In today’s USA Today, Laura Bly features “Budget Travel Sites to Keep You Out of the Red.” She mentions websites that can help travelers with airfares, accommodations, deals/strategies, getting around and dining.

The article is a must-read for anyone making holiday travel plans.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.