Vacation Rentals Blog

February 28, 2007. Many people consider their pets to be part of the family, so it's no surprise they want to bring them on vacation. While most luxury vacation rentals do not allow pets, there are some that do. Animals add a whole new element to the trip, so travelers should be prepared for the challenges. A little bit of planning and research goes a long way.

First of all, pets require special consideration when traveling. One-half million pets fly each year, according to a recent article in the St. Petersburg Times. If you don't want your dog or cat to ride in cargo, the author said, you'll have to buy it a seat and keep it in portable cage during the flight.

The number of critters who ride in the car must surely be much greater, but remember to use caution when leaving cats and dogs in vehicles. Many experts urge us not to leave our pets alone in a car because they overheat quickly, especially in cars left in the sun. We leave our dogs in the car for short periods (never more then 10 or 15 minutes) and try to park in the shade, open some windows, and leave them some water.

When reserving a luxury vacation rental, make sure the owner allows pets. At VacationRental.org, we list the pet policies of our homes under "On-Site Amenities." Make sure to double-check with the owner in case their policy has changed recently.

Finally, research the rules of the attractions that you will visit. All national parks, such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, prohibit pets on trails, but the nearby national forests that typically surround these parks do allow pets on trails.

For help finding out what businesses welcome dogs, we turn to DogFriendly.com, a web site with links to restaurants, shops and other establishments that welcome our four-legged family members.

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February 27, 2007. Ski resorts recognize that, sometimes, people would rather spend their ski trip inside their luxury vacation rentals than on the slopes. They understand this is often the case with women married to "go-go, hypercompetitive men," as one writer and spouse wrote in an article reprinted on DallasNews.com. For that reason, women-only ski and snowboard clinics have become increasingly popular.

Such lessons are the perfect way to finish the ski season, which still has a couple of months left in the Western United States.

Led by women, for women, these classes can be found at most major resorts now. The author said "the women taking part felt more at ease skiing with peers and not having to worry about 'making fools of themselves.'" The group lessons also foster a sense of camaraderie and can be tailored to the different needs of different groups, according to the article.

The author took her ski lessons in Colorado. I've personally known women who've enrolled in women-only lessons at Squaw Valley USA in Lake Tahoe, and the experience gave them much more confidence. They found the women's group lessons considerably more effective than any personal walk-up session, and thought the female instructors were much more inspiring than their male counterparts.

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Feb. 25, 2007. While most travelers to luxury vacation rentals go by motor vehicle, a large number of winter travelers head for warmer climates by air during the winter months. These are also the months that people are most vulnerable to colds and flu. Many travelers would swear that they get sick after every trip or vacation.

As reported by The Independent Traveler, they may be right and the cause may be airplanes. It reports that, “Airline carriers are also formidable carriers of the common cold; a recent study says you may be more than 100 times as likely to catch a cold on a plane as in your normal daily rounds, according to a study publishing in he Journal of Environmental Health Research: Common cold transmission in commercial aircraft: Industry and passenger implications.�

The report indicates that the most likely culprit is extremely low cabin humidity when airplanes fly at high altitudes. At very low levels of humidity, the "natural defense system" of mucous in our noses and throats dries up and is crippled, creating a much more tolerant environment for germs to infect us. Of course, the fact that passengers are breathing recirculated air doesn’t help. On any large flight during the height of the cold and flu seasons, the chances are that at least some of your fellow passengers are highly contagious.

In a previous blog published on Oct. 24, 2006, we recommended certain steps to take to avoid getting sick. Among these tips were washing your hands with hand sanitizers and taking vitamins. My own favorite is Emergen-C, which is high in Vitamin C, but everyone should take what works best for them. I take a dose before and during the flight. If it is a particularly long flight, I may take more than one dose. Since I have started following my new routine, I have been free of the frequent colds that formerly plagued me when traveling frequently on airlines.

After reading the article in The Independent Traveler, I will add two more steps to my routine—1) Sipping water or some other fluid regularly throughout the flight and 2) Use of nasal mists to keep my protective mucous membranes working.

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Feb. 24, 2007. There could be nothing more frustrating than heading off to your favorite luxury vacation rental for much –needed rejuvenation only to be trapped for hours on an airplane sitting on the ground. That is the situation that many vacationers have found themselves in with the winter storms that airlines have faced in the last few months.

In the case of Kate Hanni, a realtor who was headed to the gulf coast with her family during for a holiday vacation in December--only to be trapped on the tarmac of an airport in Austin before being allowed to get off and spend the night at a hotel at her own expense--it was a call for action. As reported in the Associated Press, she began a blog that resulted in a petition drive for an airline passenger’s bill of rights.

As shown by this thread of blogs in the Washington Post, it has become a hot topic among airline passengers. The issue came to a head in the recent meltdown of Jet Blue, when some passengers were trapped on airplanes sitting on the ground for as long as ten and a half hours. Members of Congress have begun introducing legislation to provide better protection for airline passengers. Among the authors of legislation are Senator Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, Senator John McCain, and Senator Barbara Boxer.

Clearly there is a sense that airlines can’t be trusted to police themselves, and therefore a new law must be passed. It is clear that a new law will be passed unless the industry shows some leadership and deals with this problem in a meaningful way. The industry trade association, the Air Transport Association, has issued a rather weak statement that seeks in part to shift the blame. However, they did offer one sensible idea, calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “to work with airlines to allow long-delayed flights to return to terminals in order to offload passengers who choose to disembark – without losing that flight’s position in the departure sequence.�

However, if the industry is to avoid intrusive Federal regulation that might hamper the efficiency of airlines and cost consumers more in the end, the industry and its trade association must step up and develop their own passengers bill of rights that they will adhere to. This is one of the valuable roles that a trade association can perform-- the development of industry standards. That is the only way that a group of fierce competitors can work together to solve a problem such as this. If there is a concern about antitrust violations the Department of Transportation can act as a partner in the development of industry standards.

We strongly believe that customers of both airlines and lodging operators are entitled to expect certain standards. That is why we established the VRO Standards of Quality for our vacation rental listings. If the airline industry fails to step up and guarantee humane and fair treatment of passengers, they can be sure that thousands of people will join in the grass roots movement for a passenger bill of rights and add their names to the petition found at The Travel Insider.
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February 23, 2007. When folks in the Mid-Atlantic States want a good time on the beach, they book a luxury vacation rental at Rehoboth. The area, little known outside the region, was featured this week in the Washington Post.

The general name actually refers to two bays –its namesake and the Indian River – as well as the Atlantic beaches. A system of barrier islands, the Delaware Seashore State Park, sits at the mouth of these bays, keeping the waters therein fairly protected from the ocean. On the north side, the twin towns of Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach could be called the Daytona Beach of Delaware. On the south side, the town of Dewey Beach serves a mellower crowd. The rest of the bay remains tranquil and seemingly untouched.

The Washington Post story focuses on the wonderful spas in the area and the fact that winter can be a great time to visit. The beaches also draw big crowds for spring break. Music fans also come for several music showcases: the Delaware Music Festival, Dewey Beach Popfest, High Tide Jamfest and Dewey Beach Music Conference.

If water sports are your thing, you've found the right place. Surfing, sailing, kayaking and motor boating have become the official pastimes, with dual personalities to choose from in either the ocean or bay.

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February 22, 2007. Need an excuse to get away to a luxury vacation rental in Arizona or Florida ? The regular baseball season doesn't start until April 1, but teams begin spring training on Monday in these sunny states.

Pauline Frommer told CNN.com fans can score tickets for $5-$25 apiece and can get unusually close to their sports heroes. That kind of opportunity has become so popular with sports fans that one town, Lakeland, Florida, sees its population swell by one-third during the training season. The extra tourism pumps $25 million into the local economy, she said.

With fewer people at these pre-season games, your chances of catching a fly or foul ball also increase markedly, she said. Thanks to the thin air at higher elevations in Arizona, balls often get hit higher and farther. And at rookie camps, you just might see the next big star get his chance to hit the big leagues.

A spring training trip provides the perfect opportunity for a guys' trip, or some father-son bonding. Pair the vacation with some amusement parks or spa visits, and the whole family can find something to enjoy.

For ticket information, visit Major League Baseball's Spring Training website.

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February 21, 2007. Traditional wisdom says vacation is for rest and relaxation. Many travelers, however, just can't sit on a beach all day. Hence, the "active" vacation for golfers, hikers and such; the "volunteer" vacation for those interested in public service; and, now, the "education" vacation for those who love to learn.

One recent article highlighted the growth in educational (also known as "experiential") travel packages and the increased attendance at the annual Education Travel Conference. The conference started 18 years ago with "15 to 20" participants and will host more than 200 registrants this week in Baltimore. The trend has caught the attention of major travel agencies such as Abercrombie and Kent, as well as universities and non-profits pursuing the hearts, minds and pocketbooks of donors.

"A survey of U.S. travelers taken last year by the Travel Industry Association found that 56 percent said they were interested in taking an educational trip and 22 percent said they were more interested now compared with five years ago," according to the article.

While the news story highlights exotic locales such as the Galapagos Islands and Iran, experiential vacations can be had closer to home, without booking custom packages. We recommend reading a book on your destination before leaving, and then visiting a local historical museum.

Read "Sheridan in Shenandoah," for example, and you'll be able to smell the gunpowder when you visit Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, site of the epic Civil War meeting of General Robert E. Lee and Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant. A walk through the local namesake museum will complete the trip back in time.

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February 20, 2007. Everyone's heard of the Rocky Mountains and the Grand Canyon, but what about the Black Hills and the Red River Gorge? For many adventure travelers, choosing the trail less taken can be very enticing, so we wanted to highlight some lesser known outdoors destinations in the United States.

Many people have heard of Mount Rushmore, but few know this monument sits among the Black Hills of South Dakota. This mountain chain drew gold miners in the days of the Wild West, and the old towns here still pay homage to that era. While some of the historical sites can be a little crowded, you're far less likely to see other people in the Black Hills National Forest than in most of the country's popular national parks.

Up north, the Wisconsin River flows through a beautiful canyon called the Wisconsin Dells. Also the name of a region for summer getaways, this fun area has long been popular with locals. Rent some kayaks and paddle among the bluffs, or go for a hike on the Ice Age National Trail.

Down south, the Red River Gorge of Kentucky features giant rock arches, tall rock shelters and sinuous canyons. Think of Utah, with lush eastern forests instead of desert landscape. The sandstone cliffs are ideal for learning to rock climb with one of the local guide services. Local shops carry hiking books and maps.

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February 19, 2007. A weekend (or week) in a luxury vacation rental in New England could be the perfect spring getaway. Spring brings the production of maple sugar in the trees, an annual occurrence that marks the start of a new season. The Associated Press recently reported on the opportunities for a "sweet weekend" in the Northeast.

Chucklin Sugarworks in Vermont puts an interesting twist on its tree farm tour with horse-drawn carriages. In Massachusetts, the big festival takes place in Sturbridge, close to Boston, creating some interesting possibilities for a "town and country" vacation. The maple days also coincide with the spring migratory bird season on the coast of Maine.

As you can imagine, pancake breakfasts are all the rage this time of the year. What a great way to start an active day!

In the spring, many of the best ski areas may still be open high in the mountains, while the golf courses will beckon players down in the valleys. This is also a great time for hiking, for two reasons: without the dense canopies of leaves, the views remain open and the spring wildflowers cover the forest floors. We also love touring the idyllic small towns and shopping for antiques.

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February 18, 2006. Mention your interest in a luxury vacation rental, and someone's bound to offer you some advice. But how valid are those nuggets of insight? Legendary travel writer Arthur Frommer wrote a great column debunking some common myths and assumptions perpetuated around the water coolers and dinner tables of America.

"Though they mean well, your friends can ruin your next vacation by giving you bad advice. To wit: You get what you pay for. Wrong. All over the world there are expensive hotels that rip you off and bargain properties that offer great value. For instance, there are all-inclusive deluxe hotels in the Caribbean that claim they have several a la carte restaurants, but none seems to be open when you want to use them. Don't automatically assume that a high price is a guarantee of value. Do your homework."

We agree. VacationRental.org has plenty of private homes on the beach that offer spectacular value.

Frommer goes on to skewer conventional wisdom passed around in party conversations.

Booking at the last minute? Sorry, but sellers have become wise to this buyer's strategy. Foreign currency? You don't get a better exchange rate at home, so don't make yourself an easy mark for thieves by stepping off the plane with a wad of bills. Devices and gadgets? Leave 'em at home, unless they're absolutely necessary.

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February 16, 2007. Savy vacationers, including those shopping for luxury vacation rentals, have learned to be skeptical of online reviews for lodging. Reuters broke some good news yesterday for travelers who plan their trips online. Travel websites, such as Priceline.com and Expedia.com, are getting tougher on fake online reviews for hotels.

Every Internet user, at some point, has probably worried about the authenticity of a user-generated online review for a hotel, restaurant or merchandise. After all, anyone can post this content.

Reuters quoted Priceline.com's chief executive, Jeff Boyd, from a speech this week at the Reuters Hotels and Casinos 2007 Summit in Los Angeles:
"We have certainly seen instances with other properties where insiders have put reviews up for a particular hotel or a particular thing and it's not a legitimate review… It's somebody who's in effect been paid to make the property look good."

Although we sometimes find user reviews helpful, we do urge consumers not to base their entire decision upon one or two positive entries. When booking accommodations online, try to find photos of the interior and exterior of the property, and verify the property's location with an online mapping service.

VacationRental.org offers luxury vacation rentals that meet strict criteria for inclusion on our website. We always include Google maps of the locations, and most of our listings have links to the rentals' websites, which feature numerous photos.

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February 15, 2007. Did you and your sweetheart spend Valentine's Day planning a trip or daydreaming about travel? If so, we have a few Valentine-themed articles from the Internet this week.

Luxury vacation rentals provide the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. If you would rather stay in, they provide much more privacy and intimacy than hotel rooms. Call it a home away from home, without the responsibility and stress that takes the flavor of love out of our everyday lives. Some even feature hot tubs!

The first story we read appeared in InsideBayArea.com and focuses on – what else? – chocolate. If your sweetheart was angry that you didn't buy her a box, make up for the omission buy planning a chocolate vacation to New Brunswick or one of ten other suggested destinations for chocoholics.

Rolf Potts' column focuses on the important considerations we make when hit the road with our significant others. "Few things test a romance like traveling together," he writes. In order to avoid a catastrophe away from home, Potts offers a list of questions to ask before making the commitment:

Are you willing to compromise on destinations, expenses, and other joint decisions?

Do you expect to spend every moment of the trip together, or can you be independent of one another as a couple?

Will you try and pack in a lot of activities, or be open to taking things as they come?

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February 14, 2007. Savvy travelers have long known about the benefits of the "off" season: saving money and escaping the crowds. Recently, an article in the Boston Globe reminded us of those advantages. Writer Sacha Pfeiffer tells us about her trip to the Outer Banks last February and concludes, "…winter showcases the Outer Banks at its best."

This beautiful coastal region of North Carolina consists of a 100-mile long stretch of barrier islands. The ocean side features beautiful beaches with surfing, fishing and scuba diving. The inland side faces massive sounds with equally good fishing, as well as wildlife viewing and sea kayaking. Some of the islands have wild horse populations, a remnant of the Spanish explorers. Luxury vacation rentals can be found in remote corners of the islands or next to small towns with restaurants and shops.

True, you can't work on your tan in the winter in North Carolina – this isn't the Caribbean. But the mild climate of the area meant "mostly sunny skies, temperatures in the 50s, and only one day of rain," during Pfeiffer's trip.

During that vacation, she had the Nags Head Woods and Currituck Banks National Estuarine Research Reserve all to herself. She didn't have to jostle for a spot on the Hatteras Ferry. Nor wait for a table at any restaurant.

Sounds good doesn't it?

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February 13, 2007. The first sentence of the article says it all: "Ask five people to sum up Sedona, and you'll probably get five wildly different responses." The New York Times highlighted Sedona in its "36 Hours" series this weekend, and the wide variety of activities the article featured proves this Northern Arizona town has broad appeal. The author called it "…a quirky city that some call the most beautiful place in the United States."

We suggest you stay in a luxury vacation rental for longer than just one weekend, however. After all, as the article shows, there's more here than you can see in just 36 hours.

Northern Arizona offers every outdoors activity you can imagine, rivaling mountain destinations such as the Adirondacks and the Pacific Northwest. Whether you enjoy golfing, fishing or hiking, the stunning red rock desert background will captivate you.

Apparently, a mysterious, unknown force also seems to captivate many visitors, making this a New Age destination on par with Northern California. Crystals and metaphysical books might vie as bestsellers in the local stores with Southwestern art. For all the great restaurants and galleries, Sedona could be called a smaller version of Santa Fe.

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Feb. 12, 2007. In a Washington Post article, Cindy Loose does a great job of describing the diverse attractions of Tahoe. She says, “California or Nevada? Ski or gamble? On this iconic lake, you don't have to take sides.�

She reports that the lake, which reaches depths of 1,645 feet, never freezes, so you can boat and fish even in the coldest months. You also have the option of sampling the best of two states—the casinos and nightlife of Nevada and the historical sites of California.

Tahoe is a favorite of serious skiers since it averages 30 feet of snow a year. However, as the article points out, “there is plenty for non-skiers to do. In fact, it's worth the trip just to look, to gaze on what winter adds to an already awesome landscape.�

Having visited Lake Tahoe, we agree with Ms. Loose’s high praise of a wonderful and unique resort area. One other reason we like it is the abundance of luxury vacation rentals at reasonable rates. Many of these can be found at VacationRantal.org.

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Feb. 11, 2007. The latest weekly report of Smith Travel Research indicates the continuation of a trend we have witnessed in the last months of 2006 and the beginning of 2007—occupancy rates that are below those of the previous year. For the week ending Feb. 3, occupancy was down 2.3%.

We attribute this decline to two factors – 1) the large increase in room rates last year and 2) the continuing efforts by the business sector to cut cost by finding ways to do more business electronically and cut travel costs. As we commented in a previous blog, the growth in future travel is expected to come in vacation travel rather than business travel.

Our view is that luxury vacation rentals in desirable locations that are reasonably priced should continue to see an increase in business in 2007. However, the market may become more competitive in some locations. For more information on how to compete consult our Top Ten Proven Tips to Keep Your Luxury Vacation Rental on Top in 2007--An Owner’s Manual for the Operation of Luxury Vacation

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February 10, 2007. If you haven't made plans for spring break yet, now is the time to do so. But before buying into one of those "all-inclusive" packages being pushed so hard on college campuses, consider an article in the student newspaper at Northern Illinois University. The Northern Star published an article titled "Don't Get Scammed over Spring Break," urging students to be cautious while planning their vacations.

The article advises students to "make sure their travel agent is credible, ask for every detail in writing, confirm the final costs and understand the restrictions and cancellation penalties."

"Students should also find out the exact name of the hotels and airlines and confirm their legitimacy. Additionally, students should always be wary of giving credit card information over the phone."

We disagree with the article's contention that using travel agents is preferable to the Internet, although we don't dispute travel agents can be helpful. One of the best ways to avoid being scammed online is to use a reputable service such as VacationRental.org, which requires all properties to meet its standards of quality.

Luxury vacation rentals provide a great value for students on a budget who want to split a home with their friends. VacationRental.org features great properties in hot destinations such as Florida, Lake Havasu and Mexico.

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February 9, 2007. Yesterday, we talked about the 'mancation.' Well, if the guys get their own trip, you can be sure the women get a 'girls getaway.'

This is your chance to let your husband take care of the kids for once. Is that a scary thought? Don't worry, says Rhonda Hostetler, creator of the Girls Getaway website. Guys learn to manage.

This is also your chance to vent your frustrations to someone who will actually listen (unlike your husband). As the Million Dollar Mama put it,

"You don't have time for all the self-help and how-to books that are piling up on your nightstand. Instead of spending all those hours pouring over books, go away with the girls for great conversations."

We recommend renting a luxury vacation rental for the best value and most space. Try these great destinations:

California Wine Country – Welcome to the land of wine tours, spas and cute little shopping towns. Napa and Sonoma are also home to some of the country's best yoga studios, where you can find a new, healthy hobby.

New York City – Shopping doesn't get any better than midtown Manhattan! Schedule a makeover at one of the city's famous salons, then head out for a night on the town. You could never get your man to go to the theater, but the girls might be up for Broadway.

Asheville – Some call it the Paris of the South, others the Boulder of the East. This little city has a beautiful downtown filled with boutiques, craft shops and delicious restaurants of all types. It's also nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, one of the country's great outdoors playgrounds. The local massage therapists will pay house calls to your mountain cabin.

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February 8, 2007. Two generations ago, guys might have gone on an annual hunting or fishing trip and women… well, women would have stayed home and watched the kids. Today, we have two of the trendiest terms in travel: "mancation" and "girls getaway."

For women, gender equality has doubled the amount of stress in their lives while putting bigger paychecks in their purses. No wonder they want (and need) to escape the responsibilities of family- and work-life every once in a while. Suburbanization has taken the hunt out of many men, but their desire to gallivant with the guys has remained intact.

Today, we'll suggest some trips for a mancation. Ideas for girls' getaways will come tomorrow.

The very term "mancation" might be a little too strange for most men to utter if it hadn't been popularized by Vince Vaughn – one of the coolest dudes around – in the 2006 movie "The Break-Up." Since then, a whole cottage industry has arisen. Websites offer advice. The word pops up everywhere in the media.

We think the best guys' trip begins with a luxury vacation rental. After all, you're not in college anymore, so there's no need for two dudes to share a bed or sleep on the floor. Here are a few suggestions:

Las Vegas – Of course this trip involves poker and nightclubs. But there's more to Vegas than The Strip, so rent a luxury vacation rental that provides easy access to the world-class golf resorts around town. Set aside one day to rent jet-skis and race around Lake Mead.

Scottsdale-Phoenix – Another great golf destination, Scottsdale, sits just outside of Phoenix, a major city with a professional baseball and football team. Learn how to drive like NASCAR pros at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving .

Colorado Rockies – Embrace the inner mountain man with a cabin in the mountains of Colorado. During the winter, you can ski and snowboard by day, and party at the resort villages by night. In the summer, hire a fly-fishing guide, rent mountain bikes and go whitewater rafting.

Posted by VRO at 01:32 AM | Permalink

Feb. 7, 2007. Although most travelers to luxury vacation rentals travel by auto, many travelers use the airlines during this time of year to head for warmer climates. Trips to the beaches of South Florida, the Caribbean, or Hawaii require using our nation’s air travel system.

For those taking to the air, it is worthwhile to read the column of Scott McCartney of the Wall Street Journal, who reports that despite financial recovery, many carriers are still plagued by spotty customer service. McCarthy gives US Air poor marks for, “customer service, ranking last among the 10 biggest airlines in the rate at which bags were lost and the frequency of consumer complaints.� . He says, “The same could be said for Continental Airlines Inc. -- strong financial performance with lots of growth, but a black eye from ending up in last place in both on-time percentage and the rate that it involuntarily bumped passengers from flights.�

McCartney explains the poor customer service as follows, "Even though airlines started making money again, a lack of employees and broken-down equipment added to travel woes last year, suggesting that carriers need to spend more now that they are making more. Planes were fuller last year. Ticket prices were higher. Flight delays increased. More bags got lost. And security hassles rose exponentially after liquids were banned from airplane cabins, then permitted in small quantities under rules still not uniformly enforced or even understood by federal security screeners."

The article reports that only Southwest Airlines Co. was on top of a 2006 scorecard both financially and in its operating performance. For a list of airlines, and their rankings in five service categories check the chart in the Wall Street Journal (Subscription Only).

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February 6, 2007. Airline industry observers have long discussed an era in which smaller jets will provide travelers with more flexibility and fewer out-of-the-way layovers. With a recent announcement by ExpressJet, we may be seeing the beginning of that new era.

This week, ExpressJet announced 24 new direct jet flights to U.S. cities to begin this spring. The news prompted an article in USA Today, which examines the company's past, present and future.

ExpressJet had been operating as a contractor to fly small jets for Continental under the name Continental Express, but has now emerged as an independent company that offers its own branded service. The new jet flights will provide non-stop alternatives on routes often overlooked by the major players. Amenities will include large leather seats, free XM satellite radio, and the absence of middle seats – meaning everyone gets either a window or aisle seat. According to the USA Today article, fares are surprisingly competitive.

A similar company, Independence Air, only survived for 19 months. ExpressJet says it has identified the problems that took Independence down and doesn't intend to make the same mistakes. If this company succeeds, we see this service creating many new possibilities for travelers who enjoy staying in luxury vacation rentals.

Need to meet some clients on a Friday morning, but have to meet family in New Mexico that night? ExpressJet's non-stop flights to Albuquerque will provide new choices that don't involve wasted time during a layover. Other great vacation destinations the airline will serve include: Boise, Tucson, Raleigh/Durham and Jacksonville, Florida.

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February 5, 2007. The L.A. Times featured an article that will surely resonate with parents. "Relax the Rules; Let Kids Have a Say" offers ten tips for vacationers who are bringing children. Many of our favorite memories include family vacations, so we urge travelers to go with quality lodging. Luxury vacation rentals give everyone just the right amount of space, and the extra amenities will really come in handy on a rainy day or during "down time."

Writer Diana Dawson must have a family to have been able to write up such a thoughtful list. To begin with, she recommends abandoning the "tradition hierarchy" and letting everyone have a say. That goes hand in hand with another tip: plan for variety. Families who embrace these two tips will surely end up happier when everyone feels like they've gotten to do what they wanted – not what Mom and Dad made them do.

That reminds us of a few great places where everyone will find something to like:

Lower Michigan – The family can start with a day at the beach, either on the Great Lakes or one of the inland lakes. Then head out for miniature golf or go-kart racing at one of many small adventure parks, such as Fun Country Amusement Park or Kokomo's Family Fun Center.

Virginia Beach – Rent a pedal car and cruise up and down the boardwalk, stopping for ice cream or pizza. Then feed their minds at the Children's Museum of Virginia.

Southern California – Hit up Knott's Berry Farm or Disney Land for some theme park fun. Then look for the stars of your favorite actors on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while keeping an eye out for the look-alike movie characters who pose for photos.

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Feb. 4, 2007. This week’s news that US Air ended its hostile takeover bid of Delta is good news for luxury vacation rental travelers in the Eastern United States, where both airlines now compete on many routes. This is particularly true for some of the smaller cities that are prime vacation destinations in the Middle Atlantic States and Southeastern states such as North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Many political leaders expressed opposition to the merger because they feared the impact of less service for their constituents. Even if Delta had agreed to the takeover, it was far from certain that the merger would be approved by regulators because of its impact on competition.

Delta management issued a statement cheering the US Air announcement.�This is a proud day for the thousands of Delta people, customers, communities, civic leaders and others who stood up for our standalone plan and said, emphatically, 'Keep Delta My Delta,'" said the statement from Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein. "We appreciate the unsecured creditors committee's endorsement of our plan of reorganization.�

We agree that competition results in better service to travelers. This is as true in the airline business as it is in the vacation rental business. For more information on the failed takeover see the story in CNNMoney.com .

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Feb. 3, 2007 The Washington Post’s travel staff has compiled a tip sheet on how to find the best travel deals. Not surprisingly, theses tips include renting vacation lodging directly from owners. They point out that rates are frequently much better than at hotels, and since the properties usually have kitchens, you can save money on meals.

The article points out that the down side is , “you won't have the peace of mind that comes with renting from an established hotel chain, but if you do your homework -- quiz the owner beforehand, ask for pictures and talk to former renters -- you can find some great deals.�

Another way to avoid the down side of vacation rentals is to look for a luxury vacation rental on VacationRental.org (VRO), where the owners of all listings pledge to meet the VRO standards of quality. This registry of luxury properties constantly advises its members on how to meet its standards of quality and exceed guest expectations.

Posted by VRO at 04:43 PM | Permalink

February 2, 2007. Snowboarders and skiers make travel arrangements a bit differently. They don't necessarily look for the best deal – they want the most snow. So, now that we're halfway through winter, we looked around North America to see what's newsworthy when it comes to ski conditions.

New Mexico has been getting hammered this year, prompting a feature in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and a mention of two resorts, Taos and Angel Fire, in SkiNet's "Top Ten Snow Reports."

The blizzards have abated in Colorado for now, but light snows have been keeping the slopes in great shape in the Rocky Mountain state.

After a warm, dry start, North Carolina just saw the second of three storms to hit the mountains in a two-week span. During that time, temperatures have been below freezing at night, allowing the resorts to blow snow as well.

Finally, we have to mention the Northeast. Things also had been tough up there, but Elliot Abrams at AccuWeather predicts a cold February that might help. Resorts like Stowe, Vermont, which can groom well and make plenty of snow if necessary, have already improved and should only get better.

Posted by VRO at 01:48 AM | Permalink

February 1, 2007. At first, "The 10-Point Caribbean Escapes Plan" in the New York Times makes planning a vacation to paradise seem… well, a little daunting. Consider this passage:

"You can end up with the trip of a lifetime or a vacation from hell. Just ask a newly married couple who have planned a romantic getaway only to find themselves sharing the pool with dozens of screaming children, or the adventure-seeking windsurfer who has ended up on the windless side of the island, or the party animals who didn't realize that the hot spot they had heard so much about is already so last year."

Don't worry – at least you've got VacationRental.org and the Times to help you. The Times laid out the skinny on 10 Caribbean islands, so you'll know what kind of personality each island has. VacationRental.org requires luxury vacation rentals to meet a strict set of criteria for listing, so you don't end up with something you didn't bargain for.

We were pleasantly surprised to hear JetBlue now has direct flights from New York City to the Dominican Republic, putting this island in the category "For Budget Travelers." We were also excited to hear that Elton John and Gladys Knight will perform this year at the jazz festival in Tobago, helping earn Trinidad and Tobago the title "For Clubgoers." Although we like reggae, we LOVE golf, so we agree Jamaica should be "For Golfers." We also agree the Bahamas have the best beaches, making them the best "For Beach Bums."

We hope the article helps you decide where to book your next luxury vacation rental.

Posted by VRO at 01:50 AM | Permalink