Vacation Home Rentals Blog

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Tonight’s tomfoolery–MJ, the Gosselins and Gaga oh my!–will have all of us thankful for that extra hour of sleep, but in some places, daylight savings time isn’t practiced.

In territories and states like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii and Arizona, residents don’t need to turn their clocks back. If you’re spending Halloween in a Hawaii vacation rental, your location’s tropical latitude ensures plenty of daylight in whatever season.

Lucky Hawaiians.

What is it like to be spoiled with so much sun?

Southwest Airlines and American Airlines just sweetened the pot for winter travelers: Fares as low as $25 each way to U.S. cities like Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago. The caveat: You have to book by Thursday, Oct. 29.

The deals on both carriers are valid on travel from Dec. 2 to Dec. 16, and Jan. 5 through Feb. 10. Fifty- to $100-each way flights to tourist destinations like Orlando, Miami and Nashville also exist, but for my taste, a winter visit to a Texas vacation rental sounds right up my-soon-to-be-snow-clogged winter alley.

Think about it.

Why on earth would you want to fly from Chicago to St. Louis in January? That’s like going from one tundra to the other.

Give me brisket, a 10-gallon hat and live music. Who cares if it’s only 60-degrees? That’s probably 60 degrees warmer than the Windy City.

So quick. Book your tickets. Cure the winter blues before that first dusting of snow.

We’ve all had Martha Stewart envy.

A Hamptons vacation home landscaped with a garden of organic produce, fresh herbs to pepper our from-scratch meals with and a backyard big enough to host an elegant, yet intimate wedding reception. Heck, you’ve paid a mint for the same New York vacation rental for years–why not get in on the game now?

Mortgage rates are at all-time lows. Prices are plummeting. If you wait for them to sink further, will you be missing out on the pastoral paradise?

Perhaps.

Second-home ownership–or any home ownership–is not to be taken lightly. Heed the advice of a realtor who knows the market, and determine what style of vacation home suits your lifestyle, whether it’s a condo, cottage or mansion. Take factors like location, amenities and upkeep into account.  Think about hidden costs. Can you afford to maintain the property yourself or hire a management company to deal with tenant issues?

While that $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit doesn’t apply to purchasers who won’t be using the property as their primary residence, by all accounts, now is a good time to strike the MLS.

Landlords: Any more advice for consumers who seek to purchase a vacation home?

This year, it’s pretty much a given that Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers will be able to score incredible sales on electronics, clothing and toys. The folks who wake up at 3 a.m. to stand in line at Best Buy are an aggressive bunch, and during this downturn, retailers are more than willing to dangle the deals.

Some of us, though, are happy enough with turkey and kickin’ back with our family. But what if you’re single and don’t necessarily want to go home this year? (Sorry moms, but as much as we’d love your homemade apple tart, we can’t return for every holiday.) Here’s a solution: Round up three solo friends and rent a Tennessee vacation rental.

The property above will be discounted from Nov. 25 to 29 to $585, the price of three nights for four. At almost 1,000 square feet, the Sewanee vacation home is still bigger than lots of city apartments if space prevents you singletons from gathering. Plus, how many places have a strawberry patch, private ponds and canoe on-site?

Of course, there’s the issue of whom cooks what, but that’s the fun of a community kitchen. You all get to taste (and test) together, and the pressure is at a minimum.

So what if you’re a Thanksgiving orphan. Think of it this way: If the stuffing is too soggy, your friends probably wouldn’t take as much offense as Aunt Cindy.

From State College, Pa., to Rochester, Minn., the cold has reared her frosty head. Winter has come early, and folks aren’t happy about it.

Well America, it looks like it’s going to be a long, blustery season, so it’s time to think about that warm weather vacation ahead. Counter seasonal affective disorder with thoughts of the other powdery stuff: the sandy, er, rocky beaches of California.

Now is as good a time as any to reserve your California vacation rental.

For you lucky Bostonites, flights on Virgin America are going for as little as $100 each way to Los Angeles if you purchase your ticket by Oct. 27. And why wouldn’t you want to? That white stuff during last week’s Patriots-Titans game wasn’t your TV on its way out–it was a blanket of snow, and the Pats’ earliest snow game on record, according to a FOXNews.com report.

Sure, it’s cool and pretty initially, but come January, when all the holiday lights are down and the roads are left a hard, slippery, grey, slushy mess, a weekend in California will be calling your name. Do it. Your UGG boots will need a rest.

It’s almost time to start making your list and checking it twice, and maybe start nixing the frivolous purchases of the past. (Does every relative require a Hallmark limited edition ormanent? Come on now.)

Besides, experience gifts are all the rage. Haven’t you heard? Presents that will have the recipient asking, “Why did I never do this before?” Like smelling a Colorado Aspen for the first time, and maybe even cutting down his first Christmas tree.

Or heck, why not skip the iPod stocking stuffers and go on vacation together? Let me count the reasons for spending the yule in a Colorado cabin rental.

1. Because cabins mean fireplaces, roasting marshmallows, wearing obnoxious snowmen and reindeer sweaters, and perhaps catching a glimpse of reindeer in real life.

2. Because you’ll likely be skiing, too. You’ll need to after the green bean casserole, sage sausage stuffing and fudge log cakes.

3. Because if you’re going to be stuck with your relatives–all 20 of them–it may as well be in an eight-bedroom house complete with a pool table, hot tub, bar and multiple flatscreens. Just think of all the joy you’ll have when battling over who gets the last Wii control.

4. Because it will most likely be a White Christmas. (Stranger things have happened, but I’d wager my third born that there will be snow somewhere in Colorado in December.)

5. Does a Christmas tree get any more beautiful when lit inside a log cabin?

Poor Nevada.

According to RealtyTrac’s latest foreclosure report, one in 23 households received a foreclosure filing, making it the highest state for mortgage defaults in the U.S. About 13 percent of the population are unemployed. It’s the kind of news that makes you wonder if in desperation, folks went to Las Vegas casinos in a last-ditch effort to win this month’s payment at the tables.

Lady Luck, you’re a glitzy gal in that feather headdress and sequin costume, but underneath, you can be awfully cruel.

Just curious: What kind of traffic have you Las Vegas vacation home owners had in the rental market? While residents are fleeing Sin City, surely tourists are still coming, right? You tell me @checkincheckout.

Actually, lemme take that back, the California beach rental pictured perches over Monterey Bay, one of ForbesTraveler.com’s prettiest towns in the U.S. A total of 20 made the annual  list, including Union, Wash., Annapolis, Md., Sedona, Ariz., and Lake Placid, N.Y.

The feature sparkles with coastal communities, postcard-perfect Main Streets and desert diamonds. What strikes me the most about each of the selections is just how authentic the cities are: There is nothing chintzy or feels-like-a-souvenir shop about them.

Every city is its own distinct haven, a hometown for all to enjoy its hillside houses, charming downtowns, nature walks and breathtaking views of mountains, lakes and surf.

Monterey, a town rooted in the sardine canning industry, ran away with a ranking thanks to its rich marine history and award-winning aquarium. Cannery Row serves as a shopping, dining, lodging and nightlife hub for all who seek to be near the marine sanctuary and perhaps catch a glimpse of the sea lions at play.

What do you think? Are there any glaring omissions from the list? Let’s discuss on Twitter @checkincheckout.

It’s the second time Key West appears on the blogosphere this week, but with good reason.

Fantasy Fest, South Florida’s answer to Mardi Gras, parades into town from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1–feather boas, queens, chaps, conchs and all. If you tried the hotel route and failed, it’s time to snag a Key West condo rental now if you still can. The kinky time seduces regulars from around the U.S. who come ready to show off their creative displays of body paint and a momentary flash of, um, courage for plastic beads. The hundreds of thousands of spectators and participants swell the tourist destination to a veritable island of hedonism.

Duval Street transforms into a dance party with floats, wigs, live music, drag shows and cat calls. If you’re the shy type, play voyeur. If you’re the exhibitionist, channel that naughty nurse. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you if it ends up on YouTube.

If you can’t squeeze the fest in this year, there’s always San Francisco, the capital of kink. Mardi Gras too vanilla for you? Head to the International Bear Rendezvous in February to watch dudes scout dudes who don’t mind a little hair around their chests and girth around their bellies. The celebration raises money for local and national HIV charities.  And for more leather daddies, hit the Folsom Street Fair in September.

It’ll be a hoot.

This has to be a joke.

The Poconos house rental above lists for $1 million. That’s rent, people.

In the same posting, the owners of Lustgarten-On-The-Lake talk about how you can stay in their spacious Poconos Pine property for “peanuts,” which could mean just that. Will the landlords of this gem hit me on Twitter @checkincheckout? I’m impressed with your marketing tactic.

Because in a sea of listings, you still have to make your vacation home stand out.

Whether it’s a deck with sunset views, an outdoor kitchen next to a grotto pool or a location within the hottest neighborhood in San Francisco, you have to showcase your vacation rental just as aggressively as if it was listed for sale. Internet users are a savvy bunch who are willing to spend countless hours of “research” on the Web.

The Poconos house has a lot going for it already: a backyard lake with fishing rock, hot tub, fireplace, community pools and access to three ski areas nearby.

Would you pay $1 million for it? And if not, what would you pay?

Talk to me on Twitter.