First clues to determine a true luxury rental:

a. Are there multiple (current photos) of the property available for review, if not on the rental website, can they be provided.
b. Although many residences appear to offer up to date and current rentals, the owners themselves may not have visited the location in many years or seasons.
c. Though not necessarily a bad thing, but be sure to make note of whether appliances and amenities are up to date and that such items as linens and other necessities are available.

On site rental agents are not guarantee of current necessities being on site, but at least there is someone to address any possible problems with.

Luxury would seem to dictate the ultimate expectation in a vacation rental home, but as in most scenarios, luxury is always relative. Luxury to an eastern European rental may be hot water 24/7, whereas air conditioning or room service would be the equivalent to western travelers.

Personally, my biggest requirement is at least 800 count sheets and down comforters, in case these are not provided. I travel with my own set, after many experiences where these essentials are not provided it is worth it.

Have a great time on your travels!

Cape Cod is as good as it gets. I mean, if you have your heart set on Cape Cod, you might as well go all the way and enjoy it properly. You would have your own house, which means instead of trying to cram your family into a small hotel room, you would have a full kitchen and however many bedrooms you need, all in a home-away-from-home setting.

I perused some of the available homes on the internet. I fell in love with some of these houses, and if you’ll just take a quick peek at the offerings, you will too. Many of the houses have their own private beach! Can you picture yourself at sunrise, taking a few steps out your back door, and watching the sun come up before you even have breakfast? And breakfast, by the way, could consist of bacon and eggs, or whatever the little woman cooks up to delight your senses, instead of the old continental stale doughnut routine at any given hotel. (If you’re the little woman, then you demand your little man get up and cook the grits).

Some of the house rentals I saw had wood burning fireplaces, a deck with panoramic views, a woodland in your backyard, a garden gazebo, and a secluded beach with a charming little path leading to it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you – if you look, you will like it, and you will decide you simply must have it.

The choice is yours…you can stuff your family into a cheap hotel room, and spend your money on all the tourist trap thrills, or you can invest your hard earned money into the real deal – Cape Cod at its finest.

1. How many photos are displayed
2. How dated are the furnishings of the vacation rental
3. Can you request additional pictures of the rental

Having rented a number of homes at many locations around the world . and having owned several vacation rental properties, there are many indicators and pointers that can provide a successful and enjoyable vacation rental anywhere you may wish to rent.

Many rentals are able to provide a substantial amount of verbiage of their vacation house rental. which extensibly does not really amount to anything that can be compounded, unless there are a significant number of (current) photos to display its true benefits. Even seemingly minor outdated furnishings indicate a sorely neglected property that no-one has visited in some time or it is maintained by a property management firm or person.

Given the current economic situation, vacation house rentals are becoming increasingly widespread and available at competitive prices, but buyer/renter be warned, ask a lot of questions, get a lot of photos and if there are reviews, take the time to read them. Most of my most unforgettable vacations have been spent at a vacation home, hopefully it was by luck than judgement but either way it was a memorable trip, mainly because I did my own homework and research before ever parting with a penny. Happy travels!

I escaped regularly from the northern mountains in the winter to thaw out, and have enjoyed most parts of Florida from the Panhandle to Key West. I have found that even for a brief weekend visit, renting a vacation house has given me the flexibility to enjoy the area while still feeling at home.

I have also found that vacation rental houses can be as varied as a houseboat on a lake in central Florida, to a beautiful home in the Keys. The houseboat was a total pleasure with the freedom to roam the lake and meet new people, yet have the security of being in my own place and only unpacking once, not to mention the privacy. The vacation home in the Keys providing all the peace and quiet I was looking for, with relaxing views of water, colorful landscaping and peaceful quiet.

My best decision ever, though, was to rent a vacation home on the west coast of Florida for a month, which allowed friends and family to work in a visit to see me around their vacation schedules. The house was perfect as a home-base for the whole crowd to explore close-by tourist attractions, test out restaurants, hit the shopping malls, or just stay “home” and visit with each other, renewing memories and sharing good times.

There’s the usual benefits of being able to cook my own food, or planning side trips around the weather. But my favorite is being close to the waves, because after all, that’s what the beach is all about. Renting a house right along the ocean is a guarantee, to me at least, of wide-open windows for sound sleeping nights and fresh-eyed, wide awake mornings. From a vacation home I can settle in, feel more relaxed about my surroundings, and enjoy all the beach has to offer.

Any beach visitors’ favorite way to while away the hours is shell hunting. Of course, you don’t want to think of it as exercise, or getting fresh air, or thinking of something besides work. Shell hunting holds the hope constant that you just might find that most unusual thing, that special memento of the trip. And the hours to hunt those shells are best taken from a long stay in a seaside cottage you’ve rented for the time.

Of course, if family time is the reason for visiting the beach, what better way than renting a vacation home so everyone can spread out and enjoy whatever they like best. From reading on the porch, fishing from the shore, hunting for shells, taking pictures, playing games in the sunroom — when the whole gang is together, the times are always fun.

And if you’re going to pay a visit to the mountains, take that much deserved and needed vacation, then it’s going to be far more rewarding to rent a house and stay awhile.

With a vacation rental home as a base of operations, so to speak, you’ve got the flexibility to plan daily excursions around weather, allowing for Mother Nature’s mood so to speak, and yours as well. And there’s the added benefit of coming “home” to more than basic comforts than to a hotel room where you’re left with no choice but going back out again to eat.

There’s two somewhat opposing special benefits that most people find that truly drives their decision to rent a home in the mountains. One of those reasons is for quiet time or being alone, being one with nature, and filling the need to unwind, de-stress and refresh. The other, and quite the opposite, is to bring along the whole family with friends to create a real social atmosphere of renewing old times or creating new memories, and preferably all under one vacation house roof to maximize the benefit.

No matter what the reason, if you’re going to take that time in the mountains, the best way to go is renting a vacation home, with all the comforts, privacy and other benefits you want.

Families traveling with children enjoy the space provided with vacation house rentals. Parents and children each have their separate bedrooms at the end of the day, and often the vacation house rentals will have a children’s bedroom decorated and stocked with toys just for the younger traveler to enjoy. Gaming systems, pool tables, play yards, and children’s movies are also often included in the price of the stay.

For people who would like to save a little money while traveling, the vacation house rentals option is really something to consider. These homes that are normally located in nice private neighborhoods all come with completely equipped kitchens. There is no need to visit restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Kitchens usually have appliances, equipment, dishes, and everything needed to make dining enjoyable.

In touristy areas, parking and rented equipment storage can sometimes be a problem that these vacation house rentals can solve. Houses often come with locking garages that provide safe off-street parking and equipment storage options. Most private properties have parking accommodations, so a garage is possible even if the vacation house rentals unit is a condo, lakeside cabin, cottage, or apartment.

To find vacation house rentals, simply search on the internet for a vacation planning service that offers an online ad board. Vacation house rentals will be offered by the day, week, or month in ads with lots of colorful pictures, house content information, and easy to follow contact instructions or information.