The Benefits of a Vacation Home-Cooked Meal

The Benefits of a Vacation Home-Cooked Meal
Traveling doesn't have to mean ruining dedicated diets or budgets

Budgeting for food expenditures during travel to any destination can be almost as difficult as forecasting the week's weather. When staying at a traditional hotel, the challenge is multiplied as travelers face the added expense of dining out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While the majority of quality hotels do not offer full kitchens, professionally managed vacation rentals allow guests to enjoy their favorite (and often healthier) meals and snacks, as each property provides a full kitchen stocked with clean utensils, pots, pans, plates and ample cabinet/refrigerator space for food storage.

"For my family, including grandkids, the best part of staying in a vacation rental was having breakfast in our jammies," explains Kathy Ogden, a traveler from Clovis, Calif., who stayed with Monterey Bay Property Management. "We loved the freedom to have meals at our leisure and have home-cooked meals instead of dining out."

Often costing less than a single hotel room, vacation rentals afford travelers an accommodations lifestyle unlike any other, providing considerably more space (both for living and dining), amenities, guest services and privacy than other, more traditional lodging options. For answers to common questions, along with additional tips and tools for choosing a rental that fits travelers' needs and budgets, visit Discover Vacation Homes.


Dining on a Dime

The average daily cost for lunch at a full-service restaurant for a family of four is approximately $40.00; dinner prices can jump as much as $6/person totaling $64/day. As the majority of traditional hotels do not offer in-room kitchens or adequate amounts of pantry space, many families are forced to dine out for all three meals per day. Access to a full kitchen adds up to major savings throughout trips of any duration - For example, enjoying cereal for breakfast or sandwiches for lunch, rather than a full-scale restaurant meal, can save enough for additional activities, a nice night out, or more!


Sticking to a Healthy Living Meal Plan

While on vacation, travelers can easily consume more than 4,000 calories a day, translating into an average 5-pound weight gain for a one-week trip. With an in-home kitchen, vacation rental guests are no longer slaves to fast food or other high fat dining options, but are now back in control of their personal menu, allowing them to cook their food, shop for healthy snacks and accurately monitor their caloric intake.

BETTER Vacation Rentals is a member of Discover Vacation Homes and the Vacation Rental Managers Association. We are dedicated to providing professional property management with the pride of ownership associated with "rent by owner" properties. All of our vacation rentals offer fully appointed kitchens. Most have microwaves, full refrigerators, ranges, ample cook and serve ware, and food storage. Many have disposals, dishwashers, full pantries, ice makers, and full gourmet appointments including slab granite counters. We provide all of our guests with common starter supplies like coffee, salt, sugar, oil, and spices, making our vacation rentals and even greater "kitchen value." Perhaps more importantly, our owners and staff choose vacation rentals for their own travel plans for the convenience and cost savings associated with having breakfast, packable lunches, and snacks available at our fingertips!

About Discover Vacation Homes

Discover Vacation Homes is the trusted public voice and an expert resource on behalf of the professionally managed vacation rental industry. As the awareness initiative of the long-standing Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA), it represents approximately 150,000 rental homes, condos and villas from more than 500 of the most well established vacation rental management companies in North America and the Caribbean. Often costing less than a single hotel room, vacation rentals afford travelers an accommodations lifestyle unlike any other, providing considerably more space, amenities, guest services, and privacy than other lodging options.

Much of the content in this article was supplied by Discover Vacation Homes, with their permission.

Long term tenants get 60 days notice

Another reason we prefer to manage vacation rentals...
Gmail - New California Laws for 2009-10 Affecting REALTORS(R) - mkdiperna@gmail.com
"60-Day Notice to Terminate Tenants Extended: Existing law generally requiring a 60-day notice to terminate a month-to-month residential tenant, which was originally slated to sunset on January 1, 2010, has been extended indefinitely. A 30-day notice to terminate is sufficient if the tenant has lived in the property for less than one year, or if the landlord has sold the property and certain requirements are met as specified in our standard-form Notice of Termination of Tenancy (C.A.R. Form NTT). The 60-day notice requirement does not apply to fixed-term leases, such as a one-year lease. Other laws address tenants in properties foreclosed upon. Senate Bill 290."

Why we no longer accept PayPal!

Personally, we were early adopters of PayPal since it made trade on eBay so easy and "secure," so when as soon as we could, we offered PayPal to our vacation rental guests as a payment option. We've always tried to make payment as easy, secure, and convenient as it could be for both us and our guests. For years PayPal seemed like a good answer...
They even backed me, the purchaser, when I received goods "significantly not as described" and the vendor lied and said I'd used the towels, that I returned immediately. Then in June of this year everything changed regarding our experiences with PayPal.

We had a guest who gave us a credit card number, and out of confusion, also paid via the same credit card via PayPal. Not being a regular PayPal customer, nor having spoken with us yet to realize we would reverse the credit card charge right away, she put in a reversal with her credit card company for the PayPal charge. That was the first week of June. We quickly worked out the proper payment with this guest, and she removed her charge back, all within 24 hours. Funny, she still hasn't received her money back from her credit card company via PayPal...for weeks PayPal told her we had the money...now they tell her the credit card company hasn't resolved the charge back. The credit card company, with whom she has a trusted relationship tell her it's PayPal, and now PayPal won't tell her anything because we are their customer and not her...So the poor woman is still out over $1000 and we can't help her, since we didn't get the money.

But wait, there's more...shortly after this charge back occurred, PayPal issued us a form letter that said they had reviewed our account and would NOW BE KEEPING A ROLLING RESERVE OF 20% OF ALL PAYMENTS for 60 DAYS! Mind you, we've had an account with NO chargebacks for many years...WE appealed, and they refused, twice now, to stop. So every payment a guest makes, they hold 20% of the revenue, yet we have to pay the owners without the revenue even in our account yet!

But wait, there's more...we have a PayPal credit card for the business, and one time we paid it twice in the same month...When asked for a credit to our account, we were told NO "we'll issue a check within 60 days."

Basically, PayPal is using our money, and floating it. While it may not be illegal, we won't stand for it anymore.

Unfortunately, we all lose. For the lack of this convenient payment option, PayPal, we apologize, but we are voting with our dollars and will not allow PayPal to stomp on us (or our customers) any more.

#paypalfail

Vacation Rental Websites for Owners and Property Managers | EasyBroker Blog

Finally... a comprehensive list of places to list vacation rentals on the web. Great tool for vacation rental owners, vacation rental managers, and vacation rental guests!

Vacation Rental Websites for Owners and Property Managers | EasyBroker Blog

Travel Alert Mexico - Oceanside CA Vacation Rental to Provide Special Lodging Packages to Anyone Canceling Mexico Plans Between Now and 5/14/09

Due to the current Travel Alert and fears of Swine Flu associated with travel to Mexico, BETTER Vacation Rentals announces today, 4/28/09, that to anyone holding airline tickets or hotel reservations dated 4/27/09 or earlier for travel to anywhere in Mexico from 4/28-5/14/09, we will offer the following specials in Oceanside CA for stays from 4/29-5/14/09. Proof of Mexican travel plans will be required.
Stay 3 nights, get one free.
Stay 5 nights, get two free.
Stay 7 nights, get three free.

Call 1-800-277-2734 or www.BETTERvacationrentals.com for your reservation and mention our "Mexican Relief Packages"


The current Travel Alert is copied below. Please check the latest at the state department.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs

This information is current as of today, Tue Apr 28 2009 16:51:44 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time).

MEXICO

April 28, 2009

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to an outbreak of H1N1 influenza(“swine flu).” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on April 27 issued a notice recommending that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico at this time. CDC’s notice also suggests precautions that travelers and U.S. citizen residents in Mexico can take to reduce their risk of infection while in Mexico, provides recommendations for those who must travel to an area where cases of H1N1 influenza have been reported, and recommends measures travelers should take following their return from an area that has reported cases of H1N1 influenza. The complete CDC notice can be found at the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ . Please check this site frequently for updates. This Travel Alert replaces the Travel Alert dated April 27, 2009 and provides updated information on closings of schools and commercial venues in Mexico and U.S. consular operations throughout Mexico. This Travel Alert will be reviewed and updated as necessary, and is valid until further notice.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alert and Response Network (GOARN), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have sent experts to Mexico to work with health authorities.

The Government of Mexico has announced that as a precautionary measure, all schools throughout Mexico from kindergarten through university level will remain closed until May 6. All government-sponsored events involving large crowds have also been canceled, and museums and most tourist attractions are closed. During an April 28 press conference, the Mayor of Mexico City announced that all establishments where large numbers of the public gather will be closed, including restaurants, bars, discos, night clubs, movie theaters, gyms, and convention centers. The Archdiocese of Mexico City has also closed Catholic churches for services.

Effective April 28, all nonimmigrant visa operations at all consular posts in Mexico will be suspended until May 6. American citizen services are restricted to passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad and emergency services. Please refer to Embassy Mexico’s web page at http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/main.html for the latest information on closings and service reductions. Immigrant visa appointments in Ciudad Juarez will be cancelled for the week of May 4th. Further information on rescheduling visa appointments is available on Ciudad Juarez’s web page at http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/ .


The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Mexico that most cases of influenza are not H1N1 influenza. Any specific questions or concerns about flu or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional. Mexico City medical authorities are urging people to avoid hospitals and clinics unless they have a medical emergency, since hospitals can be centers of infection; instead, those with health concerns are encouraged to stay home and call their physicians to avoid potential exposure. Although the U.S. Embassy cannot give medical advice or provide medical services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors can be found on our website at the following links: http://mexico.usembassy.gov/sacs_medical_info.html (Spanish) http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_medical_info.html (English)

More Competition in the Vacation Rental Marketplace. Good for Guests or Not?

According the the National Association of REALTORS latest Investment and Second Home Buyers Survey (March 30, 2009), 27% of second home buyers now plan to offer these homes for rental. In 2005 this figure was only 14%. That's good news for people who want to stay in vacation rentals for their next getaway. Or is it?

What's Good About More Second Homes in the Vacation Rental Market for Guests:
-more selection for the guest
-more supply usually means lower rents due to increased competition


What's Bad About More Second Homes in the Vacation Rental Market for Guests:
-lower rents mean less money for the home owner to invest in amenities, maintenance, and cleaning
-when rents do not cover ownership expenses, more vacation homes in foreclosure; will it be the one you rented?
-less experienced owners doing vacation rentals by owners may mean a poorly managed vacation rental experience


Like any travel accommodation choice it comes down to doing your homework. There are some tools for the traveler now that can make doing homework easier.
1. Find a trusted source of vacation rentals. How?
a. This can mean using the same management company or owner year after year, and asking them for referrals when you go somewhere new (many experienced owners travel themselves and are active in online groups so they may "know" more people than you realize."
b. Use a service that specializes in vacation rental homes and let them do the leg work for you. Specialists are popping up all over the place and with online connectivity, it's easy to find them. I personally like the business model of Beach Vacation Rental Scout because I met the owner through Twitter and she actually stayed in one of my rentals before publishing her profile on BETTER Vacation Rentals and actually stays in the rentals she recommends. The owner is a professional freelance hotel reviewer so she knows her stuff.
c. Vacation Rental Managers Association "VRMA" - members of this association represent just a fraction of professional vacation rental managers so you will typically find that they are specialists and committed professionals. Get ready for their launch of Discover Vacation Homes shortly which will make it easy for guests to search for professionally managed rentals.

2. Read Real Guest Reviews. There are a plethora of web sites out there where anyone can list a vacation home for rent. Not all homes, owners, or managers are created equal, though most are honest and have good intentions. See what other guests have to say. My favorite site for these reviews is also my first stop for any travel choice I make: TripAdvisor. Through a recent partnership with FlipKey, TA has brought vacation rental reviews to the masses and they are working with both property managers and individual homeowners. Hint: search first for the location in TripAdvisor, then on the tab "Vacation Rentals." FlipKey verifies that the guests actually stayed...so no fake reviews. If you cannot find the home you are looking at on TA you will probably be able to find reviews on the owner or managers' listing sites as well as all of the major portals for rent by owners. Personally, I'd ask the owner or manager why they aren't on Trip Advisor - it shows a dedication and a no fear approach to guest reviews. For a sample look at my Oceanside CA beach condo reviews.

More vacation rentals - good or bad for consumers? Generally good. Just do your homework.

What Happens if You Leave Something Behind at a Vacation Rental?

What happens if you leave something behind at a vacation rental where you've just stayed?

We all know it happens. You've checked everything twice; you've done a walk through of that great condo or vacation home that you have to leave; everything is in the rental car or the SUV or minivan; off you go to the airport or home.

Then the pit in your stomach hits. Maybe it's 30 miles down the road and it's too close to your flight time to turn back. Maybe it's when you are unpacking your bags and you realize the phone charger isn't there. Maybe it's on Monday morning when your teen sheepishly admits he left all his clothes in the drawer...but it happens to everyone sometime...you left something behind.

This should be a Frequently Asked Question by guests to property managers or owners when booking a stay (or even to hotels if you still squeeze into those): what do you do if we leave something behind?

The answer should be: we box it up and mail it to you of course!
The answer should not be: no one ever leaves anything behind (someone is taking the loot and keeping it for themselves).
The answer should not be: we put it in a lost and found box and will mail it out if you notice it's missing and ask us too.
The answer should not be: we mail it back to you after you send us a check (or we charge your credit card) for shipping.

What is our answer at BETTER Vacation Rentals:
1. If we already found the item: we'll have it in the mail to you tomorrow (or the next business day if it isn't already).
2. If we didn't find the item: we ask where you think it may be and we will send someone in as soon as the current guest departs.
3. In the case that the item is urgent (a medical device or cell phone for example) we will contact the current guest and retrieve the item for you and express it to you.
4. We don't charge for this lost and found service within reason. Since 1999, there is only once that we have charged, and that is for something that had to be sent to Mexico City.


Now for some fun! Here's a list of some of the items found (but not always claimed):
-phone chargers, camera chargers, chargers of all kinds (always plugged into the wall)
-DVDs
-cameras
-sleep apnea equipment
-lingerie (clean and dirty)
-full drawer of clothes
-travel alarm
-travel flashlight
-family reunion photo
-clothing (usually hanging on the back of a bathroom door or in a closet)
-game boy
-socks under beds
-medications left in medicine cabinets
-personal sundries/full sundry bags
-sweatshirt with all of the grandchild's hand prints
-CD's
-wallet full of cash and credit cards

So with your next trip, ask your host: What happens if I leave something behind? Their answer will be very telling of the type of operation they run...

Tight Budget? Save Big With Vacation Rentals - SmarterTravel.com

GREAT ARTICLE ON VACATION RENTALS - FINALLY:

Read the whole thing at this link:Tight Budget? Save Big With Vacation Rentals - SmarterTravel.com: "Tight Budget? Save Big With Vacation Rentals
by Sarah Pascarella, SmarterTravel.com Staff - March 9, 2009

Cottage RentalIf your idea of a vacation consists of staying in a private cottage on an island, then look no further than Nantucket. This New England island offers the best of both worlds with its quaint downtown area filled with shops and fine dining, and miles of white, sandy beaches. Cottages typically rent by the week, and can start at about $750. This can be the perfect getaway for those who want to escape from it all, and be completely self-sufficient. (Photo: iStockphoto)

If you've never stayed at a vacation rental before, this may be the year to try one. Economical, spacious, and often in stellar locations, vacation rentals can be an ideal money-saving option for all types of travelers. In these tough economic times, finding a great property that matches your taste and budget can be only a few clicks away.

'Most people always save when going the vacation rental route, especially in a group of four or more,' says TJ Mahony, CEO and co-founder of SmarterTravel sister site FlipKey.com. 'And they can be some of the nicest accommodations around.'"

Love - It's in the Towel Origami!

Who needs the Four Seasons anyway?

We've had the great fortune to work with Sue Strandberg of The Final Touch in Oceanside CA. She came to us this fall just when we were in search of a sort of quality control and detail person for our vacation rentals at the beach in Oceanside. Sue's attention to detail was just the missing piece we were looking for to help make the promise of a "BETTER" Vacation Rental come to life. What do you think? Has she done it? Enjoy these photos of some towel origami (she taught herself from a YouTube Video) that she leaves for our guests in Oceanside CA. You won't get this at the local hotels or motels - and certainly not in our price range!

Call 1-800-277-2734 or go to BETTER Vacation Rentals for reservations to make your next holiday memorable.

Groups? Endured or Embraced? BVR Embraces.

It's a conversation I've heard among vacation rental owners and managers many times: "We don't like family reunions. Weddings are too hard. Our stuff all gets mixed up with other condos' stuff."

We at BETTER Vacation Rentals disagree. Groups are more work, but groups are important. Groups mean memories in the making. We embrace them. We help them rent condos from other owners and agents, we set them up to rent the party room, we retrieve our towels from the other condos.

Here are some good posts on the subject:


Groups? Feared or Endeared by You? | The Pulse of Online Vacation Rentals: "Read the article: Big spring break group? Try renting a house!

“It was the perfect option. With a full kitchen, our meals weren’t subject to the whim of the hotel restaurant, especially when it came to the demands of two toddlers who preferred boxed mac-and-cheese over fish tacos. Everyone had their own room and bathroom. No bunking up. No fighting over who got to shower first before the wedding.
And, with a full house, it turned out to be a cheaper and more flexible option than most hotels.
We could hang out with the wedding guests at Costa Azul’s pool, or wander home and relax with homemade margaritas on our rooftop terrace overlooking the ocean. “

…..we know all the reasons……Now I insert the challenges.

1. The only option for finding a vacation home that is mentioned in the article is www.vrbo.com . Unfortunate. WE as a vacation management industry need to step on the gas to get the vacation home management company message out there.
2. Groups are often feared by many of us. They definitely require more due diligence and care to ensure proper care for the property, limiting liabilities, and ensuring safety."

Lodging for Coachella and Stagecoach Still Available

Coachella - Official News
COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2009 SET FOR APRIL 17, 18 AND 19;

STAGECOACH: CALIFORNIA'S COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL TO TAKE PLACE THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND, SATURDAY, APRIL 25 AND SUNDAY, APRIL 26

Goldenvoice has confirmed the dates for this year's COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL--Friday, April 17, Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19--to be followed a weekend later by STAGECOACH: California’s Country Music Festival, set for Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26. The two critically acclaimed events will again take place at the breathtakingly beautiful Empire Polo Field in Indio, CA, the same grounds where the COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL debuted in 1999.

Additional details about both the STAGECOACH and COACHELLA line-ups and ticket sales will be available in the coming months.

Lodging for both Coachella and Stagecoach is still available in Palm Desert at Palm Valley Country Club - approximately $300/nt - sleeps up to 6 people. Responsible adults 25 and over only - no party houses! If I'm booked - I will provide referrals until all condos are booked that I used to manage.