Congratulations to two vacation home property managers on their exciting announcements this week.

First, in Outer Banks vacation rentals… Outer Banks Blue reported that the summer season of 2008 broke all previous occupancy records with a forty-eight (48) percent increase in occupancy. It also announced that for the first time it recorded full occupancy throughout the entire month of August.

“The summer season of 2008 was phenomenal and true tribute to our professional staff and homeowners. As a company we live by the motto ‘The Vacation Rental Firm Where Customer Service, Never Takes A Vacation’ and we believe that is one of the many factors that lead us to this record breaking summer. We have quickly become the vacation rental firm of choice for discerning vacationers who not only vacation with us season after season but have also taken the time to recommend our services to family, friends and colleagues. We look forward to our summer successes translating into a record breaking fall and an even better 2009,” stated Tim Cafferty, President of Outer Banks Blue Realty.

Read the full announcement.

Secondly, in Scottsdale vacation rentals and Phoenix vacation rentals… Specialty Lodging announced that in direct response to its discerning clients wanting to expand their Arizona vacations to include all that Arizona has to offer, Specialty Lodging is in the process of expanding to other parts of Arizona. Specialty Lodging represents 100s of luxury homes, condominiums, townhomes, villas, resort rentals and estates throughout Arizona, and will soon expand to California, as well.

Specialty Lodging has been so successful in the Arizona marketplace that it has become the choice of major luxury resorts and hotels when they need help marketing their own specialty properties. “The major luxury resorts and hotels have experience marketing their ‘cookie-cutter’ or standard inventory – but when it comes to finding the right guests for their non-traditional luxury accommodations, they have turned to the professional team at Specialty Lodging,” stated Jim Kempski of Specialty Lodging.

Read the full announcement.

There’s no doubt more and more travelers are choosing vacation homes over hotels for their vacation lodging. Congratulations to both PickPackGo partners, Outer Banks Blue and Specialty Lodging!

Posted: September 25th, 2008 under Property Management, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
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If you love Halloween, you’ll love this! Prepare to be scared (or at least to have some fun pretending to be scared) when you visit Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party now through Halloween night at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom® Park.

You have to have purchase a special ticket to visit the Magic Kingdom Park in costume, and trick-or-treat for candy and goodies with some favorite Disney Characters, all in their finest Halloween outfits. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which includes a “Boo-to-You” Halloween parade and fireworks, takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight.

And, don’t be tricked into thinking there’s no where affordable to stay nearby. You’ll find a Disney Orlando vacation rental home to be a treat the whole family can enjoy.

Posted: September 22nd, 2008 under Family Vacation, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
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If you are thinking about getting away during the holidays this year, you aren’t alone. The holiday vacation trend has been growing over the past decade as more travelers search for warmer climates during snowy months, while others head to the mountains for a winter wonderland. Still others, particularly multi-generational, extended families, are choosing to gather in themed destinations, such as Walt Disney World, rather than celebrating at home.

This year, December 24 through January 4th will be one of the most popular vacation periods all year. Believe us, it’s not too early to book your vacation rental home and think about investing in travel insurance to protect your trip if things don’t go according to plan.

In addition to our free Security Blanket Guarantee, there are two primary types of insurance to consider:

• Security Deposit Protector: Sometimes referred to as damage insurance, this policy covers up to $1,500.00 of accidental damage to a rental property.
• Vacation Rental Protection Plan: Sometimes referred to as travel insurance, this plan covers trip cancellation or interruptions, delays, baggage delays, medical expenses, emergency medical transportation, and also includes travel and roadside assistance. You may also choose to cover your vacation rental fees, car rental, airfare and other travel components under this plan.

Whether you are renting an Orlando vacation home near theme parks, a Destin vacation home near beaches, a Myrtle Beach vacation home near golf courses or a Breckenridge vacation home near slopes, you can be proactive in reducing some of the stress that comes with holiday travel and lodging.

……….

A slightly belated congratulations to Cathy of Chino Hills, CA, the winner of our August Getaway Giveaway contest.

Posted: September 15th, 2008 under Travel, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
Comments: 2

In a special report for USA TODAY, Larry Olmsted recently wrote “Life on Vacation: Dive in to divine weather in Idaho.” Although he wrote about shopping for an Idaho vacation home in a town called Coeur d’Alene, he could just as easily have picked the destination of Twin Falls, Idaho.

We were fortunate enough to spend some time in Twin Falls this summer and found not only the weather to be beautiful, but the scenery to be breathtaking, and the people to be warm and welcoming. If you’re thinking about heading to Twin Falls, here are three things we’d recommend you absolutely not miss:

1. Watching the BASE jumpers from the Perrine Bridge, the only place in the U.S. that allows BASE jumping without a permit, every day of the year. The bridge stands 486 feet above the Snake River. Watch a jump!
2. Visiting the Shoshone Falls, which are spectacular along the Snake River. At 212 feet, the falls are higher than Niagara Falls (hard to imagine for those of us from the East, but when you see them, you’ll agree!)



3. Walking (or jogging) along the scenic path next to the Snake River.

While we found plenty to do and see in Idaho during the summer, we were told there’s also fabulous sightseeing and skiing in the winter. Yet another reason for us to book an Idaho vacation rental soon.

Posted: September 9th, 2008 under Family Vacation, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
Comments: 1

Many of the vacation rentals we showcase on PickPackGo offer game rooms, but I never considered a game room a must-have when booking any of the vacation homes we’ve stayed in over the years. After all, most of the homes were close to beaches, theme parks, or a national park where there were plenty of other activities to keep us busy. I guess, I just never thought about the need for a game room. Until now…

This past weekend, the wedding we attended in Montana was at a vacation rental that included a game room, and wouldn’t you know it became the most popular room in the house for all of the guests under the age of 18. Not that we older folks weren’t invited in to join the fun, but it was clearly their area and they were in charge of who played what and when.

Watching them for awhile brought back memories of ping pong and air hockey tournaments that we had as kids. I’d never considered our basement a game room, but on rainy or snowy days, that’s exactly what it was…our place to play games.

As the kids we travel with get older, I can now see how a game room in a vacation home could be a huge asset. Not only would it be fun for the kids on rainy or cold days, but it might even provide a little healthy competition among the generations staying there.

Posted: September 3rd, 2008 under Family Vacation, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
Comments: none

Posted: September 1st, 2008 under Travel.
Comments: none