Seasonal rentals are especially suited to families with children. You can find flats and holiday houses to rent over summer well ahead of time, but in popular areas you may need to book up to 12 months in advance.

Quickly familiarise yourself with existing offers by consulting newspaper advertisements and specialist magazines or by browsing web sites. Some owners give you the address of their personal web site, which is where you’ll find photos and practical information.

If you don’t have access to the owner’s web site, ask for photos of the house and garden and check the distances given on a map, for example between the house and the beach, or the nearest town.

If you haven’t been tempted by any offer, browse the web sites of real estate agents in the area you’re going to, or place an advertisement yourself in the local paper, clearly specifying your requirements.

If you return to the same location year after year, check out possible rentals for next time while you’re there on holiday. That way, you’ll know the exact location of the best houses. Keep a list of your ‘possibles’ and pre-book for the following year, if you can.

From: 10,001 Time Saving Ideas