Vacation Rentals Blog

Nov. 30, 2006. Every seasoned traveler has their special method of packing, so it's no wonder the Washington Post Travel's "Packing Issue" drew volumes of reader response. Suggestions varied from favorite articles of clothing to ways to prevent wrinkling.

One reader praised silk underwear for the ease with which they wash, while another discouraged jeans for the long dry time. I prefer wool base layers because wool has natural odor-fighting properties (eliminating the need for frequent laundering) and naturally dries quickly when washed. Forget about your grandfather's wool—today's wool underwear feels like combed cotton.

Of course, here's the best bit of advice:

"…Don't forget to pack a sense of humor. The times when we have had luggage lost, we ended up with some great stories to tell—plus those very comfy all-cotton white undies and tees from British Airways!"

If you don't mind bringing a carriage full of luggage, a spacious vacation rental eliminates the need to go skimpy, especially if it has walk-in closets. A luxury vacation home or cabin should have a washer and dryer.Luxury rentals will also stock items you may otherwise have to pack: games, books, CD players, kitchen and bathroom amenities, and more.

Posted by VRO at 08:34 PM | Permalink

Nov. 29, 2006. How ubiquitous has the Internet become in travel research? You know it's a sign when the travel media becomes surprised at the announcement of two new print publications, as evidenced in the Chicago Tribune . Two popular travel web sites, ShermansTravel.com and VirtualTourist.com, will try to reach out to those who still haven't connected to the information superhighway.

Sherman's Travel took a nod from the practicality of its web sibling, with clip-n-save, how-to features and highlights for the "upscale traveler who's looking for value." The bar has been set high, of course–the weekly Sherman's Top 25 travel deals email newsletter already has 3.5 million subscribers, according to the article. Four quarterly editions of the print publication will be available for $11.95.

Virtual Tourist will enter the guidebook market. The first five outings visit London, Paris, Montreal, San Francisco and Rome. Here's the twist: the content comes from online user-generated content, tweaked by a team of editors. It's a novel idea, but the Chicago Tribune reviewer was only mildly impressed.

We enjoy travel magazines and guidebooks, but we still rely on the good old-fashioned Internet. When we stay at vacation rentals , we find it useful to note what the rental owner talks about on the rental's web site description. The best web sites and lisitings of vacation rentals do a good job of describing not only their only rentals, but the local attractions as well.

Posted by VRO at 08:40 PM | Permalink

Nov. 28, 2006. According to a Study by PKF Hospitality Research, The U.S. lodging industry continues to benefit from double-digit profit growth in 2006. Their report indicates the gross operating profit (GOP) for the typical U.S. hotel increased 13.1 percent from the first half of 2005 to the first half of 2006.

PKF reports that due to the strength of the economy, U.S. hotels posted healthy increases in occupancy and room rates during the first half of 2006. However, we have noticed that reports in Smith Travel Research have shown a slight drop in occupancy is the most recent weeks and months.

Nevertheless, the overall results for the year have been quite positive, especially when on e considers the run-up in gas prices during the first part of the year. Why these reports deal with hotel lodging, they have quite an impact of the luxury vacation rental industry. IT MEANS THAT THE VACATION TRAVEL MARKET IS STILL STRONG—STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE ENERGY SHOCK AND THE SHOCK OF HOTEL ROOM RATES THAT IN MANY CASES WENT UP BY DOUBLE DIGIT NUMBERS.

For the owners of luxury vacation rentals who are willing to provide many of the amenities of first class hotels, this should have been a very good year. it has been an opportunity to provide better value that the high price hotels and maintain a good rate of occupoancy.

Posted by VRO at 04:05 PM | Permalink

Nov. 26, 2006, Now that the Thanksgiving holidays are over, and the possible travel disasters that we heard so much speculation about in the press didn’t take place, it might be good to focus on how to make the rest of the holiday travel season more enjoyable. A recent article by James Wysong for MSNBC.com provides 10 tips to weather the certain delays, long lines and other frustrations of air travel.

Among Wysong’s tips are 1) skip the cheap deal, 2) do a good deed, 3) avoid connecting in cities with weather problems, and 4) adjust your attitude. We agree that adopting the right attitude is one of the most important things you can do to improve your holiday travel experience.

On the practical level, he suggests that you don’t wrap your presents before you leave, so that they don’t get unwrapped at the airport. I would add a better suggestion--just send your presents to your destination via UPS, FEDEX, or the good old US Postal Service. It’s not that expensive, and it will save you a lot of hassle if you are flying to your holiday destination.

And we almost forgot! If you haven’t already made arrangements for your accommodations, try to book a luxury vacation rental. With more room to stretch out, your holiday trip should be much more enjoyable.

Posted by VRO at 08:05 PM | Permalink

Nov. 24, 2006. A new television show should bring a whole new meaning to the golf vacation. During the World Series of Golf, players will bet on each hole every time they step up to the tee. Based on the wildly popular World Series of Poker, the tournament will be open to the public, but you have to pass an accreditation process and pony up $10,000. The tournament will be held May 13-17 in Las Vegas and will be shown on NBC.

Larry Olmsted, in his blog The Golfer’s World, called it “the most exciting golf-wagering since James Bond played Goldfinger for a huge ingot.�

You don’t have to gamble on your golf vacation if you do a little online research before booking a place to stay. First, study the area golf courses. Many require reservations and place restrictions on public access. Golf.com has a thorough, searchable database of courses.

Next, find a web site like VacationRental.org that has in-depth information about the local rentals. Here are some favorite golf destinations:
Las Vegas
Florida
Governors Harbor, Bahamas

Posted by VRO at 10:01 PM | Permalink

Nov. 22, 2006. Add skiing to the list of activities many retirees enjoy. The New York Times recently spoke to skiers, some more than 70 years old, about their continuing commitment to the sport. Much of the trend reflects the fact that people simply live longer these days, but other factors come into play. Shaped skis make it easier than ever to make turns. Today’s philosophy on aging also encourages people to stay active.

The article also points out the influence of snowboarding, now the snow sport of choice among younger people. The average age of skiers has increased to 35.7 in 2004-2005 from 33.2 in the 1997-1998 season, according to the National Ski Areas Association.

One great benefit of skiing when you’re retired: avoiding long lift lines. Because they don’t have to work, these folks ski during the week and early in the day.

For folks skiing into their golden years, a vacation rental could be the best way to stay. Look for one with a hot tub or spa. While many hotels and lodges offer hot tubs, fighting the crowds for a space can often be difficult. Not so if you’re staying in a vacation rental. The spacious accommodations of vacation rentals often make down time more enjoyable, as well. VacationRental.org has many luxury vacation rentals on the ski slopes of Colorado and other locations.

Posted by VRO at 08:40 PM | Permalink

Nov. 21, 2006. The US Airways $8.7 hostile takeover bid for Delta may not be good news for either vacation or business travelers. It will certainly mean less competition for many small cites in the Eastern US, especially in the Southeast, where the combined US Air/ Delta Airline would have over 70 % of the business in an airport.

Less competition will result in higher prices and less service, as many small cities have already experienced. An article in the Nov. 16 edition of the Wall Street Journal (subscription only) notes that there is significant overlap of routes such as the shuttles that both carriers now operate in the Northeast. It would also overlap in the South, with Delta's main hub situated in Atlanta and US Airways having significant operations in Charlotte.

The article quotes Michael Boyd, president of Boyd Group Inc., an aviation-industry advisory group, as saying of the merger that, “it would destroy competition in the deep South."
Boyd points out that while no airline currently commands more than a 39% market share in Charleston, S.C., a merged US Airways-Delta would gain more than a 70% share of that market, Mr. Boyd says. The new airline would have more than 75% of flights serving Montgomery, Ala., and nearly 80% of the market in Charlottesville, Va. "This is going to really hurt the consumer," he says.

The good news for consumers is the proposed merger may face tough scrutiny in Congress. The incoming Democratic chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Rep. Jim Oberstar of Minnesota, has stated that he would urge the Justice Department to conduct an antitrust review if the proposal moves forward. He is likely to hold hearings on the impact of the consolidation on airfares and service to small communities.

Congressman Oberstar has said, “A combination of carriers of this magnitude should be scrutinized in the public domain. Mergers reduce opportunity for competition and thereby increase costs to travelers." Although Congress has no formal role in approving proposed mergers, lawmakers can apply pressure on federal agencies.

This means that you as an individual traveler can have a voice on whether the proposed merger is approved. You can call or email your two Senators and your member of the House of Representatives and express your views.

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Posted by VRO at 05:54 PM | Permalink

Nov. 19, 2006. An American Express travel poll reveals new trends in holiday travel this season. Among those trends are a new trend toward luxury, “Not only are travelers looking to indulge in new travel experiences, they are also treating themselves to an extra special holiday season this year with 76% of agents reporting that travelers are booking more luxury vacations this season than ever before.�

The poll of agents revealed that luxury travel this holiday season has increased the most among couples (48%) and families (48%); followed by mature travelers (31%), and singles (10%).

This is good news for owners of luxury vacation rentals who try to provide something extra for their guests, something that we have always promoted in VacationRental.org. Not only do we require that our listings meet a minimum standard of quality. We urge that they try to go far beyond the minimum. This has been a proven strategy for us in our own vacation rentals, and has allowed us to maintain high rates of occupancy, even in the off-peak seasons

The American Express Travel poll is derived from their agents booking data, which outlines the top U.S. and international vacation destinations being booked by customers for the upcoming holiday season. The following is their list of top 10 U. S. destinations and the top 10 international destiantions:
Top 10 U.S. Destinations

Los Angeles
Fort Lauderdale
Kahului
New York
Miami
West Palm Beach
Vail/Eagle
Orlando
Denver
Salt Lake City

Top 10 International Destinations
St. Maarten
Montego Bay
San Jose Del Cabo
Paris
Cancun
San Juan
Auckland
Aruba
London
Sydney

Posted by VRO at 07:02 PM | Permalink

Nov. 18, 2006. With the iPod becoming almost as ubiquitous as the Internet, cell phones and television, the travel industry has taken note. Home Media Retailing broke the story this week on airlines and the iPod:

"Apple has teamed up with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United to deliver the first seamless integration between iPod and in-flight entertainment systems."

"Starting in mid-2007 the partner airlines will begin offering passengers a place to plug in the portable devices for power and charging. iPod users will also be able to view any video content stored on their iPod via the video screen on the seat in front of them."

Funny how these electronic amenities have worked their way into our travel criteria. I never stay at any accomodation that doesn't have Internet access, for example. When booking a place to stay, I always check on the availability of Internet access. Web sites like VacationRental.org make it easy to check whether your beach house will have wi-fi, or whether your golf villa has a computer to check your email.

In VRO's members-only newsletter, we have long recommended that all of our listings have high-speed internet access. With even budget motels making free internet access available, customers expect a luxury vacation rental to do at least as well. In addtion, we have made ipod players available at our own vacation rentals, a convenience that guests will eventually come to expect.

Posted by VRO at 08:37 PM | Permalink

Nov. 16, 2006. At VacationRental.org, we have always preferred renting houses and condominiums to staying in hotel rooms. An article in December's Travel + Leisure cements our opinion. To begin with, we prefer a genuine experience in tune with the local lifestyle. Why stay in a tiny room on a distant interstate exchange when you can stay in a loft in, say, downtown Montreal, within walking distance of all the attractions?

If saving money concerns you, consider that many vacation rentals also have kitchens where you can make your own meals. That's great for families, as the article confirms.

"For families, a kitchen is practically a necessity—and so is a place for kids to be, well, kids. 'In a hotel I'm always telling the children, 'Keep your voices down,'" said one person interviewed for the article. "That wasn't a problem in the London flat where she stayed with her husband, two children, and two other families."

Gauging the true quality and character of a hotel or motel can also be difficult. Fortunately, VacationRental.org screens properties to ensure the highest of quality. Each of our rentals feature detailed descriptions and photos, so you know exactly what you're getting.

Posted by VRO at 03:15 PM | Permalink

November 15, 2006. The San Francisco Chronicle's article on Dungeness crabs and the namesake bay in Washington State made me hungry and eager to book a Pacific Northwest vacation rental. Think about the possibilities: some of the best seafood, microbreweries and outdoors opportunities in North America. If you head to the Seattle/Puget Sound area, you have to make a trip to the Olympic Peninsula, home of Dungeness Bay.

"While nobody knows where these crabs initially were discovered, these waters were the first place the delectable crustaceans were harvested commercially in the 1900s. As the delicacy was shipped around the world, everyone called them Dungeness crabs. The name stuck."

The Dungeness Bay is located on the northern tip of the Olympic Peninsula, right between the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca. Make sure you bring a raincoat, because this is a region famous for precipitation. Personally, I think it adds to the charm. You can also stay in the nearby Canadian cities of Victoria or Vancouver. Fortunately, a system of ferries links the major destinations throughout the Puget Sound.

Posted by VRO at 08:22 PM | Permalink

Nov. 14, 2006. Resort developers have discovered the attractions of Utah, accoding to article in USA TODAY, which reports that, “A super-luxe influx of high-end resorts is springing up near Utah's accessible ski slopes and otherworldly red rock spires---the luxury accommodations are putting Park City ahead of Aspen and Sun Valley in resort real estate sales and will increase one southern Utah county's assessed property values by 20%.�

A developer is quoted as saying "It's a huge bargain compared to those other places, with much better access. You can get on a plane in the morning and be on the slopes by the afternoon." Having visited Park City and its wonderful deep powder snow on more than one occasion, we agree. The number of direct flights into Salt Lake City and the short 25 mile drive to Park City makes it much more accessible than many ski resorts.

For the visitor or investor, there is much to choose from in condos, condo hotels and vacation rentals, as well as first class hotels. We recommend checking out the area’s selection of fine vacation rentals at VacationRental.org and other directories.

Posted by VRO at 08:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nov. 12, 2006. With the recent softening in the U.S. real-estate market after years of double-digit growth in home prices, many prospective buyers of second homes and vacation rentals may be having second thoughts . While some vacation destinations have dipped in price, they still seem prohibitively expensive.

With this in mind, the editors at RealEstateJournal.com set out to identify good potential vacation-home deals. They looked for appealing locales across the U.S. where prices rose at a rate well below the national average of 84.3% between the second quarter of 1996 and the second quarter of 2006, and have better than average employment as well as proximity to recreational and cultural offerings.

Here's their list of 12 tempting locales:

Bath/Beaufort County, N.C.
Blairsville, Ga.
Clarksville, Va.
Cloudcroft, N.M.
Dadeville, Ala.
Driggs, Idaho
Eureka Springs, Ark.
Heber City, Utah
Helen, Ga.
Jemez Springs, N.M.
South Padre Island, Texas
Steamboat Springs, Colo.

Posted by VRO at 05:38 PM | Permalink

Nov. 11, 2006--They say not to mix business with pleasure, but these days, the line seems to be blurring. With time more difficult to come by than money, the idea of knocking out two birds with one stone gains more appeal. if your are heading to Chicago, New York or Los Angeles to meet a client, why not tack on a few days at a nice vacation rental and explore these great cities?

A recent article in Err Travel, a web zine that gleans lessons from travel mistakes, offers some tips for combining a work trip with a vacation. The overall theme encourages travelers to plan in advance so they don’t play when they should be working, or vice versa. I’ve found that a clear itinerary and schedule will keep everything on track. By far, the article’s best advice has to do with timing:
“According to Dr. Stephen Smith, professor of tourism at the University of Waterloo, it’s generally best to vacation following the business portion of your trip, so you won’t have thoughts of work looming over your leisure time.�

Posted by VacationRental.org at 12:36 PM | Permalink

Nov. 9, 2006 – Every traveler faces this tricky balancing act: should you spread out and see as much as possible, or linger in one spot and get to know a place? The Denver Post’s article on Northern Arizona made me think about this dilemma. “You know you’ve been living in the West a while when Phoenix is a regular weekend getaway. Have four or five days? Then it’s possible to head up to Sedona and Flagstaff, maybe nip on up to the Grand Canyon for the night, or even just dinner and a pastel-explosion sunset.�

Whoa… hold on there. That’s an epic circuit. Of course, it is possible. Might I suggest staying in one place, and then making a series of day trips? If you want to focus on the mountain experience, stay in Sedona. If you’re in the area for golf and city amenities, stay in the Scottsdale-Phoenix area.

Posted by VRO at 08:00 PM | Permalink

Nov. 8, 2006 – We’ve been dreaming of fresh powder since reading the Chicago Tribune’s spread this weekend on skiing in Canada. We just have to remember to bring our passports, starting in 2007. As the article points out, beginning on Jan. 8, Americans will be required to show their passports in order to reenter the United States. But hey, that’s a small price to pay.

We love the skiing up north for the rich character of the different regions. As the writer put it:
“The fat resorts are out West, where British Columbia plays Colorado to Alberta’s Utah. Where winter doesn’t give up easily and the snow falls in perfect blankets.�
“In eastern Canada, in the province of Quebec, the truth fits the legend at sweeping Vermont-like ski resorts nesting above French-Canadian villages. The family names go back 300 years.�

To settle the East versus West debate for yourself, check out these ski-in, ski-out cabins in British Columbia and the spacious vacation rentals in Quebec.

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Posted by VRO at 08:46 AM | Permalink

Nov. 5, 2006. A vacation rental can be a fine choice for the Bahamas, but make sure you know what you're getting, according to an article in the Detroit Free Press. Ellen Creagher does a fine job of pointing out the pitfalls as well as the advantages of booking a vacation rental in the Bahamas. There are many alternatives to paying the very high cost of staying in the Atlantis, the biggest resort in the Caribbean.

However, as Ms. Creagher points out, you should look below the surface and beware of exaggeration. She provides a number of questions that you should ask, including some of our favorites. Is the property undergoing renovations? How far is from the beach? Does the unit have internet access? How far to the grocery store and what are the selections of restaurants?

Another suggestion is to check our website, VacationRentals.org for a selection of Vacation rentals in the Bahamas. Our site was designed to assure the guest of certain minimum standards of quality. Property listings must certify that they meet these standards, including no false or misleading advertising. Also, we strongly encourage our listors to include the answers to the kinds of questions should ask in the listing information.

For a good selection of vacation rentals in Governors Harbor in the Bahamas check here.

Posted by VRO at 10:58 PM | Permalink

Nov. 2, 2006. An article in the New York Times discusses the management options that are available to vacation rental owners, a subject that has been thoroughly explored in past editions of the members-only editions of the VacationRental.org newsletters.

The options run the gamut from self-management, which is difficult to do from afar, to hiring a local property management company to find the tenants, collect their money and then clean up after they depart for fees that amount to anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of the gross rental income.

As we have pointed out in our newsletters, the right arrangement depends on the individual property owner. Many vacation rental owners don’t have the time or inclination to mange their own vacation rentals, and therefore must turn this responsibility over to a management company. They have to pay dearly for this service. Our rule of thumb is that the more the owners get involved in advertising, renting, and management of their property the more they will profit from the rental.

Fortunately, competition allows vacation rental owners to bargain with realtors and management companies and select only the services they need. If you can bring in a lot of the rentals yourself with listings in directories such as VacationRetnals.org, you can reduce your management expense.

One thing to keep in mind when buying into a condominium is that you must always reserve the tight to change management if you are not happy. Don’t get locked in to an arrangement with a condo hotel or any other arrangement where you don’t have that option.

If you decide to self-manage your property from another location, you need a good local friend, and preferably a reliable handy man, as well as a reliable cleaning service. It is important to keep in mind the importance of maintaining a high level of quality and service if you intend to be successful in the long run.

Posted by VRO at 07:04 PM | Permalink

Nov. 1, 2006. The lodging industry in the US had strong performance during the last week of October. Throughout the year, revenues from hotels were significantly greater than the previous year. However, this has been due primarily to large increases in room rates. In the last several weeks, occupancy rates have trended downward.

The latest report of Smith Travel Research shows that for the week ending October 28 there was an increase in occupancy of 1.7% over the same week a year ago. When the occupancy increase is coupled with an increase of 9.1% in room rates, it produced an increase in revenue per available room of 11%--a huge increase. Thus, yet another economic indicator remains strong.

For luxury vacation rentals, who generally have not increased their rates as much as hotels, these numbers are good news. Our experience with our own vacation rentals, where we held rates steady for the year, plus our knowledge of other vacation rentals, indicates that October has been an especially strong month. It appears that the same will be true for November and December.

Posted by VRO at 08:30 PM | Permalink