Booking a rental property for your next vacation? There’s a scam for that!

Seriously, vacation rental scams are everywhere. Last year alone, Airbnb banned 59,000 fake listings — and stopped 157,000 listings from making it to the site in the first place.

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When Airbnb and Vrbo first hit the scene, they were terrific. It was so much cheaper than staying at a hotel. Now? Hotels are coming back. But why?

For one, there are all the Airbnb horror stories — from hidden cameras to a host secretly living in a rental’s attic. Seriously, it happened. And did you hear about the women renting an old Victorian to celebrate their 50th high school reunion? Instead of a fun time, they got bats. Some of the women were even bitten.

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Here’s one major problem with the rental platform Airbnb. You go online, find a property with a price that works for you and book it — only for the total cost to skyrocket. What gives? Here’s a trick to avoid getting hit with those hidden fees.

Speaking of Airbnb fees, they’ve been going up across the country. Everything from cleaning to taxes adds to the bottom line and could ruin your dream vacation. Here’s how the extras add up.

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It’s happened to me. You check into a vacation rental, get settled in and spot surveillance cameras. Even when the cameras are technically allowed, it’s very alarming.

Prepared to be shocked. Cameras can hide in vents, lamps, power outlets and even unassuming objects like humidifiers and TV remote controls. You must see these cameras to believe they exist. Tap or click for 10 hidden cameras so sneaky you’d never know they were there.

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Rental platforms like Airbnb make finding the ideal place to stay easy. You can rent a space for multiple people to share, a shared space with private rooms or the entire property for yourself.

Did you know that Airbnb lets property owners monitor guests via camera? There are certain restrictions, but you may feel uncomfortable being watched, plus people sometimes break the rules and install cameras where they shouldn’t (such as in a bedroom). Tap or click here for a gadget that helps you detect hidden cameras.

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Imagine renting your beautiful home to a few guests, only to be woken up in the middle of the night by phone calls and a knock on your door. The couple who rented from you is throwing a massive party without your knowledge or consent. Tap or click here for how to find the worst Airbnb scams.

Unfortunately, that scenario isn’t far from the truth. During the COVID pandemic, several homeowners got into trouble with local authorities over parties thrown by guests.

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Summer’s almost here, and you’re likely anxious to get out there and enjoy some good times. We understand.

Before you leave, you want to make sure your home is protected. A surveillance system is a great way to keep tabs on your home and deter crime. But you can’t go placing cameras at random. Tap or click here for our camera placement tips.

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Camera technology has advanced immensely in the past few years. They keep getting smaller and smaller, making it possible to conceal them any which way. Cameras have become really affordable, too, and it’s now feasible to blanket your whole property with surveillance equipment without breaking the bank.

However, this is actually turning into a big concern for vacation rentals as more people are finding hidden cameras where they’re staying. If this is alarming to you, well, it should be. Stumbling over surveillance cameras isn’t just creepy — it is a big deal involving your basic privacy rights.

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Americans are making summer vacation plans and searching for places to stay. One of the most prominent websites to use is Airbnb, with about 70 million searches a month. But even with tons of homes available, it can be challenging to find the right place.

As summer gets into full swing, the company unveiled its most extensive website overhaul in a decade, introducing new features for searching and keeping guests safe. According to Airbnb’s Report on Travel, 42% of guests traveled to coastal areas last summer.

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Summer should be a time for relaxation and wild adventures. The last thing you need to worry about is being tricked out of your hard-earned cash during travel season.

Unfortunately, criminals are looking to take advantage of vacationers to make a quick buck. You don’t have to travel in fear, though, as there are several things that you can do to stay safe and protect your information. Tap or click here for insider tech travel hacks you’ll use every single trip.

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The arrival of summer is fast approaching. Beaches are glistening with golden sand, and sales of barbeque equipment are on the rise. That can only mean one thing: it’s time to start thinking about a family vacation or a quick getaway.

As exciting as that might sound, there are several things that you need to keep in consideration before hitting the road. COVID-19 restrictions aside, there are other important things to worry about when booking a vacation. Tap or click here for 10 things to think about before finalizing your plans.

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President Biden’s administration has made massive strides in getting much of the adult population vaccinated against COVID-19. With the risks of the virus subsiding, it means that more people are open to traveling again.

If you are thinking about taking a much-needed vacation, there are some regulations in place that you need to be aware of. Tap or click for 10 things to think about before finalizing your plans.

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It’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole of rental properties. You head to Zillow or another property website and check out the home of your dreams. It’s easy to let your imagination take you away. Soon, you’ll be imagining yourself lounging around an 18-room villa with a breathtaking view.

While most people can’t afford to buy a mansion, you could afford to rent a few nights. It’s a fun alternative to a hotel: You can get an incredible place all to yourself for a short time, experiencing the fantasy of living high on the hog.

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Apps and smartphones have fundamentally changed the way we interact with the world. Instead of taking taxis, we call an Uber or Lyft. Instead of going to the grocery store, we get food delivered by Grubhub or Amazon. And when we travel, forget hotels — it’s all about Airbnb.

But like many modern app-based ecosystems, Airbnb lacks serious moderation. And much to the detriment of users, there’s a massive infestation of scammers and con artists flooding the site to find their perfect marks. Tap or click here to see what Airbnb scammers are getting away with.

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You’re not paranoid — you are being watched. Facial-recognition cameras, store surveillance cameras, traffic cameras and more are all watching all the time.

Adding to the creep factor is the number of cases where cameras have been found in Vrbos, Airbnbs and other vacation rentals. Tap or click here for an Airbnb scam warning.

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Travelers today have more choices than ever when it comes to booking a place to stay on vacation. There are hotels, bed and breakfasts and there’s also Airbnb. Click or tap here for our guide on the safest ways to rent from Airbnb.

Airbnb has many advantages over traditional hotel booking services. You can chat directly with the property owner, can set the terms of your rental and many Airbnb properties are more affordable than hotels.

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Many times boats seem to figure in people’s retirement and/or recreation plans. But ask anyone who owns a boat and they’ll tell you it’s not cheap.

There is the cost of the boat itself, maintenance, slip fees, storage, insurance, towing and more. The costs quickly add up.

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Once seen only in James Bond movies, tiny spy cameras have gone mainstream. Anyone can visit Amazon, or the websites of electronic surveillance retailers, and find an assortment of hidden cameras that come in a wide range of prices and devices.

It’s not just vacation rental properties that come with unwanted features like hidden cameras that spy on you and your family. People are finding them in the strangest of places — hidden cameras are everywhere.

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If you travel frequently or own a rental property, Airbnb is a great way to find deals on lodging and maybe make a little money on the side. The platform is simple, intuitive, and the rating system helps users steer clear of dodgy interactions. Plus, it all works through PayPal, which is famously secure in its own right. This makes Airbnb a trusted platform for travelers and hosts alike.

Not all is roses with the travel app, however. In spite of its decent reputation, a series of security hacks affecting multiple users has the Airbnb community seriously worried. Users have reported their passwords have changed without their knowledge, their profiles deleted, and thousands of dollars lifted from their PayPal account with no explanation.

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We recently discussed the prevalence of cameras in every part of our lives. From your phone, to your desktop, and even to your smart home and office, there’s no escaping them!

Wouldn’t it be nice to take a vacation from the cameras all around us? Well, as spooky as it sounds, your vacation rental might be spying on you, too. A New Zealand family learned this truth the hard way during a recent stay at an Airbnb property.

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