Post: #1

It would be good to have a list in one thread. The following is a list that I have used by country:

Brazil

Rio:

1. http://www.gringomanagement.com

I have rented apartments from them many times going back to 2005 in Copa, Ipanema, and Leblon. In 2005, a studio went for 45-50 dollars per night in Ipanema. How times have changed! Apartments range from dingy studios to luxury apartments. You can negotiate for a longer stay. They provide reliable airport pick-up, but the drivers speak basic English. Overall, very reliable.

2. http://www.blameitonrio4travel.com

The owner is an expat from New York. The office is located in Copa. He also owns a laundry service next to the rental office. I have exchanged money there for no fee. The owner speaks fluent Portuguese and is a good contact. I have also used some of their excursions to Buzios, for example. Overall, reliable.


Colombia

Medellin

http://www.theapartmentmedellin.com

I rented from them 2x. They provide airport pick up with an English-speaking driver. I stayed in a 2 bedroom close to Pargue Lleras and a studio close to Oviedo mall. Both apartments were clean, excellent location, and what I expected based on the pictures on the Internet site. Apartments had a washer, but no dryer, which seems to be standard. You can negotiate for longer stays. I paid 1200 dollars for one month in July of 2012 for a studio. It is considered high season.


Poland

Wroclaw

http://www.asapart.com

This agency has been mentioned before on the forum. I rented a few apartments during my stay in Wroclaw. Do not rent the one by Cafe La Musica. It is very loud. The best apartment I rented was in the Szewska building. You can negotiate for longer stays.


Romania

Bucharest

http://www.rosuites.com/carlton.html

Stayed in a one bedroom for 50$ per night in August of 2013. The location was perfect, close to Lipscani and across the street from a mall; 5 minutes walk to all the nightlife. My friend who speaks Romanian negotiated a lower price. Make sure the apartment has AC in the summer.


Ukraine

Kiev

http://www.kievrent.net

I rented a one-bedroom in Feb of 2013 for 60 dollars and a one-bedroom in August of 2013 for 80 dollars. They gave me a small discount for having rented with them before. They[/u] have many apartments close to Independence Square. Transfer to the airport was reliable. The office staff speaks English.

Post: #2

Anyone got some links for Cali, Colombia?

Also what is the consensus on Airbnb? Outside of the USA of course where it has an efficient balance of owners and renters, is it reasonable or over priced for placed like Colombia, or Eastern Europe vs the local sites?

Post: #3

Tokyo, Japan

http://www.sakura-house.com/en/

Seoul, Korea

https://www.airbnb.com/

Post: #4

I have used Air BnB with some success in Kiev and Manila, and less success in several places.

The main complaint I have with it is the number of "professional landlords" using bait and switch methods.
They offer an apartment that has all the things you are looking for, at a fair price, and available on their calendar, but when you say that you want it, they say it is not available but they have another inferior one at a higher price. In some cases I doubt that the "bait" apartment exists.

You can waste an immense amount of time on dead ends.

The Air BnB site is very effective at blocking the exchange of contact info and is quite greedy on charges by the time you add up the commission on each side plus applying an unfavourable currency exchange rate.

A method I have found useful when finding a suitable apartment and owner, is to rent their apartment through Air BnB for 1 - 3 days with a side agreement to deal direct with them for the longer term.

My best results have been with owners who only have 1 or 2 listings.

Post: #5

Colombia:

Bogota- I used this website (Mixx recommended it to me) and found a nice place in chapinero: http://www.amoblado.com/

Cali- RVF member WEDO recommended this website: http://calirentals.net/ , the guy I dealt with is named Art, he's from the USA so speaks perfect English. The place I stayed in was next to Chipichape mall, had a nice pool, good view, etc.

Jamaica- used this website, http://www.prohomes.ja and found a nice place in New Kingston, near some nice clubs, the upper class area: http://www.prohomesja.com/

Philippines

Manila, Bonifacio Global City- Used Air BnB to find a place at the Infinity Tower, very nice place with a good pool, decent gym but the room was small. I then moved to a condo complex a few blocks away called the Bellagio and it was the nicest place I ever stayed, great pool, decent gym, awesome location for about $800/month, Fisto stayed there too and I'm pretty sure he liked it although the bed was pretty small for him.

I'll use Air BnB again, I've had mixed success with it but its a great resource, usually I try to find a cheap hotel for a day or two and scout out apartments I find online before I commit to anything, if you pay for a month then find out that the place sucks, it can ruin your experience.

Post: #6

Airbnb and most of those gringo oriented rentals are overpriced, best option is to find normal real estate agencies and ask if they have something that the owner would rent for a small period. I did that in Ireland and paid less than half than i would thru' Airbnb. Normal landords don't want their properties empty, 'cause not only they are not making nay money, but they do have to pay taxes so they are likely to accept short term.