Vacation Rentals Blog

January 31, 2007. Getting enough exercise and eating healthy can be difficult when you're at home, but doing so while traveling can seem absolutely impossible. Peter Greenberg, a road warrior and author of "The Traveler's Diet," understands the trouble. He wrote a column on the topic for Forbes Traveler and MSNBC.com.

Greenberg says he travels more than 300 of 365 days per year. When he tipped the scales at the doctor's office at nearly 290 pounds, he decided something had to change. He consulted dieticians, doctors and fitness trainers to create an on-the-road plan, and loss 42 pounds in eight months.

Pretty impressive.

Greenberg's advice would be especially easy to incorporate while staying at a luxury vacation rental. By renting a place with a kitchen, you can avoid buying high-calorie, high-fat meals of oversized proportions. But, of course, eating out is one of the best parts of traveling for many people – how can you stay in East Tennessee vacation rentals, for example, without sampling some barbecue and corn bread? Set a limit for how many times you can ignore the calories and fat content, and stick to the plan.

In addition to watching one's diet, Greenberg also stresses the need to exercise while traveling. This can be easier than many people think. Take the stairs. Swim a few laps in the pool. Or, instead of cruising around in a car, go for a walk or ride a bicycle. Martha's Vineyard, for example, has a bicycle path that connects many of the villages and luxury vacation rentals, and several shops rent bikes.

Finally, Greenberg emphasizes the role of a good night's sleep. There's no shame in going to bed early and waking up late when you're on vacation – you live by alarm clock the other 50 weeks out of the year, so why not give yourself a break?

Posted by VRO at 01:59 AM | Permalink

January 30, 2007. A new generation of online airfare sites has emerged in recent years, attempting to predict the future rise and fall of ticket prices. Yesterday, one of those websites upped the ante with a bold new initiative: If a purchaser waits to buy a ticket because Farecast.com predicted the price would either decrease or hold, and the price goes up instead, the company will cover the difference.

We'll let Laura Bly explain how it works in this USA Today article:

"You do a search between, say, Chicago and Miami for specific dates in March. If Farecast thinks the lowest fare of $300 will go down or hold steady, you can buy a Fare Guard (for $3 now, going up to $9.95 Feb. 1) that's good for a week and guarantees $300 is the most you will pay, assuming you're willing to take the cheapest flight offered. You'll get a daily e-mail that tracks fares for your trip. If the $300 fare drops, you saved money. If it rises, buy through Farecast, and it will pay the difference between the old and new lowest fares."

Farecast.com only makes its predictions and Fare Guard service available in 75 markets, so smaller airports such as the one in Asheville, North Carolina aren't covered. But the new feature shows that competition is heating up for websites that can arm customers with information not found on major airfare websites, such as Travelocity and Expedia.

We reported a few weeks ago on another site, FareCompare.com, which compiles data for 77,000 North American and 200,000 international city pairs. FareCompare.com, Farecast.com and other similar websites use historical data to show customers past trends and to display future possibilities. This new breed of airfare broker hasn't grabbed the lion's share of the market yet, but we predict it will gain in popularity. You can take that money and spend it during your next trip to a luxury vacation rental.

Posted by VRO at 01:36 AM | Permalink

Jan. 29, 2007. An article in the Washington Post titled, “A New Age: St. Pete's Fountain of Youth� describes the transformation of St. Petersburg from a city of old people to a youthful and energetic city as follows:

“What you will notice around the Gulf Coast town, depending on the hour and the area, are sinewy cyclists, in-line skaters and runners; punk rockers and avant-garde artists; and post-grads on permanent spring break. And while the elders haven't outright disappeared -- just go to the supermarket to witness a parade of Caddies -- the younger generations are certainly staking a claim on St. Petersburg.�

The article does a good job of describing the attractions of St. Pete where, “it's hard to sit still in St. Petersburg, an oversize playground accessible by land and sea.� We would add that a good way to enjoy the attractions of St. Pete is to stay in a luxury vacation rental such as those listed in VacationRantal.org. If you can’t find the rental you want on our site, you might wish to use our VRO Standards of Quality as a checklist in deciding whether to book a rental that you may locate elsewhere.

Posted by VRO at 01:25 AM | Permalink

Jan. 28, 2007. An excellent article in Fodor’s Travel Wire lists 8 ways that travelers waste money on trips. Among the mistakes that travelers make is not considering alternatives to hotels. The article suggests that vacationers consider renting a home or villa, “It's not as pricey as you'd think, and you get the luxury of space as well as privacy. One of our far-flung correspondents priced an 18th-century townhouse in Edinburgh, a seaside flat in Puerto Rico, and a castle in France -- all for $750 per week (in low season---“

Another way that travelers waste money is by eating in pricey restaurants night after night. This is a mistake that can be easily avoided by staying in premium vacation rentals such as those listed in VacationRentals.org that have full kitchen facilities. Some luxury rentals, such as this group of North Carolina cabins even offer a variety of dining options such as having budget prepared meals brought to the rental or having personalized grocery shopping done so that you have a stocked kitchen awaiting your arrival.

The Fodor’s article suggests the 6 other ways that vacationers waste money are:

1) “By not reading the fine print on that credit card
Know the details of your credit card before you leave town."

2) "Avoiding hotel Web sites
Checking online booking engines for hotel deals is a good idea, but it's also wise to check the Web sites of your favorite hotels."

3) "Traveling only during high season
Consider visiting your destination during off-season periods (November through March for many parts of Europe, and September through December for the Caribbean)."

4) "Renting cars instead of using trains and buses
The idea of hitting the open road with nothing but a map and a keen sense of adventure sounds great, at least until you go to fill up the gas tank and are stunned by how much it costs."

5) "Ignoring budget restraints
Nothing can put a damper on euphoric holiday afterglow quite like seeing your credit card bill when you get home."

6) "Not knowing your destination
There are several things you should know about your destination before the plane lands.�

Posted by VRO at 01:36 AM | Permalink

January 27, 2007. We're excited to hear the Travel Channel will air a television series this spring based on the book "1,000 Places to See before You Die." Patricia Schultz's book inspires, entertains and informs, even for readers who aren't travelers.

Of course, everyone can disagree over which places were left out and which shouldn't have made the list. We just want to know how the TV hosts got such a sweet job!

"Selected from over 900 couples, Albin and Melanie Ulle, newlyweds from Colorado, were chosen to plan a fourteen-week, whirlwind journey to more than thirteen countries worldwide. …They agreed to leave their jobs and day-to-day life to travel the world experiencing its vast beauty and diverse cultures."

The show premieres Thursday, March 29, at 9 p.m. EST and continues every Thursday with premiere episodes through June. Each hour-long episode will take viewers to one of thirteen locations.

As a tribute to "1,000 Places to See before You Die," here are three picks from the TV series where you can rent luxury vacation rentals:

Alaska – We recommend making base camp in Anchorage, then taking the train ride through Alaska's Inside Passage, the railroad featured in the television show.

Mexico – We don't know exactly where in Mexico they'll be going, but we have a strong suspicion they'll visit Mayan ruins, like the ones in the state of Quintana Roo, also known as the home of the Mayan Riviera.

Hawaii – Schultz listed several of the Hawaiian islands in her book – which one will you visit?

Posted by VRO at 01:32 AM | Permalink

January 26, 2007. Lore Sjöberg's column, "I Survived My Internet Vacation," will make you laugh so hard you'll spit your coffee out on your keyboard. On his recent vacation, the Wired magazine columnist left his laptop at home "in a moment of deranged optimism." Somehow, he resisted the urge to visit the local Internet café.

His diary entries begin with promise as Mr. Sjöberg revels in the absence of Viagra ads and spam email. Slowly, however, he develops a kind of Web 2.0 delirium tremens – apparently unable to handle being unconnected – and must be checked into a local hospital.

We wish you a speedy recovery, Mr. Sjöberg. In honor of your noble experiment, we would like to offer some great luxury vacation rental destinations for fellow addicts who need to get away from rat race – but not the World Wide Web.

Glacier National Park – They may be way up north, but five of these six mountain homes have Internet availability, including high-speed options.

San Francisco – You can geek out in one of the most high-tech areas of the country with wireless connections in each of these luxury vacation rentals.

Bahamas – All of our these Bahamas properties have Internet access, so you can blog about your golf game and email beach photos to the poor sots back home.

Posted by VRO at 01:48 AM | Permalink

January 25, 2007. The Expedia Travel Trendwatch quarterly report predicts a nice finish to the winter travel season and a robust spring break. That's good news for luxury vacation rental owners with concerns about unseasonably warm weather, new U.S. passport rules and recent reports touting lukewarm numbers.

The Expedia report, released yesterday, included a consumer survey conducted by Harris Interactive in which 82 percent of U.S. adults said they planned to travel by air "as much or more this spring as last spring." Of those surveyed, 74 percent did not seem concerned about having to obtain a passport to reenter the country after visiting the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, or Central and South America.

Weather also has been a wild card this winter. Lake Tahoe and the Northeast began the season with a slow start, but Colorado received so much snow the Denver International Airport shut down. Still, the National Ski Areas Association said this season is on track to surpass last season in skier visits, according to Expedia.

The positive numbers from Expedia are especially welcome given the other news of this past week. On Jan. 21, we reported weak occupancy rates in the first weeks of 2007 from Smith Travel Research, and the Travel Industry Association published a report Tuesday showing travel to the U.S. from overseas has declined 17 percent since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Fortunately, a strong turnout from Americans this year should bode well for luxury vacation rentals.

Posted by VRO at 01:37 AM | Permalink

January 24, 2007. This month's issue of Scuba Diving magazine features the Top 100 Readers' Choice Awards, so we thought we would highlight some of these great luxury vacation rental destinations.

For scuba divers, the annual dive trip becomes something to look forward to all year long. Don't waste your precious time with shoddy accommodations – VacationRental.org requires every listing to meet strict criteria to ensure the highest quality .

The top choices for "Marine Life" happened to be great all-around Caribbean destinations: the Dominican Republic and the Cayman Islands. The Caymans also showed up on the "Top Visibility" list, along with Cozumel, Mexico. Of course, various locations throughout Florida also popped on many of the lists.

If you are not a scuba diver, but would like to be, we recommend Scuba Diving magazine and its website. You don't have to live near the ocean to pick up this hobby – schools throughout the nation teach beginners the skills they will need in the safety of local swimming pools.

Posted by VRO at 10:35 AM | Permalink

January 23, 2007. We already long for Florida every year, right about this time. Marion Winik's column in the Baltimore Sun made us even more sentimental for a Disney vacation. If you haven't been to the Magic Kingdom since you were a child, or since your children were young, Winik offers a very convincing argument as to why you should return.

Winik had an excuse: her 6-year-old son. But her mother-in-law vacationed there without children and had a great time. All of which makes us think it's time to book an Orlando luxury vacation rental.

Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando have always been family friendly, but they seemed to have upped the ante on adult entertainment and expanded even more on the family theme. We were impressed to learn, for example, that Disney World has brought on Cirque du Soleil full-time and Universal will have the Blue Man Group. The House of Blues on the Disney premises also raises the cool factor.

Also at Disney, young ladies will enjoy dinner with a princess during the Princess Tea Party, complete with elegant setting, doll, wand and tiara. The price: $225. The smile on her face: priceless. The boys can be satisfied more cheaply – DisneyQuest's arcade offers hours of sensory overload for just $36.

Most of all, we loved this idea: the FastPass at Disney eliminates long waits in line by assigning visitors a certain time to arrive. It's free with admission for those who wish to take advantage.

Posted by VRO at 01:34 AM | Permalink

Jan. 22, 2007. The Chicago Tribune reports on six lesser know Florida islands that have much to offer, including good vacation rental accommodations. The article by Jay Clark reports that, “You may not know that Miami Beach and Palm Beach are islands. So are Key West, Sanibel, Amelia and Marco, to name a few of Florida's popular resorts.�

Clark points out that the state has a lot of lesser known islands that are also worth visiting, “Some still retain a bit of Old Florida, the laid-back, down-home lifestyle of an earlier age. Some sport high-rises and other trappings of modern tourism. But all possess an individuality that sets them apart from the usual.�

The six islands that are profiled are 1) Cedar Key, 2) Useppa Island, 3) Gasparilla Island, 4) Chokoloskee Island, 5) St. George Island, and 6) Perdido Key.

Posted by VRO at 01:39 AM | Permalink

Jan. 21, 2007. The Weekly Lodging Report of Smith Travel Research indicated that the lodging industry continues to experience the weak occupancy rates that were evident in the last several weeks of 2006. For the week ending Jan. 13, 2007, occupancy was down 3.7% over the same week a year ago.

While an increase in room rates of 7.3% still produced greater revenue, this is not a positive sign. As referenced in our Jan. 16 Vacation Rentals Blog, Demand for leisure travel services will continue to outpace that for business travel services, as more business travelers attempt to use the latest technology as a surrogate for business travel whenever possible. Moreover, family travel (adults with children) will continue to grow at a faster rate than all other forms of leisure travel.

While this means a weaker business travel market, there is no sign that there is a decline in vacation travel, especially travel to luxury destinations and resort areas. Luxury vacation rentals owners that meet the standards and follow the tips and suggestions of VacationRental.org should do very well in 2007.

Posted by VRO at 01:35 AM | Permalink

January 20, 2007. First recycling. Then energy efficient appliances. Now… green travel?

That's right. The travel industry has begun to look at ways to become more environmentally friendly.

The most recent news we've heard on this topic comes from the Bargain Vacation Club, whose "Green Pleasures" campaign donates money to an environmental cause every time you book a trip with them. Last week, Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced plans to rent hybrid automobiles at offices in California. And in December, Aspen Skiing Company was admitted into an environmentally friendly business coalition for its sustainable practices. That makes you want to ski Colorado now, doesn't it?

We've found luxury vacation rentals make being green easy. Here are some tips for the next time you stay in one:

1) Turn off the lights when you leave. Most electricity comes from coal power plants, which emit pollution. Every time you turn off the lights, the television and other electric devices, you're putting the lid on pollution.

2) Walk more often. Many luxury vacation rentals are located in close proximity to shops and restaurants. Bonus: Not only are you cutting fossil fuel consumption, but you're also burning off those dessert calories.

3) Respect the local environment. Most vacation destinations draw people for their natural beauty, so don't litter. Feeding wildlife can also inadvertently harm many animals.

4) Recycle if possible. Many luxury vacation rentals will offer recycling bins if the local municipality provides them. Recycling reduces landfill waste and conserves natural resources.

5) Bring a canvas shopping bag. This reduces the amount of plastic and paper shopping bags, which might not be recyclable everywhere. Canvas shopping bags can be fun souvenirs, too.

--

Posted by VRO at 01:46 AM | Permalink

January 19, 2006. One of the biggest travel stories this month has been the impending passport rule change, which will require all American citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America to show passports upon reentry. Polls indicate two-thirds of Americans don't have passports, and tourism officials in many of those countries worry the bureaucracy will dissuade Americans from traveling.

Not the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, however. They're preparing for a boom, according to an Associated Press article. Because of their territory status, they are exempt from the rule.

"Puerto Rico is aggressively branding itself as a no-passport destination with a $36 million advertising campaign on the U.S. mainland. The U.S . Virgin Islands has labeled itself 'America's Caribbean,'" according to the article.

The article cites a 2005 study from the Caribbean Hotel Association predicting tourism revenue losses as high as $2.6 billion and 188,000 lost jobs. Destinations that depend disproportionately on Americans will suffer the most, according to the article, which notes "Americans account for more than half the tourists in the region overall but it's 87 percent in the Bahamas and 73 percent in Jamaica…"

Obtaining a passport is not difficult, but requires some time, paperwork and fees (passports cost $97). For travelers, the worry has actually created some benefits. Many resort destinations and tourism operators offer discounts and reimbursements for those who will have to get a passport.

Posted by VRO at 01:22 AM | Permalink

Jan. 18, 2007. It has been estimated that about 80% of vacationers, including those who go to a vacation rental, travel by automobile. However, it is necessary to fly if you are to visit such favorite family destinations as Hawaii and the Caribbean, both of whom have some of the best luxury vacation rentals anywhere.

For those lucky enough to go to one of these island paradises, air travel shouldn't be a worrisome beginning to a nice stay at a luxury vacation rental. For many travelers, however, flying in an airplane can be likened to playing with snakes or visiting the dentist. Perhaps that's why Michelle Delio's "Tips for Nervous Fliers" received so many responses on Fodor.com's reader forum .

Delio offers some great tips. We thought these two were especially practical:

1) Find a seat in the front of the plane. Turbulence is felt the least in the front of the plane, and fear-inspiring noises can be heard the most in the middle and rear of the plane.

2) Take you mind off your fears by stimulating your imagination. Delio suggests "crossword puzzles, magazines with lots of photos, a book with good plot twists and plenty of characters." She also suggests ditching bland financial reports for PowerPoint presentations or other creative, right-brain work.

Readers on the Fodor.com forum had plenty of their own tips, from prayer to drugs and alcohol. We thought one post really put things in perspective.

"When I get scared I tend to give myself a small guilt trip by considering that pilots and stewards and stewardesses take their chances for a living. Of those that I've spoken with about it, they don't seem to infuse extra drama into their descriptions of their jobs. When I think about what they do ever other day I feel silly for dreading the 3-4 times a year I fly."

Posted by VRO at 01:32 AM | Permalink

January 17, 2007. Your plane leaves for Mexico in less than one week – January 23, to be precise. Unfortunately, you just found out about new rules that require all Americans flying to Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean to have a passport. And you don't have one.

Don't worry. All hope is not yet lost.

Those who aren't flying for another two weeks can pay an extra $60 for expedited service at one of the 9,000 "passport acceptance facilities," which include post offices and other government locations. Those who need a passport within the next two weeks, however, will have to go to one of 15 passport agencies, special offices which are located in major cities such as Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Here's how it works:

1) Find out which passport agency is closest by visiting the Department of State's list of passport agencies.

2) Call the agency and make an appointment. You MUST have an appointment, and it would be a shame to drive all that way for nothing.

3) Bring all the required items to the agency, where you will be issued your passport.

4) Get on the plane, and enjoy your stay at a luxury vacation rental!

Posted by VRO at 01:12 AM | Permalink

Jan. 16, 2007. Peter Yesawich identifies ten major travel trends for 2007 in an article published in Smith Travel Research. These trends will have a major impact on luxury vacation rentals. Here are Yesawich’s predictions:

1. Demand for leisure travel services will continue to outpace that for business travel services.
2. Family travel (adults with children) will continue to grow at a faster rate than all other forms of leisure travel.
3. Practically all travel suppliers will attempt to raise fares and/or rates, as demand for travel services continues to grow, capacity becomes more strained, and operating costs escalate.
4. The role of the Internet will continue to dominate the travel-planning/booking headlines, yet the incidence of Internet usage by both business and leisure travelers to plan some aspect of travel will remain flat, while the incidence of its usage to actually book reservations will continue to grow but at a significantly lower rate.
5. Comparison shopping of suppliers’ fares and rates (and the corresponding “price transparency�) will become more commonplace.
6. The new “lifestyle� hotel brands such as NYLO, ALOFT, etc. will continue to gain both exposure and popularity among the next generation of travelers.
7. The concept of “inclusive pricing� will grow in popularity beyond destination resorts to include commercial hotels seeking to provide road warriors with good value for “just the basics� (a comfortable bed, a good working desk, breakfast, High Speed Internet access, and reward points).
8. Interest in spa-going will continue to grow as more consumers seek ways to manage the mounting stress in their lives.
9. The cruise industry will continue to enjoy remarkable growth, thereby becoming an even more formidable competitor of destination (land-based) hotels and resorts.
10. The new .travel Internet domain will continue to grow in popularity.

Yesawich concludes with the prediction that, “Most importantly, barring the impact of any catastrophic political, economic, social or terrorist event in the months ahead, 2007 should be another year for the record books.�

We at VacationRental.org agree that many of these trends will have a major impact on the travel industry in 2007 and beyond. We help our members cope with them both in our daily blogs and in our Vacation Rentals Newsletter.

Posted by VRO at 01:42 AM | Permalink

Jan. 15, 2006. The record warm temperatures in December and early January have seriously hurt the eastern ski resorts and the businesses that depend on them, such as vacation rentals. However the colder temperatures of the past week have given new life to the many fine Eastern ski resort destinations.

“As winter arrived this week, ski areas, plagued so far by scant snow, warm spells and rain, bragged about snow accumulation, fired up snow guns at full tilt, and tried to convince skiers that they had snow.�, according to an article in USATODAY.

The article by Lisa Rathke reports that there's snowmaking going on everywhere, “Crippled by a second consecutive winter with little snow, ski resorts are banking on the costly snowmaking and the hope of mid-to-late-winter cold and snow to salvage the season.�

For example, Vermont, the original ski state, is making a special effort. The number of open trails at Stowe Mountain Resort dropped from 70% in early January to 25% last week following the warm snap. With snow guns blasting, Stowe was expected to have 70% of trails covered by this holiday weekend.

For those who do try the slopes in their favorite eastern resorts, there should be plenty of luxury vacation rentals to choose from, such as these rentals in New Hampshire.

Posted by VRO at 01:45 AM | Permalink

Jan. 14, 2007. Naples, the once-sleepy retirement haven on Florida's west coast,was perhaps the hottest housing market in the country in 2005. However, it has also become an object lesson in what vacation rental investors should avoid.

A recent Wall Street Journal (Subscription Only) article reports, “The frenzied run-up prompted economists at banking concern National City Corp. and the economic consulting firm Global Insight Inc. to label Naples "the most overvalued" housing market in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2005, a dubious honor it retains. Today, prices are dropping, the number of unsold homes on the market has swelled to more than twice the national average and investors are scrambling to unload their properties.�

As anyone who has visited Naples knows, it was an especially desirable place to invest, with its fine restaurants, stretches of pristine beaches and less congestion than Florida’s east coast. But it is also obvious that investors and speculators played a large role in pumping up the real-estate bubble, especially at the end of the run.

This is a perfect example of what savvy vacation rental investors will avoid---paying too much. They will carefully evaluate whether they can expect to cover costs with rental income. They will assiduously avoid overheated markets and look instead for bargains in markets that have not yet peaked. They will avoid getting caught up in a speculative frenzy by making their decision based strictly on the numbers.

Posted by VRO at 01:07 AM | Permalink

January 13, 2007. They've worked hard all of their lives, and now they are ready to enjoy life. Baby boomers, who are retiring or approaching retirement age, will fuel a boom in the travel industry for next 18 years, according to an article in Internet Travel News.

The article quotes a speech by Lauraday Kelley, CTC, MCC, vice president Education & Training for Vacation.com . Kelley delivered the talk this week at the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH) 11th World Congress in Miami.

In her speech, she also announced Vacation.com's Top Ten Trends for 2007. All of the trends seemed to be unified by one common denominator: the effect baby boomers have had on the economy, and, by extension, the travel industry.

Here are two trends specific to the vacation rental market:

1) Now grandparents, many members of this generation are treating entire families –grandchildren and all – to group trips. We suggest luxury vacation rentals, with multiple bedrooms united by a common area, for such occasions.

2) The Internet will continue to be a significant factor in travel planning and booking reservations. VacationRental.org requires all luxury vacation rentals to meet the highest quality standards, and provides Google maps and valuable information about the regions in which these rentals are located.

Posted by VRO at 01:28 AM | Permalink

January 12, 2007. Travel writer Donna Rosato is clearly a pro. Just check out her article, "Seven Amazing Travel Secrets," in Money Magazine for CNN.com. Her tips could be invaluable for anyone traveling to a luxury vacation rental for some rest and relaxation. She says she cut her teeth as a road warrior before covering the travel industry, and she claims she doesn't use her connections for special favors. She's just that good.

Here are three of our favorite tips from her article:

1) "Upgrade Your Rental Car for Free."
Rosato practically expects rental car companies to be out of economy cars, so she books them with the hope that she'll get bumped up for free or a for a minor charge that results in an overall savings.

2) "A First-Class Seat for a Coach Price."
This one really only applies to last-minute online ticket buyers, but Rosato divulges the industry secret of the "Y-up" and "Q-up." If these fare codes appear on a first-class listing, the price likely costs little more than a coach ticket. Not every online travel website lists the Y- or Q-code, so she recommends using FareCompare.com.

3) "Get the Most for Your Miles"
Rosato got this one from Randy Petersen, editor of WebFlyer.com. When using frequent flier miles, Petersen suggested talking to an airline reservation agent rather than going online. "The sweet spot for finding open seats to go with those miles is three to six months ahead of your trip," according to the article.

Posted by VRO at 01:53 AM | Permalink

January 11, 2007. Mexico and the Caribbean are still hot, hot, hot… despite earlier predictions by some industry watchers. According to the Wall Street Journal (subscription only), insiders expected demand would cool down this winter because of two factors:

1) The amount of damage wrought by the 2005 hurricane season, and

2) New rules requiring Americans visiting Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico to have passports upon reentry.

Apparently, vacationers are concerned with neither. Nearly $2 billion in investment last year wiped away signs of Hurricane Wilma. Europeans have also discovered Mexico and the Caribbean – and found their Euros go a long way in places that quote rates in U.S. dollars (the Euro has been pounding the dollar for a few years now). As a result, occupancy rates are up and hotels are raising rates.

The Wall Street Journal offered some interesting statistics:

"Bookings to both Mexico and the Caribbean are up over 40% year over year at Orbitz and Cheap Tickets, two online booking services owned by Travelport. The average daily rate at hotels in Mexico climbed 7.9% to $107.82 in November, the most recent month for which data are available, compared to Nov. of 2005, according to Smith Travel Research. In the Caribbean, the increase was 3.3% to $150.16."

The trend will no doubt affect luxury vacation rentals, as well. Travelers can find great deals and great amenities with vacation rentals, from Baja to Bahamas and all the way over to Belize.

Posted by VRO at 01:03 AM | Permalink

Jan. 10, 2007. Anyone who has experience with luxury boutique hotels and resorts knows that sales and marketing for a small, often independent, property requires a different approach from large corporate hotels, according to Ling Riley. These differences are also applicable to luxury vacation rentals. This differnet approach is consistent with the Top Ten Tips published in the Vacation Rentals Newsletter of VacationRental.org.

In an article in Lodgistica Hospitality Management, Ling offers the following Top Ten Issues that boutique hotel properties should consider when crafting their 2007 plans:

"1) Promote a Destination Experience. The modern guest is looking for more than a luxurious room, they want an experience. Situating your property as part of a larger destination experience will inextricably connect your hotel to the destination for the repeat visitor.

"2) Promote a Hotel/Resort Experience. Today’s guests want to understand how they’re going to feel and what they are going to do at your hotel, as well. It creates anticipation, so you should create that for them prior to arrival.

"3) Consistency in hotel management, marketing, and sales. . Most individual hotels miss the boat on one or all of these by not knowing how to prioritize, how to spend funds wisely, and how to stay on message.

"4) Know your guests. With a growing number of firms specializing in guest database analysis, luxury boutique hotels have the opportunity to understand their demographics on an extraordinarily detailed level.

"5) Revamp your website. There are a few—and only a few—hotels and resorts that have successful websites.

"6) Online marketing. From content syndication to email offers, online marketing is a cost-effective way to reach your audience and most contemporary guests (no matter their age) are internet savvy. Online marketing offers more flexibility, is quicker to produce, and costs less than most print advertising and direct mail pieces.

"7) Correspond with your past guests. Past guests are your most valuable asset and it’s critical to reconnect with them periodically. Start with a well-designed “Thank You� email shortly after the guest has returned home and then periodically—maybe once per quarter—send a letter with a special offer specifically targeted to the past guests.

"8) Create strong relationships with industry organizations.

"9) Set realistic group sales goals.

"10) “In-house� sales & marketing matters. No one is as dedicated to your hotel as your own hotel operations management team."

Posted by VRO at 01:11 AM | Permalink

January 9, 2007. Stephanie Nelson, the "Savings Mom" for ABC News, takes her family on a big ski vacation every year. Throughout the years, she's learned a few tricks to keep the travel budget from exploding.

Luxury vacation rentals are one of her secrets.

"Larger rental houses can also be economical if you divide a rental with another family. Houses or larger condos will also have larger kitchen and living areas, and possibly have amenities like a private hot tub."

The story goes on to cover every facet of the ski vacation, from lift tickets to equipment rentals. We wrote about lift ticket deals last month, but Nelson had a new one for us: Colorado lets fifth graders ski for free . All you have to do is fill out a little paperwork in advance; as a bonus, the young skiers get discounts in the sixth grade, too.

Nelson also pointed out that buying helmets may be cheaper in the long run than renting them. Unlike skis and snowboards, which cost $250 or more (not including boots and bindings), helmets can be found on sale for as little as $40 each. With helmet rentals at $10 per day, one can quickly realize the savings. And helmets are no place to skimp – for more about helmets and safety, visit Lids on Kids.

Posted by VRO at 01:22 AM | Permalink

Jan. 8, 2007. The 2007 Top Ten New Year’s Internet Marketing Strategy Resolutions, presented by Hospitality eBusiness Strategies, have almost equal relevance to luxury vacation rental owners. Many of the resolutions track the suggestions made in VacationRental.org’s own “Ten Proven Tips to Keep Your Luxury Vacation Rental on Top in 2007�

These resolutions, written by Max Starkov and Jason Price for HotelInteractive.com include the following:

1. I will make 2007 the “Year of Mastering Internet Marketing�.
2. I will re-focus my hotel product offering and marketing on the value side of the Value vs. Price Equation.
3. I will develop a comprehensive De-Commoditization Strategy to provide a unique value proposition to my customers.
4. I will embrace Electronic Customer Relationship Management (e-CRM) as part of my hotel’s 2007 strategic objectives.
5. I will consider a robust Consumer Generated Media (CGM) strategy as part of my comprehensive Direct Internet marketing strategy.
6. I will continue making Direct Internet Marketing and Distribution Strategy the centerpiece of my Internet strategy.
7. I will continue to lessen my exposure in the Indirect Online Distribution Channel.
8. I will take a hard look at my Internet assets and adopt a robust Website Re-Design and Optimization Strategy this year.
9. I know that to achieve my ROI goals, I have to go beyond PPC marketing and employ a comprehensive Internet Marketing Strategy.
10. To achieve all of the above, I will Acquire New Core Competencies and Adopt Best Industry Practices by partnering with leading hospitality experts in internet distribution and marketing strategies

The article concludes will the declaration that “From this day forward I will be in control�. This is consistent with our own advice that to be successful in the vacation rental business, you must achieve marketing independence and management independence.

Posted by VRO at 01:33 AM | Permalink

Jan. 7, 2007. While good vacation rental operators did well at the end of this year, such was not the case for the lodging industry as a whole. After posting strong results for the year, the U. S. lodging industry ended on a decidedly weak note.

Strong demand for rooms and earlier in the year prompted many destination hotels to boost rates by double digit percentages. For a while, occupancy rates held up. However, as we have pointed out in previous blogs, occupancy has been declining for the past several weeks. However, we have not yet seen a drop in occupancy as great as that of the last week of the year. According to a report of Smith Travel Research, occupancy declined by 8.2% for the week ending Dec. 30 over the same week a year ago. Even revenue per available room declined for the first time, a decline of 7%.

In the luxury vacation rental industry we don’t have the kind of data that Smith Travel Research provides for the hotel industry. However, our own experience as well as anecdotal evidence of the experience of others indicates that luxury vacation rentals in good locations did very well. In our own vacation rental development, we were fully booked, as were many others.

Posted by VRO at 01:35 AM | Permalink

January 6, 2007. Tourism officials in Jamaica are expecting a record number of visitors this winter, despite the stabbing in August of an Australian tourist, according to the Associated Press. Tourism areas on the island have actually been quite safe, despite stories of crime on other parts of the island, the AP reported.

The upward trend in visitors just goes to show most travelers aren't going to be swayed by a headline. Still, a little common sense goes a long way on vacation, whether you're in sparkling Montenegro or gritty Trenchtown.

A common traveler's maxim has always been to bring more money than you think you'll need, but remember not to flaunt your wad of $100 bills. Consider travel credit cards, which can be pre-paid and can easily be reported stolen, preventing thieves from ever being able to spend a dime of your money. Carry extra cash in a hidden waistbelt to thwart pickpockets.

Travel in pairs, especially after dark. Criminals prefer easy targets, and dislike people in numbers. This rule holds especially true in areas known for crime. Locals, concierges and vacation rental owners will tell you about trouble spots. A little footwork ahead of time can also help, and VacationRental.org's Google maps make it easy to know exactly where you'll be staying during a visit.

Posted by VRO at 01:19 AM | Permalink

January 5, 2007. Forget about postcards and film projectors cast upon the wall. Nowadays, sharing a vacation experience relies on digital cameras, personal computers and the Internet. OK, postcards might still be a nice personal touch, but definitely leave the film projector in the closet.

Today's traveler needs a digital camera, for several reasons. First, the cost of processing photos drops dramatically when you get to choose which ones to print. Just erase those half-dozen grainy sunset photos that look like modern art. Second, digital photos can easily be emailed with personal messages, and you have the options of multiple photos that include you and your cohorts in the photo. Also, a variety of computer programs make it easy to put together slideshow presentations on a PC monitor, and many can be shown on a television when copied to DVD.

One of the neatest innovations of the digital age, however, has to be travel blogs. The Washington Post recently reviewed three travel blog Web sites: TripDiary.com, TravelPod.com and TrekShare.com. Each Web site makes blogging easy enough for a computer novice to manage, and travelers can update their blogs during the trip. Family and friends can even post comments and tell you how jealous they are about your swank vacation rental!

Posted by VRO at 01:14 AM | Permalink

January 4, 2007. "The number of outbreaks of illness on cruise ships nearly doubled in 2006, including a spike in the last six weeks. So far this year, 36 disease outbreaks on cruise ships have been reported to the Vessel Sanitation Program of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2005, there were 19."

Thus began a recent story in the L.A. Times, highlighting the need for cruise ship passengers to be wary. Experts linked the increase to higher numbers of norovirus on land and sea. Norovirus causes vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. The virus dwells in stool and vomit, and can be passed along during food or beverage preparation or when someone touches a contaminated surface and then touches their mouth.

Cruise ship passengers can decrease their chances of being infected by washing their hands often, especially before eating, and by adopting healthy lifestyles that boost the immune system.

Travelers can avoid the crowded conditions that fuel norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships by booking a luxury vacation rental instead. The extra space in a luxury vacation rental is the polar oppositie to the kind of confinement one encounters on a cruise ship. But even when staying on land, travelers would do well protect against infection by following some of these recommended precautions.

Posted by VRO at 01:23 AM | Permalink

Jan. 3, 2007. “Operations at several big regional airlines -- the carriers that feed millions of passengers to mainline airlines -- deteriorated sharply last year, with late flights, lost baggage and cancellations soaring.� This is the conclusion of Scott McCarthy in his Wall Street Journal column. (Subscription required).

Mr. McCarthy reports that the slipping service at some regional airlines is the result of explosive growth and cost cutting. He points out that some airlines have found themselves with schedules too tight to load and unload planes without delays, and with no cushion to catch up. He says, “Since mainline airlines typically control the scheduling of their regional partners, the small-jet airlines have been whacked with flight cancellations at hub airports to make room for the mainline airlines' bigger planes when bad weather or construction slow traffic.�

McCarthy lists the worst airlines for delays and lost luggage. Atlantic Southeast and Comair top the list. He also offers three suggestions as to what you can do:

“• Consider driving, especially if you're within 200 miles of your destination or connecting airport.

“• Book longer connection times to make sure you -- and your bags -- make the next flight.

“• Avoid regionals altogether and book mainline flights only�

We agree with this advice. Many luxury vacation rentals are located some distance from a major airport. Most guests who visit them arrive by auto. Even those who must fly should consider taking a flight to the nearest airport that services a mainline flight and driving the rest of the way. There is nothing that can spoil a good vacation more than being stranded at an airport or having your luggage lost.

Posted by VRO at 01:25 AM | Permalink

Jan. 2, 2007. As we reported in yesterday’s blog, January is the busiest month for making reservations for popular luxury vacation rentals. However, not all vacation rentals owners have taken the proper steps to update their listings for the New Year.

By now, owners should have posted their new rates for the 2007 season. In addition, they should have updated their listings to reflect all improvements they have made during the past year. The beginning of the year is also a good time to review your listings or web site to make sure you are displaying your property accurately, but in the best possible light. Perhaps some of the photos are not as good as they could be.

Vacation rental owners who are members of VacationRental.org receive a lot of valuable information on how to best display their property, whether in directory listings or on their own web site—which we recommend. Our latest newsletter contains the most helpful information we have ever published. “Ten Proven Tips to Keep Your Luxury Vacation Rental on Top in 2007--An Owner’s Manual for the Operation of Luxury Vacation Rentals� is available to members only.

Posted by VRO at 01:00 AM | Permalink

Jan. 1, 2007. Although the holidays are not over it is time to start planning that summer vacation if you are choosy about where you plan to stay. Property management companies and agencies that advertise rentals report that reservations spike just after the holidays according to a Chicago Tribune article by Carolyn Bigda. She quotes Ross Twiddy, who manages rental property in North Carolina's Outer Banks, who says “January is our busiest month and January 2 is the busiest day of the year for reservations."

This is consistent with our own experience. The reservations come in hot and heavy starting early January, as savvy renters try to make sure they lock in the times that they want at the vacation rental of their choice. Renters who are more flexible on their schedules and where they stay have more flexibility. However, the best luxury properties at the best locations are booked up very early in the year.

The article goes on to warn renters to read the fine print and to clearly understand what they are getting before booking a vacation rental. We agree that is good advice. At VacationRental.org, we require full disclosure and truth in advertising of our listings. Also, we urge our property owners to be careful not to add on all manner of extra fees as do some rental owners.

Our philosophy is to give our guests more than they expect and avoid hitting them with unexpected charges. It is part of our core philosophy of under promising and over delivering.

Posted by VRO at 01:07 AM | Permalink