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)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
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'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.
Monday, April 27, 2009
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...
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...
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