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Step 1
Start your research early to get a rental that is both close to the city center and affordable if you want to visit during holidays or during the Santa Fe Indian Art Market. Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a popular year-round tourist attraction, but rates increase during holidays and the Santa Fe Indian Art Market. If visiting the market isn't a priority for you, consider visiting during a different time, or expect to pay higher rates.Even if you've missed making advance reservations for a visit during the busiest times, be assured there are ways to find rentals. Be patient willing to spend some time on the Internet and phone, and you'll find success.
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Step 2
Check out the vacation rental websites that specialize in Santa Fe. These include Vacation Rentals Santa Fe, Vacation Rentals By Owner--Santa Fe, Chapelle Street Casitas, Vacation Rentals.com, and Two Casitas.com. See Resources below for links to these sites.
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Step 3
Post a request on Craigslist, even if you don't see what you are looking for. Sometimes a person may have a home they thought was rented but canceled, you might miss their posting or a home doesn't have a listing. You'll probably get five to 10 emails in response to your posting.
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Step 4
Narrow your search by using the search features on the vacation rental sites. If you need a house that will take a pet, make that a search consideration. If you have to sleep 8 people, there is no reason to torture yourself by searching through pages of homes that sleep fewer than 8, and vice versa.
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Step 5
Refrain from renting the first home you find, no matter how exciting it may be. Continue to do a little surfing and see if you find something you like better for the same or a lower price. There are many great homes in Santa Fe for you to choose from. On the other hand, if you've waited until things are filling up, it's high tourist season, there aren't many left that suit your needs and you've found one, waiting might mean a lost opportunity.
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Step 6
Make note of or bookmark URLs you visited, the name of the agency, and the name of the rental unit (yes, most of them do have names). This way you'll know where it was that you found that "perfect" vacation rental.
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Step 7
Pick up the phone and call the agency, or send an email. If you get frustrated with looking through page after page of homes and you are overwhelmed with the possibilities, or you seem to not be getting anywhere, call agencies and talk to the people there. Tell them your needs and ask what they have. The benefit to the phone is that it is easier to negotiate pets, fees, time restraints and other issues. The other benefit: if they've recently had a cancellation, they may not yet have had the chance to post a vacancy on the Web, giving you the perfect opportunity to get into the rental.
