Imagine visiting Barbados and staying in a vacation rental with two, let’s say three, bedrooms, two large bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a spacious living room with a fabulous flat screen TV. Not that you spend a lot of time watching TV when you also have a balcony where you dine al fresco and enjoy views of the Caribbean Sea.

If you think this is a posh villa for the rich and famous, think again. It is an apartment or house that you have rented directly from the owner. At a price that rivals a good hotel.

If you don’t believe the old ad, “the best surprise is no surprise,” then look outside the box for a hotel room for your next vacation accommodation.

How do you find those places? It is easy!

1. Go to your favorite search engine and type in “Barbados Vacation Rentals by Owner”.

2. Click on the sites that you find interesting. Most offer accommodation at all prices around the world, and many in the paradise that is Barbados.

3. Refine your search by number of rooms, type of accommodation (apartment, villa, etc.), price or area of ​​the island where you want to stay.

4. Read the descriptions of the different possibilities and look at the photos and prices. Be sure to check out the reviews from previous guests. You can also visit TripAdvisor (http://TripAdvisor.com) to see if anyone has reviewed this property. Guest reviews are the best guide to whether a place is as described.

5. Check the availability calendar; if you fall in love with a particular place, you can ask even if it seems to be reserved; you never know when there might be a cancellation.

6. Enter the owner. These sites make it very easy to get in touch via email and/or phone. It’s okay to ask if he or she will consider a discount for a stay longer than a week or for a reservation during low season in a slow economy. Many owners will work with you on price; after all, they want to keep their rented place. The owners will also help you with recommendations on activities, restaurants, where you can find a grocery store, if you will need a rental car, etc.

7. Payment is usually due before your arrival and you can almost always pay by credit card. The downside to this is that you haven’t even seen the place before they ask you to pay. The good thing is that you have no surprises with your bill, surely one of the best surprises that you can not have on a fabulous vacation in Barbados.

Once you’ve stayed in the comfort of a private apartment or villa where you’ve been able to cook if you wish, relax, and enjoy the peace of the stunning Caribbean Sea, you’ll wonder how you ever took a vacation. Another way.