Vacation Home Rentals Blog

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If your vacation style is somewhere between rural and city, then a Nashville vacation rental may be your best bet for a getaway.

Take the romance of the country and the raw talent of America’s country music capital and you have this city that combines, um, the best of both worlds. (Yes, Miley Cyrus was born in Tennessee.)

The owners of Blue Moon Farm, the vacation home featured, describe their haven like this: “Surrounded by nothing but views of pastoral bliss, rolling hills, gentle hillsides, and antique barns in the vista, all enjoyed from the convenience of your private wrap-around porches, balconies, and pond-side shade patio.”

The house–which has a full kitchen, spa shower and extended movie collection–sits three miles from the highway on a private country lane in Franklin, Tenn. And when you’ve had your fill of serenity, you’re only 30 minutes from Nashville.

Because a stop at the Grand Ole Opry is a foregone conclusion.

If you have a grade school child like me, the back-to-school shopping is the first thing on your agenda. I don’t know about you, but the whole process has made me a little envious (OK, a lot) for a new fall wardrobe.

Parents, I say we resurrect the tradition for ourselves. Why should we let ourselves go? Don’t we deserve a new pair of boots, too?

And what better place than the capital of fashion? Manhattan, baby.

Consider it your reward for being frugal this summer and wearing last year’s maxi dresses with Target flip-flops, which have holes in them after daily use. Grab your gaggle of girlfriends and find New York City vacation rentals on our site.

Every fashionista knows of the strength in numbers, and traveling with a group will only translate to cheaper housing costs (if there is such a thing in NYC) like the East Village loft pictured. $275 a night won’t seem so bad when five of your BFFs are divvying up the tab.

Just make sure you designate an area of that dining room (I’d take the table–screw sit-down meals; you can eat standing up) for all your loot. And pack an empty suitcase for that fab new fall coat, Chloe handbag and J Brand denim.

Think of them as investments you’ll be able to pass down to your daughter.

At least that’s how I see it.

When it comes to packaging your vacation home online, don’t underestimate the power of staging. Just like you would with a home you are about to sell, you need to convey the message of neutral sophistication with smartly chosen decor. Folks need to be able to believe they could live there, too, without reminders of the owners.

Here, find five tips for jazzing up your house, whether it’s a Florida vacation rental or Chicago vacation home.

1. Spend money on better linens.
People notice scratchy towels and 200-threadcount sheets, two preferences that may wind up in negative user reviews if the renters happen to be passionate about such things. Don’t risk the bad press. Going to sleep in a stranger’s bed is enough of an adjustment. Make it an easy night with silky linens and they’ll thank you for it.

2. Eliminate tchotchkes.
You may have thought that singing fish trophy was cool as a gag gift in 1993, but trust me, it was never cool. The same goes for neon Budweiser signs, poems printed on plaques and anything else that would qualify for a garage sale.

3. Declutter.
It’s off-putting to see piles anywhere–especially in a vacation home. How’s a renter supposed to relax with articles strewn about?

4. Keep it neutral.
Customers will expect a nautical theme in a Cape Cod beach cottage, but there’s no need to overdo it. Just being at the coast will set the tone for the vacation itself. Don’t hang an anchor or starfish in every room.

5. Depersonalize.
Maybe you do stay in the home a few weeks at a time. Good for you. You worked hard for this place and this vacation. Still, do your clients need to see photos of you at every turn? Some may find that charming, but others could be creeped out a little. If you insist on adding your personal touches, do that with art or a handwritten note accompanying a welcome basket. Those are signatures they’ll appreciate.

Those top 5 lists are popping up all over Facebook, so here’s one for the masses that isn’t lame and only involves revealing my own–cough, sometimes questionable–musical tastes. (Hate Kelly Clarkson? Well I’m both proud and a little ashamed to say that I bought her very first CD, thank you very much.)

Even if our iPod playlists differ, we can all agree that summers need a soundtrack–especially if you’re fortunate enough to be heading to a Hamptons vacation rental or Florida vacation home to do nothing but tan, make slushy margaritas and crack open lobsters.

It’s always nicer when music comes with.

So here are five tunes that would most definitely join me on vacation. They make me think of places I’ve been or want to be.

1. Sleepwalk (Santo & Johnny)
2. California Girls (David Lee Roth)
3. Girl from Ipanema (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
4. Summertime (Sublime)
5. Kokomo (Beach Boys)

What’s your playlist? Hit me on Twitter @ checkincheckout.

Judging from the popular search terms on this site, it’s clear that the readership favors one sugary coastline over the other.

Tweet me which and why @ checkincheckout–I’m curious to know what you think.

My bet’s on Hawaii for its shimmery waterfalls, monster waves and all-around Aloha spirit. They greet strangers with leis, man. Can you beat that? And now’s the time to go thanks to the most affordable fares in recent years. Package those flights with a Hawaii vacation rental, and you’re off to experience paradise and all its quirks, like a plate of spam, rice and macaroni salad, staples of the Hawaiian diet.

Not to take anything away from Florida, which is like paradise in a can. Tourists can count on it every time for the sizzling heat, cheap airfares–because really, what airport doesn’t fly to Florida?–and a trove of lodging options. From Destin condos to South Beach vacation rentals, the getaway is sure to please a variety of consumers–without the jetlag.

It’s your turn, though. Tweet me your answers and I’ll let you have the mic.

Nine blogs out of 10, I’d suggest making the most of your summer now and taking your trip before Labor Day. But this one time, it may be worth it to wait until September–especially if you don’t have little ones.

Check out the spacious vacation home above, one of many Ocean City rentals available on our site. It goes to the fall rate starting Sept. 12 for $1,100 a week. That’s a five-bedroom house for $1,100 a week. Does the delay really need justifying?

This immaculate townhouse sits on the in Sunset Island, a gated island community facing the bay. Walk to the beach, the indoor and outdoor pools and gym or try your crabbing or fishing skills from the pier. Hopefully you walk away with a bushel of the most succulent, meaty crabs you ever tasted and the grin of a cheshire cat for scoring this unbelievable deal.

Before you book, take note of the $75 registration fee that is due upon arrival. It secures six activity passes. If you need more, you’ll pay $70 per tag.

What’s that? A steak dinner for four at Outback? Totally doable considering you saved on the rental.

Whether it’s a Florida vacation rental or Myrtle beach condo rental, earning a glowing user review is as good as gold.

Word-of-Internet is the new word-of-mouth, demonstrating the most strength in numbers. So the more positive experiences renters have with your property, the better.

With the Internet at our fingertips, content is power, but there’s a lot of dodgy information out there. Owners, load your listing with the best, most specific reviews to equip potential renters with enough facts to make an informed decision.

But first off, how do you get past renters to write about their stays? Here are a few ideas.

1. Consider an incentive program.
If the house lived up to or exceeded its billing, encourage renters to share their experiences online with rewards for future visits. Families tend to book the same house year after year to take the hassle out of planning or potentially losing that coveted house on the lake. Give them discounts for return trips.

2.  Bring in extra touches.
You may not know them personally, but vacation home clientele want to feel like guests of your home. Add a personal signature to their stay by providing a basket filled with fresh baked cookies or wine, and you’ll have them gushing long after their summer vacation.

3. Don’t forget about the off-season.
Make your vacation home a year-round money maker by dangling incentives during all four seasons. That Cape Cod beach house? Make it available during Thanksgiving. That Destin condo? It could be the next destination for a girlfriends’ getaway come December. Let it be known that shorter stays and holiday weeks aren’t off limits, and you’ll have folks cooing about how flexible you were.

4. Make it family friendly.
Parents will scan your listing for words like crib, Pack ‘N Play, bunk beds and stroller when they’re narrowing down their list of possible vacation rentals. A kid-ready home is likely to land repeat renters and possibly new ones in other parents.

Maybe your summer vacation begins when the kids are going back to school.

You don’t have any, and you prefer avoiding the crowds anyway. For you, September is the perfect time to go. Still hot enough to hang out on the beach, but without 5,000 bodies competing for that same stretch of sand or lounge chair.

Your Florida seasonal rental awaits in delightful Dunedin, an adorable Gulf Coast town blessed with perfect weather for most of the year, village charm and access to Dr. Beach’s No. 1 pick in his annual list of America’s top beaches: Caladesi Island. The pearly white beach is reachable by ferry by Honeymoon Island, another showcase of Mother Nature’s beauty with its stunning waters, shore birds, sea turtles and gulf breezes.

The home pictured lists for a reasonable $485 a week, an absolute deal considering some hotels charge that for a nightly rate. The rental offers a stove and full-sized fridge, more ways to keep your food costs down.

At that price, you’ll feel like you “stole” this getaway.

Your secret is safe here.