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

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.
Comments: none

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

This summer, like many of you, our family has stood in long lines at airline counters waiting to check bags. We’ve seen the surprise on the faces of many parents as their luggage is weighed and deemed to be over the airline’s weight limit. We’ve seen that surprise turn to embarrassment and anger as families are required to pay a fee or start unpacking right there.

It’s now easier than you think to avoid this unpleasant and costly experience before you head off for your vacation home or Grandma’s house. Simply weigh your bags with a light-weight, digital scale. Enter this month’s PickPackGo Getaway Giveaway contest and…

Congratulations to Sarah of Phoenix, Arizona, the winner of our July Getaway Giveaway contest and an Apple iPod Shuffle.

Posted: August 4th, 2008 under Contest, Travel, Vacation Homes.
Comments: none

Recent studies have shown that up to one third of employees who get paid vacation time don’t use it all. Many people said they would get too behind on the job if they took time off, while others cited not being able to afford to take a trip.

If you are in the first group, you should know that taking a vacation is actually beneficial to both you and your employer. First, it’s good for you. Time off helps to reduce stress levels and heart attack risk, prevents burnout, and improves performance and creativity. Secondly, you getting away from the office is good for your employer. Companies need employees who are performing at their highest levels and many employers also need to get that accrued vacation time off their books to further benefit their bottom line.

So do yourself and your employer a favor. Use your vacation time this year. Stay nearby, go camping or rent a vacation home.

You’re both bound to feel better!

Posted: July 31st, 2008 under Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
Comments: none

Earlier this summer, PickPackGo CEO Felix Lin talked with LakeFront Radio’s hosts about lake-front recreation and business. That show got our family excited about trying a new adventure. Instead of heading to a beach house this month with our friends, we thought we’d try a lake-front vacation home. Our destination: one of the 10,000 lakes of Minnesota, specifically in the town of Nisswa.

Flying to Minnesota is relatively easy from almost anywhere because the Twin Cities’ airport (in Minneapolis/St. Paul) is a Northwest Airlines hub. From the airport, our three-hour drive to Nisswa took us through some beautiful country with lots of farm land. As we drove I-94 North to State Routes 10, then 371 to Brainerd and into Nisswa, I continued to be surprised at how flat the state is. I imagined Minnesota would be hilly with all of those lakes tucked into small valleys. I was wrong.

I wasn’t wrong when I imagined the beautiful lakes though. They are everywhere you look. Big ones with vacationers jet skiing and powerboating and smaller ones with people kayaking and rowing. Our Minnesota vacation home was on a smaller lake, perfect for canoeing, swimming, playing in the sand and fishing from the dock.

There are a lot of perks to a vacation home on the Lake. We enjoyed being able to swim, as well as paddle into the water from our yard, so we could go exploring the local wildlife, which included seeing a large blue heron flying near the shore! We loved playing in the sand on the beach during the day, and at night, hearing the loons call while we hung out by the fire pit toasting marshmallows and making somores.

We also enjoyed shopping and eating (The Chocolate Ox is definitely worth a stop!) in the quaint town of Nisswa, and learning a little bit about its history. With its 10,000 lakes, Minnesota is an absolutely ideal locale for a lake-front vacation.

Posted: July 28th, 2008 under Family Vacation, Travel, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
Comments: none

Now that I have a growing family, I have become more cautious about everything, including traveling. What if our daughter gets sick before our vacation? What if there is a natural disaster where we are going? What if our luggage with all of the baby items we need gets lost? What if…

Fortunately for travelers like me, there is peace of mind available in the form of insurance. Through AIG Travel Guard, anyone renting a vacation home through PickPackGo is eligible to purchase a Vacation Rental Protection Plan.

Sometimes referred to as travel insurance, the Vacation Rental Protection Plan covers trip cancellation or interruptions, delays, baggage delays, medical expenses, emergency medical transportation and also includes travel and roadside assistance. The best part is that it’s really affordable. We can cover our vacation rental fees, car rental, airfare and other travel components for just 7% of the portions of our travel that we want to have covered by the plan.

When you have little ones, having some additional assurances after saving, planning, booking and looking forward to vacation is nice. After all, with kids, things rarely seem to go according to plan.

If you’d like more information about our insurance options through AIG Travel Guard, contact us.

Posted: July 23rd, 2008 under Family Vacation, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
Comments: none