Vacation Rentals Blog

April 30, 2008. Rising food costs might not just be a concern at home. Many people traveling this summer may notice higher prices at restaurants, too, as those establishments pass the cost of increases on to their patrons.
This could be a boon to the luxury vacation rental industry, as travelers seek to pare down their food bill by eating in. But it might also spell trouble for the restaurant industry, especially in seasonal tourist towns where profit margins are already small.
A recent article in the Arizona Republic told the stories of restauranteurs in Scottsdale-Phoenix, a major destination. Many agonized over the decision of whether to raise prices, fearing it would hurt their business. In that area, less expensive restaurants such as Denny's and establishments without waiters - and hence no tipping - began to fare well as patrons looked for cheaper solutions.
Rental owners may find that advertising their kitchen amenities could earn them some extra reservations this summer. Meanwhile, travelers may want to consider eating out just a little less, and paying a little more attention to prices when they do treat themselves.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 09:48 PM | Permalink

April 28, 2008. With summer right around the corner, the nation's leading business magazine has turned its microscope on the tourism industry. Specifically, the Wall Street Journal looked at how luxury vacation rentals, tourist attractions and other travel-related sectors will fare. Recession fears, high gas prices and negative media attention on the airline industry will no doubt have an impact.
The article identified a few trends:
Staying close to home. Many vacationers report they will be staying close to home, which will benefit regional destinations and theme parks. Although fewer Americans will travel abroad, many Europeans will come to America to take advantage of the weak dollar.
Cutting back. In one survey, respondents said they would eat at less expensive restaurants. Travel agents reported shorter trips and cheaper lodging choices. Others are scanning the Internet more closely for bargains.
Customer incentives - sometimes. Vacation rental owners have had to offer discounts in some regions to make sure their condos and beachfront homes are booked for the summer. In the case of some destinations, such as one theme park company, discounts will become more rare because people are staying close to home.
Hopefully, the influx of European travelers and tendency for Americans to stay home will outweight the negative effects of a potential "travel recession." Only time will tell.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 09:20 PM | Permalink

This year holds mixed news for luxury vacation rentals near national parks. On one hand, the weak dollar could mean that more American travelers decide to stay in the United States, rather than travel abroad. On the other hand, high gas prices and continuing headaches with the airlines could mean some people might just stay home.
Regardless, there are many reasons to be excited about what's new at the national parks, according to Rob Lovitt's column on MSNBC.com. This year's theme seems to be visitor centers.
This month saw two new visitor centers at major vacation spots. The Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania unveiled a $103 million facility with a 22-minute film and 12 galleries housing more than 300,000 artifacts. The Blue Ridge Parkway has a new destination hub in Asheville with a film and an interactive "I-Wall," a 22-foot long map with a plasma screen slider.
Two other visitor centers won't be open until summer and fall, but deserve extra recognition for the way they were built. Denali National Park in Alaska and Lassen Volcanic National Park in California will both have energy-efficient green buildings with the highest "Platinum" level of certification from LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This will be Lassen's first visitor center, by the way.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 09:06 PM | Permalink

If the real estate cooldown has affected luxury vacation rentals, one would see it least in the condominium market. While the sale of vacation homes fell 31 percent, the sale of vacation condos rose 8 percent. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal examined this new trend and offered some explanation.
The article cited three primary reasons for the shift from stand-alone houses to condominiums:
1) Affordablility - In markets like Hawaii, $1 million will only get you a condo. Forget about buying a beachside villa at that price.
2) Maintenance - For many Baby Boomers, the thought of mowing lawns and cleaning gutters reminds them of the 40 years they spent saving for retirement. And for absentee owners, the chores of upkeep take away from the joys of vacation. Condos offer easy, maintenance-free living.
3) Style - Urban living is fun again, and condos carry that sense of a hipness and simplicity. New villages that recreate that sense of downtown living - even in the suburbs - are becoming increasingly common.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 08:57 PM | Permalink

April 15, 2008. Whether you fly to luxury vacation rentals, high-powered business meetings, or both, you probably have noticed with some concern the recent airline news stories. Here's a quick wrapup:
American Airlines Woes Continue
After being grounded last week and forced to catch up on delayed maintenance, the airline now faces criticism from pilots and stockholders. The beleagured airline is expected to announce $300 million losses for the first quarter, right before executives receive their massive April bonuses. Hopefully, the Texas -based carrier arrives on time in the Lone Star State.
Delta and NW Move Closer to Merger
What do you get when you cross America's third largest carrier (Delta) with its sixth largest carrier (Northwest)? The world's largest airline. Atlanta must be salivating; this will be the biggest thing to hit Georgia since the Olympics. Now, if they can just clear the regulatory hurdles.
Other Airlines Watch the Headlines
Pundits like Blake Fleetwood at the Huffington Post speculate that American may have been made an example of, and other airlines will match their newfound adoration for safety with a longing for mergers. And if the airline industry is hitting rock bottom, like the housing market, things are bound to be looking up, according to the Philly Road Warrior.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 08:12 PM | Permalink

April 8, 2007. Most Americans don't want to skimp on their vacation, but with high gas prices, something might have to give. One of the most interesting news trends concernign gas prices might be the practice of "hypermiling," in which drivers incorporate a variety of tactics to maximize their mileage.
The South Bend Tribune published yesterday an article about this cultural-economic phenomenom. One driver interviewed for the article claimed he could get 100 miles per gallon out of his Toyota Prius by driving his car slowly, putting his car in neutral and coasting and trying to minimize the stops and starts of city traffic.
Proponents say its a great way to save money, but some critics are calling it unsafe. In many states, it's against the law to coast in neutral, and some drivers say the slow driving is a hazard for other drivers.
One thing is for certain - With rising fuel costs and bad press for the airline industry, more people might be caught between a rock and a hard place this summer. While you might not be able to hypermile your way to Cape Cod or the Rocky Mountains, it might pay to go a little easy on the gas pedal.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 09:10 PM | Permalink

April 2, 2008. If you're a scuba diver about to book a luxury vacation rental, you may want to check whether or not you'll need a passport this year under the new travel rules. This month's issue of Scuba Diving magazine offered a good Q&A on the matter.
Here are some top destinations to which Americans will now need to bring their passports:
Cayman Islands - Known for the diversity of underwater features and sites, from walls to reefs to shipwrecks. Plans to sink more ships will create new playgrounds for divers.
St. Martin/St. Maarten - Beginners will appreciate the abudance of rewarding yet shallow dives, while experienced visitors will enjoy the abundant wildlife, coral formations and rock formations.
Here is a destination that won't require a passport:
U.S. Virgin Islands - Sea caves and large underwater canyon offer some unique places to explore, but there's really a little bit of everything here.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 09:02 PM | Permalink