Vacation Home Rentals Blog

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Judging from the popular search terms on this site, it’s clear that the readership favors one sugary coastline over the other.

Tweet me which and why @ checkincheckout–I’m curious to know what you think.

My bet’s on Hawaii for its shimmery waterfalls, monster waves and all-around Aloha spirit. They greet strangers with leis, man. Can you beat that? And now’s the time to go thanks to the most affordable fares in recent years. Package those flights with a Hawaii vacation rental, and you’re off to experience paradise and all its quirks, like a plate of spam, rice and macaroni salad, staples of the Hawaiian diet.

Not to take anything away from Florida, which is like paradise in a can. Tourists can count on it every time for the sizzling heat, cheap airfares–because really, what airport doesn’t fly to Florida?–and a trove of lodging options. From Destin condos to South Beach vacation rentals, the getaway is sure to please a variety of consumers–without the jetlag.

It’s your turn, though. Tweet me your answers and I’ll let you have the mic.

Whether it’s a Florida vacation rental or Myrtle beach condo rental, earning a glowing user review is as good as gold.

Word-of-Internet is the new word-of-mouth, demonstrating the most strength in numbers. So the more positive experiences renters have with your property, the better.

With the Internet at our fingertips, content is power, but there’s a lot of dodgy information out there. Owners, load your listing with the best, most specific reviews to equip potential renters with enough facts to make an informed decision.

But first off, how do you get past renters to write about their stays? Here are a few ideas.

1. Consider an incentive program.
If the house lived up to or exceeded its billing, encourage renters to share their experiences online with rewards for future visits. Families tend to book the same house year after year to take the hassle out of planning or potentially losing that coveted house on the lake. Give them discounts for return trips.

2.  Bring in extra touches.
You may not know them personally, but vacation home clientele want to feel like guests of your home. Add a personal signature to their stay by providing a basket filled with fresh baked cookies or wine, and you’ll have them gushing long after their summer vacation.

3. Don’t forget about the off-season.
Make your vacation home a year-round money maker by dangling incentives during all four seasons. That Cape Cod beach house? Make it available during Thanksgiving. That Destin condo? It could be the next destination for a girlfriends’ getaway come December. Let it be known that shorter stays and holiday weeks aren’t off limits, and you’ll have folks cooing about how flexible you were.

4. Make it family friendly.
Parents will scan your listing for words like crib, Pack ‘N Play, bunk beds and stroller when they’re narrowing down their list of possible vacation rentals. A kid-ready home is likely to land repeat renters and possibly new ones in other parents.

Come the last week of August, the Obamas will be rounding out their summer in a Martha’s Vineyard vacation home, according to an interview with CBS News anchor Katie Couric.

Just where he’ll stay is another story, but if Plan A falls through (whatever that might be), we’ve got a cute “Little House in the Big Meadow,” the nickname coined by the owner for this two-bedroom, two-bathroom Martha’s Vineyard rental. The home is set on three acres hidden after a mile’s drive down a dirt road, the perfect setting for presidential discretion.

There, he, Michelle and the kids could play Clue in the sun-drenched living room, make lasagna in the kitchen, then take a dip in the solar-powered pool. (Yes, double brownie points for the “green” energy source, a key component of Obama’s campaign.)

The haven, made even more picturesque by the visiting deer and Harrier Hawk, is centrally located next to all six towns and beaches, yet away from the summer crowds.

Because even the First Family need a little privacy sometimes.

Sometimes it’s perfectly OK to come in second.

Just take it from Stephen Leatherman, or as he’s known at Florida International University and the rest of the coastline-loving world, “Dr. Beach.”

The man is so devoted to his craft that every year he releases a list of the most beautiful beaches in the world, analyzing things like sand quality and water temps. He named Siesta Key as his No. 2 pick on his roundup of America’s best beaches.

“With some of the finest, whitest sand in the world, this beach attracts sand collectors from all over,” Leatherman says. “Siesta Beach has clear, warm waters that serve for ideal swimming.”

Beyond that, though, the town is a quiet community, where vacationers settle into Siesta Key rentals, a mix of cottages, homes and condos. Inside the home pictured, you might hear herons frolicking with sandpipers, and–if you’re lucky enough–perhaps a dolphin arching over the warm Gulf waters.

See. Visiting the No. 2 beach in America can’t be so bad.

I know what you’re thinking.

What’s up with the towels, and why were these women laughing?

Was this their maiden trip to a nudist resort and the chuckling a coping mechanism? Did the girls decide to get loose with a few cocktails first before fully disrobing?

I guess that’s for them to know and for you to find out.

This adults-only Palm Springs resortpaints itself as an upscale retreat for celebrities, VIPs, couples and girlfriends wanting to frolick in the nude in a safe environment. The pictures show folks wading in a mineral pool, sharing passionate kisses in the sun and getting massages.

I’m not one who is easily impressed by honors, so the fact that this retreat was called one of the top five places to be naked doesn’t really resonate with me. What does that mean exactly? What were the factors in the decision?

That said, however, the user reviews mean more. I like this comment from Dayton, Ohio, residents Mark and Laurie, who visited the resort last August: “I, too, worried about bringing my wife to a nude resort and what it might be about. I am happy to report to this site we found a very high end excellent spa.”

Personally, I’d rather hear from a first-timer to a clothing optional resort before making a decision to go there. The fact that this couple felt comfortable is a relief.

In your head, don’t you envision slimy old guys hanging out in packs, waiting for fresh meat? Not here. The retreat sticks to a policy of no single men allowed on the property. Wow. That sorta surprises me.

As far as the rooms go, expect king-sized beds fitted with Egyptian cotton linen. There’s no restaurant or gym on the site, but if you’re into the nudist lifestyle, you’re probably not going for the cooking or the cardio anyway. At least not that kind of cardio.