Holiday Lettings is a classified advertising website. We advertise holiday homes for short term rental all over the world. The adverts on the site are created and managed by individual advertisers, just like ebay or Auto Trader. Holiday Lettings is an online accommodation search facility for holidaymakers. We do not therefore have a separate brochure. All of the information about the properties we advertise and how to contact the holiday home advertisers are covered in detail on our website.

Our advertisers are either private holiday home owners, property managers or lettings agents. All enquiries you make via this website are sent directly to the property owner, manager or agent and your booking is with them, not with Holiday Lettings.

As you are transacting with a third party we advise you to take due care and diligence when paying for your accommodation and to make sure all your questions are answered before you make payment - just as you would if you were buying a product via ebay.

You can search for properties for holiday accommodation by going to our Search pages and filling in your requirements:

• Search by location - just pick the country, region or town in which you are interested from our list. If you can't find where you're looking for on our scroll down lists, try putting your destination into the 'search site' box at the top of the website. This is also a great way of finding a particular resort or suburb.
• Search by dates - indicate your arrival and departure dates to refine your search results to find accommodation that is available at the right time.
• Search by budget - once you've entered the dates you're interested in you can enter a minimum and/or maximum budget for your accommodation.
• Search by group size - Just two of you travelling or a big group of friends? Select the group size to find a property that will have the right number of beds for you.
• Advanced searching - The range of check boxes should help you find properties that fit your requirements, from those with a Jacuzzi to ski properties.

If your search comes up with no results, we will suggest alternatives. Check your spelling and if possible widen your search.

If you get lots of results back you can use the filters on the right hand side of the search results pages to refine your search. When you are looking at a list of suitable properties in your search results you can also order it by price, size and location.

We recommend that you identify 5-10 properties and send an enquiry to all advertisers in case your first choice is not available. The advertisers will respond to you directly and will let you know the availability, required deposit and final payment dates as well as all the arrival and departure arrangements. Don't forget to ask for a booking contract from the advertiser when you make your booking.

If the advertiser displays a phone number you could also give them a call. Make sure you include your phone number so that the advertiser can call you back - sometimes that's more convenient and more immediate.

Once you have found a property that you are interested in, click on the orange 'Check availability and contact' button.

Most adverts have an Availability Calendar. To view the calendar, click on 'Availability' at the top of the advert page or scroll down to see a snapshot of the calendar. Any dates marked in green are available, those in red are booked and those in grey are unknown. It is a good idea to check the calendar before contacting the advertiser if your dates are limited and you didn't specify dates in your original search. It also helps the advertiser if you include your dates when you send your enquiry.

When you have found a holiday home, or several, that you are interested in, you can set up a Shortlist. This enables you to store homes for future reference, to send your favourite homes to friends as well as to send one enquiry to all the advertisers, saving you time.

To create a Shortlist, click on the 'Add to Shortlist' link found at the top of an advert, or on its summary on our Search Results pages. You will need to give us your email address and a password so we can save your Shortlist for you. You can then save the properties you're interested in and access them by clicking on the 'Your Shortlist' link from the left hand side of any page of the site.

As an advertising service we remove adverts from the site for a number of reasons. Most often this will be at the advertiser's request because the property is fully booked, or because they have decided that they will not rent it out beyond the present season. We may also remove adverts whilst we await an overdue subscription payment for the advertising. If you cannot find the property you have booked on the site, we would advise you contact the advertiser directly and they should be able to reassure you as to why the advert has been removed.

On the Google map you will be able to see the general location of the property (indicated by a house symbol). You will also be able to see local attractions (indicated by a star symbol) and local restaurants (indicated by the cutlery symbol). You can switch the icons on or off by clicking on the tick box which are to the left of the map.

To see the review rating and address of the attraction or the restaurant, you can click on the corresponding symbol and a small pop up window will appear. You can find out more information by also clicking on the name which is in blue underlined text. This will take you to a TripAdvisor page for the attraction or restaurant.

With Holiday Lettings you book your holiday directly with the owner or the property manager who is managing a home on behalf of an owner. Around 25 million people use us every year to find holidays at thousands of destinations worldwide.

We carry out a series of vigorous checks on everyone that advertises with us to make sure they are the real deal. We vet the people not the property and it's very rare that something goes wrong. However, it's still worth doing a few checks yourself to make sure your holiday goes without any hitches:

• Call the owner or manager: A quick phone call to their landline number can reassure you. You should find the number on the advert, or email them to ask for one and they should be happy to provide it.

• Check the details of the home: Keep an eye out for any inconsistencies. Check the home's full address on Google maps and that the holiday dates that you've booked are marked off on their calendar. Read any reviews on the advert, if it has them, and even carry out a few online searches of the owner's name or other websites they're mentioned on.

• Advertising time on the site: All of our adverts state when the advertiser joined our website. The longer a home has been advertised with us, the more people have probably booked without having any problems.

• Sign a booking contract: You should be asked to sign a booking contract with details of the terms and conditions of the letting and the payment and cancellation policies. If you don't, ask for one (we do provide sample contracts for owners).

• Collect their full contact details: Make a note of their full name, phone numbers (landline and mobiles) and their own address, plus their trading address if they're a property manager. Check that they will be contactable on these numbers whilst you're on holiday in case you need to get in touch then.

• Don't settle the full bill too early: You shouldn't be asked to pay the security deposit (usually up to 25% of the total booking) and settle the full cost of the letting until around eight weeks before your holiday. If you're asked to settle the bill earlier than eight weeks, please email book.safe@holidaylettings.co.uk and we'll investigate this for you.

• Make payments safely: When paying for your holiday, credit cards by a merchant account (like paying via a card in a shop) offer the greatest protection, so ask if this is possible. Your debit card may offer a similar level of protection, but this does depend on the type of your account so check with your bank first. Cheques and bank transfers are common but they don't offer as much protection. Never pay by a wire transfer as this type of payment is untraceable. Also be suspicious if they ask to pay the money to a third party or a bank account in an obscure country.

• Check your insurance: Insurance doesn't always protect you if something goes wrong with accommodation or flights that are booked independently, e.g. if the airline goes out of business or the accommodation doesn't meet your requirements. Check the small print or look for an insurer that covers you against such things.

• Save your correspondence: Keep a record of all of your correspondence with the owner or manager so that you can refer back to it at any time.

If you receive any unusual requests from an owner or property manager, or notice something suspicious and decide not to book a holiday at that home, it's important that you alert us as soon as possible with your reasons for this. Please contact us on +44 (0)1865 312000 and select option 5 or email book.safe@holidaylettings.co.uk and we'll look into it for you.

It's worth noting that we do not own, manage or inspect any of the properties listed and cannot verify any of the advert details. We make no warranties or representations as to the accuracy, completeness, legality, performance or suitability of the adverts. We accept no liability arising from reliance upon this information made by any user of the site. You should conduct your own research and familiarise yourself with our terms and conditions.

Fill in the contact form at the bottom of the advert page and ask the advertiser directly. Give your email address and a phone number if possible so they can get back to you promptly. Most advertisers also display a phone number in the 'Contact details' box at the bottom of the page. It's a good idea to chat to them in person so don't hesitate to give them a call - make sure you note any time differences though as an American may not wish to hear from you at 3am their time!

If an advertiser has not replied to your email within three to five days then look for a phone number in the 'Contact details' box on their advert page and try calling them. It is also worth checking that the email address which you supplied to them was correct and send a second message if it was not. It is also worth checking the junk folder of your email too - just in case something has got caught in there. If you still get no response, we would then suggest looking for other properties on the site.

The great thing about our site is that you book the homes directly with the advertiser.

When you see a property you are interested in - or put several onto Your Shortlist - you can email the advertisers directly. Fill in the contact form at the bottom of the advert and wherever possible give details about your preferred dates, group size and special requirements, and alternative contact phone number or e-mail. From then on you can correspond directly with them. We do not intervene in the booking procedure. It's a personal and flexible way of finding the best property for your holiday!

Once you have agreed dates, prices and answered all your questions you confirm the booking with the advertiser.

The standard procedure is for the owner to send a booking contract with the agreed dates and price for you to sign and return along with a deposit. Booking details vary from owner to owner, but most will ask for this booking deposit to confirm the booking with the balance of payment to follow closer to the holiday. You may also be asked for a refundable security deposit to cover any breakages or damages.

Holiday Lettings does not intervene in the payment or booking procedures. Once you are in touch with an advertiser you should agree the booking and rental conditions between you.

We encourage all advertisers to ask for a security deposit with every booking as this is the simplest way to cover unexpected costs that they may incur as a result of your stay. If you lose keys, or if you accidentally break a lamp or garden chair, the easy solution is for the owner to use the security deposit to cover this expense and refund the rest of the security deposit to you as appropriate. Details of the security deposit (payment, conditions and refund) should be laid out in the booking contract.

You should expect to be asked for a booking deposit (to secure your booking), a security deposit (as above) and a final payment (usually about 8 weeks prior to the holiday starting).

You should be aware that you are not automatically protected against loss of expenditure when booking flights and accommodation independently should, for example, your airline go out of business or your accommodation not meet your requirements.

ABTA represents travel agents and tour operators only. As holidaylettings.co.uk is an advertising portal and not an agent engaged in the holiday transaction, it is not a member of any travel organisations and therefore offers no protection against the holiday home booking you make.

Our best advice is to check the small print of your travel insurance policy or find an insurance provider that will cover you against such occurrences. Furthermore, ensure you request a booking contract relating to your holiday home rental so you are aware of your rights and those of the person advertising the property.

If for any reason you need to cancel your holiday, please contact the advertiser directly. As this is the person with whom you made the booking. Holiday Lettings does not take part in the booking process, the cancellation has to be negotiated between you and the advertiser. When making your booking you should insist on a booking contract that specifies what will happen in the case of a cancellation.

Whether you have booked or are simply enquiring about a property, you need to allow enough time for the advertiser to get back to you. We advise to give the advertisers at least 5 working days or a calendar week to respond to your query.

Make sure you try to telephone the advertiser, as well as email. Holiday Lettings advertisers generally run the letting of their property in addition to their usual day job and family lives, and as such you will need to allow them some extra time to get back to you. An advertiser may not be able to answer a call during the day if they are at work, or may take a few extra days to respond to your email if they are away on holiday. Make sure you note any time differences if you do give them a ring, so that you don't wake them in the middle of the night. It is also worth checking that the email address which you supplied to them was correct and send a second message if it was not. It is also worth checking the junk folder of your email too - just in case something has got caught in there. If you still get no response, we would then suggest looking for other properties on the site.

If you need to know some more specific information before you travel, we would advise you to contact the advertiser with plenty of time before your travel dates to be able to get all the required information. You can find the advertisers contact information at the bottom of their advert page in the 'contact details' box, or send an email directly through the enquiry form.

At Holiday Lettings, we generally only have the same contact details that you will have and due to data protection we will not be able to give you personal details on the account, therefore we would advise you to request full contact details of the advertiser at the time of booking the property.

Speak to the advertiser as they are usually best placed to give you all the travel advice you need - from low cost airfares to driving directions.

We also have a Travel Services Directory to help you source flights, transport companies, car hire and travel insurance should you need any of these services.

The booking is made directly with the advertiser, all arrangements for directions and key exchange are handled directly between you and the property owner/manager. Contact them directly by phone or email to clarify arrangements if they are at all unclear.

Have any questions about your holiday let before, during or after your holiday? Please contact the advertiser of the property you have booked to stay in.

You can ping them a message by sending an enquiry through the contact form at the bottom of the advert. Most of our advertisers provide a phone number in this section. We suggest you try to call them too, just in case they're away on holiday or unable to read their emails.

If you've already contacted the advertiser, ask for any other phone numbers or email addresses they may be using. Unfortunately we're unable to help with any queries about individual properties as we don't own or manage any of the lets on the website.

If you have feedback about your stay at a home, leave a review on the advert. Leaving a review is a great way of sharing your experience with other travellers.

Leave a review for a home on our website by selecting the link at the top of their advert. More details about reviews are listed below.

If you arrive at a property and have a problem, please contact the owner/manager immediately. Some owners give the number for their local contact or a property manager for their guests to call in case of problems. Advise an owner of any problems you have as soon as you can to enable them to resolve the issue for you.

If you experience a problem with the property or your holiday experience failed to meet your expectations, contact the advertiser immediately. The sooner you raise your concerns the sooner they can be resolved. Do not leave it until you get home unless you absolutely cannot contact the advertiser. We would advise you to refer to your booking contract as guidance which should outline all the terms and conditions of the booking.

As an advertising website that does not take part in the booking process Holiday Lettings cannot get involved in matters that occurred during your stay. We ask advertisers and holidaymakers to correspond directly with each other in order to come to a resolution.

Firstly refer to your booking contract, which should outline a time frame in which security deposits are returned. If this time frame has expired or you are unsure as to when you can expect to have your security deposit returned, contact the advertiser directly.

If for any reason the advertiser is withholding all or part of your security deposit, photographic evidence of the damages should be provided to you along with a copy of the bill for repair or replacement of the damaged item(s).

Holiday Lettings is not in any way involved in the deposit process, meaning that you do need to contact the advertiser directly with any questions over the return of your security deposit. If you have problems securing the return of your deposit via the advertiser, we would advise you to seek further assistance through legal channels.

You can rate and review a holiday home that you've stayed in to share your experience with other travellers. It's also a good way of telling the owner whether you enjoyed your stay and any improvements they can make.

Your review will appear on the home's advert on our website. Many of our adverts are also listed on the TripAdvisor network. If you review a home that is on the network, it will also appear on the listing on TripAdvisor.

Our reviews are powered by TripAdvisor. They will check and approve any review that you post.

You can leave a review for any home advertised on Holiday Lettings that you have stayed at since January 2010, whether you're the person who booked the home with the advertiser or one of the other guests in the party.

Sometimes, an advertiser might ask you to write a review of their property by sending you an email containing a link to their advert. You can simply click on the link from the email to go ahead and write the review. You can also write a review by seeking out the advert yourself, either by its location or 'home number'. If you no longer have the home number to hand, check the email we would have sent you after you made your enquiry about that home through Holiday Lettings. You could even ask the advertiser directly to provide their home number if you still have their contact details. Once you've found the correct advert, click on 'write a review' at the top of the page. You'll then be taken to the review form (on TripAdvisor) for that home at which point you will need to:

• Complete all of the selections marked with a red asterix and click on submit
• If you're not already a TripAdvisor member, you will be asked to join so that TripAdvisor can contact you if necessary
• You should then receive an email acknowledgement from TripAdvisor so you know that your review was submitted correctly

Your review won't go live immediately. TripAdvisor need to check the reviews to make sure they meet the posting guidelines which can take a few weeks. The advertiser of the home will also need to first confirm that you stayed at the property. You can check the progress of your review by visiting the Help Centre on TripAdvisor and logging in with the details you gave at the time of writing the review.

Your review won't go live immediately. The advertiser of the home will need to first confirm that you stayed at their property.

The advertiser has five days to confirm your stay. Rest assured that they won't see your review at this stage. If they don't respond within five days your review will still go live on their advert.

TripAdvisor will also need to check your review to make sure it meets their review guidelines.

There could be two reasons why a review is rejected:

• The advertiser denied your stay at their home. If you did stay there, you will have an opportunity to resubmit it. You will get an email from TripAdvisor about this.
• Your review was rejected by TripAdvisor because it didn't meet their guidelines. You may get an email explaining why it was rejected and you can rewrite and resubmit the review.

TripAdvisor check every review and every response to a review that is posted.

They will not approve a review if it:

• Contains personal information such as phone numbers and email addresses
• Uses profanity, threats, accusations or insults
• Advertises or includes a commercial URL

See TripAdvisor's review guidelines for more details. You can also contact TripAdvisor directly by visiting the Help Centre using the log in details you provided at the time when you submitted the review.

The advertiser has the opportunity to leave a response to any review they receive on their advert. They may want to do this to say thank you or to explain any issues that were raised.

It is not possible to edit a review which has already gone live. If you want to make an alteration to your review, you would need to contact TripAdvisor directly via the Help Centre using the log in details you provided when you submitted the review. You can ask for the review to be removed so that you can resubmit a new one.

You can't review the same holiday twice so think carefully before submitting your review. You are able to review the home again for a different stay, as long as it's been three months since your last holiday at that home.

Other guests who stayed in the home with you, such as a family member or friend, can also write a review as they may have other feedback to give. However, the same applies; it must be three months since the last stay.

You will need to give your name so that the advertiser can confirm that you genuinely stayed at their home. They won't be able to see your review at this point – they will only have your name and your date of stay.

If an advertiser doesn't have your name, they are likely to deny your review. This will slow down the process and could mean that your review will never be posted.

If you cannot see the reviews on an advert this is probably because you do not have JavaScript turned on

To turn on JavaScript you need to follow instructions based on what type of browser you are using. Here are instructions for Internet Explorer and Firefox.

From the Tools menu of Internet Explorer, select the Internet Options. Click on the Security tab. Make sure the Internet globe icon is highlighted. Click on the Custom Level button to bring up the security options for your browser. Search through the menu for the Active scripting option. Make sure Enable is selected. Click the OK button.

From the Tools menu of Firefox (Windows), select Options. Select the Content tab and check the Enable JavaScript option. Click OK to close this window.

Firefox (Mac) Choose Preferences under menu bar. Select the Content tab and check the Enable JavaScript option. Close this window.

Refreshing the page should then display the button

We can appreciate that you may not want to sign up to TripAdvisor to write a one off review, however, as with the vast majority of websites where comments and opinions can be published, the reasons behind it are to ensure that the process is fair for all involved. TripAdvisor need to check that every review meets its posting guidelines and should they require any further detail regarding your review, they may need to contact you.

Signing up to TripAdvisor is a quick and simple process with only a few details (such as name, email address etc) needed. You can also sign in with your Facebook account which is even quicker.