Vacation Home Rentals Blog

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To clarify, that’s the city of Steamboat Springs, whose city council is revisiting the regulation of vacation home rentals and property managers.

Known as “Ski Town USA,” Steamboat Springs has become a hotbed for second-home purchases thanks to its reliable snow drifts and luxe, roomy accommodations. On VacationHomeRentals.com, Steamboat Springs vacation rentals are stunners, where hot tubs with mountain views, private saunas and Viking appliances introduce skiers to the good life.

However, some vacation home owners argue that the regulations place undue burden on those who have been following the rules, The Steamboat Pilot & Today reported. Points of contention: fees associated with adhering to a city compliance, parking rules and an agreement that calls for private homeowners to sign off when their roads are used to access vacation home properties. City officials, meanwhile, claims that the rules are effective.

The debate prompts officials to review the ordinance and submit suggestions on next steps by the end of the year.

Have any vacation home owners–in Colorado or elsewhere–encountered similar issues? Talk to me on Twitter @checkincheckout or leave your comment here.

With Christmas less than two months away, you’d better believe that the retail blasts will be on, whether that’s your inbox, television or weekly circulars. But presents aside, what do the holidays mean to you?

For moi, it’s the lights, the tree, bundling up and stuffing my face, but I’m open to creating new traditions with my own family. Would that include travel? Maybe.

In my quest for a non-traditional idea for the holidays, I found the Alaska vacation rental above, quite possibly the most affordable vacation home I’ve stumbled across in 276 posts or so. The log cabin rents for just $375 a week until May 15, 2010. The adorable cottage sits on Cottonwood Lake, where rainbow trout are yours for the catching (or releasing, if you’re merely into the sport). It’s pretty cold now (28 degrees, teens at night), which is why the deal is so good, but for you tropical climate dwellers, a winter in Alaska may just be the novelty you need.

Everyone in Florida has seen a pink flamingo, but what about the Aurora Borealis, which dances across the sky in spearmint, indigo and fuchsia swirls? Or what about a real reindeer? (Nature geeks, I know they’re called caribou in the U.S.)

Ask Santa for a Patagonia coat for Christmas, and head up North. Now that’s going rogue.

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?

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?

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.

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.

Six winters in Chicago has definitely thickened my skin, but that doesn’t mean the sudden deep in temperatures doesn’t feel cruel and uncomfortable every time. Three weeks ago, I was wearing a denim mini-skirt. This week, I’m busting out the winter coat–and gloves.

A friend of mine, a victim of the recession who moved up from Florida, plans to head back home next weekend. No work in three months. Part of me felt sorry for her, the other thought, You lucky girl. Back to purple pink skies and 90-degrees and sunshine every day. How could that be so bad?

Collectively my city is moaning (and bracing itself) for what’s to come. A few of us, dreading that first attempt to shovel our cars from the snow, have pre-booked vacations to warmer climates starting in January to Virgin Islands vacation homes and Florida vacation rentals. The deals are out there, from last-minute deals to Tampa Bay to contemporary condos in South Beach.

Because regardless of where we live: We all know that sunkissed skin is like being on the receiving end of a warm hug from a long lost friend.