Vacation Rentals Blog

December 21, 2007. Reading the New York Times' "53 Places to Go in 2008," one might envision luxury vacation rentals in the most far flung places. But, in fact, the newspaper included several great destinations to be found in our own backyard…

Mid-Beach and South Beach, Miami – These two fabulous communities have designer boutiques, "glitterati hangouts," and, of courses, nice beaches. It's really a testament to their allure that they have continued to make travel lists year after year for the better part of a decade now.

Puerto Vallarta – Perhaps this Mexican beach town seemed another world away when we first saw "Night of the Iguana" in the 1960s. It was during the filming of this movie that Elizabeth Taylor had a much-publicized affair with Richard Burton. Now, thanks to regular non-stop flights to several U.S. destinations, Puerto Vallarta is easier than ever to visit.

San Francisco – There's something about this foggy city by the bay. Maybe it's the year-round mild climate. Perhaps it's the abundance of museums and parks. Or maybe it's the dazzling array of homey neighborhoods with fantastic restaurants, diverse shops and friendly people.

Posted by VRO at 01:42 AM | Permalink

December 19, 2007. When it comes to time to pick a luxury vacation rental for a ski or snowboard trip, stick with North America. That's the verdict from Forbes Traveler, which recently published an article on MSNBC.com called "Top 20 Snowiest Ski Resorts in the World." Only one resort – Japan's Niseko – was not located on this continent.

That's largely because of the orientation of our mountains, according to the report. Storms travel in a West-East fashion. Luckily, the north-south orientation of ranges like the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Wasatch act like walls against which the storms slam up against, dropping all of their snow. Europe's Alps have an East-West orientation, which doesn't pull as much snow out of storm systems.

That's good news for our ski resorts and the luxury vacation rental industry. Europeans already have the incentive to travel here, thanks to the good snow. With the Euro favorable to the dollar right now, their money will also go farther here than it ever has before.

Posted by VRO at 01:03 AM | Permalink

December 17, 2007. Yesterday, we discussed another great excuse for luxury vacation rentals – a guys golf trip for the winter. For all the same reasons, a gals spa and shopping trip makes perfect sense. After all, women of the world work hard all year long to take care of their children (husband included.) What could be better than a relaxing day of massage, mud bath and manicure, followed by a hunt for a new outfit or two (or three or four?)
When planning a gals spa and shopping trip, it’s best to get everyone involved early on. Organize a night out for dinner or drinks, and then offer the idea. Write a list of destinations on a napkin.
California’s Wine Country offers some world-class spas and shopping, and San Francisco’s shopping districts are only a hour away. The Mediterranean-like climate stays mild through winter. Miami also has equally fantastic boutiques and spas. Or, head to San Antonio and its famous Riverwalk, where stores display cowgirl boots alongside high heels.
When everyone’s agreed on a location, offer to handle the reservations and transportation. If anyone volunteers, perhaps you can spread the duties around. If not, have fun planning the trip!

Posted by VRO at 01:44 AM | Permalink

December 15, 2007. Winter is the perfect time to book a luxury vacation rental for a guys' golf trip. Got the winter blahs? Book a guys golf trip. Family got dibs on summer vacation? Book a golf trip in the winter. Slow time of year at work? Take advantage, and… you get the idea.

The first step in putting together a solid guys golf trip is simply to take charge. Trying to let everyone plan the vacation will likely result in little or no progress. So, pick a place (Floridaor Arizona ?) and then do a little research. Estimate the travel costs, luxury vacation rental, green fees, rental car and dining expenses.

Next, email the invitations. The easier you make it for your buddies to say yes, the quicker they will say yes. Throw out the set of dates and the approximate cost. Most importantly, phrase your proposal this way: "The first x of you to commit x amount of dollars for the deposit will get the extra spaces in the Palm Springs rental house." This creates a sense of urgency. Plus, requiring a deposit from them will take some of the financial burden off your back and makes it less likely that someone will bail at the last minute.

Posted by VRO at 01:30 AM | Permalink

December 11, 2007. The only bad part about staying in a luxury vacation rental, or traveling in general, is having to choose what to pack and what to leave at home. This becomes especially troublesome with clothes, so Budget Travel sought out the advice of Clinton Kelly, host of The Learning Channel's "What Not to Wear."

The posed him with a challenge: helping an editor pack for a long weekend in the Berkshires. Here are some of his tips: "The The big rule: "Nothing gets packed unless it goes with at least two other pieces.

1. Nothing gets packed unless it goes with two pieces."

2. Commit to neutrals, which can be mixed and matched more easily.

3. If you bring jeans, choose wisely. Dark jeans (versus light) and straight leg (versus baggy) are more versatile because they can be "dressed up."

One thing Kelly didn't mention is especially pertinent in the winter, and certainly so in the cold Northeast: layering. Layering is a strategy that allows a person to shed or add clothes on layer at a time as conditions change. One good set of layers that matches all the tops and bottoms will go a long way without taking up space. A light sweater, fleece, and rain-proof outer shell is a great combination.

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December 7, 2007. When it comes to luxury vacation rentals, the folks at Fodor's have been all over the world. So, when we saw a list of links collected in the article "Tips for the Super Organized Traveler," we thought we'd make a note of it. The article is full of some good ol' standbys and some choices we'd never seen.

Locate Wi-Fi beforehand. Finding an Internet connection isn't always easy, even in this day and age. That's why it pays to know where to go before you're stuck with no signal. JiWire has a list of locations in most major destinations.

Reservations for two. When you first arrive to a new place, finding a restaurant can sometimes be challenge. Sometimes, finding a restaurant without a one-hour wait can be a challenge. OpenTable.com allows you to find a place to eat while you're still at home (or in the airport lounge) and then book reservations.

What's in the surf? Everyone prefers an unspoiled beach, but they aren't always as clean as we want them to be. In fact, oil spills and sewage leaks occasionally shut down some beaches, and others suffer from less-than-desirable conditions. Visit the Blue Flag Programme for a list of which ones are clean and which ones aren't.

Posted by VRO at 06:34 AM | Permalink

December 6, 2007. With children in tow, skiers and snowboarders have to make different decisions about their luxury vacation rentals. Moms and dads also have to consider how family-friendly the ski areas are. MSNBC just published a helpful guide on kid-friendly ski resorts.

Here are some of the things they discuss:

Safety. Everyone should wear a helmet. Period.

Ski programs. Some resorts have a reputation for great ski schools, and a great first experience can often be tied directly to a good ski teacher. This is especially true for impatient parents, who should leave the teaching to professionals. Smuggler's Notch in Vermont, for example, has a famous program.

Childcare. If the kids are too young to ski, or too young to ski all day, consider putting them in childcare. It may seem like an added expense, but Mom and Dad might enjoy at least one day on the slopes together, for old time's sake.

Terrain. Let's say you're vacationing at Lake Tahoe. The children are just experienced enough to keep up, but not old enough to be set loose (or leave you in the dust). Squaw Valley has the best terrain, but if you can't actually find the time to ski it, settling for Northstar's gentle slopes will save money.

Posted by VRO at 01:30 AM | Permalink

December 4, 2007. The folks at the New York Times must have been dreaming of a luxury vacation rental right on the slopes. The newspaper featured an excellent article on ski condos one day and then dedicated a whole Travel issue to skiing on another day.

In the article "Sharing (For A Price)," the reporter discusses the ins and outs of purchasing vacation rental property on the mountain. Some tips:

1) Buy as close to the slopes as possible.

2) Hire a reliable property management service.

3) Decorate/furnish nicely to earn repeat business.

As for trends, this headline says it all: "Going Green, Luxuriously." If global warming means less snow, it's no wonder ski resorts are making their operations as environmentally friendly as possible. And, in their continuous effort to capture more visitors, they have upgraded many of their features. At Aspen, for example, the employee housing has a new photovoltaic solar array.

Another "36 Hours In…" feature spotlights one of our favorite winter destinations, Park City, Utah. Perhaps more than any other town, Park City has attracted an infusion of urban amenities, from high-profile chefs to Hollywood celebs. Most importantly, the skiing is to die for.

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December 2, 2007. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, many families are bonding in places such as malls, outlet centers and urban shopping districts. In honor of this fringe benefit to Christmas, we'd like to suggest some gift gathering destinations:

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware – The Washington Post just ran an article on this outlet mecca. What a brilliant plan: 140 tax-free stores to make up for the lull of the off-season.

Charleston, S.C – This uniquely beautiful city has an old-world flair that will have you feeling like the star of a Christmas movie. Independent stores like Half-Moon Outfitters stand side by side with brand-name big-hitters like Abercrombie & Fitch and Victoria's Secret, all on pedestrian friendly city streets. Unlike Rehoboth, December temperatures could easily linger in the 60s.

Orange County, Calif. – While Minneapolis and Philadelphia both have larger malls, Orange County, home of the third-largest mall, has guaranteed good weather. Macy's, Robbinson-May, Nordstrom, and Sak's Fifth Avenue are the anchors. When you're all shopped out, relax on the beach or hit up the museum connected to the mall.

Posted by VRO at 02:49 AM | Permalink