Vacation Rental Blog

June 19, 2009 With the recent demise of several Extended Stay hotels in Las Vegas, there became an immediate opportunity to help introduce guests to a superior form of extended stay lodging, the vacation home rental. Most people simply opt for the typical glorified hotel room and haven't a clue that much better options are available. The typical extended stay hotel in Las Vegas will cost about $80 per night for a one bedroom suite. For that same rate, Las Vegas Retreats customers can have an entire 2 bedroom condominium with two king or queen beds, a real kitchen and dining room, and a family room with big screen or flat screen television. Considering that cable television and high-speed Internet access is also included for free, the value should be obvious to even the casual traveler. All this from, Las Vegas Retreats, one of the leading providers vacation home rentals and condo rentals in Las Vegas, NV. More information can be found in this article from PRweb

Posted by VRO at 06:32 AM | Permalink

June 18, 2009 TravelStorm plans to empower the Vacation Rental Industry with Rezolution, a state of the art booking engine and content management system. Focusing on simple user-interface, Rezolution provides powerful tools that integrate with all of the Instant Software products including First Resort, Entech, Property Plus and V12 in order to make managing a website seamless. Integration is in the development plan for other leading industry software solutions. TravelStorm's owners are Joe Scurto and Amber Leto, both seasoned Vacation Rental veterans with extensive portfolios of web development, innovative marketing plans, Search Engine Optimization services and Vacation Rental Consulting. More on this new development from PRWeb

Posted by VRO at 06:15 AM | Permalink

June 17, 2009 Here are some great tips for finding a nice vacation rental and if you plan to take a trip to the beach this summer but haven't booked a place to stay yet, you're in luck because rentals are still available. If you know where you are going and when you're going, do an online search for that specific area. If your destination is relatively flexible, check out some of the bigger vacation rental sites. If your time-frame is flexible and particularly if it close, check Craigslist.org for owners discounting on unreserved last minute dates. There are more tips and details from the examiner.com

Posted by VRO at 08:01 AM | Permalink

June 16, 2009 Families are still coming to the beach in the face of a recession, they're just waiting until the last minute to decide to do so. After all, it would be no surprise if families who traditionally travel to the beach year after year made this particular vacation season an exception to protect their already dinged wallets. In past years for oceanfront properties in the month's of June, July or August, rentals would be booked out and they regularly start booking up to nine months ahead. Not this year, as it is a very good year to call in even at the last minute and it might be a little less expensive. More on how vacation rentals are doing in this recession from this article in the ocregister

Posted by VRO at 07:01 AM | Permalink

June 15, 2009 A vacation rental is often the most economical and convenient way to arrange accommodations at a vacation destination. These days, more and more, owners are posting their properties on the big online want ad sites—Craigslist and Kijiji. Many of the listings are obviously identical to those on the major rent-from-owner sites that charge listing fees. Some, however, cover the type of rental you seldom see on other sites: personal homes available for a few weeks to a month or two while the owners are away somewhere else on vacation. The want ad sites may have some of the lowest prices, but the risks of disappointment are highest. However you arrange it, most vacation rentals require full prepayment, often months in advance, and most provide very limited refunds for cancellations. For that reason, it is strongly recommended that you purchase trip-cancellation insurance any time you arrange a rental. More on this from smartertravel.com

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June 12, 2009 Some people who once used their vacation homes solely for their own enjoyment are now renting them out. Homeowners can hold on to more of that rental income by marketing the property themselves. An effective do-it-yourself Internet campaign can cost less than $500, compared with the 10% to 25% of total rental income that real-estate agents and management companies may charge to find tenants. Renting a property for even one or two weeks can produce found money. Homeowners can rent their property for up to 14 days without reporting the income to the Internal Revenue Service. Some owners run vacation homes like businesses. A lawyer or accountant can determine the most appropriate option for minimizing taxes and liability. These and more tips available from this article on finance.yahoo.com

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June 11, 2009 Vacationers will absolutely cherish a holiday experience in Martinique. The island features sophisticated French culture along with stunning beaches. You will be captivated by the dazzling white sands of some of the island beaches shore that shimmer like a diamond under the sun. With a wonderful Caribbean atmosphere, the island best beaches with white sand located on the south shore are Cap Chevalier and Plage de Salines. For your lodging, Martinique vacation rentals are available within the island in different variety such as luxury hotels, cottages, villas, condos, apartments and private homes for rent. You can always make a comparison which can give you a more comfortable accommodation at a lower rate. For more information on a vacation in Martinique try this article from traveltips.utilizer.com

Posted by VRO at 07:56 AM | Permalink

June 10, 2009 A vacation rental is often the most economical and convenient way to arrange accommodations at a vacation destination. These days, more and more owners are posting their properties on the big online "want ad" sites. Many will rent through one of the big rental specialist sites. For minimum risk, consider renting through one of the many online vacation rental agencies that inspect and screen all properties they list. Posted descriptions are based on inspections by agency staff rather than whatever the owner might submit. Your financial deal is with the agency, which must cope with any complaints or problems. The "want ad" sites may have some of the lowest prices, but the risks of disappointment are highest. Through-owner sites usually give reasonably low prices, and the bigger ones provide at least some protection against misrepresentation. The lowest risk is renting through an agency that has actually inspected the properties it arranges, but, of course, you'll pay more for that reassurance. More on this from baltimoresun.com

Posted by VRO at 07:16 AM | Permalink

June 9, 2009 Vacation rental expert Milan Matchev has announced the launch of the Manual For Vacation Rental Owners: 100 Tips for successful Renting, a highly informative e-book which reveals the true secrets to 100% occupancy ratios of vacation rental properties not only during peak season but also during off season by implementing little known strategies which the author has discovered from personal experience and meticulous research. The business of vacation rental property management is no more just a simple business, it’s a full fledged industry with hundreds of properties around the world being added to the inventory each day. Vacation rental ownership comes with the added responsibility as a hospitality industry service provider and the e-book shows how to assume and exercise this role in a responsible manner. To download the eBook and read more try this article from newdesignworld

Posted by VRO at 06:51 AM | Permalink

June 8th, 2009 This summer, procrastination might just pay off. Last-minute deals on vacation rentals around the country offer savings of up to 50 percent off regular rates. Considering that vacation rentals already tend to offer better value than hotel stays, particularly for families or groups, additional discounts really are the icing on the summer vacation cake. more on specific deals from this article in smartertravel

Posted by VRO at 06:42 AM | Permalink

June 5, 2009 Do you love your ocean vacations and long for a second home at the beach? Buy that second home and let it help pay for itself as a vacation rental. Beach area homes are in high demand, so they don’t get hit with the down side of the real estate market to the degree other segments of the market are affected. You need to work with a broker who is experienced with both real estate sales and vacation rental management so you can understand the ins and outs of vacation rental ownership. Having a house at the beach is wonderful. It’s rented out most of the time, but when you are there, you can work on it and have fun at the beach. Beach area properties range in price, but good bargains and fixer-uppers are still to be found. Beach front and bay front properties are most desirable and will bring in the highest rents. You can expect to pay less for a home or condo a little farther from the water, but it will also bring in lower rents. In general, you need to decide what your goals are and what you can afford. Be sure to talk with your tax professional about the rules regarding second homes and vacation rentals. All this and more from missionbeachmagazine.com

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June 4, 2009 Property owners and managers at Plum Island and Salisbury Beach say the market for their rental units is soft this year compared to previous summers. The slowdown applies equally to people who have a single cottage to rent out and those who have dozens of places. There are unbelievable choices out there for people who want to be on the oceanfront. Bookings are off in part because of the economy. More on this story from newburyportnews

Posted by VRO at 07:51 AM | Permalink

June 3, 2009 It is no secret that a majority of vacationers use the Internet for researching and booking their next vacation and vacation rental customers are very internet savvy and informed consumers. Their online shopping experiences have led them to not only look for the best properties available but also for the best possible values. Vacationers with Outer Banks Blue are able to choose from Oceanfront to Soundfront and all areas in between and have numerous amenity options including private pools; hot tubs; high speed Internet access and even pet-friendly properties. Outer Banks Blue provides all guests with needed linens including fully made beds and towels for all guests based on the advertised number of people a property will accommodate. The Blue Plate Special will change daily and the savings on that property will only be available for 24 hours – so it behooves people to check in with us every day to find their perfect vacation rental and act quickly when they find their next vacation. More on their Blue Plate Special from this article on news.hospitality-1st.com

Posted by VRO at 08:11 AM | Permalink

June 2, 2009 Rental property managers from Silver Lake to South Haven are reporting 10 to 20 percent discounts for properties. Owners are also forgoing annual price increases or offering incentives to make the best of the 10-week peak summer rental season. With weekly vacation rentals averaging $1,700 and going up to $5,000, discounts can amount almost to a free day at the beach. Owners will discount for an upcoming week that's not rented but, if you're calling now to rent in August, there's likely no discount. A lot of properties will now do a three-day minimum but, if someone walks in the door, we will book them for just one night if there are vacancies. Part of the reason our rentals are up is that people are shifting away from the all-inclusive vacations and cruises, sticking closer to home and doing family vacations at the beach. More on this from mlive.com

Posted by VRO at 08:25 AM | Permalink

June 1, 2009 The recession is making vacation rentals more appealing to travelers because they're typically less expensive than resort hotels. Panama City Beach has a wide range of deals this summer for travelers looking to get away without breaking the bank. This year, travelers can take advantage of free-night stays, lodging specials and kids-eat-free deals to take advantage of 27 miles of pristine shoreline. To find some of these best offerings available try this article from al.com

Posted by VRO at 07:38 AM | Permalink