In Sunday’s New York Times, Practical Traveler columnist Michelle Higgins focused on vacation homes, offering readers insight into “Skirting the Pitfalls of Private Rentals.”

She writes: “So how do you avoid the pitfalls? First, figure out whom you want to rent from. The vacation rental market is divided into two basic segments: homes that are rented out directly by the owner and those run by a property management company.

“Professionally managed rentals, like most of the properties featured on Zonder.com, forGetaway.com and PickPackGo.com, promise a certain level of quality control since the homeowner pays the management company to inspect the home, clean it and handle any issues that arise—if a pipe bursts, for example, or the air-conditioner suddenly gives out. And most accept credit card payments, which affords an added layer of protection in case the transaction goes sour.”

When renting a vacation home, it’s important to understand whether a professional property manager or an absentee owner possibly living hundreds of miles away will be taking care of you and the home you are renting should the unexpected happen while you are staying there.

Posted: October 6th, 2008 under Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
Comments: 1

About.com’s Travel with Kids editor and Family Vacations expert, Teresa Plowright, let everyone in on a little secret recently when she blogged about Disney World being free on your birthday. That’s right. Disney. FREE!

Of course, being a Mickey Mouse fan, I had to check it out, and sure enough, she was right. Disney is offering FREE admission on your birthday at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida or Disneyland® Resort in California during 2009. The finer points of the offer require that you register for your free admission (for you or on behalf of a child) and have proof of birth date upon admission.

If you want to save even more during your Disney birthday celebration, consider renting an Orlando vacation home nearby.

Posted: October 1st, 2008 under Family Vacation, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
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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.
Comments: none

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.
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With the “big kids” heading back to school, now is a great time for families with infants and toddlers to book vacation homes at popular vacation destinations without worrying about crowds.

After Labor Day, at Walt Disney World in Orlando for example, ride lines are shorter, reservations for character breakfasts are easier to get, and shows can be more enjoyable for little ones without the distractions of school-aged children.

Historic museums and national monuments, such as those in Williamsburg, VA, can also be less intimidating for toddlers after summertime’s heated rush.

In Carolina resort towns, including Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island, preschoolers can more easily accompany parents and grandparents as they practice their swings on some of the world’s best golf courses and tennis courts.

The Fall is also an ideal time for toddlers to travel by tricycle or training wheels around coastal towns, on boardwalks, and through mountain ski villages at a pace that’s right for the whole family.

When you inquire about and book a vacation rental this Fall, be sure to ask property managers about their specials and other local activities that may be perfect for your preschooler.

Posted: August 25th, 2008 under Family Vacation, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
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We were pleasantly surprised this week by an announcement that will have our family traveling to just outside of Yellowstone National Park this Labor Day weekend. I can’t wait because I’ve heard so much about Yellowstone, its animals and its natural beauty.

National Parks around the U.S. are ideal for hiking, walking and just viewing amazingly beautiful scenery with the whole family. While the U.S. National Park System includes many national parks, such as Yellowstone, it also includes a large number of monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails. In total, it comprises 391 areas covering more than 84 million acres in every state (except Delaware), the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Among the most popular destinations are: The Grand Canyon, The Statue of Liberty, Gettysburg, Alcatraz Island, Great Smoky Mountains, and where we are headed: Yellowstone National Park.

Like most National Parks, Yellowstone has an official Junior Ranger Program open to children ages 5 - 12. The goal of the program is to introduce children to the natural wonders of Yellowstone and their role in preserving them for the future. We’ll be sure to check it out along with the other “must sees” at the Park.

Now, about that lodging nearby…

Posted: August 12th, 2008 under Family Vacation, Travel, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
Comments: none

Erik Hastings of The Travel Show with Erik Hastings is on a mission to get people traveling more often.

In his words, “The reality is; travel is GOOD for you. On so many levels, the healing power of travel outweighs the stresses of travel logistics.”

By his own admission, “Bringing my message to the forefront is difficult these days. Every day their is a new negative news story either directly or indirectly related to travel. The message is always the same. “We’re not saying NOT to travel…we’re just saying this is what you’ll be faced with if you do…”. Translation? DON’T BOTHER! Well I say HOGWASH! Okay, gas prices are high, airlines are struggling because gas prices are high, the housing market is shaky at best…heck, even the cost of milk is creeping up there. That being said, plan smart, but execute the plan to travel more in the next 12 months.”

Erik’s challenge to all of us: “I hope you will join me in my mission to get out there and explore. Inspire your friends and family members by retelling stories from your vacation experience. Do it for your family, do it for your relationship, do it to recharge your batteries, do it to see more of this great world, do it to better understand how to better perform at work, do it for your own gratification, just do it, get out there and travel!”

Erik, we at vacation rental search site PickPackGo applaud your mission!

Posted: August 6th, 2008 under Travel, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
Comments: 1