Vacation Home Rentals Blog

Summer is far from over, but I find myself thinking about what beach vacation homes would be prime real estate for snowbirds come winter, or where you no-fuss brides might host a quickie wedding against a beautiful backdrop of sand and sunset.

Check out the monthly rate on this Jersey Shore vacation home starting Nov. 6, 2008 to May 14, 2009 (save for the week of Nov. 25 to Dec. 2): $3,000. When you consider the peak summer rate is $55,000 a month, that’s a friggin’ steal.

The pictures sell it. Clambakes on the grill, two wicker chairs on the deck, views of the surf from the bedrooms, living and dining rooms. Shoot, even if it’s cold (and what could be colder than Chicago in the winter anyway?), I could see myself curled up with a blanket on the patio while reading a book or–how old-school is this–penning a handwritten letter.

The trilevel, 3,050-square-foot vacation rental is fitted with an impressive seven fireplaces, six bedrooms, including two oceanfront master bedrooms, another master suite and five bathrooms. A dining room table seats 12, meaning that no one will have to eat a meal in front of the TV.

For a couple considering a low-key, all-in-one spot for ceremony, reception and lodging, why wouldn’t you book this Jersey Shore home? And the words “Point Pleasant” would look quite nice on an invitation, no? There’s a certain whimsy to it.

Someone get engaged already so you can invite me to this house.

Not everyone is a fan of the sand and surf. (Freak) I am, but chalk that up to being raised in a beach town and feeling claustrophic when I’m not near a body of water.

You like that, too?

Next year, I’m hoping to shake off the bias and explore my inner pioneer.

Just 17 miles south of Flagstaff, Ariz., sits this no-frills A-frame wooden cabin vacation rental nestled in a cul-de-sac. Fully furnished with two queen beds, four twins, a full kitchen, wood stove, two outdoor decks, the 1,250-square-foot space amazingly accommodates up to 10 guests, but hopefully most of the vacation would be spent outdoors.

Located in the Coconino National Forest in the quiet community of Munds Park, it’s an escape meant for hiking, ATV riding, fishing and canoeing.

I especially love it that Nashanna Sharp was able to let her 2-year-old play outside “and not worry about traffic” when she and her family of eight stayed there in January. Since I made Chicago, Ill., my home, there’s a bit of guilt that my little girls don’t know what real green space is, save for a few public playgrounds by the lake.

And if this charming cabin happens to be too quiet for me, then I could always drive 15 minutes to Flagstaff. That’s the plan anyway.

It’s tough traveling with kids. After the diapers, swimsuits, flip flops, sneakers, sippy cups and if you’re brave enough to lug them to avoid another rental fee – car seats – are all packed, you cross your fingers your hotel room is big enough for you, your husband, babies and the one suitcase you were forced to share.

When you’re on vacation and especially when you’re with family, you need your own space.

This five-bedroom, four-bathroom Orlando vacation home on a corner lot in the gated community of Calabay Parc at Tower Lake sleeps 10, an ideal situation for that extra large brood or couples vacationing together. Three king master suites with their own bathrooms save folks from getting up extra early to get a shower before anyone else. (You’re on vacay. You should be in bed, in the pool, on the golf course, not captive to an alarm clock.)

A lanai provides privacy to a heated pool and deck, which is where I’d be spending most of my down time. And for your kids: a new game room with pool table, foosball and air hockey, plus a highchair and crib for extra iddy biddy ones.

If you’re feeling the temptation to overpack your bags, don’t. There’s a Walmart nearby. You’re not going to Siberia. They have diapers in Orlando, too.

My brother-in-law, the lucky -itch, is stealing away next weekend to Key West.

I’m embarrassed to say that I never visited the Keys despite having lived in Florida for four years. Shameful.

He’s taking his girlfriend on a romantic vacation. Knowing him, he’ll probably book his flight the day before. The bachelor doesn’t own a computer–and why would he–because life barely spills outside a one-mile radius. He lives so close to work he could walk if he wanted to.

When I bumped into this Key West vacation condo rental, I immediately thought of him. The Heron isn’t about frills, but it isn’t shabby either. The space, literally within steps of the Keys’ nightlife epicenter, Duval Street, makes the most of its one-bedroom, one-bathroom space and has a patio, fish pond and shared pool to boot.

The white tile floor throughout reminds me of my bro-in-law’s own Tampa kitchen. There’s a microwave (perfect for heating up late-night munchies) and coffee maker for warming up water for tea to coax his body out of a hangover. Stove, too.

I’m not sure he’ll have the time or interest in visiting the Ripleys Believe It or Not! Museum or deep sea fishing, but both activities are certainly available should he get tired of doing body shots on Duval. And while location is convenient, the vacation cottage isn’t “so close that crowds are a nuisance,” says Berkeley, Calif., resident Robert Riggs.

Good, because tea drinking requires quiet time. Right, Adrian?

On my list to do before I die: Renew vows in Hawaii.

Seriously.

Cheesy, but true, but I wasn’t “the bride” when I got married in 2002. I mean, I was, and I had a big white wedding in Ireland to boot, but that was my hubs’ dream nuptial. He planned everything, from the vintage Rolls Royce that cruised us to Loch Derg to the chicken vol-au-vent appetizer at the reception.

So let me take this opportunity to scope out the dream site for our next party. What do you think of this Anini Beach vacation home?

The first bash was loud, splashy and an all-out town extravaganza. The next time I want something more low-key, perhaps with just immediate family. With all the Hawaiian condos, huts and cottages from which to choose, the simplicity of this Anini Beachside home spoke to me.

Five steps out the door and you’re looking at the ocean. In fact, the master, living and dining rooms all face the water. I’m envisioning many lazy mornings on the Egyptian sheets with the windows open. Cool breezes. Ah.

The rooms are tastefully decorated without tracesof tacky tropical florals or tiki bric-a-brac anywhere. I could see that dining room table and wicker set in my own house.

The majestic Kamani tree sold me, too. Re: wedding ceremony … Couldn’t you see Chinese lanterns hanging from the branches with an aisle of seashells lining a path to the surf?

Sorry for getting all Modern Bride on you. That’s the wedding planner in me.

Cute house, though, and what a precious name: Anini Bikini.

Every year I enter that damn HGTV Dream Home giveaway, and every year I lose.

I don’t need a big house, just a quaint escape like this Sandbridge beach vacation home with stainless steel appliances, long breakfast bar, patio, in-ground pool, gas grill, tons of natural light, etc. OK, so a big house.

Oh, and preferably never lived in and near my hometown of Virginia Beach, Va.

Because everyone likes to be the first one in a home, no? Or a first in anything.

I’m digging the seafoam-colored walls, modern lighting fixtures and tasteful wooden furniture. And talk about space. It sleeps 14. How you, your uncle, his son, your sister-in-law, mother and more want to divvy up shower times you’ll have to figure out on your own. As big as it is, the vacation home has just three showers, not counting the outdoor one.

Sandbridge appeals to me overall for its non-touristy feel. Read=There is no “scene” here, unless you count watching surfers or fishing. A total of three restaurants, one yogurt shop and two local bars complete this manageable beach town.

I’m ready to break this vacation home in. Are you?

Aguada, Puerto Rico vacation home

In the days of  freakishly high prices, it is still possible to go outside the U.S. on vacation, and for practically nothing. As a last-minute summer special, the owner of this Aguada, Puerto Rico, vacation home is renting the property for $99 a night for a full week or $110 per per night for four days. Normally, it goes for $139 a night on weekdays and $149 a night on weekends.

With its trilevel construction, modern lines, rooftop deck and sleek interior (Check out the red leather and camel club chairs), the space brings South Beach style without the fancy price tag and in a chiller neighborhood.

I could easily see the house as the site of your next vacation, what, with surfing,  scuba diving, fishing charters and restaurants nearby. A full kitchen, two bedrooms and an open loft that can double as a third bedroom means ample room to spread out and settle in. And you can pack your suitcase as light as you want – the rental is equipped with its own washer and dryer, plus all the extras like towels, linens, beach chairs and a hair dryer (Hey, sea-salted hair is not cute.).

On a historical note, Aguada was rumored to be the landing zone for Christopher Columbus when he stumbled across Puerto Rico in 1493. You can bust out with that knowledge when you’re enjoying rum cocktails and ceviche on the roof.

And wow. Talk about an ocean vista.

If you don’t believe me, take it from Jenny Kanter, a Bostonite who stayed at this Puerto Rican townhome this spring: “We had great views of the ocean, which was just down the hill (2 min walk)… We just got home and already miss the view…”

I’m jealous.

The hubs is going on a bachelor party weekend before a friend gets hitched in Chicago this October.

I can only hope that A)He’s going to pull all the $1s and $5s from his own secret stash and not our joint account or credit cards at 4 o’clock in the morning and B)No one tells me what the boys get into. I don’t want to know.

I heard the word Vegas tossed around initially so the cool (er, controlling) wife in me decided to poke around on this site for ideas. Shoot, maybe if the guys don’t go, I’ll book a weekend away to this Spanish-style vacation home for me and my girls.

But first, gentlemen, the good stuff.

• It’s five minutes to the Strip. In fact, you can see the neon playground behind the house.
• Check out that 82″-inch DLP HDTV. It can read Blu-Ray movies, not that you’ll be, ahem, watching movies over the weekend. (And just in case, a second 55″ TV is downstairs for the fellas who can’t choose between “Goodfellas” and “Godfather II.”)
• For those nights you want to just chill in the backyard with beers and burgers, the grill and pool have your names on it. There’s even an outdoor shower and hot tub.
• If the mancation happens to include some golf outings, there’s acres of space to store your gear – either in the two-car garage or one of many rooms.
• The joint has 11 beds, one for your fraternity brother, brother-in-law, bookie and all those new “guy friends” you’ll be doing shots with at the Palms. All told, 20 guests can crash at the house.

Ladies, somehow the home’s proximity to a police station hasn’t detracted from its popularity. “The Great villa has overnight become our hottest, most on demand property,” according to the listing. That should give you some peace of mind, right? A little 5-0 nearby means your betrothed will have to abide by the law.

Or so we can hope.

In my 20s, wanderlust hit me hard. New York, San Francisco, Florida, you name it. I wanted to visit. Part of feeding that beast was staying connected with friends–even if years had passed since I last physically saw them–just in case the opportunity to couch surf came up. The fools never said no. Lucky me.

This Chicago midrise condo reminds me of where I might have stayed back in the day.

Maybe you’re a student on a tight budget or high school junior checking out Loyola University for undergrad, or a couple relocating to Chicago who wants to sniff around the city from the inside. Forget the fancy hotels downtown–choose this base to explore Rogers Park, the beauty by the lake with miles of beaches, cafes and restaurants.

The rooms are pretty small and spartan (Think bed, kitchenette and blinds or shades) but the vintage building boasts an enviable location: It’s steps from the beach, close to the El and Evanston.

Unlike North Avenue and Oak Street beaches to the South, which are popular singles’ cruising and ogling zones, the sand between Pratt and Touhy feels like “the people’s beach.” You’re as likely to see big Mexican families barbecuing and playing soccer as Little Leaguers practicing after school.

Parents, if Loyola happens to be your son’s top choice, this eight-story brick building will likely be similar
to places he might eventually rent off campus. Like this one, a lot of the older buildings have been renovated for condo dwellers with refurbished hardwood floors and new appliances, while still maintaining vintage charm. At $60 for weekdays and $80 for weekend nights, it’s a fraction of what you would pay on Michigan Avenue.

Stash that extra cash for dinner at Gruppo di Amici or drinks at Morseland.

Fun fact about your resident blogger: I recently vacationed in Laguna Beach, and yes, because I was hooked on the show.

I mean, wasn’t that part of the fun? Not necessarily seeing how the whole L.C.-Stephen-Kristin drama played out,  but to peek inside their HOMES.

Couldn’t you just see yourself sunning yourself inside Lauren’s infinity pool overlooking the Pacific? wouldn’t have been fun to have a barbecue in her outdoor kitchen with all your thin, bronzed, fabulous friends? There’s no stopping you from living out the dream.

I did, and I found the town to be surprisingly approachable, adorable and relaxing.

It might be a little late to book your family vacation (I went in April with my husband, two little girls and stepsister, which was fine for avoiding the crowds, but not hot enough for my liking.), but perhaps you could sneak in a little R&R before Labor Day at this Laguna Beach vacation rental cottage.

It isn’t the Conrad mansion, but unless you’re planning a family reunion, who needs the square footage anyway? Big enough to sleep four adults and two kids, this cozy  beach cottage looks straight out of a Pottery Barn catalog with fresh, panoramic views of the ocean. A full-kitchen with gas stove means Samantha can have her chocolate chip pancakes, and Seth his french toast sticks. A Ralph’s is on South Coast Highway, the main drag of the city, along with a Wild Oats on Broadway for picking up meat, fresh produce and wine.

Another plus: It’s only 30 minutes from Disneyland, just in case you want to break up your five-day passes with some beach time.

After 20 consecutive spins on the tea cups, you’ll definitely need it.