I'm involved in the holiday rental industry in France and Italy and it is safe to do business through these sites provided you follow a few guidelines. As has been mentioned, make sure there are reviews of the property, make sure there is local information and preferrably local contact details. Also, make sure the listing doesn't shirk on details, the more details (e.g. about the bakery around the corner), the better. Also, under no circumstances should you wire transfer money directly from your bank a/c or post a cheque. Always pay by credit card as that way you are afforded the built in protection offered by your card provider (Visa/Mastercard &c). If you know somebody local, any reputable company/individual should be able to afford you the opportunity of a pre-booking visit. Holiday Rentals / HomeAway offer booking insurance and a few good local agents will offer you holiday insurance, e.g. for cancellations, damage to the property &c. You will likely need to take out travel insurance (to cover flights) separately. I hope that helps somewhat.