I've looked over the European Craigslist sites for longer term rentals (like a week or a month), and have found some which offer a one week or one month rental option, at often very nice, sometimes suspiciously too nice, rates. Has anyone found any apartment rentals on Craigslist in Europe? I know that the best, (only?) way to do it is to be in the city in question and not to give any money until one takes possession of the rental with the key. None of this send money by western union nonsense.
Personally, I've used Craigslist in the US to find handymen, mechanics things of that nature, but never anything rental related.
Posted by
Milan, Italy
308 posts
I use CL for other things too but unless I see at least 3 verified positive reviews, I wouldn't dream of booking any place I saw online. CL obviously doesn't offer any reviews. I wouldn't wanna chance ruining my trip over a shady rental. Just my 2 cents.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9200 posts
A lot of them are scams. I wouldn't trust using it for vacation plans.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2679 posts
I do a lot of checking and cross-checking before I rent an apartment in Europe on VRBO. I check the reviews, make sure they're recent, I email the owner and give them 24 hours to respond or I move on to another unit. I ask for the address, I google earth the address and "walk" around the neighborhood. I check the tax/ownership records for the property when I can to confirm I'm dealing with an actual owner. I wouldn't do Craigslist for something like this. I have used Craigslist for apartment hunting in DC for a long-term rental for my daughter and that turned out fine. But, of course, she lives there, went to see the unit when time was not an issue, and, if she hadn't liked the unit, she could have gone back home and kept looking. A vacation rental in Europe, though? It's a whole different matter. I'd pass.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Craigslist is not used much in Europe compared with say Airbnb. A week here would be viewed as a short-term rental, not long term.
Try Airbnb or Owners Direct or booking.com. Most want payment upfront for house rentals - this is standard practice here. You may get away with not paying upfront for hotels, although most will want credit card details to hold the room. I have never rented anywhere in Europe where I have paid on collecting the keys (and I have rented lots of places). Come to think of it, I have always paid up front when I have rented in America too!
Posted by
Paris
10113 posts
Craigslist at least in the past had the reputation of being a total scam in Paris. I haven't looked there in years but I would recommend against it.