Friday, July 9, 2010

“Vacation rentals: 9 things to know” plus 1 more

“Vacation rentals: 9 things to know” plus 1 more

Vacation rentals: 9 things to know

Posted: 08 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT

2. Timing your purchase. If you're in town for a special event, like a sports tournament or festival, it's never too soon to book a vacation rental. "Vacation rentals are more scarce than hotels and great vacation properties are even scarcer," says Chris Brusznicki, the chief executive of GamedayHousing.com, a site that specializes in rentals for sports events. But if there's no reason to be in town, you can run down the clock. One terrific new site that allows you to bid on "last minute" vacation rentals is a site called PackLate.

3. Finding out what you're renting. It probably goes without saying that you need to do your due diligence on a rental. "Do your homework," says Sylvia Guarino, who owns a rental home on Sanibel Island, Fla. (one of my favorite places) and a member of Second Porch, a Facebook application that connects vacation rental owners and vacation guests. "Vacation rental guests sometimes get too focused on getting a deal, and not focused enough on getting the information that they need, or authenticating the property. "How do you authenticate a property? Look at every piece of information available to you, including the owner's site, the vacation rental site, online reviews and what you find on social networking sites, like Facebook. Be sure the property is in good shape, is as represented and isn't in foreclosure.

4. Finding out who you're renting from. "Research the owner, not just the home," says Kelly Hayes-Raitt, who owns a rental property in Santa Monica, Calif. She includes a link to her Web site and biography in every correspondence with potential guests, "not just so they realize they are supporting my work with refugees, but so they learn they are dealing with someone who has been active in her community for 30 years and not likely to cheat them," she says. Not every owner is as forthcoming as Hayes-Raitt, but if someone is reclusive, it might be a warning sign.

5. Determining if the rental is part of an association or destination. That can make a big difference, according to Jon Ervin, a spokesman for the Cottage Rental Agency in Seaside, Fla. "Imagine you rent from Mr. and Mrs. Jones — nice enough people, but what if your air conditioning quits or some other concern arises?" he asks. "You most likely are going to have to work through the issue for your entire stay." Not if your rental is part of an association. There's someone on call to help in situations like that. My family rented a home at the WaterColor Inn & Resort in nearby Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., during the Christmas holidays, and we found that to be good advice.

6. Becoming a power user. For example, VRBO.com allows you to filter search results by area, bedrooms and the number of people it can sleep. That helped Kellie Pelletier find a vacation rental in Charleston, S.C. for her family. VRBO also shows which homes are available on your preferred dates. "So I didn't waste my time researching and contacting houses that were already booked for my week," she says. Pelletier knows a thing or two about being a power user. She used to work for Kayak.com, the booking site. "House rental sites are years, if not decades, behind other travel sites," she complains. "Please, won't somebody launch the Kayak of rental house sites?"

7. Avoiding group-think. Extended families like mine should be broken up into smaller housing units, such as adjoining condos, as opposed to fitting them into one house. It gives everyone more privacy and is easier on the finances, because you don't have to argue over the bill at the end. "Sometimes a big house works for some families," says Carol White, who runs a Web site about road trips. "But not others."

8. Reviewing the contract very carefully. You're not checking into a hotel; this is more like renting an apartment. Watch for contract language, such as cleaning options. Frank Discala, who owns a rental property in Nantucket Town, Mass., gives his tenants two options: either clean up after themselves, "Or they can leave the place without cleaning up and lose their $500 deposit," he says. "Ouch! No one has ever taken that option." (Discala knows about contracts; he's a lawyer.)

9. Staying flexible. Remember, you're renting an apartment or house — not a room in a hotel. "Some things may go wrong," warns Pauline Kenny, a vacation rental expert who runs a site called Slow Europe. "The plumbing may stop working, the kitchen stove runs out of gas. Some things may not be perfect — you bump your head repeatedly on that low doorway, the couch is orange, the parking space is almost impossible to get into." That's life in a vacation rental. "Suck it up and live with it," she says.

Needless to say, tenting a vacation has its challenges. "The process for finding a vacation rental home is more involved and sometimes even difficult," says Christine Karpinski, a director for HomeAway.com. "You have to not only search for the home, but you also have to email to inquire whether or not it is available and for a full quote. Sometimes the process can take a couple hours and sometimes it can take a week of back-and-forth with the homeowners. But the reward at the end is wonderful."

I hope she's right. I'll let you know what happens this summer.

Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine. You can read more travel tips on his blog, elliott.org or e-mail him at celliott@ngs.org.

© 2010 msnbc.com.  Reprints

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All-American family beach vacation spots

Posted: 08 Jul 2010 02:04 PM PDT

Ahhh ... the family beach vacation. It's as all-American as apple pie, a time-honored tradition where some of the best childhood memories are made. Everyone has their favorite sands, but when it comes to family-friendly options, not all are created equal. We've picked 10 great family beaches across the country that parents and kids alike are guaranteed to love — whether for their gentle surf, range of activities, sand-castle potential, or educational elements. So gather the gang and pack up the SPF and beach ball — it's time to take the clan to the sand!

Canon Beach, Ore.
Set against verdant old-growth forests and punctuated by giant rock monoliths (including the 235-foot-high Haystack Rock), quaint and kid-friendly Cannon Beach (www.cannonbeach.org) lies just 80 miles west of Portland, Oregon. While the Pacific waters here are often too cold for swimming, kite flying, along with tide pooling and sand-castle building, reign supreme on this wide, sandy strip – and the kites sold at the town's weathered cedarwood-clad shops make the perfect family beach vacation souvenir. Every June brings Sandcastle Day (June 19 in 2010), when kids of all ages can enter one of the West Coast's largest sand-castle-building contests.

Cape May, N.J.
Victorian house-lined streets might not be what comes to mind when you think of going "down the shore," but this National Historic District in southern New Jersey is full of surprises. Indeed, while the family beach destination of Cape May has the beautiful expanse of sandy shoreline and requisite ice-cream shops for little visitors, it also boasts boutique hotels, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a top-rated, seafood-centric culinary scene bound to please grown-ups. Plus, amusement park-style excitement awaits on the animated boardwalk of North Wildwood, just a short drive away.

Coast Guard Beach, Mass.
It's no wonder that after all these years, the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts still lures families in droves – after all, aren't vast beaches, pounding surf, fried seafood, and ice-cream shops what family beach vacation dreams are made of? But of all the Cape's beaches, the National Seashore's Coast Guard Beach (www.nps.gov) stands out – not only for the large waves begging to be surfed, but also for its educational and natural attractions. Spend a day at the beach showing the kids the threatened piping plovers that nest here during the early summer months, plus the site of the Mayflower's first New World landing, all while enjoying fun in the sun.

Coronado, Calif.
Lather the kids with SPF and set 'em loose for a family beach vacation on the Coronado (www.coronado.ca.us) shore, a prime spot for fun-seeking families looking to boogie board, surf, and swim – all just a bridge or ferry ride away from downtown San Diego. Besides being the place to stay, the spectacular Hotel del Coronado makes a fabulous backdrop for a family photo and has kids' activities galore – think sandcastle building and kite making. If you visit in early winter, be sure to check out the gray whales breaching right offshore during their annual migration. Land activities like beach volleyball and biking can be enjoyed year-round, courtesy of sunny San Diego's near-perfect weather.

Daytona Beach, Fla.
Daytona Beach's 23 miles of sparkling Florida sand promise plenty of family beach-time fun to keep the kiddies content, plus a plethora of off-beach activities to keep them occupied away from the surf. Wildlife excursions on the Halifax River and at the nearby Marine Science Center (www.marinesciencecenter.com) offer eco-education, while the race-car simulator at the Daytona 500 Experience (www.daytona500experience.com) thrills adults and kids alike. Don't want to encourage your kids to be race-car drivers? Take them instead to the NASA Kennedy Space Center (www.ksc.nasa.gov) in Cape Canaveral, or to Orlando to see Mickey and the gang; both are only about an hour's drive away.

Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Hilton Head Island's 12 miles of South Carolina beachfront are child-friendly indeed, with shallow waters, gentle waves, and sand dollar-dotted shores. Watch the water for a while and you'll likely spot frolicking pods of dolphins; you can even see the smiling mammals up close by chartering a dolphin cruise. With Harbour Town as your base, you can arrange cruises and water sports in the shadow of the island's iconic red-and-white-striped lighthouse, plus tee-off on one of Hilton Head's some two dozen golf courses – a great place to get the kids started on the sport!

Newport Beach, Calif.
If your family is more trendy than traditional, look no further than Newport Beach in Southern California. Frequented by sunbathers, surfers, and yes, families, miles upon miles of sand-castle-ready beach is open to the public. Head to the "Wedge" at Balboa Peninsula to be wowed by serious surfers taking on 25-foot waves, or for calmer waters, take the kids for some family beach-time at Corona del Mar State Beach (www.parks.ca.gov). Once you tire of the sand, push the stroller along the buzzing boardwalk or take older kids for a ride on a bicycle built for four. When it's time for a change of scenery, Catalina Island is just a short 75-minute ferry ride away.

Orient Beach State Park, N.Y.
Long Island's (in New York) amazing family beaches are no secret, but there are still a few places to get away from the crowds and spread out your blanket in the sand. Delightfully desolate Orient Beach State Park (nysparks.state.ny.us) on the tip of the island's North Fork, has a 300-foot sandy stretch and plenty of amenities like a playground, picnic area, and barbecue grills. If their skin needs a break from the sun, take the kids on a guided hike of the thick forest and marshes that border the beach and tell them to keep an eye out for the resident ospreys. Adventurous families who arrive without wheels needn't worry, as bike and kayak rentals are available to help you explore on your own.

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