 Concern
- Red Flags All Travelers Should Know
- How to Spot a Clean Property
- Questions to Ask Before Booking Your Next Clean Vacation Rental
Why Cleanliness Should Be Your #1 Concern
Ok. Let’s cut to the chase.
If a rental property isn’t clean, it can straight up ruin your trip. And not clean like “oh these sheets could be folded better” clean. I’m talking dirty towels, dusty shower doors, and bathrooms you’d rather swim in than take a shower kind of dirty.
Here’s the kicker:
Most people don’t think about cleanliness until they step foot in their rental. Then it’s too late. You’re already there, smelling that funky smell coming from the master bedroom. Welcome home! We’ve got funky stains on the couch too!
When browsing for vacation rental options for your next stay, cleanliness should be at the top of your list. If the property photos and reviews show an owners lack of attention to clean details, what else are they ignoring?
Did you know…
33% of guests cited cleanliness as a primary concern when booking short-term rental properties? Yup. One in three guests booked into a home that wasn’t up to their standards.
Don’t be that guest.
Red Flags All Travelers Should Know
Thinking about booking that sunlit villa with glowing reviews?
Hold up.
Before you hit that “Book Now” button, there are a few red flags all travelers should know. Some things may seem innocent enough when browsing rentals. But trust me…
They speak volumes about your experience once you actually get there.
Let’s dive into the things you should never ignore when booking your next vacation rental property:
- Any mention of poor cleaning practices in the reviews (trust me, if it happened once it will happen to you)
- Stock photos or images that don’t show the entire property
- Listings that don’t provide detailed cleaning and turnover information
- When the owner doesn’t answer your questions
Fun fact.
Professional property managers have a process for cleaning their homes. They allocate tons of time for cleaning between guests. They keep records of everything. And they would rather you message them a dozen times to answer your questions before you book than not at all.
If an owner shies away when asked about their cleaning process? Run.
Also note little details.
You’ll be cooking in the kitchen. You’ll be eating dinner at the tables. You’ll be lounging by the pool. When reviews mention dust on blinds and shelves, what else aren’t they telling you about the kitchen appliances? Take note of the small stuff.
How to Spot a Clean Property
Alright, now that we’ve covered the bad let’s discuss how to find a clean rental property.
Reviews
Yes, skim the star ratings. Of course, we all do that. But I’m talking about reading the reviews. What do guests have to say about their stay? Look for words like “clean,” “spotless,” “sanitized,” and “couldn’t believe how clean everything was.”
Listen, customers say they trust customer experience over everything else when making buying decisions. That includes how clean the rental was when they walked in the door. Learn from other travelers and watch for cleanliness in the reviews.
Photos
Ever see a rental with only 3-5 photos? What are they hiding? When rentals have professionally taken photos of EVERY angle, corner, and amenity? They’re telling you they have nothing to hide.
In addition to Photos and Reviews, look for:
- Property managers that list their exact cleaning procedures
- Properties that hire a cleaning team or companies
- Homes that list updates or remodeling recently completed
Think of it this way. Properties that truly care about their customers’ experience will go above and beyond to ensure you have a clean home ready for you on checkout day.
Questions to Ask Before Booking Your Next Clean Vacation Rental
Here’s where most people fail.
They look. They compare prices. And they book. But they never actually ask the owner any questions before locking in that reservation.
Don’t be that guest.
Asking the right questions could save you from booking a dirty rental property.
Below are the questions you should always ask before booking your next villa rental:
- What cleaning supplies do you use to sanitize the property between guests?
- How long do you allow for cleaning between reservations?
- Do you use a professional cleaning company or do it yourself?
- What happens if something isn’t clean when I arrive?
Their answer will tell you everything you need to know.
If they respond quickly with detailed answers, that’s a huge green flag. Once they start ignoring your questions or give lazy responses? You not wasting your money on that property.
Keep timing in mind as well.
If you’re checking into a rental the day someone just checked out? There might not be as much time to deep clean the entire property. Try booking with a buffer day in between guests if cleanliness is your main concern.
What Happens If You Get It Right
Imagine this…
You pull up to your private villa rental. You throw your luggage down and head straight for the door. When you open it, you’re greeted with glistening floors and vacuumed carpets. Fresh sheets adorn each bed. The kitchen looks like you could sell food there!
Isn’t that the dream?
That my friends, is what happens if you do your diligence before booking. Not having to worry about if your villa is clean allows you to truly relax on vacation.
You can sip that Mojito barefoot in the sandbox. You can cook eggs on the grill without having to wipe down the cooking surfaces first.
Oh and one last thing…
When you find that clean-as-a-whistle vacation rental, save that owner. Message them. Bookmark that page. Send them a “We love you” text. Good vacation rental homes with fantastic cleanliness values are hard to come by.
And they remember the guests that book with them repeatedly. They’ll remember you when it comes to booking during peak season or throwing special discounts your way for returning guests.
Wrapping Things Up
Booking a vacation rental really boils down to one thing.
If it’s clean, you’ll have a good trip. It’s as simple as that.
Next time you’re searching for the perfect villa for your next private getaway. Don’t rush the process. Don’t book the first cute-looking rental with decent reviews. Dig deep. Find those owners that go the extra mile for their customers.
Remember:
- One in three guests booked into rentals that weren’t clean enough for them
- Owners who don’t leave enough time to clean their properties between guest won’t answer your questions.
- Calculated review scores don’t paint the full picture. Reading reviews and studying photos will.
- Your health and well-being rely on strangers cleaning up after other strangers.
- Clean vacation rental properties exist, you just have to know where to look.
Spending an extra 10 minutes before booking could save you days of stress while on vacation.
Go unwind that stress away by booking that clean villa you know you deserve.
