You've waited all year for this moment. You've arrived at your
luxury vacation rental home in an exhilarating foreign location. Things
are bound to be a bit different from home. Either a rental agent,
concierge or homeowner will be there to Meet & Greet you. But
there's more involved than just handing you the keys. Follow these tips
to get the most out of your Meet & Greet and maximize your
experience at your home-away-from-home.
Actively Participate in the House Tour All the adults in your party should accompany your greeter on the house
tour. What usually happens is just one person goes on the tour while
the rest of the party wanders about checking out the different rooms.
Leaving 90% of your group uniformed about important details in the house
is a recipe for disaster. Work as a team and eliminate the possibility
of being left in the dark literally because the one person who knows
what to do when the electricity goes out just ran to the grocery store.
Check the Lights Ask to be shown where all the light switches are. Building standards
vary from country to country and you don't want to be groping around in
the dark for a light switch. Try all the lights and make sure there are
no burnt out bulbs so they can be replaced before you need them. Power
outages may be a common occurrence in some foreign countries, so you'll
want to ask about the location of emergency lights, flashlights, candles
and matches.
Check the Air Conditioners Your luxury
vacation rental home will likely have air conditioners. Turn each one on
briefly to make sure it works then review the functions with your
greeter. The last thing you want to happen on a scorching hot day is to
discover an air conditioner doesn't work and the technician can't come
over until tomorrow.
Know Your Kitchen The most
complicated room in the house is the kitchen as it usually has several
appliances. Some foreign countries, especially Latin ones, use propane
gas stoves. You'll want to know how to light the stove and oven if you
plan to use them. If there's a barbecue grill ask how it works if you're
unfamiliar with the model.
Ask Questions The operative
phrase here is "ask, don't assume." Don't be afraid of sounding dumb if
you aren't sure about something. Your greeter is there to help and
inform you. Getting your questions answered during the tour can save you
several phone calls later. Everything won't be exactly like it is at
home. Be sure and ask for contact information in case something goes
wrong. Also ask for local emergency numbers for the hospital, police and
fire department. Chances are you'll never need them but it's a good
idea to have them close at hand, if nothing else, for peace of mind.
So,
encourage everyone in your party to be an active participant during the
Meet & Greet. Learn all you can about the house and check that
everything is in working order. Be sure and ask plenty of questions and
you're bound to have a great experience at your luxury vacation rental.
