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