The Olympic cauldron lights up on Feb. 12, 2010, which leaves very little time for those of you procrastinators attending the games to secure housing.

And while you may have been lucky in the past to strike a last-minute deal, waiting too long could mean that family from Sweden laps you in the reservation line. The good thing is, perhaps that family hasn’t thought of Vancouver vacation rentals.

Traditionalists will opt for hotels, but savvy travelers seeking more space for their Canadian dollar will turn to Canada vacation homes to take advantage of cozy comforts like full kitchens, toys, hot tubs and access to off-the-radar neighborhoods. And while most hotel concierges will likely be bombarded with requests from the myriad of global travelers attending the games, you as a vacation home renter will have a distinct advantage in being able to contact the owner of your property for one-on-one recommendations on where to eat, drink and play before you arrive in February.

A spin around the Winter Olympics site focuses–naturally–on the sports side of the games, but for visitors, there’s little about accommodations. That’s where VacationHomeRentals.com comes in. Our site posts 16 listings in the Vancouver area.

Do any of you previous Olympics travelers have any insights on how visitors can maximize their games? What about you Vancouver folks? Do tell on Twitter @checkincheckout.

In the end, the IOC chose the sexy Brazilian newcomer to host the 2016 Summer Olympics: The girl from Ipanema.

Rio de Janeiro will be welcoming the world’s athletes to the games in 20 years, and while we’re disappointed here in Chicago, at least we lost to a formidable contender.

(Shoot, having lost the battle in the first round of voting, with just 18 of the 94 yeses secured, were we ever really a competitor?)

Let’s not focus on our nickname as Second City, though. What awaits in Rio are peepshow beaches, thrilling nightlife (This is the home of Carnival) and a hair-raising passion for sports. Chicago may have brought out its triple Os–Michelle, Barack and Oprah–but Brazil had a superstar as globally known in Pele.

Rio de Janeiro vacation rentals will emerge as overflow options–or if travelers are smart, alternatives to hotels–for international visitors. VacationHomeRentals.com lists some 34 vacation condos, like the spanky one above–close to the beach. Would it be wise to look now? Meh. You’re probably safe to wait until at least 2010, but it wouldn’t hurt to stroll around the site to familiarize yourself with the properties.

And if for some reason 20 years isn’t ample enough time to save for a South American getaway, there’s always Chicago vacation homes. Summer is when the city dazzles.

The veranda above isn’t a lookout to Cabo or even the Caribbean. In fact, it’s millions more miles away.

Boracay, Philippines, the No. 1 beach in the world and a one-time vacation spot for Brangelina, according to the property lister. Hey, I’m just the messenger.

Whether you believe that, you can’t dispute the beauty of this Philippines vacation villa, priced $195 a night through the end of October. The all-inclusive resort boasts an infinity pool, ocean views from all rooms, a spa, on-site restaurant dishing up global cuisine and a free shuttle into town. (Not that you would want to leave with all those amenities at your tanned fingertips.)

If you were surprised to find the listing in our last-minute vacation rentals, don’t be. We have listings for Romania and the Netherlands, too.

Go international on your next trip. That passport is lookin’ pretty sorry with just one stamp to Mexico.

I couldn’t make this one up: Free companion airfare when you book a flight to Canada on United between now and July 5.

For real.

You’ll have to travel between July 5 and Sept. 30 of this year, but for one gratis seat, why wouldn’t you seize the opportunity for a romantic getaway?

Next up on your spontaneous agenda–if that’s even possible–is finding a Canada vacation rental. The rose-covered property above calls Niagra-on-the-Lake home, an oasis near–where else, but the Falls–for couples who share a love of wine, horses and watching sunsets over Lake Ontario.

Tour local wineries by day, then retire to your patio by the water’s edge.

It’s the stuff of growing old together.

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.

Maybe you were just about to part with a deposit for that dream Mexico vacation home, or shoot, maybe you’re in the airport now, en route to your Playa del Carmen beach rental.

Whatever your situation, the media hysteria of late has fueled your fears about going to Mexico. Hey, it’s unavoidable.

A scan through the headlines and images reveals politicians declaring states of emergency, 10 countries seeking bans on pork imports and airline travelers sporting masks. Is it safe to go anywhere?

Well, according to the CDC, while it’s perfectly fine to consume bacon, pork belly and other related products, folks are being encouraged to hold off on non-essential travel to Mexico. No need to play Russian roulette with your health, even if that diving trip in Isla Mujeres does seem like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s not. You can go again.

In fact, play it right, and you might score a deal out of it.

When the US Airways plane went down in the Hudson River in January, it got my friend thinking, ‘What if I booked our vacation right now?’ And he did. He scored a Kauai vacation package for hundreds off the typical sticker price. Obviously he didn’t go right away, but I’d bet airlines that fly to Mexico will be hurting for a while longer while the fears settle down.

Keep your eyes and fare trackers on high alert, though, and surf through our Last-Minute Deals.

Because eventually, this pesky little threat of a pandemic will go away. And by then, you’ll need a vacation.

As summer vacation inches closer to rearing its highlighted, shade-wearing head, you’re in full-on homework mode.

Will it be a Cabo San Lucas vacation home or an Orlando vacation rental this year? A beach cottage or a lake house? As rough as it is out there, we’re still spoiled with choices.

And here’s one more: This week, BookingBuddy.com unveiled a section for vacation rentals, another sign that the segment is here to stay. I know, I know. One more darn site to click through.

But this one will actually save time, allowing consumers to stack up rental fees on various websites, including VacationHomeRentals.com. See how lucky you are? Besides an ad in the Yellow Pages–remember those?–and a Rand McNally map, bet your parents were lucky to have any resources for travel planning.

The fact that BookingBuddy.com, a site with 2.7 million unique visitors as of this March (according to compete.com), now lists vacation homes alongside cruises, vacation packages and hotels just goes to show travelers what a smart, competitive and now, mainstream, business model it is.

So if you’re in the market for R&R, consider a vacation home. On the flip side, if you own one, consider listing it here for broader exposure.

It’s a win-win.

Salon.com writer Robert Lanham cracked me up today.

In “Giving the recession the finger,” he describes the f–k it mentality embraced by some Americans in the face of mounting job losses, 401k annihilation and the $800 billion recovery (or spending, depending on your political stance) program pushed through by legislators. Even with all that, it’s as though a few are saying, “They can take our jobs, they can take our retirement, but they can’t take our vacation.”

While I’m no proponent of the newly unemployed raiding their savings for that Tulum vacation rental, those who are relatively secure in their gigs should take that deserved time off. And let’s face it: Pending layoffs are no secret. Unless you’re Joe Friendless who eats lunches at his desk and logs in and logs off without so much as a hello, you have a pretty good idea if an apocalypse is near. You think those shady bankers and auto workers weren’t prepared for the collapse of their industries?

No, for you folks, now would not be the time for margaritas and four-star resorts.

If you’re planning an escape, whether it’s a Mexico vacation home or Hawaii vacation rental, I highly suggest that you check out our Last-Minute Deals page. Because when consumers are hurting, property owners are hurting, too, and that’s your chance to swoop in to find a price that’s within your means.

I repeat: within your means.

The new mantra for the American economy.

On that top 10 places to visit before I die: Australia.

And for those of you living in Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York, there’s no time like the present. Book a Qantas flight before March 31 to take advantage of $275-$399 round-trip airfares to destinations like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Auckland.

Coupled with the hundreds of dollars you’re going to save on an Australia vacation home and the added relief of the American greenback’s value against the Australian dollar (Yes, believe it.), you do the math. You have to go. Now.

While you’re there, make sure to:

1. Explore the Great Barrier Reef.
2. Go on a cruise of Sydney Harbor to snap the obligatory picture of the Sydney Opera House.
3. Visit Ayers Rock.
4. Hang out on Bell’s Beach, Palm Beach, Surfer’s Paradise Beach and endless more stretches of sand that make Australia a surfer’s staple.
5. Learn what the heck a didgeridoo is and how to play it via a tour hosted by the Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre.

And for chrissake, mate, come back with a tan.