Austin, TX - As gas prices continue to rise, your hopes for a fun-filled family vacation may be sinking. Frankly, the vacation budget was already a little tight. But throw in the prospect of paying $4.00 a gallon just to get you to your destination, and things begin to really look grim. If you can relate to this scenario, you're in good company. A recent survey conducted by the National Retail Federation found that 32.6 percent of respondents have cut back on their vacation/travel—and you're right there with them.
In fact, discouraged by the thought of racking up a lot of credit card debt (rarely a good idea), you're starting to think you and your family may be "vacationing" at home this year. But Christine Karpinski says you don't have to scrap your summer getaway dreams just yet. Staying in a nearby vacation home—say, within a hundred miles or so—can offer the best of both worlds.
"People have this idea they have to go far away to feel they've had a vacation," says Karpinski, director of Owner Community for HomeAway.com (the online vacation home rental marketplace) and author of How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment (Kinney Pollack Press, 2007, ISBN: 0-9748249-9-2, $26.00) and Profit from Your Vacation Home Dream: The Complete Guide to a Savvy Financial and Emotional Investment (Kaplan, 2005, ISBN: 1-4195069-1-9, $19.95). "But it's not true—a cozy home a few hours' drive away can sometimes feel like an entire world away.
"Besides, staying at home during your vacation time never works," she adds. "Okay, you might spend the first day lounging at the pool. But before you know it you're weeding the garden, emailing the office, or cleaning the house—and there goes your vacation. Your week is over, you're back at work, and your vacation was anything but fun and relaxing."
By finding a vacation home in a not-too-distant location—even if it's not a predictable vacation destination like the beach or a theme park—you can avoid spending tons of cash fueling up the family car or buying expensive airline tickets. (High gas prices affect them, too!)
In fact, HomeAway's network of vacation rentals includes over 200,000 properties all over the world, making it possible for almost anyone to find one within a two- to three-hour driving distance from their home. And you don't have to live near a resort area to find a great place to vacation, adds Karpinski.
For instance, one popular rental on the website is for a barn in Kentucky that the owner has converted into a vacation home. It provides a great opportunity for guests to relax and enjoy country living. In other words, options abound: whether you're in New York City or Butte, Montana, there's a HomeAway rental just a short distance from you.
"When you choose a vacation home, you won't save money only on gas; you'll save in other areas as well," says Karpinski. "You can avoid boarding the dog, as many homeowners allow you to bring pets, and it's much easier to prepare your own meals since you'll have a full kitchen to work in."
"It's such a practical choice," says Karpinski. "There's just no need to dole out major bucks on gas, not to mention endure the painful hours you'll spend in the car with the kids, trying to get to some distant destination. When you're relaxing in a comfortable home—one that's not tempting you to clean it!—after your short and sweet three-hour-or-less drive, you'll be glad you decided to spend your vacation at home . . . not yours, but someone else's."
About Christine Karpinski:
Christine Karpinski is the author of How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment and Profit from Your Vacation Home Dream: The Complete Guide to a Savvy Financial and Emotional Investment. Her books, combined with her seminars, media appearances, and Web site (www.HowToRentByOwner.com), have helped thousands of people purchase and manage their vacation homes. Today she serves as director of Owner Community for HomeAway, Inc. (HomeAway.com).
About HomeAway, Inc.:
HomeAway, Inc., is the worldwide leader for vacation rentals on the Internet. Each year, more than 50 million travelers visit the HomeAway global marketplace that is comprised of more than 130,000 vacation rental homes across 100 countries. The HomeAway portfolio of vacation rental sites includes HomeAway.com, as well as VRBO.com, CyberRentals.com, A1Vacations.com, GreatRentals.com, TripHomes.com, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk (UK), HolidayRentals.fr (France), and FeWo-direkt.de (Germany).
Home Away from Home (Really!):
Nine Reasons to Go the Vacation Rental Route This Summer
By Christine Karpinski, director of Owner Community for HomeAway.com and author of
How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide to Buy,
Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment
(Kinney Pollack Press, 2007, ISBN: 0-9748249-9-2, $26.00) and Profit from Your
Vacation Home Dream: The Complete Guide to a Savvy Financial and Emotional Investment (Kaplan, 2005, ISBN: 1-4195069-1-9, $19.95)
The prospect of saving money at the pump isn't the only reason to stay in a vacation home this summer. In fact, even if you decide "high gas prices be darned!" and head off on a long road trip, you should still consider going the vacation home route. They're less expensive, more spacious, and more comfortable. (What's not to love?) There are many, many great reasons to choose a vacation rental house—or condo or chalet or villa or farmhouse—over a hotel, and here are just a few:
· First of all, there are plenty of vacation homes to choose from. More and more people are realizing their dream of owning a second home—and renting it out when they're not using it. That's good news for travelers like you. In fact, there's a vacation home within a two-hour drive of most metropolitan areas in the U.S. There are plenty of others in Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and South America as well. And by visiting respectable websites—such as HomeAway.com or its affiliates VRBO.com, CyberRentals.com, GreatRentals.com, or Holiday-Rentals.co.uk—you can quickly find the one that's right for you.
Over 130,000 properties across 100 countries are listed on HomeAway and Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO), ranging from $400 a week budget properties to $25,000 a week luxury homes. The point is this: you can find exactly what you're looking for no matter where your vacation takes you. Even if you have to go to a small town for, say, a relative's wedding, there's probably a vacation home in the vicinity. Often, it's far better than staying at the local motel or worse yet, staying with family!
· The rental process is getting easier and more convenient by the day. Admittedly, it's not quite as simple to rent a vacation home as it is to book a hotel room. You still have to deal directly with the homeowner. (Websites like HomeAway just provide details about the property and contact info; the consumer takes it from there.) Still, it's pretty darn easy. Services like the aforementioned websites have smoothed the pathway, of course. But also, homeowners themselves are becoming more consumer-friendly in their business practices. Despite popular misconception, you don't always have to commit to a week. Many homeowners will let you rent by the weekend or even on a nightly basis, particularly during the off-season. And while some of them still expect you to send them a personal check, many others accept credit cards or PayPal®.
· Vacation homes are more spacious and comfortable. Think about the difference between a tiny hotel room, possibly with limited amenities, and an actual home with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms and kitchen, living, and dining areas. No contest, right? You know that crowded, slightly stir-crazy feeling you get in a hotel room? It doesn't happen in a vacation home. In fact, I've found that people who stay in private homes don't feel so compelled to wear themselves out cramming in every touristy activity in town. They don't mind just hanging out in the living room and relaxing more, which after all, is what a vacation is supposed to be!
· Vacation homes are more . . . well, homey! In a hotel you're lucky to have a microwave and a small refrigerator as special amenities. Stay in a vacation rental and you'll have all of the advantages that come with being in a real home. Beach cottages might come equipped with sand buckets and shovels for the kids; woodsy ski-resort-area cabins might have a Crock-Pot and a special chili recipe. Not to mention instead of those uncomfortable hotel chairs you'll be able to kick back and relax on a sofa, recliner, or other piece of comfortable furniture. Those little special touches really make a huge difference.
· You can get inside information from the homeowner. One big reason vacation home renters get to "live like locals" is that most homeowners love to provide their guests with helpful hints. They'll point you to the best restaurants in town, the best hiking trails, and the best bike rental places. They'll tell you who has the cheapest gas, which roads to take to avoid traffic, and which attractions are overpriced "tourist traps." If you're staying in New England, a homeowner might tell you things like, "Never buy lobster from the grocery store; go to the docks and get it fresh." You really are a guest in her home, and she wants you to have a fabulous time.
· You can cook and do laundry. If you're on a budget, both of these factors can be huge benefits. Obviously, eating every meal in a restaurant gets pricey. The ability to prepare meals "at home" not only saves money, there's just something nice about savoring a home-cooked meal while on vacation. (And for parents of small children, it's far less stressful than choking down meals while praying that the next table doesn't have to endure a toddler tantrum!) As for the washer and dryer factor—well, being able to bring fewer clothes is not only a sanity saver during packing, it's a space saver for those long car rides.
· If the weather's bad, there's more to do indoors. Most vacation rental homeowners provide DVDs (along with the electronic equipment to view them), board games, playing cards, and other family-friendly diversions. Also, more than half of all rental properties now have Internet access. If it pours down rain during your vacation, you'll appreciate these kinds of thoughtful extras. In fact, even if the weather is beautiful, you'll appreciate them. Anyone who has kids knows they don't have the attention span to do vacation stuff all day. Sometimes they just want to unwind with a movie—which also gives you a chance to relax, too.
· Vacation homes provide more privacy for Mom & Dad. Let's say you want to have some, ahem, adult time while you're on vacation. There's nothing better than being able to put the kids in a separate bedroom down the hall. Adjoining hotel rooms just aren't the same. Not only is it going to probably be more expensive, most people feel a little uneasy about having their kids in a separate hotel room. Staying in an actual home provides a greater sense of privacy and safety.
· You might even be able to bring Fido or Fluffy. That's right. Many vacation property owners will accept pets, which makes their homes especially attractive to families who can't bear to part with their four-footed friends for a week. Even if you normally drop your pets off at the kennel, you might want to reconsider. By taking them with you, you can save hundreds of dollars on boarding costs. Just make sure the person you're renting from gives you the go-ahead.
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