Vacation Home Rentals Blog

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If you’ve been a loyal follower of Check-In, Check-Out (Thank you, thank you very much), you’d remember the challenge posed to you from the beginning of 2009: Disappear into nowhere.

That was resolution No. 7, along with “Be a kid again,” Learn how to sit still” and “Be more romantic,” among many others.

How are you doing on those promises?

While it may be too late or too busy to squeeze in a getaway before the end of the year, here’s an idea for when the turf thaws: Kearney, Nebraska. Ever heard of it? Me neither.

The Nebraska vacation rental pictured covers the three C’s: convenience, comfort and country setting. It’s that anonymous escape that your TomTom may have difficultly zeroing in on a map, which is part of its appeal.

The loft-style cabin, a one-bedroom that rents for $95 a night when weather cooperates*, sits at pond’s edge, where you’ll catch and release large-mouth bass, catfish and carp. If you’ve forgotten your pole, don’t worry: The owners have left two, along with other essentials like bug spray, suntan lotion and shampoo and conditioner. (Rough it in a tent, not in a cabin with a working shower.)

While you’re out exploring the trail near the Platte River, keep on the lookout for deer and turkey, which may cross your path, or songbirds.

That last one should take care of being a kid again and learning how to sit still. As for being romantic, there’s no real secret to how that’s accomplished. Just call, book and surprise.

(*Note to readers: The owners close the unit from November to February because they don’t have the equipment to remove snow. Contact them for available dates.)

After winding through mountains and past gold-flecked trees and sparkling streams, your reward is a cabin in the woods.

The 1920s cottage above, affectionately called “The Lilacs,” perches at an elevation level of 5,300 feet, blessing visitors with views of starry skies, a pond below and all that gorgeous greenery. Besides its name, the setting oozes with historical charm. The property was once part of the Bailey Palomar Resort, where “townies” would come to play during summers to enjoy the warmth and the community gathering places like the dance hall and hotel.

The no-frills, Redwood cabin looks every bit the part of rustic retreat, where walls are wood-paneled and decorated with antlers, the fireplace is stone and guests can climb to a loft bedroom upstairs or chillax in one of a living room that streams the light in from multiple windows.

And now for the secret of this California vacation rental, one that may apply to many other vacation homes throughout VacationHomeRentals.com …

Through the end of December, the three-bedroom house is $65-$95 a night with a two-night mininum stay. Even in the summer (May 22-Sept. 10), the rate is an affordable $145 a night.

Shhh. No one has to know but you, your lady and mountain bike.

There’s not enough spontaneity in your life.

Your day is a series of deadlines book-ended by trips to the elevator, the office snack drawer and depending what’s on TV, that 7 p.m. spin class. (Your teacher is cute, but his squeaky voice, amplified by a wireless microphone, annoys.)

A crescent beach … a sunset … are just what you need.

Proponents of the unplanned vacation will find a deal in Destin condos, where the Gulf of Mexico waters are still warm and the high-rises are eager to fill their rooms during the slower fall and winter breaks. Florida’s Emerald Coast has some of the most pristine beaches in the state, offering less kitsch (not that Dade County’s Coral Castle doesn’t have its charm) and centralized living that allows visitors to stay in one place, thanks to on-site restaurants, multiple pools, parking, fitness rooms and tennis and basketball courts.

For a husband looking to surprise his bride with a long weekend away, you can’t beat it.

The two of you can also go shopping at the Silver Sands Factory Outlet, snorkeling, para sailing and golfing, then retire to your quarters to watch the dolphins from your balcony. The condo above rents for $100-$150 a night through Dec. 26. Do it. Shock her.

She’ll be impressed for years.

If Ivanka Trump can get married in the fall, then late-year weddings must be the new black. Or in her case, the new lace sleeve. (An impeccable style modernized by Vera Wang)

Maybe it’s the cooler weather or the buildup to the holidays, but brides and grooms are warming up to hosting their big day in October, November and December. But not everyone has a Trump-sized budget.

Perhaps you’re one of those couples who recognizes the importance of the union, but you’d rather save your dollars for a splashy honeymoon or first home. Smart.

It’s just one day, right? One day that can equal $$$.

When it comes to the honeymoon, Mr. and Mrs. have a bounty of affordable options in vacation home rentals. From Florida vacation rentals to Cape Cod house rentals, there’s a hideaway for every bank account. Had to cut 50 of your closest friends because the numbers weren’t working? You’ll forget the guilt when you’re tanning poolside in your Miami Beach vacation condo or testing the sauna in that Utah chalet.

In rough economic times, road trips shouldn’t  be out of the question or staycations in your very own zip code. With added baggage fees on major carriers, both may be the ways to save airfare for other costs like entertainment or the occasional meal out.

And if you’re newlyweds who simply don’t have enough vacation time accrued to take that getaway of a lifetime, consider a long weekend or “teaser” honeymoon. Save the sightseeing for another time. This is one case where its OK to spend most of your time in the room.

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.

Yet one more reason not to stay in a hotel: In New Orleans, you could be snuggling with a ghost.

Muhaha.

Hotel Provincial, a former Confederate hospital, took the No. 1 spot on the list of Top 10 Most Haunted Hotels in the U.S., according to Haunted America Tours. Building No. 5 is said to be the creepiest, with former soldiers dressed in full uniform and scaring the bejesus out of guests.

Indeed, New Orleans, known for Mardi Gras, beignets, po’boys, the Neville Brothers and wallflowers flashing themselves into sex kittens, also has a rep for its ghostly visitors.

During this spooky time of year, N’awlins needs to do very little other than be itself to create the Halloween spirit. The plantation-style homes–fitted with ornate candelabras and wrought-iron fences–plus lantern-lit streets and lonesome courtyards conjure the feeling of lost souls. It’s the kind of place where you wouldn’t be surprised if you discovered a cloudy silhouette invading your snapshots from vacation.

And while the idea of haunted tours doesn’t exactly sound like an ideal getaway, the Big Easy seduces with so much more: amazing restaurants and an unabashed appetite for sin and song.

Book your New Orleans vacation rental now for the week of Oct. 24, when the Crescent City will host a Halloween Parade in Mardi Gras fashion. Expect krewes sailing down the streets of the French Quarter on floats, and crazy costumes like Jon and Kate Gosselin.

Don’t be scared, kiddies. They’re just costumes.

A drive through the New England countryside may be your fall ritual, but this year, why not shake things up a bit? After all, how many times have you seen brown leaves? (Every time you have to rake them, no doubt.)

Wander through Taos, N.M. and you’ll feel as if you walked into an Ansel Adams image.  The Sangre de Christo Mountains, Spanish for blood of Christ, stand majestically above this gorgeous city, where travelers plan getaways around hiking, biking and collecting art. In fact, the city reportedly tempts with more than 100 galleries just in case you’re looking for that perfect landscape painting to hang in your living room or turquoise pendant to wear with next summer’s peasant dress.

New Mexico vacation rentals are every bit as enchanting with their adobe-style construction. The one pictured, which rents for $1,200 a week through the end of the year, is a beauty with high ceilings, sizeable windows for mountain viewing and a kiva fireplace. Some homes bear the vigas(beams) common in many Indian villages.

So while this may not be Martha Stewart’s idea of a fall vacation, it could be yours.

Don’t forget the camera.

VacationHomeRentals.com is wealthy in choices for Seattle vacation rentals, but the contemporary cabin above had me at the deck.

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom chalet (just $1,000 a week through Dec. 31, 2010) isn’t too large or too small, and easily blends rustic charm (look at that woodwork and wall of windows in the living room) with modern trappings. Read: It’s the perfect vacation home for those who appreciate Mother Nature, but don’t care to pitch a tent for two weeks.

For travelers like me, that could mean taking a boat out on Lake Kachess, where we’d spend the day angling for trout, but returning to the lovely confines of a stainless steel kitchen to grill it.

A rougher I’m not.

You feel me?

Is a Facebook friend’s association enough to convince you to rent a vacation home?

A company in Oregon hopes so. Second Porch launched a new application on the popular social networking sight that connects potential renters with properties. Whether it’s an Oregon coast rental or Florida vacation home, travelers will be able to “friendsource” those listings they like, make recommendations and weigh in on the rentals, some 300 since the site completed initial tests this summer, according to The New York Times.

Some folks, however, prefer Facebook without a side of solicitation. People visit to see their cubicle mate’s antics from the bachelor party last weekend or the ever-pressing, important news that Jane Smith is about to get her teeth cleaned. When businesses start creeping in, does it become annoying, and would you download this application?

Another issue to consider: What if this friend’s listing doesn’t measure up to your expectation? Often friendships go sour with a bad business deal.

VacationHomeRentals.com takes the legwork out of your vacation home search, showcasing thousands of cottages, chalets, mansions, condos and apartments all in one place. You’ll stumble across user reviews, amenities, even the closest airport in a clean, straightforward profile page.

And any Facebook user knows that you can attach a link to any status update if you’re really trying to push something.

Let us know what you think on Twitter @checkincheckout.

Some of us are still in the iffy weather period, with summer lingering just a little bit longer with gorgeous 70-degree temps. For kids, it’s a cruel joke, Mother Nature’s way of taunting, “Haha, you have to be in school.”

But the rugrats don’t have to miss out if you can squeeze in a weekend trip; it’s a lovely time to plan a fall getaway to a Virginia vacation home.

Take Interstate 64 to Colonial Williamsburg, where the falling leaves lend to a timeless backdrop for 18th century America. The men don patriot hats and wigs, while the women wear petticoats, and the buildings transport visitors to the American Revolution era right down to the Governor’s Palace. You’ll hear how African-American slaves endured plantation life and gain a new appreciation of tradesmen and women and their tools, from the blacksmith’s iron to the weaver’s spool.

Nowadays, it’s a misguided notion that working with one’s hands is the job of “menial” laborers, but these were clever, skilled artisans who sweat over dirt and fire to create the cotton that would be turned into quilts, the wax that would become candlesticks and the metal that would be fashioned into tomahawks.

If there’s shame in learning a skill for survival, you wouldn’t know that from visiting here.