Holiday villas and apartments have become a popular alternative to Hotels and B&BS for tourists going on holiday. Advantages include greater privacy, the opportunity to cater for oneself, a more homely feel, more space and better value for money for groups and families. With so many holiday villas and apartments available in destinations such as the Algarve, Majorca and Florida how does one get the best rental property for the lowest price?

The first step is choosing a destination. If price is important then opt for a destination where rental accommodation is more affordable. Such destinations include Bulgaria, Goa and Mexico. In Europe there are often better deals in the north of Portugal and Spain than in the south and even cheaper properties in nearby Morocco.

Try going further inland where one can find considerably bigger and more affordable villas and apartments than those by the beach. Benefits can include a quieter, more rural location and with a hire car many beaches can still be reached after a short drive. As always location is everything when it comes to property so if you are prepared to compromise you can often get a better deal.

Renting in the shoulder seasons, in the spring or autumn is another excellent way to save money. With less demand for holiday villas and apartments during these periods you will be able to choose from a wider selection of properties and rates are usually a good 30% less then they are in the peak season. Furthermore it is often possible to get considerably better deals on hire cars and flights during the shoulder season so your total savings can add up.

Look out for properties rented by the owners direct! Many rental properties are advertised by agencies who will take a proportion of the rent as their fee. Renting with the owners direct can save you money as some of these savings may be passed on to you. Owners may also be able to offer added value in the form of advice on local restaurants, excursions, cheap flights and car hire and it can be reassuring to be able to speak with the owner and to have their number should there be any problems during your holidays.

Book your flights early. By booking your airline tickets well in advance you should be able to secure a good deal. Research which low cost airlines (e.g. Easyjet and Ryanair) fly to your preferred destination and sign up with their mailing lists so they can notify you when flights go on sale. As a general rule it is always best to book flights at least two weeks in advance and midweek flights are often more affordable then those on the weekends or during holiday periods.

Use long tail search phrases. Search the internet using detailed search phrases rather than simple short terms. Try using quotation marks to force the inclusion of important attributes such as "internet access", "a swimming pool" or a "garden" in your search. Also, try including words like "affordable", "value", "owner" and "discount" in your search.

Prepare an email in notepad or your word processor with details of your holiday plans, the dates you would like to book and any important requirements. It never hurts to ask if it is possible to get a discount especially if you intend to stay for 2 or more weeks in the low or shoulder season and you could ask about feedback from previous guests. When you see a property you are interested in paste your email into the web form or your email program and send out plenty of emails. You should then receive further details about properties that are available and get a feeling for which renters are most responsive and helpful.

The next step is to telephone the owners of properties on your short list. Find out as much as you can about each property and get to know the people renting the property. Often you will find someone who you get on well with and feel comfortable doing business with.

Follow your instincts. If you feel good about a certain property and trust the person you have spoken with you should be confident to book with them. When you know in your heart that you are dealing with good people and have found a good deal you are ready to book and make final preparation for your villa or apartment holidays.

Read up on the location you are going to visit. There is a wealth of information online that will help you make plans for your holidays. Consider what you are going to do with your time and decide on some things you would like to do. Print out or jot down notes so that when you are on holiday you are prepared to make the most of your holidays. When the time comes to travel, relax and make the positive decision to enjoy every moment of your villa holiday to the max.