7 Things You Should Never Do in a Vacation Rental

Having a fully stocked kitchen is a huge perk of staying in a vacation rental instead of a hotel. However, unlike at a hotel, vacation rentals don’t have a strict cleaning protocol to follow. Generally, dishes are expected to be hand-washed by the previous guest (or loaded into the dishwasher if there is one). And if the vacation rental didn’t provide dishwashing soap? That last guest might have just given everything a quick rinse and called it a day.

Most times that I’ve stayed at a vacation rental, the dishes in the cabinets have been visibly dirty, so I don’t even want to think about what germs are lurking on them.

Run the dishwasher as soon as you arrive, so you'll have dishes you know are clean that you can use.

Related:The 23 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the US

In the excitement over arriving, it’s easy to skip over the printed sheet of instructions that your host has left you, but that would be a mistake. In addition to detailing important information (like your check-out time), a note can save you time and frustration over trying to figure out how to work light switches or the heating system. Many instructions will arrive via email before your stay, so you’ll want to double-check your email before you arrive to ensure you don’t miss anything.

There may be specific house rules you’ll need to follow, such as quiet hours and trash/recycling rules. Failing to comply with these rules may result in a penalty.

I once stayed in an Airbnb where the host’s note mentioned a security camera in the (studio) apartment that needed to be unplugged once guests arrived—definitely the kind of thing you want to learn about sooner rather than later.

Figure you’ll just look up the code for the door when you get to your vacation rental? If you lose service, you might wind up stranded. Always save offline the following essential details:

• The address of your vacation rental (and directions)
• Your host’s contact information (preferably a phone number and email)
• The code to the door, or where you can find the keys
• A screenshot of a map of the area.

Having more guests than those listed in your reservation can result in the loss of your security deposit or a significant fine from the vacation rental agency.
If the owner lives offsite, you might think there’s no way you’ll get caught, but a noise complaint or report from a neighbor could easily make its way back to your host.

Regardless of the number of people in your group, any disruptive party could result in your getting suspended from using Airbnb.

Related:Things Tourists Should Never Do in Major Cities

Although most vacation rentals use a lockbox code these days, if you stay in one using an old-fashioned key, make sure you have it with you at all times. If you’re given more than one key, make sure each member of your party has one to reduce the chance that you’ll lock yourselves out. Otherwise, if the owner doesn’t live nearby, you might find yourself having to pay for a locksmith to get back in.

If your rental uses a digital key, make sure your phone is always fully charged so you don’t get locked out. If it is a smart lock or key code, save the code on your phone.

While Airbnb doesn’t allow hosts to charge a deposit, other vacation rental platforms do, like VRBO. Since you generally pay the deposit at the time of booking, it can be easy to forget about it—and you might not notice if you don't get it back after you check out. Set a reminder in your calendar to check your bank account/credit card to ensure your funds have been returned and that there are no additional, unexpected charges from the vacation rental.

This might be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised. Even if a cleaning fee is associated with your charge, it does not mean you should leave it in a dire state. Does this mean you should vacuum and clean the toilet? No. Just make sure the trash is in the bin, any spills are cleaned up, and any furniture that you moved is back in its original spot.