Vacation Rentals Blog

May 28, 2008. Industry figures and tourism officials feel good about business this summer at the luxury vacation rentals near Glacier National Park. The Great Falls Tribune, a local newspaper, examined the reasons for their optimism.
"Higher gas prices and a weaker dollar may mean people won't fly to Europe this summer," said one local lodge owner. "It also means it's a lot less expensive for Canadians to vacation here."
Take last summer, for example. That's when gas prices hit $3 per gallon, and the park still received a whopping 2.083 million visits, six percent higher than the previous year and the highest in 13 years, according to the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana-Missoula.
"When times are tough, people come to the national parks," one concessionaire said. "The American public has it ingrained that it is their right to take a vacation, and many view a trip to the parks as economical."
Nearby Yellowstone National Park also had a banner year last summer, and projections call for a two percent increase in statewide tourism, according to the article.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 08:47 PM | Permalink

May 22, 2008. For those who enjoy luxury vacation rentals, staying connected and having the latest techology can be equally important. There's a new crop of gizmos aimed at the techy traveler this summer, and we surveyed a few web articles to see what's out there.
Notebookreview.com looked at an ideal laptop, the Gateway T-6828. With its 14" screen, this portable PC is among the smallest out there, making it easy to cart around. It's also of solid construction, which can be important when these machines get tossed around cars or airplanes. The good battery life also comes in handy when you're on the go and can't recharge.
The new crop of world phones has many globe trotters excited, but an article in Laptop magazine reminded readers to investigate each carriers global plan. Per minute rates can go as high as $2.99, and not all carriers are created equal in their ability to adapt to different frequencies. Look for a discount plan that can be bought for a single month, resulting in significant savings on the minute rate.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 08:29 PM | Permalink

May 20, 2008. A recent poll suggests gas prices aren't going to dissuade Americans from their luxury vacation rental rituals. Six in ten of those surveyed said they won't be changing their travel plans this year, according to a press release from the Travel Industry Association.
Of those who said they would change their plans, the overwhelming majority (38%) intended to simply stay closer to home to cut their gas expenses.
It's unclear how much the economic stimulus tax rebate will help. Only one in six said they intended to use their rebate check to help pay for travel.
The news fares well for an industry that relies heavily on the summer vacation season for a bulk of its profit. The poll also underscores how much Americans value their vacations. Even though consumer spending, housing and other sectors have slowed, the travel industry's health could buck the trend.
There are many destinations in the United States from which travelers can choose.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 08:40 PM | Permalink

May 13, 2008. Author Malcolm Gladwell popularized the sociological term "tipping point" as that moment when a phenomenom hits a certain threshold. Could we be hitting a tipping point in air travel, especially with the effect it will have on the luxury vacation rental industry, business travel, and overall tourism this summer?
Every week, more news stories and columns examine a new angle on this story. As the economy bottoms out, hurting the summer travel season, the One-Two Punch might be just what it takes.
As Joe Brancatelli noted in Conde Nast's Portfolio.com, there are compelling arguments on both sides of the aisle as to how bumpy the ride will be this summer. Pessimists point out rising costs all around, from airfares to extra fees, marching in lockstep with increasing delays and cancellations. Optimists could say the recent mergers will alleviate some of the sky-high congestion, and all this pessimism might scare the airlines into dropping prices.
Either way, something needs to be done.
The new book "Terminal Chaos: Why U.S. Air Travel Is Broken and How to Fix It," offers a few solutions. To begin with, airlines should have to bid for a limited number of slots at America's busiest airports, a move that could force them to increase efficiency and end wasteful cancellations and delays. It's an interesting start to a tough problem.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 10:02 PM | Permalink