These are the questions guests actually send us before booking, with the answers we actually give — including the ones that cost us bookings. If your question is not here, message us; we will answer it and then add it.
How much does booking direct save me?
About 10 percent, on a like-for-like comparison against a flexible, refundable platform booking for the same home on the same dates. We re-check that figure against live quotes rather than repeating it forever. Against a platform non-refundable rate, the difference is much smaller — so if your dates are certain and you will never move them, that is a legitimate option and we will not pretend otherwise. The longer version is in how much you actually save booking direct.
Are there fees?
Yes, one. Card processing runs about 4.6 percent and it is already inside the total on your screen. What you avoid by booking on our site is the platform service fee, which is the bigger of the two and the reason the totals differ. Booking direct is not fee-free — it is cheaper, which is a different and more defensible claim.
What happens if I have to cancel?
A 96 percent refund up to 14 days before arrival. A 46 percent refund up to 7 days before arrival. Those terms are on the checkout screen before you pay, not linked from a footer. We wrote them out at length in our cancellation policy in plain English.
Who am I dealing with?
Rather Be Properties is family run. Al and Elissa manage it, and a message about your booking reaches our team rather than a queue — the pattern in our reviews is response times in minutes, before and during stays. More on that in meet Al and Elissa, and there is an outside account of how the company has grown in this SD Voyager feature.
How does check-in work?
Self check-in, with instructions sent ahead of arrival. Sip Sip Away offers contactless check-in around the clock, and guests at the Game Table Getaway describe the instructions as very clear. If you are arriving late or with a complication, tell us in advance and we will work around it.
Can I bring a dog?
To some homes. Tucson Oasis and Ultimate Outdoor Oasis are pet friendly, and Salida Del Sol has a pet-friendly backyard. The full list with honest notes on each is in finding a pet-friendly vacation rental. Always message us before booking with a dog rather than after.
Will the pool be warm?
Ask us. Some of our pools have optional heating, some are heated as standard, and desert pools lose heat quickly once the nights turn. A group at Coachella Sol Haus chose not to heat theirs and described the water as pretty chilly. This is the single most common gap between what a guest pictures and what they get, so it is worth one message before you book.
The question we wish more people asked: what is wrong with this house? Every home has something — stairs at City Lights and Rooftop Nights, a dune crossing at Hygge By The Sea, a hot tub that maxes at 90 degrees at Coachella Casa. We publish those, and we will tell you a house is wrong for your group if it is. The full list is in what our guest reviews actually say.
Where do I start?
Browse by market: the Outer Banks or the Coachella Valley. Or start from a question — where to stay in the Outer Banks with kids, rentals for groups of 8 to 12, or booking direct vs. Airbnb and VRBO.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to book direct with Rather Be Properties?
About 10 percent cheaper on a like-for-like comparison against a flexible, refundable platform booking for the same home and the same dates. Against a platform non-refundable rate the gap narrows a lot, so we state the condition rather than dropping it.
Are there fees when I book direct?
One: card processing, roughly 4.6 percent, already included in the total you see. What you avoid is the platform service fee, which is the larger charge. We would rather name our own costs than let you meet them at checkout.
What is your cancellation policy?
A 96 percent refund up to 14 days before arrival, and a 46 percent refund up to 7 days before arrival. It is displayed at checkout before you pay.
Who am I actually booking with?
Rather Be Properties, a family-run management company. Al and Elissa run it, and messages reach our team rather than a platform support queue. Guests routinely mention response times measured in minutes.
Is check-in self-service?
On our homes, yes, with instructions sent before arrival. Sip Sip Away in Palm Springs offers contactless check-in around the clock, and guests at the Game Table Getaway in Indio describe very clear self check-in instructions.
Do you have pet-friendly homes?
Several, but not all of them, and the enclosed-yard detail matters more than the policy. Check our pet-friendly guide, which lists the confirmed homes with honest notes on each, and message us before booking with a dog.
Will the pool be heated during my stay?
Depends on the home and the season. Some of our pools have optional heating and some are heated as standard. Do not assume from a photograph — send us your dates and we will tell you what will actually be running that week.
Can I see the home before I commit?
Two of our homes have full video walkthroughs, and every property page carries photos, bedroom-by-bedroom detail and guest reviews. If you want a specific answer about a specific room, ask us and we will go and check.
What if something breaks during my stay?
Tell us and we fix it. Our reviews include a router replaced and a grill sorted mid-stay, which is the honest version of this answer — things occasionally break, and what matters is how fast they get handled.
Do I have to book direct to get these terms?
The cancellation terms and the absence of a platform service fee apply to bookings made on our own site. If you book through a platform, that platform’s fee structure and policies apply instead.
Send us the question you have not seen answered anywhere. We would rather spend a message getting it right than have you arrive surprised.
Because there’s no place you’d rather be.
