Maine Vacation Rental Taxes Explained in New Bulletin

Finally a State or City that makes it very clear which vacation rental stays are taxed, what ancillary charges are taxed, and who is exempt. Which one: Maine!

I've owned and managed vacation rentals now since 1999 and in two states, and 4 cities. Only one of these is in the 21st century. Only one of these sends emails when something changes in the code. Only one of these has a real definitive plain language bulletin. Only one of these allows filing and payment online. Yes, it's Maine.

Here's what's important for vacationers (and vacation rental and lodging owners) to know:

• Stays of 28 days or more are exempt from tax.
• All charges are taxable that are associated with your stay in a room, cabin, vacation rental. These include damage deposits, cleaning fees, pet fees, crib rentals.
• If you cancel your vacation stay prior to the day of arrival, your cancellation fee is not taxable. Wait until the day of arrival, and yup, you pay tax on your cancellation fee.
• If an owner rents their place out less than 15 day a year then they do not have to collect or pay taxes on those rents.

Mid Coast Maine Waterfront Vacation Rental

Most importantly: If you rent a place in Maine and the owner or manager is not charging you tax on your stay of less than 28 days, it should send up a RED FLAG! If the owner doesn't pay and collect the proper taxes, what else don't they do? Will the place be shut down before you arrive? Are they just out to make a quick buck or do they take their vacation rental seriously?

Maine is my favorite place to visit in large part because I associate it with my personal slice of heaven and because it's so peaceful and in some ways isolated and insulated. That said, Maine is in no way a backward state. Curious about the other state & cities that haven't quite got it together? Yup, California.

I share my little slice of heaven in mid-coast Maine if you care to check it out.

6 Tips For Keeping Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals Friendly

Saturday we welcome our first furry friend to our first set of pet friendly vacation rentals at the beach. We're looking for input from guests, owners, and managers of pet friendly vacation rentals, hotels, bed and breakfasts to find out what makes lodging pet friendly, and how do you keep it human friendly for those guests who don't bring their pets?

I've stayed in just one pet friendly vacation rental in the last several years at South Lake Tahoe. There were water and food bowls, a dog bone, and a leash. We plan on providing the same plus bags.

Tell us here about your pet friendly needs, experiences, and tips for keeping pet friendly rentals human friendly.

Our Tips for a Good Pet Friendly Lodging Experience:
1. Provide bowls for water and food.
2. Provide a leash.
3. Treat the animal with a treat upon arrival.
4. Pay the cleaner a bit extra when the guest brings pets, and let them know ahead of time that a pet was there.
5. Supply bags for guests to clean up after the pets.
6. Supply a list of dog friendly places in the area (maybe restaurants with outdoor seating, a local dog park, local vet, local pet supply store.

8 Tips to a Great Beach Rental this Year

Some great tips on getting the right beach rental over on our Oceanside CA and San Diego area blog.

Avoiding Vacation Rental Scams - Shop Smart For Vacation Rentals | Daddy Dewberry

Some interesting points given here. Always good to have some more perspective. A few comments though:
I would recommend FlipKey.com (owned by TripAdvisor) or VRConnection.com for both professionally managed and private vacation rentals managed by owner with plenty of online reviews. I've never REALLY heard of a confirmed bait and switch, but property managers who are members of VRMA are listed on Discover Vacation Homes, and tend to be the best of breed. You might also look to see if the vacation rental property manager is licensed by the state real estate board (we at BETTER Vacation Rentals are even though it isn't required for stays of less than 30 nights, and we have to pass plenty of educational requirements, background checks, and audits). In short: do your research, pay by credit card, and have fun.

Avoiding Vacation Rental Scams - Shop Smart For Vacation Rentals | Daddy Dewberry

Travel Trends for Europe’s Popular Vacation Rental Destinations by Lodging Directory Rentalo.com

It's interesting to see the stats on European vacation rental guests. I'd love to see the same information for US travelers.

I never would have guessed that Barcelona was a vacation rental (or holiday home) mecca. I think European travelers are much more comfortable with the self catering experience in general and that North Americans have been slower to embrace this fantastic value for travel. I was especially impressed that so many couple going to Paris were looking at the vacation rental alternative. Next time we go to Paris, it'll definitely be in a vacation rental flat. The hotels there are really a very poor value.
To read the entire release go to: Travel Trends for Europe’s Popular Vacation Rental Destinations by Lodging Directory Rentalo.com

Super Bowl Ad Brings Vacation Rentals to Hotel Guests

Did you catch it? Super Bowl 44, 3rd Quarter, 2nd "time out" aka commercial: The Griswolds visited "Hotel Hell" and America was introduced to vacation rentals as a lodging alternative to hotels, at a cost of 50% less than those hotels.




Funny thing is, the HomeAway Video has started to spurn other videos...could vacation rental videos go viral?

Here's a Super Bowl Vacation Rental Ad from the kids of Second Porch's founder:




Here's an ad from VacationRental.org - funny, says banned from the Super Bowl.


Here Escapia, a leading vacation rental management system provide, starts to address what "mainstreaming" of vacation rentals might mean to the professional manager (and owners):
Escapia Blog - Vacation Rental News and Trends: Super Bowl Vacation Rentals

So what do you think? Will guests leave their tiny over priced hotel rooms and flock to vacation rentals? Will these same guests be willing to change their own lightbulbs or empty the trash? What's the best way to position vacation rentals to hotel guests? After all only approximately 10% of US travelers have stayed in vacation rentals in the last year surveyed.(Source PhocuWright)

What to Do When Things Go Wrong in a Vacation Rental or Hotel

Daniel Craig must have been listening to my mind this morning. I have been mulling over a review (3 star which is not up to our usual standards) that mentioned one of our places (in fact MY place in the desert) was not clean enough. Now anyone that has known me since I've owned and managed vacation rentals wants to yell at me to just "shut up" when I talk about "deep cleaning." In fact my husband made a funny candid video about deep cleaning when I tested my Flip video camera on him last Christmas. So when a guest I just spoke to a few days ago left public reviews that I requested and said the place wasn't clean enough I winced; I lost sleep; I can't stop thinking about it. I've had the same cleaning crew for several years on that property. I pay a lot higher than the going rate for real clean. They deep clean 1 room every time they clean. I replace towels once a year or more. We deep clean at the beginning of the season, end of the season, and every time we visit the place ourselves. We spent thousands upgrading the place, get the upholstery, carpets, and windows cleaned regularly, hire the exterminator, repair everything, and owe more money than the place is now worth... I contacted the cleaners right away, not giving them the benefit of any doubt, but since then I've wondered a couple of things:

1. Why didn't the guest tell me there were dust bunnies under the furniture when I called him? Or better yet when he discovered them? After all we provide free long distance phone service, wifi, and an 800#.
2. Why is the guest looking under the couch instead of golfing or even watching one of the 3 HDTV's? (Insert smiley avatar here and laugh).
3. Do vacation rental guests expect more from vacation rentals than they do from hotels? I've never been in a hotel room as clean as our vacation rentals. I've rarely been in a vacation rental as clean as ours! Plus we are cleaning far more rooms and a kitchen to boot!
4. Why don't guests complain to us when we can fix the problem? If something isn't clean, we'll send a crew out to make it right!
5. If the issue didn't matter enough to mention it to the owner or manage, does it matter enough to leave on a public review site where it will be archived for eternity?

So please dear guests. We take you seriously. We take pride in what we offer. We want to please you. Please treat us fairly and:
Let us know if something is not to your satisfaction.
Contact us at a reasonable hour (since you know we aren't a hotel with 24/7 desk staff) unless it's an emergency.
Be nice.
Be reasonable.
Remember you are a guest in someone's vacation home. You looked at the photos before you came, so if you think the walls should be a different color, perhaps complaining about the color is a bit frivolous.
Relax; you're on vacation. Have fun.

I like the article below from Daniel Craig. It applies to all lodging in my opinion.

What to Do When Things Go Wrong in a Hotel | ehotelier.com News Archives

Shoes That Make Travel Better

When I departed for a networking event tonight I never dreamed I'd walk out and have to write a post about shoes, but I did! Tonight I discovered a shoe that is only 5.5 oz light: so light you'll think you are barefoot! More importantly these shoes are so light that you can pack them and they won't make your bags rock heavy.

So why do I love these shoes (even though I haven't tried them on...just held in my hands) for travel?

1. Glagla shoes slip on & off: great for the airport security check point;
2. These light shoes keep your feet cooler and dryer even without socks;
3. The shoes dry quickly and come in tons of colors so can go from water, to walk, to casual wear!

If you've read my last blog post on traveling lightly, you know that I think women just bring too many shoes. Not only can this shoe do double and triple duty, you can even cheat and bring these as an extra pair because they are so light!

I'm either going for the understated silver or olive color. What color will you pick?
If you order these, be sure to leave some feedback here after you've worn them a while. It's been some time since I got excited about a shoe. You've GOT to pick these up to believe how light they are.

Disclosure: I am in no way affiliated with The Coolest Shoes in California or GlaGla shoes. I met Christina Davis, who is distributing these shoes in the San Diego area at a networking event tonight where she brought a few samples and just had to share the news with fellow travelers.

Fight Back by Packing Light-Tips to Slay Airlines' Baggage Fees

I have had the pleasure of taking two trips in the last few months with other female traveling companions: one for business and one for pleasure. The trip for business was for just 6 nights and 7 days to a slightly cooler climate to Washington DC with one of my colleagues. The trip for pleasure was with my teenage daughter. My teen was traveling for just under a month to two very different destinations: the city of Cape Town South Africa, and the bush of Botswana-one warm and one hot. I was going for just about 10 nights, 3 spent on airplanes, and just to Cape Town. Can you guess who had the most luggage, heaviest bag(s) and who needs lessons on packing and traveling lightly: me, my colleague, or my teenage daughter?

If you guessed the teen, you were wrong! It's my middle aged, professional colleague! What is it about women and shoes?

First, I forgot to tell her that I didn't rent a car and we'd be catching a subway from the airport to the hotel since it was just a few blocks of walking. However, I did tell her to pack lightly and she has traveled with me before and knows my passion for public transit (and frugality since it's my company).  Of course I asked her about the rocks in her suitcase which was fortunately a roll around, but one of those meant for round the world cruise ship journeys, not a week on business in the US.  We flew Frontier airlines San Diego to Dulles, and she didn't have to pay a fee... but that was in October.  The funniest part for me though, was when we left the subway near the National Zoo, and we had to navigate a few steps and some cobblestones.  She laughed as I paid the taxi bill for the ride back to the airport.

I always pack too much. The problem for me is different though. It's a three-fold problem:

1. I don't want to waste time shopping for necessities when I travel. I want to spend it siteseeing, learning, doing, eating, or sleeping.
2. I'm a big girl. I can't just buy my clothes as easily or cheaply as the perfect size 8.
3. I have big feet. Size 11 womens US. Shoes are very hard to find. Comfortable shoes even harder. Comfortable, cute shoes, nearly impossible.

After my last trip to Paris, though, I vowed to lighten up. Even though I can fit everything in a standard rollaboard bag, and not go overweight, 40 lbs is just too much to lug around Paris subways!  For me it's not so much about the checked baggage fee, it's about the freedom to move.

My daughter, nearly 17, has been traveling since she was 6 months old. She was never a light traveler since she tended to get cranky easily. However, I did one thing right: as soon as she could walk, she had her own backpack for every trip. She could put whatever she wanted in that pack, but she had to carry it NO MATTER WHAT.  I confess dad and I bailed her out a few times, but not often. I knew we had succeeded during that trip to Paris when she was so proud that she needed no help with her bag, when her younger sister just stopped moving! She laughed hardest when my suitcase got stuck in the turnstyle and broke, and she had every right to laugh.  This girl managed to pack for a month in two climates and types of trips in one duffle bag and a backpack, and well under the baggage weight!  She even lightened the load when we split company, and sent me home with those clothes she didn't need in the bush, and I proudly passed the weight limit with my one duffle bag too. I could have carried on, but I chose to check since I'm old.  She even had plenty of room for gifts from Cape Town to Botswana too!

What are the teen's secrets?

• Layers: tanks, solid tees, cardigan, light jacket
• Only enough clothes for 5 days regardless of how long the trip
• Take time at night to wash out undies, socks, and light tops every 3 days which leaves drying time. When we stay in vacation rentals, we use the laundry facilities.
• Shoes: 4 pair only: flip flops, hiking boots, Toms (they give 1 pair for every pair purchased)-the 4th pair is optional and were nice leather boots that she could dress up or down - often this would be a pair of heels for nights out
• Bottoms: plan on wearing each bottom piece at least 3 times 
• PJ's sleep in a big t-shirt and yoga pants-they can be used for exercise
• 1 bathing suit-no matter wear you go

She even managed a sleeping bag this time!

My secrets to add:

• Pack a scarf or wrap-you'll be able to use it for warmth or sun protection
• Purchase good 3 oz containers for beauty products or just use what your provided
• Leave the hair appliances at home and invest in a good style and 1 styling product instead
• Put everything out on your bed and then remove at least 1/3 of it
• Pack an empty small duffle for anything you purchase enroute
• Leave your big purse at home and put the one you do bring inside your carry on
• Choose 1 pair of versatile earrings, 1 necklace, 1 bracelet if you must: my colleague had pounds of jewelry
• If you are going on a casual or active vacation consider bringing older clothes and throwing them away or donating them before heading home to avoid excess baggage charges on the way home
  

If you aren't traveling a long haul, wear your heaviest items on the plane: jeans, boots, jacket.

Remember, people manage every day with far less than what most Americans pack in their suitcase for a one week trip.

If you want some more tips, here's the article that inspired me to write this post.
Tips On Traveling Light To Save On Baggage Fees