Note: Lessons from The Overlook is a periodic update on lessons learned from owning a vacation rental property in the Southern California mountain town of Idyllwild. It's a hands-on opportunity to apply some of the techniques I advise my clients to use. You can find past updates here.

My wife, Sally, and I own a vacation rental cabin called The Overlook Idyllwild. 

In addition to staying in our own cabin on a regular basis, we often stay in vacation rentals ourselves when we travel. This has given us first-hand experience as a guest.

It has also given us insight into what other owners do, and do not do well. We’ve used some of those lessons to improve our own guest experience, but we’ve also discovered a few things guests can do to have a better time.

With that in mind, here are five tips to make your next vacation rental more enjoyable.

#1 Book Direct

Airbnb and VRBO charge booking fees of 5-10%. You can avoid these by booking directly with the owner or property management company whenever possible.

There are two ways to do this. One is to avoid the big sites like Airbnb and VRBO and do a Google search for vacation rentals in the city you’d like to visit.

Try searching for “Idyllwild vacation cabins” and the first non-sponsored result you’ll see is our property manager, Idyllwild Vacation Cabins.

You can also find a listing on Airbnb or VRBO that you like, then Google the name of the property and the city. You'll often find a separate website for the property where you can book direct without the fees.

Sally and I recently rented a condo in Napa for 28% less than the listed rate on VRBO by booking directly through the property manager.

We only rent our cabin via Idyllwild Vacation Cabins so our guests don't have to pay these fees.

#2 Check the HVAC filter

The HVAC filter cleans the air for the heater and air conditioner and helps the system run more efficiently. Unfortunately, many vacation rental owners don't change these often enough.

I've had to get the filter replaced at 3 of the last 4 vacation homes I've stayed in.

Here's one example from a vacation rental in Palm Springs where Sally and I stayed in July. Imagine the air conditioner running air nonstop through this dirty filter:

We check the filter once per month at The Overlook.

#3 Contact management with issues

Speaking of dirty HVAC filters, be sure to contact the property manager right away if you spot a problem that interferes with your stay.

Every home has it's own quirks, such as how to operate the tv or the spa. I once struggled to get an oven to work due to user error (I'm dumb). A quick call to the property manager saved dinner.

There's also a good chance you'll spot something during your stay that needs attention. It could be a cracked dish, a burned out light bulb, or a bigger problem like a leaky faucet.

Don't assume the property manager knows about this—it's easy to miss small items when a property is inspected between visits. Some issues are only noticed when you are staying in a home for a few days.

A quick call to the property manager can resolve many issues quickly and prevent the next guests from being inconvenienced.

#4 Bring dish towels

Don't ask me why, but vacation rentals almost never include good dish towels.

If you're particular about lint on your glassware, then the fluffy hand towels they usually provide just won't cut it. I always bring a few of my own.

#5 This is someone's home

Remember you are a guest in someone's home.

Many vacation rentals are owned by individual families who also use the home themselves. They take great care to provide accommodations and have to pay money out of their own pockets to replace worn or damaged items.

Be sure to treat the house with respect, just as you would if you were staying with a friend.

Please keep noise to a minimum as well. Vacation rentals are often located in residential neighborhoods and are surrounded by neighbors who live there full time.

There are organized efforts to ban or severely restrict vacation rentals in many cities because neighbors are tired of dealing with unruly guests next door.

Don't be those guests.

Bonus tip

Relax and have fun!

Vacation rentals often provide more privacy, amenities, and unique charm than a hotel. At The Overlook, we offer our guests sweeping sunset views, two game rooms, a spa, a large deck, and a wood burning fireplace for cozy evenings.

It's a perfect place to enjoy a mountain retreat. At least my wife and I think so—we were just there for a few days with family and had a wonderful time.