You gotta love hotels that offer in-room dining, turn-down service, and luxe health clubs, but sometimes renting an apartment, condo, or home for a vacation makes eminent sense. You’ll probably rub shoulders more frequently with locals. You may enjoy a more spacious environment, helpful if you’re traveling with children. And you’ll probably save money. Then, of course, there’s the technique for staying free all around the world. But more on that in a moment.

Thanks to the traveler’s best friend—the Internet—individuals and rental companies can post not just listings of properties for rent but also photos, video and, sometimes, comments from previous guests.  So from the comfort of your keyboard, you can browse available apartments in Paris and Rome, villas in Tuscany or on the Amalfi Coast and farmhouses in Ireland.  

But, as always, what you see online might not always be what you get.  

So as the summer begins, here are some general tips on what to watch out for if you’re considering a rental:

First, make sure the property you’re looking at is real and that the person or company offering it has the right to do so. I’d use reputable web sites, such as Vacation Rental By Owner, one of the largest sites offering options around the world. Now, there are thousands of good sites, but be sure you can talk to someone in detail about the property, and ask if you can contact someone who has stayed there recently.

Ask tough questions—this is not the time to be polite. What are the views out the windows? How far is it to public transportation, the center of town or a shopping area? If it’s an apartment on a main street in a big city, are the windows double glazed to help keep the noise down? Know the neighborhood!

Is there someone to whom you can turn if something goes wrong, such as a dishwasher breaking down? Is the unit air-conditioned? Are there steps or an elevator to the unit? (That’s an important question if you’re traveling with lots of luggage or with a baby stroller.)

Always pay your deposit by credit card. Consider whether to buy trip cancellation insurance. 

Are there towels and adequate kitchenware in the unit? Is there a cleaning service a couple of times a week? Who pays for the phone? Is there Internet access?

Some places to start looking: Ville in Italy, A la Carte Paris, Paris pied à terre.

OK, about that free thing I mentioned . . .

Check out the Couch Surfing web site, which links travelers to folks around the world who are willing to provide a free room (and maybe dinner) to globetrotters. Or, here’s another straightforward name: Global Free Loaders. Servas is aimed at more mature travelers, and there’s a sign-up process that will get you a list of hosts in various countries. Or you may switch homes through sites including Hospitality Exchange or Home Exchange.

There are lots of ways to beat the high price of lodging. But make sure you know what you’re getting before you hit the road.