Vacation Home Rentals Blog

If there’s an upside to the recession, it’s the bargain pricing for Maine vacation homes.

Property owners normally slammed with bookings are slashing rates to snag travelers in search of that quintessential New England holiday spent eating lobster, combing private beaches or jumping into pristine lakes. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be doing that still, especially with prices for rentals like the one above set at an affordable $875 a week.

Divvy up the cost with two other couples or one other family with two kids, and you’ll likely have money left over from your trip.

Because where else will you spend your dollars?

People who frequent these parts tend to appreciate the simpler things in life anyway: barbecues under the stars, lounging on inner tubes, watching closely for local wildlife.

And I don’t mean your Uncle Jared’s hairy back.

It’s advice I’m always dishing out but never taking: Go on vacation.

So for once, I’m doing it. I’m checking out. For a week, I’ll be sunning on Clearwater Beach and scoping out the Florida vacation rentals of my dreams from the top down in a Chrysler Sebring convertible. Maybe I’ll coerce my friend to take me on her boat. Because that’s what folks do in the Sunshine State.

And while it may be tempting, I will not tweet or update my Facebook status while enjoying said activities.

Now that would just be rude.

Ocean City Maryland rentals are certainly hot Internet real estate properties–our search results showed that users pulled up the term a lot in recent months. But how many of you are actually booking vacation homes?

The building pictured–which houses a three-bedroom, three-bath new construction condo for $1,275-$1,775 a week, a discount of $500 a week–is one of many vacation condos in this family-friendly town by the seashore, also dubbed the O.C. VacationHomeRentals.com currently lists 33 homes for rent, as travelers’ demand for modest, low-key beach living hits its peak during this time of year.

Ocean City appeals to folks on many levels: its nearness to Rehoboth Beach, its lively three-mile boardwalk stocked with arcades, rides, musicians, restaurants (Don’t miss out on Fisher’s popcorn, Kohr’s Brothers silky frozen custard and the hunky crabs that are legendary in these parts.) and a concrete path ideal for rollerblading and biking. Skateboarders should leave their gear at home because boards are not allowed on the boardwalk, sorry.

Moms and dads, when the kids could use a break from the funnel cake, take them to the Fenwick Island lighthouse for that ever-important scrapbook photo or Assateague Island to catch a glimpse of the wild ponies. Yes, wild ponies running free.

And that piece of trivia makes it even cooler than the “real O.C.” So take that, Lauren Conrad.

For this Jamaica vacation home, I’ll let the user reviews do the talking.

Mike: “I can not think of a better way to spend time in ocho rios than in your home with millestte and lindo. Everything was great,including the food and service.”

Debby: “Once we got the hang of the buying the food to cook (wished we had done that from the start ) we couldn’t get enough of Millie’s cooking.”

Marsha: “For the price of the villa compared to what you pay at the all inclusives, you can’t miss. The villa has an amazing view of the glorious sea, with loads of space … ”

I’m a die-hard fan of the all-inclusive package, regardless of whether it’s a Caribbean vacation rental or Mexico vacation home. If you’re like me, sure, a kitchen at your property is a bonus, but it’s also the last place I want to be unless it’s for firing up the blender for mixed drinks.

Incidentally, the home above includes breakfast and dinner in the price, so you’ll have to fend for yourself for at least one meal.

Who cares, though? You’ll be happy to give Millicent a break while you’re splashing around Dunns River Falls and swimming with Flipper’s cousin at Dolphins Cove.

When was the last time you saw a rainbow?

For me, it was 2002 during my honeymoon in Co. Kerry, Ireland. (Cue cheesy, tin-whistle soundtrack here, preferably with a strapping Colin Ferrell emerging from the bog in nothing but a kilt.) Fantasy aside, the image was spectacular: An afternoon shower misting into that green grass grazed by–what else–sheep and dotted with cottages. Above, that perfect arch of ROYGBIV. And damnit, the camera failed to get an image worthy of the memory, but oh well. At least I was there.

On MSN’s feature of the world’s best places to see the most gorgeous waterfalls and rainbows, Ireland misses placement, so you’ll have to head to Jamaica, Norway, Brazil, Zimbabwe, India, Vietnam, New Zealand, Venezuela, Canada and closer to home, Hawaii, Oregon or California to capture Mother Nature at her most heavenly.

With airfares to Hawaii so value-priced right now (Under $400 from Minneapolis on Northwest Airlines, wow!) , my choice would be Nanue Falls on the Big Island. The 1,200-foot waterfall is swathed in a lush rainforest on the Hamakua Coast. To get your heart even more aflutter, I found this Volcano Vacation rental for $100 a night. Close your eyes and smell the Hapu’u ferns, Lehua flowering Ohia trees and aromatic ginger. Imagine yourself lounging in a hammock on one of three lanais after frolicking through steaming craters on Hawaii Volcano National Park.

Need to shop around? Check out our other Hawaii vacation homes.

You’ll be happy that you did go chasing waterfalls.

A friend who calls Brooklyn home once vowed never to invest in real estate again, unless it was a vacation home. A Maine vacation rental perhaps or possibly an upstate New York vacation home.

That’s a New Yorker for you–priced out of her own zip code for purchasing, where decent-sized flats are considered a steal if priced under $800,000, but still in the market for that other American dream that elude most of us in the middle class: The second home.

Well, if you’re itching to buy, now is the time to pluck a deal, according to BusinessWeek.

However, unless you’re already familiar with what constitutes a fair-market price for, say, a Cape Cod vacation rental, the smart way to take a plunge is to spend time in the area first. Book a trip. Take the kids. Shop, eat and drink local. See what it feels and smells like, and eyeball other homes to see what properties are moving.

Wouldn’t it be ideal if all life’s scenarios were like that? Shadowing a future co-worker to see if you want to join full time. Going as a third wheel on a date to see how that potential suitor treats his love interests. In both situations, you’re armed with the knowledge to make an informed decision.

Same deal here–except this one’s more fun. After all, you’re on vacation.

If you’re stumped for where to take your crew to usher in or bid the summer bon voyage, here’s an idea for you: Bethany Beach.

This Delaware vacation rental goes on sale, if you will, Aug. 22-29, for $2,995, which sounds like a lot, but that’s just more than $200 each when 14 friends are involved. No joke.

Delaware vacation homes have not seen the boom in bookings due to the economic slowdown, The News Journal reported. But always looking on the bright side, let landlords “beach-house blues” be your opportunity to swoop in to secure a bargain.

If you’re willing and flexible enough to take an even earlier trip, say, May or June, when the weather isn’t quite as hot, you’ll be saving hundreds.

When you’re smelling like coconut oil and rockin’ your new monokini, you’ll no doubt be thankful. Malibu. Pfff. So 2000 and late.

The  Boston Celtics are dueling my Chicago Bulls tonight, and I hope the reigning champs turn as green as the shirts on their back when they lose.

Am sick of Chi-town’s rep as the Second City, thanks to the Cubs, the frigid temps and Forbes recently naming us one of the most miserable places to live in the U.S.

WHATever.

If I had to live anywhere else, though, it may as well be Boston, another city on my top 10 list of classic American towns. There’s the Irish connection and sports fanaticism for my husband, the yummy seafood, the academic atmosphere, the charming cobblestone streets and stately brownstones. It would definitely be worth further inspection during a weekend getaway in a Boston vacation home.

As I’ve said before, the only way to get to know a city is to walk its ‘hoods, devour its food and down pints with its people.

So there you have it. Musings about my ‘Second City.’

Here’s hoping–no offense, New Englanders–it comes in as the runner-up tonight.

Saturday is the 135th Annual Kentucky Derby, and you know what that means: Another excuse to booze while wearing a big floppy hat.

I learned of this Southern tradition when I was 17 and hired–don’t tell anyone–to concoct the best handcrafted mint juleps in Hampton Roads for a couple who’d been married on Derby Day and celebrated their union with a big bash every year. Fast forward to 2009 and I still cannot stand the smell of mint and bourbon. (Now mint tea–there’s a flavor I can’t resist.)

If you happen to be spontaneous enough to road trip to Louisville for the revelry this weekend, check out our Kentucky vacation homes. After standing brim-to-brim on The Infield at Churchill Downs, you’ll want more space to keep the party going at your rental (in a very orderly fashion, of course).

So what thoroughbred will be draped in roses this year? I’m not a betting woman, but with names like Win Willy, Papa Clem and I Want Revenge, they’re all winners in my book.

To date, 169 posts have been captured on Check-In, Check-Out, but there’s something that always brings me back to the Virgin Islands vacation homes.

It must be the blue.

I’ve seen a lot of stunners on this site, from enchanting Hawaii vacation rentals to South Pacific wonders, but the shimmery Caribbean waters in St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix put the Virgin Islands on the top of my short-list for my next vacation.

Scroll through the pictures in the above listing to see why. Like the property above, a decent share of our listings sport private balconies, private pools, outdoor kitchens and views of the blissful bays. There would be absolutely no need to leave the house, but if you have to, be prepared for an eyeful of more emerald-wrapped coastline and unspoiled hilly green land that was named the best island in the Caribbean/Atlantic by Conde Nast Traveler readers in the 18th annual Readers Choice poll.

If you’re craving culture, seek a St. Croix vacation rental to explore Christiansted and Frederiksted, two towns dotted with pastel-colored Danish architecture, shops and rich in imperialistic and colonial history rooted in Danish, French, Spanish, West African and West Indian influences.

St. Thomas, considered the most chic of the island trio, teases with its duty-free shopping, world-class restaurants, historic structures, golf courses and yacht lifestyle. Oh, and just in case yours is up soon (or that’s stopping you from going there), you don’t need a passport to travel to the VI–it’s a U.S. territory.

For me, all these pluses and more make the urge to visit a strong, immediate one. It all goes back to the dazzling blue bays and the promise of one day licking Cruzan rum on my lips.

Soon, my love. I’ll find a way.