There are lots of vacation rental sites out there, so how do you choose among them? The local rental agencies I’ve used in Paris and Rome worked out fine, but didn’t make it easy to tell if a property is pet-friendly (on the other hand, the staff did respond rapidly to e-mail inquiries). Two of the bigger sites, however, do make it easy to identify pet-friendly properties, and they have inventory around the world. A good friend has used VRBO — Vacation Rentals by Owner several times, and is enthusiastic about her experiences, and a travel blogger I trust recommends HomeAway.

For both VRBO and HomeAway, type your chosen destination in the search bar and then, after a comma, the phrase “pet-friendly.” On VRBO, you’ll know that the results are what you want if they all have a green paw icon showing. On Homeaway, you’ll need to click on each property’s “Amenities” button, and then check the “Suitability” entry to confirm that the owner at least considers pets.