Vacation Home Rentals Blog

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.

No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers, dirty looks.

So now what?

Myrtle Beach condo rentals bring the conveniences of high-rise living to families in dire need of an affordable summer vacation just in time for the end of the school year. The towering building above–christened Prince Resort at Cherry Grove Pier–is a modest $1,550 a week through Aug. 22. Appointed with a granite counter tops, a full kitchen, sophisticated furniture, a private balcony and sweeping views of the Atlantic, it’s that dream suite that you thought was out of your budget. These flats even have their own dining room tables! No need to eat leftovers in front of the TV.

When Megan and Bobby get sick of playing in the sand, there’s a ninth-floor sundeck fitted with one of those cool mushroom-like canopies that cascades water into the kiddie pool. And how’s this for more little people pleasers? A lazy river and game room to round out the fun.

To save dinero on feeding your family of four, drive to the grocery store near the resort to load up on groceries for the week. Would rather have someone else do the cooking for you, but don’t feel like traveling that far? Kick it at the on-site 3500 Oceanfront Grill or the more casual hangout called the Boardwalk Beach Cafe.

And for those hard-to-please teens and tweens, there’s Ripley’s Believe it Or Not Museum, the Family King Amusement Park and many more attractions nearby.

Save me a seat on the Ferris wheel.

Now this is a nice marketing move by the owner of this Manhattan vacation rental: Peppering the listing with the word “suite.”

Suite sounds so, well, sweet, doesn’t it? It conjures image of sweet views and your own private hideaway from the bustle below. Coupled with photos of sleek furniture, a gourmet-style galley kitchen, booze for cocktailing, plus amenities like an on-site gym, laundry room and a boutique-style lobby manned by a 24-hour concierge, this is a New York City vacation rental that’s bound to be scooped up.

Within walking distance to Time Square, Madison Square Garden, Empire State Building, Broadway, Grand Central Terminal and Bryant Park, the vacation home appeals to tourists seeking to knock out the major tourist destinations during a long weekend or even a single professional who makes frequent trips to the city.

In your offtime, catch “In The Heights,” visit the Empire State Building Observatory, take a photo by the JumboTron, order grub from a food cart or street vendor.

What you obviously should not do: Complain about lodging. At $200-$250 a night, your immaculate apartment is a steal by New York standards. Trust me, I checked.

If a Malibu vacation home was on your list of must-visits or you own a property in this glitzy zip code, be forewarned: Renting and owning could hit you deeper in the pocket.

That’s because as of July 1, Malibu property owners will have to pay a 12 percent transient occupancy tax for vacationers who stay less than 30 days, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Will it affect those of us who “summer” in the playground of the papparrazzi?

90623 landlords: Here’s your chance to sound off. Will you be raising prices to offset the tax burden?

And luxury vacation home renters: to Malibu or not to Malibu this year?

Oregon Coast rentals maybe aren’t the first spots you’d associate with summer vacation, but what if you live in places like Florida and Texas, where the humidity is so thick you could make soup?

Here’s a solution: Head to somewhere, dare I say it, mild. While your Tampa neighbors are complaining about 90-degree heat, you’ll be comfy in 70 degrees and chilly in the high 40s at night.

Call it the un-summer vacation–for tropical beach babies anyway.

The towns sitting along US Highway 101 link a string of oceanfront towns marked by seaside cliffs, dense woodlands and the calming blue Pacific. You may even spot a lighthouse or two or even a whale.

From luxury townhouses to craftsman cottages, the numerous lodging options allow guests to stay in vacation homes equipped for the largest of family reunions to a simple couple’s getaway. When you’re not walking along on the beach (Many of the houses have direct access to the coastline.), you can sample the local brews at Rogue Ales Public House, go antiquing for heirloom quilts and just enjoy the wildlife, like sea lions at play in the caves in Florence.

Trust me, there’s plenty to do.

And if there isn’t, so what. You’re supposed to be on vacation.

When you’ve walked a jillion miles from Cinderella Castle to Frontierland, the last thing you need is another jillion miles to walk on a sprawling resort. You’ve just pushed a stroller and stood in lines in 90-degree heat for eight hours straight. You’re sore, hungry and in dire need of a shower.

Suddenly those five-minute highs from spinning yourselves silly on the tea cups have turned you into a cranky, stinky you-know what.

In preparation for that literal crash–sugar and otherwise–you’ll want to find a nice place to stay. But not that standard, identity-free hotel room, but a real cozy, intimate retreat.

Disney Area vacation homes at Tropical Palms Resort will feel like home. The Kissimmee vacation rental above is a real-life dollhouse, perfectly sized for families with small children. Brimming with the charm of a Key West cottage, the house sports a loft, tiny kitchen, bathroom, TV and wireless access. For the tykes: a kiddie pool and game room.

And there’s something else miniature about the spot, too: the price.

Just $59 a night.

Yes way.

Lagoon-style pools. Manicured grounds with palm trees and exotic flora and fauna. Pearly white beaches. Golf courses, tennis courts and oh, the conveniences of home, in the forms of full-sized kitchens and Starbucks.

In a nutshell, those are the many virtues of Destin condo rentals, where families, couples and singles co-vacay in spaces nestled on resort-like settings. Sure, you can always default to Orlando vacation homes for Mickey Mouse, but Panhandle vacation rentals are just-as-affordable and nice breaks from hearing “It’s a Small World” 5 million times and the $15 lunches inside Magic Kingdom.

Fares to Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS), the closest airport to Destin at just 20 miles, are especially thrifty from Wisconsin right now, according to AirfareWatchDog.com. Fly from Appleton or Green Bay on Northwest Airlines for only $158 roundtrip.

If you’re willing to drive a little, search flights to Pensacola and Panama City Bay County International Airports–60 miles east or west of Destin, respectively–on airlines like America West, American, Delta, United and more.

One final piece of trivia: Before the reigning pop queen became Bald Britney became Comeback Britney, she vacationed in Destin with ex-husband Kevin Federline. She had a home there.

What are the chances you’ll run into her this summer? Not likely, because she’ll be on tour in Europe, but still a cool story to tell when you’re bragging about the blast you had in the Panhandle.

You’re not the type of traveler who’s happy sitting on the sand with a Mai Tai. If there’s beach volleyball to be played, you’re schooling folks on your serve. If the tide is cooperative, you’re out there on ripping those waves, and you’ll still have lots of energy for a four-mile run afterward–in your bare feet.

You’re fit and proud of it.

Why not plan your vacation in a city that cares about healthy living?

The American College of Sports Medicine published its second annual American Fitness Index, a report that ordered 45 metropolitan statistical areas based on 30 different factors, from the number of parks per capita to the percentage of residents with diabetes. My hometown–Virginia Beach, Va.–proudly ranked No. 10. (Yay, 23456!)

The top five aren’t just the five fittest cities, but great places to visit to boot–regardless of your athleticism. So grab that couch potato friend and hustle to …

1. Washington D.C.
You’ll definitely work up a sweat after hoofing around Georgetown, DuPont Circle, Capitol Hill, endless museums, the Washington Monument and so on. Say hi to Malia, Sasha, Michelle, Barack and oh, yes, Bo, for us. (Find your District of Columbia vacation rental here.)

2. Minneapolis St. Paul
Tons of parkland, golf courses, nature sanctuaries, gardens and lakes mean that Twin Cities residents get lots of exercise. Not to mention acres upon acres for picnics and that impromptu frisbee session with Fido. (Look for Minneapolis vacation homes.)

3. Denver
Secure your Iron Horse Warrior to the back of your SUV and hit the road for the Mile High City’s extensive family of trails, paths and garden- and riverside vistas. Beginners, watch out for that mountain air. Don’t overexert yourself. This is supposed to be a vacation, remember? (Find your Denver vacation home.)

4. Boston
Bostonians take full advantage of public transportation to go to work, a plus for visitors, because that’s proof that it’s a walking city. And if cities are like hotels, this one is certainly boutique chic–manageable, yet stylish. You’ll want to experience all that history–Boston Common, Paul Revere House, etc.–by foot. (Look for Boston vacation rentals now.)

5. San Francisco
A word of advice to first-timers: Wear flats. You’ll need them to scour every neighborhood, from cute patisseries to taquerias from Russian Hill to the Mission. If you’re lucky enough to visit during a farmer’s market, do. If you didn’t already know, there’s another reason SF ranked fifth on the AFI: Residents eat more than five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. No wonder. A walk to the farmer’s market and indulging in all those fresh samples are as much habits to locals as boozing and baseball to Chicagoans. (Search for San Francisco Bay Area vacation rentals here.)

Maybe you bought your Lake Norman vacation home as an investment, hoping to flip it after a few years for big bucks. Maybe your Charlotte vacation rental won’t get used this year because you’re worried about taking too much time off. Smart–we’re all nervous about losing our jobs.

Whatever the reason, it would pay off now to list your property with VacationHomeRentals.com, because according to the Charlotte Observer, the area is seeing a lot of traction. Only 12 miles from Mooresville, aka Race City USA, Lake Norman is a bastion for NASCAR fans and families seeking the peaceful 520 miles of shoreline, jet skiing, fishing, sailing and canoeing.

One of the reasons travelers might favor a lakeside home is the access to boat docks to park that spankin’ new watercraft. I mean, that’s probably why you bought the property, right?

Share the spoils with other folks. Don’t let your vacation home sit stagnant when there’s $ to be made.

We hope that Florida vacation home you booked for July is still in the works, but a new poll suggests that folks have canceled at least one of their planned trips.

A survey by AP-Gfk claims that 42 percent of Americans will be going on summer vacation, compared with 49 percent who said in a 2005 AP-Ipsos poll that they would be taking one. And most notable: While 43 percent of 30-49-year-olds will be vacationing, only 39 percent of 65 and older Americans plan to do so.

Can’t say I’m surprised.

The entitlement generation is used to Starbucks, Louis Vuitton purses and high-end denim. Personally, those are luxuries I can live without, but a vacation? No way.

If your company is teetering on the edge of layoffs or you’re living paycheck to paycheck, I can understand why you’d want to bypass the holiday in a Maui vacation rental, but an abbreviated excursion, even an extended weekend, can do wonders. Just choose carefully and don’t be stupid. If a road trip to Colorado is more feasible than a splashy European adventure, more power to you. And don’t rule out the savings and space benefits of renting a vacation home.

What’s the truth, though, America? We want to hear from you. Are you sticking by or scrapping your summer vacation? Leave a comment here or follow us (and speak to us) on Twitter @checkincheckout.