They came, they saw, they condo’d

MY wife and I became snowbirds recently when we rented a condo for two weeks on the west coast of Florida.

We joined hundreds of thousands of Americans who descend annually on Florida, Hawaii, Arizona, Southern California and the South Padre Island shores of Texas, spending a few weeks in a one- or two-bedroom apartment. A spacious condo, with kitchen facilities and a separate living room, is more comfortable and economical than a hotel for that length of time.

We had a fine vacation. But we discovered that there are pitfalls to renting a home-away-from-home.

Condos, like your own home, seem to have a habit of breaking down -- at least, the things inside them do. The loo doesn’t flush, the dishwasher goes dead, the ceiling fan breaks from its moorings and crashes onto the dining-room table.

Unless the owner has supplied you with the name of a maintenance person who is familiar with the property (and has a key), you’ll find the repair process unsettling.

Though there are reasons for renting directly from a condo owner, I felt relieved that we had arranged our condo rental with a management company. We were given a seven-day phone number for emergencies, and repair personnel were on staff. If your own rental is not made through a real estate firm, be sure to ask the condo owner to provide you with the means to obtain free repairs.

Condo owners usually don’t permit you to make long-distance phone calls. Nearly every owner or landlord who rents has set up the phone to permit only local calls. Find out in advance if that has been done. If so, be sure you have a telephone calling card or a cellphone.

Condo kitchens rarely have the utensils necessary for elaborate cooking. If you plan to cook, ask for an inventory of the utensils and other kitchen aids available. Many condos have only the minimum: a small skillet, no teakettle, no vegetable peelers or other specialized devices. If you like to cook, you’ll regret not having packed those items in your checked luggage. (Don’t put sharp items into carry-ons.)

Some condos might photograph well, but are awkwardly located. Inquire carefully about the location of commercial centers serving the condo complex in which you’ll stay. In our case, the location was perfect: one mile from a big general store. That meant that every morning, to pick up the paper and get a cup of coffee and a bagel, I had to walk two miles, a healthy way to start the day. We visited other condos that required a 10-minute drive to commerce.

One downside of condo rentals is the substantial reservation deposit and separate security deposit required. One renter we know developed a serious illness a week before the start of her condo rental and lost those large deposits, which are generally much more than you’d risk on a hotel reservation. Because you need to plunk down a weighty sum, consider interruption or cancellation insurance.

On the whole, I loved our condo vacation. It was dreamlike to sip cocktails on our screened-in porch and watch the sun set over the beach and sea below. It was relaxing to prepare a sandwich in our own kitchen. It was nice to be able to arise in the middle of the night and read in the living room without disturbing my wife in the bedroom.

We’ll rent a winter condo again next year, but we’ll take some of the precautionary steps outlined above.