Vacation Rentals Blog

August 26, 2008. This is a good time to reserve a luxury vacation rental for a fall golf outing, so we thought we'd help with the planning. Golf.com recently published an article on four eco-friendly golf courses. Here are their picks:

The Sanctuary Golf Club (Sanibel Island, Florida)
Edging up to a wildlife sanctuary, with a bird rookery alongside one fairway, these links really bring the nature experience.

Spruce Peak at Stowe Mountain Club (Stowe, Vermont)
Aububon Society-approved, with plenty of hills -- true to Vermont's nature.

Old Greenwood (Truckee, California)
This North Tahoe attraction embraces green building and recycling, and has donated greenspace to the local community.

Sanctuary Golf Course at Old WestWood (Scottsdale, Arizona)
Let's face it -- the greens can be a little demanding on water. That's why this course turned a stormwater retention area into an oasis and haven for local flora and fauna.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 08:41 PM | Permalink

August 21, 2008. Our last blog discussed luxury vacation rentals in locales that were home to the Olympics, so why not stay with the newsworthy theme? With the Democratic Presidential Convention coming up next week in Denver, USA Today looked at vacation destinations of past and possibly future presidents.
Verde Valley, Arizona - Located two hours north of Scottsdale-Phoenix and a half-hour south of Sedona, this sleepy agricultural valley enjoys peace and quiet -- for now. Expect all of that to change of John McCrain gets elected, as it is home to his private retreat.
Oahu, Hawaii - Barack Obama spent part of his childhood here, and his grandma still lives in Honolulu, the state capitol. He returns at least once per year for Christmas and was recently spotted surfing -- for real.
Key West - Harry S. Truman spent so much time down here during the winter that his island home was named the Little White House. There are also the more popular white sand beaches...

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 07:51 PM | Permalink

August 19, 2008. Watching the Olympics not only inspires us to do our best, but to travel. Each location that has hosted the Games has a fine selection of luxury vacation rentals, some of which may even have been erected to accommodate attendees.
Here's a list of our top Olypmic travel destinatiosn:
Salt Lake City - Snowboarding took center stage at these games as a new but popular sport. That same year, Utah exploded as favorite winter spot. Ski the fine powder, and the reason will become clear.
Los Angeles - This city, of course, needed no introduction to the world stage. The Games did, however, spark a revitalization of the Downtown area, which had long ago ceded celebrity status to the suburbs.
Lake Placid, New York - Long a favorite getaway of NYC-dwellers, this upstate getaway remains quiet today, compared to some other vacation hotspots. That's just the way some folks like it.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 07:48 PM | Permalink

August 15, 2008. Stay a week at a Lake Tahoe luxury vacation rental , and you might very well begin to wonder how you can buy one of these beautiful houses or condominiums. For most people, the price tag will very quickly snap them back into reality.
But could the recent trough in the real estate cycle spell opportunity for would be second-homeowners?
According to a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle, some of these properties are hitting the auction block for half their orginal asking price. Residential sales were down 40 percent for the second half of this year compared to the same period last year, according to the article, a trend that has repeated itself in vacation destinations across the nation.
Of course, we're talking big numbers here. Properties that were going for $1.5 million are now hitting the auction block at $695,000. But that's Tahoe, one of the priciest markets in the country.
Savvy investors know that the downturn is the right time to buy. Ironically, many rush in while the market is sizzling. Their hope, no doubt, is to flip a property within months, but this strategy leaves too many buyers stuck after the peak. Now is the time to buy, and wait for the inevitable upturn in yet another cycle.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 07:38 AM | Permalink

August 11, 2008. One of the largest and most popular rock arches in the Arches National Park has collapsed, the Associated Press has reported. Park officials say natural causes led to the collapse.
The area is very popular with travelers who stay in luxury vacation rentals in Arizona and Utah. There are several popular Natioal Park Service sites within a three hours' drive of each other.
According to reports, officials blamed to particular culprits: gravity and erosion. All of these magnificent formations will fall at some time, they said. Don't worry, however -- the treasures are falling at a rate as slow as their formation.
Still, the news item will no doubt spark a surge in visits to the area. Wall Arch, as the natural wonder was named, was the 12th largest of the park's 2,000 such features.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 08:16 PM | Permalink

August 7, 2008. With the 68th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally well underway this week, it's easy to daydream about a long ride to a nice, private luxury vacation rental. While we fantasize, many are touring the Black Hills of South Dakota.
The infamous event brings to mind all the great places to cruise in the United States. Western North Carolina has the Blue Ridge Parkway and the "Tail of the Dragon" on US 129. Washington State has the Mt. Baker Road. The list could go on and on...
Rental homes and condominiums are the best accommodations for motorcycle riders. Set up "base camp" and go for new rides everyday, really getting to know a place. Forget about having to track down subpar lodging every night!

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 09:20 PM | Permalink

August 5, 2008. The Outer Banks of North Carolina might be an example of a travel phenomenom happening across the country. According to a recent newspaper article, this beach destination saw an increase in visitors this June over June of last year. That, despite "soaring gas prices and other impediments to tourism."
One thing is clear: visitors overwhelmingly preferred to rent houses and condos for their accomodations.
While stays at campgrounds, hotels and motels was down, and restaurants reported less business, the overall numbers were up, especially at vacation homes.
Interestingly, one grocery store owner said his business was up this year. The trends suggest many travelers may be taking advantage of the kitchens at their homes-away-from-home... opting to eat in, instead of eat out. One can imagine the overall price savings!

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff at 07:36 PM | Permalink