Vacation Home Rentals Blog

There’s no doubt: In the history books, 2008 will go down as the year of American anxiety. Job losses, the credit crunch, the auto, banking and housing markets crashing down – it’s enough to question what exactly we have to be thankful for.

You might even ask yourself: Is it worth the money, given all that’s going on, to even think about taking a ski trip to a Utah vacation home?

The answer is yes if you had already saved up for the vacation anyway. If you’re hedging, chances are you’ll book the trip off if you find a deal you can’t refuse. This Park City vacation chalet teases with $100 off by the mere mention of the listing on VacationHomeRentals.com. The catch: You have to reserve the vacation home for Nov. 26 to 30.

Yep, Thanksgiving week.

We’re all pinching pennies, which is why this five-bedroom, three-bathroom house would make the most sense for families who love to ski anyway, what, with its proximity to Park City, Deer Valley and other slopes. You’re maximizing the value of the holiday by engaging in an activity the whole family loves.

When it’s time to retreat indoors, play a game of foosball or pile into the indoor hot tub while dad and mom warm up those turkey leftovers. (Because again, it is possible to celebrate the holiday somewhere other than your own house.)

A strained economy stresses all of us out, but that shouldn’t stop folks from finding affordable, creative ways to get back to what really matters: friends and family.

When we stayed at a Laguna Beach rental this spring, my husband and I met a lovely couple who complained of how difficult it was to find an extended stay hotel that wasn’t beat up, last renovated in the 80s or overpriced. The lady, whose husband would leave Phoenix for California to work with clients for weeks at a time, ideally sought a place close to the beach and with a kitchen so that they wouldn’t always have to dine out.

It’s a shame this San Diego beach rental, priced $129-a-night on weekdays and $179-a-night on weekends, wasn’t in Laguna. It would have been perfect.

The townhouse, located in Sunset Cliffs, is steps from Bermuda Beach, one of the most picturesque views in the city. The owners definitely want you to enjoy the outdoors. They purchased two beach cruisers for riding down to the shoreline or up to the store.

A gourmet kitchen rivals any you would see in a model home (Don’t you just love the underlit cabinets, the way the granite sparkles and the big picture window?), but the private patio is my personal favorite. If you’re in town on business, make it an extended stay by flying in the spouse for a romantic weekend. The gas grill and high-top table set the scene for romantic dinners alfresco.

If the company’s footing the expenses for your California vacation home, you may as well take advantage.

Whether you’re involved in five fantasy football leagues or could care less (or don’t even know) who Brett Favre is, most of us appreciate a good Super Bowl party. The pizza, the nachos, the bean dip, the beer – all an American tradition.

This season the show happens on Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla., at the gorgeous Raymond James Stadium. If you’re lucky enough to score tickets, we hate you. We despise you even more if you make a pilgrimage to the big game every year, entourage in tow.

A high roller like you is going to need a Tampa Bay vacation home for the weekend for pre- and post-game activities. This Redington Shores beach rental is across the street from the sand and the sparkling Gulf waters. It accommodates 10 guests just in case anyone wants to bring his girlfriend – or if he’s passed that stage – his wife and kids.

These property owners are so welcoming of families, in fact, that they’ve hooked the house up with high chairs, strollers and Pack N Plays (That’s playpens to you bachelors.)

Fire up the grill for those juicy beef patties and make sure to stock up on booze. And it should go without saying, but if you’re drinking, don’t even think about getting into a car. With a vacation rental as comfy as this, why would you want to leave anyway?

Sorry to use the s word – snowbird – when it’s only the third day of autumn, but if your annual vacation falls during the winter season, it’s time to start planning now. And with good reason: Airlines will start limiting fares to the Caribbean and other tropical spots, according to this Chicago Tribune story.

Forget booking that fabulous last-minute trip and expecting to score bargains. You wanna go? Better look for your flights pronto.

As for lodging, this Dominican Republic vacation rental poses an affordable option for $715 a week from December to next April. Walk to El Corecito Beach from here, lounge by the pool or under the gazebo, throw on the barbecue, whatever you like. It’s also nice that the whole community is gated for that added sense of security.

The Santa Maria del Mar Residentials complex boasts one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, but be aware that a Saturday to Saturday stay is required. (Like anyone had to force you to take an extra few days of vacation. As if.)

I haven’t rented a Punta Cana vacation home myself, but this one would certainly be on my list given these lean times.

The Los Angeles Times blog pointed to some predictable spots and one sleeper destination to buy vacation homes. While Aspen vacation homes, Miami vacation rentals and Maui vacation condos held strong in the October/November issue of Robb Report Vacation Homes, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho also emerged in the list.

Really? Demi Moore must have been onto something.

Readers, what haven do you see as the next big market for the vacation home market? Maybe a foreclosure hot zone?

For some folks, the idea of not spending the holidays in their own homes is akin to eating Chinese takeout on the Fourth of July. It’s just about un-American.

But to that, I say, Why the heck not? You can bring your food, presents and family to the vacation home. If the price is within your budget, why not make a trip part of your yuletide plans?

The owner of this Pennsylvania vacation rental was savvy enough to push its potential as a holiday escape now, three months before Christmas and New Year’s. Consumers are stung by higher food and fuel expenses, which means extras like getaways aren’t priorities unless the price is within reach. The house costs $900 a week from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2, which isn’t so bad if you can find extended family to share the rental fee.

It would behoove other listing owners to make their holiday blitz early, as flights around that time are supposed to be 30 percent higher this year than last year, according to Farecast.com. Sorry renters – that we can’t help you with.

If you’re a property owner, however, say, for a luxury Colorado vacation home or Miami Beach vacation condo (Because where else would you want to ring in the New Year?), the timing of your holiday marketing couldn’t be more urgent. Do it now.

We’re in that window of the year where if you’re not paying attention, you could blink and miss those leaves turning from green to gorgeous hues of amber, gold and brown. Before it’s too late, isn’t a road trip in order to catch Mother Nature go from green to redhead?

1. Washington, D.C. vacation rentals
This million-dollar Washington, D.C. vacation home is emblematic of our nation’s capital’s elegance and history. The four-bedroom, two-bath Queen Anne sits on Capitol Hill and is only two blocks from the Metro. Take a long weekend through the neighborhood to soak in the irresistible fall foliage, landmarks like the U.S. Supreme Court and the Smithsonian, then retire the covered porches to enjoy the flower garden.

2. Williamsburg vacation rentals
A little further south, find the town that will always mean fall to me, from field trips with my seventh grade class to Jamestown to outlet shopping and sightseeing in Colonial Williamsburg. Tree-lined streets and 18th-century architecture abound, guaranteeing that memory card will be loaded with photos from your stroll into our country’s past. Can’t afford that $400-a-night B&B? Try this vacation condo, reasonably priced at $89 a night.

3. Colorado vacation rentals
Colorado’s vast mountain ranges, sparkling lakes, diverse wildlife and rustic lodges would tempt any Floridian or other resident on mostly flat land to consider relocation. These Divide vacation cabins offer prime access to leaf watching, where the Aspens deepen to shades of gold.

4. Maine vacation rentals
The road up to this Belgrade Lakes vacation cabin is hugged by woods and ends next to a placid lake. Get there before the end of September to enjoy that one last meal alfresco or kayaking outing, and don’t forget to tote the camera to snap images of all those beautiful New England leaves.

5. Missouri vacation rentals
What a picturesque Midwest escape. This turn-of-the-century stone house near Branson, anchored on 35 acres surrounded by trees, boasts a yard for that impromptu game of touch football and a firepit for roasting marshmallows. Did we mention the hiking trails? It doesn’t get any more autumn than that.

The Internet easily replaces the TV as our daily crack. Whether it’s Britney’s latest snafu or a new fall coat, the Web affords us 24-hour access to exactly what we want. Click, click and voila: Your dream vacation home.

In the Google-ization of our world, where content is deep and demand for your time and ultimately – your dollars – are at stake, it’s nice to be noticed.

Today, VacationHomeRentals.com scored a tiny mention on ABC News’ Web site as the top of four sites to shop around for vacation homes by ABC News’ Web site. (Thank you, by the way, for putting us in the lead spot.)

We’d like to think our rich database, ease-of-use and direct accessibility to property owners distinguishes us from the competition. Whether it’s a Cape Cod vacation home or beach rental in California, we hope you have a good experience here. Mostly, we hope you plan that getaway soon. You need it. So do we.

Forbes pointed to La Jolla and Carlsbad, Calif., and Miami Beach, Fla., as hotbeds for foreclosures.

With views like this, it’s no wonder those vacation home owners were seduced into buying second properties and taking on extra debt their budgets couldn’t handle. From La Jolla vacation rentals to beach rentals in South Beach, the vacation home rental market certainly doesn’t suffer from a shortage of listings – that’s for sure – particularly now, when many people are defaulting on their loans.

It’s easy to begrudge those who have a lot (say, a five-car-garage, infinity pool and outdoor kitchen), but think of booking a rental as a way to goose the economy, and in turn, leave the pressures of your own life. Step away from the Blackberry and into this home’s spa tub or tricked-out kitchen with Viking appliances.

Don’t hate. Escape.

You’ll be helping someone who probably needs it.

I grew up in a beach town, yet barely went to the beach. As an adult, I live closer to Canada than ever, yet have never been.

That might change. I found the perfect Canada vacation rental.

Check out this cute little Nova Scotia vacation home. There’s barely a description and just three photos, but its quiet charm speaks to me. The dining room, fashioned in nothing but timber all around, strikes me as a lovely spot for a home-cooked meal and tea time with girlfriends. And much to my surprise, the kitchen comes with all the stainless modern appliances we kitchen snobs are used to cooking with – this is not some 19th century backwoods shack.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom beach rental (The sand is just two minutes away) might not be the type of home for the Type A, must-know-everything-beforehand vacation planner, but for anyone up for a getaway without all the luxe amenities, the cottage could be that spontaneous jolt your romance or attitude needed.

I’m seeing a writer’s retreat in my future. And you know where.