Vacation Rental Deals

Archive for August, 2009

Foodie Destinations

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

Do you like to eat? Well, why not make it the focus of your next vacation? The world is full of foodie paradises, and it’d be a shame to miss out. Vacation Rentals.com not only features roomy accommodations with kitchens that you can cook in, but it’s also got properties located in the top foodie destinations.

Pair some fine wine with a fine meal in Napa Valley. Get your fill of French food in Paris. Or give in to your gluttonous side in Las Vegas. No matter where your appetite takes you, your tummy will be fully satisfied!

How should you go about planning a foodie vacation, though? For starters, just think about your favorite foods. If you hate Mexican food, don’t head to Texas for example. If you love everything, go somewhere you’ve never been before! Top foodie destinations include Napa Valley, Italy, France, Las Vegas, New Orleans, New York, Miami, Hawaii, Chicago, Boston, and DC.

Before your trip begins, use resources like OpenTable.com to reserve spots at top restaurants. Also, make sure to eat in for a few lunches or dinners here and there – that’s easy to do in a vacation rental, and it will save you lots of money.

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Car-Free Vacations

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

While airfare and lodging costs go down, rental car rates just keep skyrocketing. It’s like the rental car companies have no idea we’re in a recession. Or they just realize they can get away with charging you exorbitant rates. Regardless, the moral of the story is that it’s not cheap to drive while on vacation. Even when you’ve got your own car – you still have to deal with gas, and wear and tear/mileage that will cost you later on. So, what’s a traveler who plans on visiting lots of attractions to do?

Sightseeing on foot is the ideal situation. If you book a vacation rental in a central location, you can pull that off with ease. Also, by choosing a destination that’s small in size (relatively speaking) or has a robust public transportation system, you won’t have a problem not driving. Mexico, for example, and many US cities for that matter, have amazing and cheap cheap (sometimes free) buses that you can take around.

A little while back, Vacation Rentals.com actually tracked down the top 5 car-free vacations. That list can certainly give you a head start!

For many, a car is an invaluable asset on a trip. But in most cases, it’s highly overrated. Not only does traveling by foot or public transport save you money, but it’s also a lot more fun. You’ll get to meet more people and see more things when you go on a car-free vacation.

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Group Vacations

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

There are countless benefits of booking a vacation rental over a hotel. But perhaps the most glaring one is this – vacation rentals are big. Even the one-bedroom and studio properties tend to boast lots more space than the typical hotel room. And for a lot less money!

The vacation rental is an invaluable resource for groups traveling together. Whether you’re planning a family reunion, destination wedding, girlfriend getaway, or company retreat, Vacation Rentals.com has more than a few rentals for you to pick from.

3 bedrooms, 6 bedrooms, 11 bedrooms…often for less than $1000 a week! Why would you reserve a string of expensive hotel rooms, when you could accommodate your entire group for less money in one luxurious vacation home – which may even have its own private pool, ocean view, or game room.

If you’re vacationing solo or with just one other person, your accommodation options are pretty vast. But when you’re traveling in a group, there’s really no argument: group-friendly vacation rentals are the way to go!

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How to Get the Best Airfare Deals

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Maybe you’re a pro at finding bargain lodging, but you’ve still got to get to your destination. If you’re flying, you’ve got to budget a huge chunk of your money for the airfare alone. However, there are some fairly easy tips that can get you cheap airfare.

1. Book Last Minute
When possible, find last minute airfare deals (two weeks before traveling). Not everyone can put off this important purchase, but if you’re flying to and from a popular destination, you’ll probably have some good luck here. However, for hugely popular holidays and events, the last minute deals aren’t such a deal. Try booking early in this case.

2. Compare Booking Sites
There are a ton of sites out there that promise the cheapest airfare deals. Orbitz, Expedia, Cheapoair, Hotwire, various airline-branded sites (like JetBlu), and hundreds more. Where should you go for cheap airfare? All of them! Plug in your destination and travel dates on to as many sites as possible and go with the best deal. Remember, though, that taxes and hidden costs are not as easy to see at a first glance. Just make sure to factor this in when you’re going over you roptions.

3. Travel Mid-week
Instead of reaching your destination (or leaving it) on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, book flights for Monday through Thursday. Since these are less popular travel dates, airfare on these days are much more affordable. Of course there are exceptions to the rule if a holiday lands on one of these days (like Labor Day on a Monday or Thanksgiving on a Thursday).

4. Choose Layovers
Usually, the more layovers, the better the deal. So, if you don’t mind making a few pit stops along the way, you’ll save a lot of moolah.

5. Run Away from One-Way
Always see what the difference in price is between one-way and round-trip tickets. Sometimes round-trip tickets are cheaper than one-way!

6. Go with a Budget Airline
There are many low-cost airlines that you may not know of without doing a little research (especially if you’re traveling abroad).
7. Ask a Travel Agent
Sometimes it’s the insiders that have the great deals, and no one else (not even an online booking site).

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Posted in airfare | 1 Comment »

Florida Beach Vacation Ideas

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Ah, the Sunshine State. The idyllic spring to summer vacation spot, but really a great year-round destination. Festivals, beaches, interesting people, awesome seafood, and the perfect mix of cosmopolitan charm and natural beauty – that’s Florida in a nutshell. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your getaway to one of America’s favorite states now!

Family
Florida’s filled with family-friendly destinations, however it’s also got a handful of cities that cater to adults more so than kids. For example, you wouldn’t want to go to Panama City Beach during Spring Break. For good clean fun in the sun, consider Daytona Beach, Tampa, and Amelia Island. For non-stop theme park action, there’s the Disney area and to a greater extent, Orlando.

Outdoor Adventure
Florida’s brimming with lovely lakes and a sweeping coast line – so there’s always opportunity for water sports. If you consider yourself a nature connoisseur, however, book a Florida rental near the Everglades.

Romantic
Looking for a little peace and quiet so you can spend some quality time with your sweetheart? There are plenty of romance-inspiring beaches in Florida – some standouts include Caladesi Island, all of the Florida Keys, Marco Island, and Cocoa Beach. And remember, most couples would have a blast at Disney World!

Party
So, you’re headed to Florida for the social interaction, huh? Well, you’ve got lots of options. Miami (particularly the South Beach area), Panama City Beach, and Key West.

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Posted in Summer Vacations, city vacations, family vacations, florida, outdoor adventure, romantic | No Comments »

Canada on the Cheap

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

If you’re an American, you’ve probably thought about visiting your neighbor to the north. Well, why not today? Sure, Canada’s not going anywhere, but there’s no reason to put off visiting this beautiful country. After all, you’ll probably end up planning a return trip ASAP!

Besides the True North’s many sights to see and things to do, it’s also easy to do Canada on the cheap. We’ve got a few tips for saving money:


1. Nature’s Free To See, And Priceless
Canada is not only full of lovely national parks (like the St. Lawrence Marine Park and Banff, etc), but gorgeous natural surroundings just about everywhere you go. From towering mountains to pristine lakes, you can keep yourself busy just by visiting with good ol’ Mother Nature.

2. Cheap Canadian Vacation Rentals are Plentiful
Instead of booking an expensive hotel room (or a cheap but super small and shady hotel room), go for a spacious and budget-friendly vacation home in Canada! We’ve got rentals all over the country, from Ontario to Vancouver. Not only are Canada vacation rentals affordable, but they’re also the best way to really get to know a city, because you’ll often be residing right alongside the locals.

3. Drive, If You Can
Canada may be a different country, and even a different universe to some, but for many folks, it’s not too far away! You can save a lot of money by driving across the border – rather than flying. If you must buy airfare, just be smart about it. Compare different airfare sites, and try booking your tickets last minute for extra special deals.

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Posted in Canada, Summer Vacations, airfare | 1 Comment »

Making the Most of a Long Weekend

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

With Labor Day around the corner, it’s time to think about how you want to make the most of that work-free Monday. You don’t have quite enough time to fly out to some far-off destination, and you certainly don’t want to waste those precious moments of freedom driving. What’s an overworked cubicle slave to do?

The answer’s pretty simple. Go to VacationRentals.com and check out the rentals we have in your area. Getting away to a nearby B&B or beach house can do wonders. Even though technically you’re less than an hour away from your home, you’ll feel world’s away. And that’s the point.

Not only are vacation rentals available all over the world, but they’re also very affordable. Why not check out a last minute deal in your city?

So, get away for the Labor Day holiday, without wasting time or money! If you’ve got a significant other, we think whisking him or her away to a local vacation rental for the weekend is a great idea. Totally original and surprising.

Do you have plans for the Labor Day weekend? Share them in the comments section!

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Posted in city vacations, holiday vacations | No Comments »

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