Today's blog will discuss how you can maximize RentalSpot.com's tools to plan your vacation.  

Planning a trip doesn't require you to register, but access to some really helpful tools does.  

Below is a basic list of features available to users of RentalSpot.Com.  I will detail these further below, but this is a good overview.

First, let's talk about how you begin to search the RentalSpot.Com site.  You can search in a few different ways.  One way is to go to the homepage (http://rentalspot.com).  You will see a search input box, this is where you type in the location of your vacation destination.

Try entering one of the following: "Walt Disney World" or "Block Island" or "Puerto Rico" or "Cancun".   Next, click the Search button.  This will show vacation rental results ordered by distance from the area you searched.  

Another way to search is by clicking one of the quick links on the homepage, these are listed to the right in a column labeled "Favorite RentalSpot Searches".  Clicking any of these links will send you to a results page showing that region.

If you want to be more specific about your search, you should set the Start and Ending dates of the trip you plan to take.   Adding these values will show you more accurate information about the pricing for a property, and allow you to filter by price ranges.

You can set other filters too, like minimum bedrooms or bathrooms.  Or you can filter on specific amenities like "Ocean views".  This is helpful to reduce the results to find just what you are looking for.  

Once you've performed a search, you will see a list of your results that contains 20 results per ‘page', and a map containing markers of all the vacation rentals listed.

Clicking the Details link in the list, or by clicking the map Marker, will show you more details about that specific property. Vacation rental Owners enter lots of information here about their vacation homes or vacation condos, and include on average 10 or more pictures for you to review.  If you like what you see, but want to keep looking, just click ‘Save Favorite'.  You do not have to be registered to keep a favorites list, however, if you are not a registered user you cannot save your favorites list.  

Saving a property as a favorite places this location in your Favorites folder (the bar below the map).  This will raise and lower to show you where you can always find this property from now on.  

Additionally, you will see that the map marker has changed to show that this vacation rental is one you have saved.

Keeping a list of favorites allows you to easily email that list when you are done, or if you are registered, share this list and let your friends and family joining you on your trip to help decide which vacation rental meets your needs.

If you are a registered user or wish to register, click ‘Save this trip'.  If you have not registered, you will be taken through the registration process, if you have already registered, a pop up will show asking you to name the trip.  Name it something like ‘Family trip to Disney World", or "Getaway to Cancun".  

Once you name your trip, the page will reload and you will see a ‘Go To Trip Homepage' button next to the name you just provided your trip.  Click this, and you will access the Trip Homepage.

The Trip Homepage shows you your list of favorites on the left, a map of all your favorites, and a chat control on the right.  Are you going with another family, with your spouse?  Usually more than one person weighs in on a vacation rental, and if so, it's easy to give them access to your trip.

To do this, enter your friends email address into the input box labeled ‘Add Contr ibutor' and then click Add.  Your friend will be sent an email containing a link that allows them to quickly log in and see the same trip dashboard you are viewing.  Users can chat in real time using the chat box, so you can save your quibbles about each location.  Users can also vote for a specific vacation rental, making your decision even easier.

Are you planning multiple vacations?  Just click ‘New Search" and you can start over again, and save your new Trip.  Your Trips are accessible anytime from your dashboard.  (Just click the My Dashboard link on the top of the page when you are logged in).

It's easy to contact a owner of a vacation rental too.  Just click the Contact Owner button on the details page of any of the vacation rentals.  The owners phone number is displayed, or you can fill out the contact form to send them an email.

If you've stayed at a vacation rental, you should also leave a review.  Let other people know how your stay was.  

Our goal is to help the vacation rental community find homes easier, and with less angst.  If you have ideas on how we can make improvements, please contact us!  We love to hear back from our users.