Find Vacation Rentals: July 2011

Friday, July 29, 2011

The Latest from the FlipKey Blog

Top 10 Kid Friendly Vacation Rental Amenities

Posted: 29 Jul 2011 07:16 AM PDT

Renting a vacation home with kids can be a welcome change from the hotel scene. Not only does it make your home away from home feel more like, well, home, it also provides amenities that might not be possible in a traditional hotel. When planning to reserve your next rental, consider looking for these kid-friendly amenities for kids of all ages.

A pool
Kids and pools are like peanut butter and jelly — they just go together. Look for a vacation rental with a well-maintained pool, preferably a heated one if you’ll be in a cooler climate or the temperature might not be as tropical as you want.
A full kitchen
While the kids might not appreciate the full-sized fridge and ample workspace, they will enjoy the resulting meals. Make a trip to the local market and stock the shelves to ensure that the kids (and the adults!) are well fed.
Outdoor grill
An outdoor grill can provide a quick way to cook up a meal without a big mess or heating up the whole house. What’s more, if it’s located on a patio or deck, the whole family can enjoy time together while the food is cooking.
Pet friendliness
For vacationers with pets, traveling isn’t the same without their furry friends. Book a pet-friendly vacation rental so all the members of the family can come along.
Cable/satellite TV
During vacation, a little rain may fall, leaving you with cooped-up kids with nothing to do. Cable or satellite TV can provide a distraction from foul weather, or help the little ones to settle down for quiet time or a nap.
DVD player
If cable or satellite TV aren’t available, or nothing good is on, pop in a DVD to entertain the family.
High-speed Internet
Kids of all ages will appreciate a good Internet connection, whether to check email or Tweet, play games, or instant message.
Air conditioning/heating
No matter what time of year you’re traveling, the weather might take a turn for the worse, leaving you grateful for central heating or air conditioning.
Swing set/play equipment
A swing set or play equipment on site or nearby can be a great way for young kids to stretch their legs and play. Look for age-appropriate play equipment for your little one.
High chair or booster seat
It can be difficult or nearly impossible to travel with a high chair or appropriate booster seat; instead, look for a rental that provides them so you don’t have to lug them along yourself.

Rentals provide more than just a place to stay – they can also provide amenities you didn’t know you needed. Look for some of these features the next time your family travels.

Teresa J. Shaw is a Michigan-based writer specializing in travel and family content. Read more of her work at www.teresajshaw.com and follow her on Twitter @TeresaShaw.

What Family Vacation Means to Me

Posted: 28 Jul 2011 08:11 AM PDT

By Bethaney Wallace

When I was in grade school, each new school year presented the opportunity to recount what I had done during the summer months. When classes resumed I was asked to describe what I had been doing with my time away. The grade usually correlated to the amount of work that was required: in kindergarten I gave a show and tell presentation; in the sixth grade, I wrote an essay. Each fall I would tell my teacher the same thing: I told them about my summer vacation. Sightseeing at the Grand Canyon, building sand castles on the beach, or navigating our way through Disneyland – my family always went on a vacation. It was a bonding experience, my parents said, and we were required to spend at least an entire week together – whether we were to be cramped in a single cruise ship cabin or lounging in an entire rented cottage – the time was to be spent together.

The first vacation I have memories from is when I was five years old and my parents, baby sister and I went to the Lake of the Ozarks. I may not remember much of the scenery, or any of the lake for that matter. But I do remember listening to the neighborhood band play in the park while I climbed the jungle gym. I remember going to day camp and creating my own bejeweled hat while my parents were off doing boring adult things. For anyone who debates sending their children off to day camp programs, it was the highlight of my trip.

Since that initial vacation, my family has traveled to a new location each year. Each destination was a new place to explore and buy tacky souvenirs to bolster our vacation T-shirt collection: one for every location. During my teenage years I was a little less enthusiastic to oblige my parents’ vacation plans, but by the time I hit college I was begging them to extend the trips a day or two longer to enjoy the momentary respite from studying and the less than desirable college dining hall food.

Why should your family travel together?

Vacations aren’t just to “get away from it all" or for the relaxation. In fact, anyone who has ever gone on a family vacation – especially with young children – can tell you they are often far from relaxing. What family vacations do provide is an unparalleled bonding experience. Sharing new and exciting experiences with your family connects you in a way that few other events allow. The activities, the meals, even arguing over who was at fault for getting lost are moments that you and your family will always cherish.

Enough with the gushy stuff. When it comes down to it – even with the budget restrictions, the challenges of traveling with youngsters, or the stress of planning – in the long run, family time trumps all the obstacles.

This summer, my family went to Chicago, and due to work conflicts I wasn’t able to join them for the first time since our summer family vacation initiative began. They showed me pictures and brought back my obligatory keepsake (a poster from Wrigley field). But I missed out on the road trips; I missed out on arguing over what we were having for dinner, or what museum would have the best exhibits; I missed out on all of the fun.

Next summer, when my parents schedule our annual trip’s destination and dates, I will take off work months in advance. When I return and my boss asks how my trip was, I’ll give my vacation presentation, the same way I did in elementary school. Family vacations are an important part of my life, I’ll tell him. And I have the T-shirts to prove it.

Bethaney Wallace is a social media advocate for the mortgage rates website, MortgageSum. She is passionate about blogging and family vacations.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Latest from the FlipKey Blog

Wedding Ceremonies in Massachusetts

Posted: 27 Jul 2011 06:02 AM PDT

By Mary White

Destination weddings often combine the ceremony with the honeymoon, but they require careful planning. Budget is always a factor in a wedding, especially when you are not getting married in your home town. The convenience of the location for your guests is another consideration. Massachusetts, with its accessible airport, multitude of attractions and natural beauty brings much to the table as a wedding venue. Here are three Massachusetts spots to enjoy the local vibe and say, "I do."

Brookline

It's hard to believe that Brookline runs parallel to Boston. The area is convenient to Logan Airport and all of the Hub's famous attractions, but its elaborate Victorian mansions and scenic parks transport you back to kinder, gentler days. When you look for the definition of "romantic" in the dictionary, it says Brookline Bed and Breakfast. These privately owned inns can provide the finishing touches to a fantasy wedding.

Before the Ceremony

Arrange for friends and family to get to know each other by planning a group hike around Boston's famous Freedom Trail, which provides a comprehensive historical tour that conveniently passes some of the best shopping and dining in town. Then, plan a memorable rehearsal dinner at one of the Italian restaurants in the North End, where you'll feel a romantic combination of Old World and local charm. While you make your final preparations, your guests will enjoy the funky shops and restaurants on Brookline's Beacon Street and Coolidge Corner. Maybe there's a wedding gift there that's waiting to be found!

The South Shore, Cape Cod and the Islands

The fantasy beach wedding becomes a dream-come-true in southern Massachusetts. The area offers wedding venues and lodging options to suit all budgets. Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, islands that require a transportation connection from the airport, are best for high-end weddings. Since they are less accessible, they are best suited to smaller, more private ceremonies. With their location comes fun and romance: The whole wedding party can enjoy B&B stays on the islands, or find their own spot for a few days in a Vineyard vacation rental.

In contrast to the exclusive and somewhat posh venues on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, the towns along the South Shore offer low key and affordable venues and accommodations. Cape Cod bed and breakfast options are extensive, running the full range from economical to high-end lodging options.

Before the Ceremony

Arrange a beach day for your guests who arrive early: hang out on the shore, enjoy a boat ride or a fishing excursion, and gather everyone together for a traditional clam bake. The local seafood restaurants offer the freshest fish and shellfish around and many can accommodate large groups or cater parties. Historically-inclined guests might want to take a trip to Plymouth and explore America's origins, and those who want to just relax will enjoy strolling through the quaint shops in the various Cape Cod towns.

The Berkshires

The mountains are to the Berkshires what the ocean is to the South Shore. This stunning wooded area offers scenic beauty, great inns and vacation homes and, importantly, convenient access from New York City. Like Cape Cod, the Berkshire towns offer lodging options for all budgets. No matter what you choose to spend, the area's laid back atmosphere will set the scene for a pleasant and memorable wedding

Before the Ceremony

In addition to hiking trails, lakes and rivers, the Berkshires boast an extensive selection of concert venues, shops, spas and restaurants. If you plan your wedding in the summer, then you may be able to enjoy a night of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer residency at Tanglewood. During the day, check out Mass MoCA, a modern art museum in a unique setting. A day of beauty at Canyon Ranch, located in Lenox, is the perfect bridesmaid’s gift!

Make your wedding memorable and marvelous in Massachusetts!

Mary White is the Founder of BnBFinder.com, a leading bed & breakfast listing site and author of Running a Bed & Breakfast For Dummies. Find more bed & breakfast stories at http://www.bnbfinder.com/blog or follow BnBFinder on Twitter @BnBFinder.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Latest from the FlipKey Blog

Top U.S. Farmer’s Markets

Posted: 26 Jul 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Ithaca Farmers Market

While traveling, your best bet at finding authentically local food is to stop by a farmers market. The fruits, vegetables, cheeses, wines, baked goods and other food items for sale will be locally grown or made, then distributed straight from a farm or kitchen to you – a system that eschews the typical waste and pollution caused by long-distance shipping and packaging.

While reducing your ecological footprint and supporting small businesses, you'll also be able to enjoy fresh snacks (native fruits, homemade cookies, just-blended juices), find unique gifts to bring home (honey, salsa, pies, plants, crafts), or get ingredients to cook in your rental home (recently picked herbs, seasonal vegetables, freshly churned butter). You'll also have great opportunities for colorful photos.

You may even come across a food you've never seen anywhere else. At the University District Farmers Market in Seattle, you can get a potato variety that was cultivated by the Makah Native Americans 200 years ago. At the Green City Market in Chicago, one stand offers elk-meat sausages and burgers. At the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City, keep an eye out for emu and ostrich eggs. Finally, at the Santa Fe Farmers Market, you can track down jujubes and a red desert fruit common in Asia and the Middle East. Such unique finds will stimulate your taste buds and expand your sense of the local culture.

In addition to raw ingredients, many markets include stands where you can find entire meals made to order. The Ithaca Farmers Market in worldly Ithaca, New York, is a popular lunch destination where market goers have their choice of Cambodian, Cuban, Sri Lankan, Tibetan, and Hungarian cuisines. These types of farmers markets offer a way to sample the regional cuisines, as if you are at a food court, but everything is fresher and made with care.

Farmers markets are not just about the food – it's not uncommon to find one with lively musical performances. At the Grand Lake Farmers Market in Oakland, California, you might find a diverse crowd dancing wildly to a salsa band's beats in the middle of the day. The Memphis Farmers Market showcases an array of local artists, rotating each week to give you a taste of roots music, from bluegrass to jazz to Celtic folk. With activities like these, you could really spend all day at the farmers market, soaking up the sounds, tastes, smells, and colors of the area.

Whenever you are planning a trip in the U.S., check LocalHarvest.org for nearby farmers’ markets. If your vacation is not during harvest season, you may not have to miss out on the fun. Even in places with short growing seasons many markets are open year round with offerings like pickled vegetables, sauces, wine, baked goods, dairy and meat, and produce grown in greenhouses.

Deals of The Week: Beaches, Volcanoes and Freebies

Posted: 25 Jul 2011 07:59 AM PDT

Is your blood boiling like lava to squeeze in one fantastic vacation before the season turns? Well we have the perfect Ecuadorian retreat for you: Situated between 4 volcanoes (don't worry they're extinct) Villa Volcanoes Lodge will lower the fever and hep you relax in style. Imagine spending the last days of summer horseback riding, fishing in a secret lagoon or hiking alongside alpacas. This stunning five-bedroom lodge puts you and your family right where you want to be, and if you book now, a $100 gift certificate will help you relax in the spa.

Take 15% off and free rental car!	Stay 7 Nights get 3 Free!
Is there anything better than having ocean views from your house? Head to Villa Soleil and enjoy ocean views from the front and rear of the house so you can see spectacular beaches no matter where you relax. Three different nearby beaches provides guests with plenty of options, and the expansive deck with a bar and grilling area it's the perfect place to relax and soak up the beach sun.	People talk about living like a king, how about living like a pharaoh instead? No, we're not sure of the distinction either, but ‘Pharaoh’ sounds way better. Whatever your title, this Luxury Apartment by the Red Sea makes a great kingdom. Located 5 minutes from the beach, you can spend your days tanning in the sun or just walking through this beautiful town and enjoying the Egyptian lifestyle.
Stay 1 week, get 1 Free!	Stay 6 Nights get 3 Free!
This exquisite property in the Dominican Republic is located within a short walking distance of a beautiful white sand beach as well as the actual town so that you can enjoy this quaint, unspoiled village without a car. That's not all! There is a wide range of activities available nearby, ranging from humpback whale watching to waterfall excursions.	Want to just get away? Head out to the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains and let the quiet sounds of nature soothe your soul. Immerse yourself in good ole Mother Nature, relax by the pond or try picking fresh local strawberries. The two cabins at Preston’s Thicket can be rented separately, or you can bring the whole family, rent both and get enough space to actually enjoy a family reunion.

Friday, July 22, 2011

The Latest from the FlipKey Blog

7 Tips for Keeping Your Home Clean and Green

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 06:55 AM PDT

Green Cleaning Products Cleanliness is a key factor to consider when owning and maintaining a vacation rental home. Travelers are looking for a tidy, comfortable place to stay, and owners want to keep their rental in great condition for as long as possible. But cleaning a house or apartment can lead to a whole host of environmental concerns: unhealthy chemicals going down the drain and polluting the air, the overuse of disposable products, and the frequency with which you have to clean a home that welcomes new tenants weekly, to name a few. Here are seven tips that will help you go green and clean at the same time.

1. Before purchasing cleaning products and other items for your home, consult GoodGuide, a comprehensive online info center that rates products based on the greenness of the chemicals they contain and the way they are manufactured. This resource covers dish soap, laundry detergent, air fresheners, coffee and tea, appliances, tissues, toilet paper, and more. Your careful choices will help keep your guests—and the surrounding environment—healthy, whether they are settling into a vacation routine or cleaning up at the end of their stay.

2. Supply rags, sponges, cloths, and brushes for cleaning so that guests don't feel compelled to go through a roll of paper towels in order to tidy up. Simple, friendly instructions on keeping these materials clean and dry will make them last longer.

3. Offer a clothesline and clothespins so that renters can easily dry towels, bathing suits, and laundry without using any unnecessary electricity. Let the sun and breeze do the work of a dryer—or, if the weather is not so balmy where you are, consider drying racks or an indoor clothesline.

4. Provide lots of screen doors and windows that can be opened effortlessly. These will help whisk away stuffy air and odors in a much healthier manner than chemical air fresheners can. In some locales, carefully planned ventilation can even avert the need for energy-guzzling fans and air conditioners.

5. Opt out of the antibacterial soap hype. The FDA has found that these cleansers do not prevent sickness any better than regular ones, and even have the dangerous effect of promoting "super germs" that are increasingly resistant to antibacterial products. Stick with the simple cleansers and your guests will be just as happy.

6. Setting up a compost bin will not only keep extra waste out of landfills; it will also prevent the garbage from getting smelly and cause guests to go through fewer plastic garbage bags. Composting at a vacation home can get a little complicated, especially if you will not be around to monitor the system you have set up. So this green option is best for committed owners who have the time to show new guests the ropes, tend to the compost pile every few days, and make use of the rich soil in a nearby garden.

7. If you hire a cleaning service for your rental home, make it an eco-conscious one.
Picking a cleaning company with green values protects your guests' health as well as the workers' wellbeing, and prevents your vacation home from becoming a dumping ground for dangerous chemicals and wasteful practices.

Joanna Eng is a New York-based writer and editor who covers travel, green living, food, careers, entrepreneurship, and more. Her travel experiences have ranged from hostel hopping in Mexico to staying with distant relatives in China to renting a beach apartment in New Jersey.

Rates and Pricing for your Vacation Rental Property

Posted: 21 Jul 2011 10:24 AM PDT

Since our website re-vamp, we have placed a greater emphasis on rental rates, so that travelers can see accurate rates for the specific dates that they are looking to stay in an accommodation. It is now more important than ever for owners to input accurate rate information into their listing because travelers only pursue those opportunities that they know they can afford. Luckily for owners, inputting accurate rate information is a simple process with a powerful outcome: the more interested travelers you have, the more inquiries you get, and the more bookings they generate.

On the Rates page, there are several customizable items intended to make the rates displayed as accurate and personalized as possible. The first option you have is to decide on a currency in which the rates will display. There are 14 different currency options, including everything from the US dollar to the Brazilian real to the Indian rupee to the Russian rouble – and everything in between. Once you’ve picked your currency, it’s onto inputting the rates themselves.

On FlipKey, you have the option of adding as many rates as necessary to fully inform guests of how pricing varies throughout the year. There are typically two ways to differentiate rates – by designating the season, or by designating the duration of stay. Some owners choose to have a minimum length of stay, others don’t. How you personalize these options is up to you! Amongst the options when adding a new rate are:

Rate name
Start date
End date
Week night rate
Weekend night rate
Weekly rate
Monthly rate
Minimum stay

For each new rate you add, you have the option to set any or all of the above limitations, depending on how you operate your property. After you have submitted your desired rates, you also have the option of adding taxes, fees and adjustments that travelers should expect to incur when they stay with you. These fields include:

The type of fees (taxes, fees, security deposits)
The fee name
The description of that fee
The basis of the fee (whether it’s a percentage of the rental, fixed rate, etc.)
The actual cost
Whether this fee is required

This area allows you to lay out exactly the expenses a traveler should expect to incur. And if that’s still not enough, then there is a section for “Additional Rate Info,” where you can highlight additional fee information, discounts, and other details about rates and fees for your property.

After rates are submitted and properties have gone live on the website, one question we often get is - ‘why are my rates showing up in US dollars when I entered them in a different currency?’ The answer is simple: All rates in the search results display in US dollars in order to make the search process easier for travelers. If we had results coming up in 14 different currencies, then it would be nearly impossible to compare prices from one property to the next. This way, travelers scanning the search results can compare all of the rates in one currency. However, when the traveler clicks through to an individual listing, the rates will show up in the currency of your choice. Neat, right?!

Taryn Collins is a FlipKey owner services specialist and vacation rental marketing expert. Her bi-weekly blog, Ask FlipKey, aims to answer the difficult questions that vacation rental owners and managers ask every day. Submit your questions in the comments!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

The Latest from the FlipKey Blog

Nice and Pissaladière

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 07:25 AM PDT

Pissaladiere

The first time I went to Nice, it was barely a stop on a five-week adventure through Europe with my best friends from high school: Nice seemed as good a spot as any to visit between Barcelona and Asolo, and as its name suggests, Nice was nice.

We used Nice as a jumping off point that trip: Monaco, Cannes, Beaulieu-sur-Mer… Nice was a lovely place to hang our hats and eat pastry in the morning before hopping on a train to somewhere new. We spent one afternoon on the beach, napping on towels and trying to forget the smooth stones that had replaced the sand we knew and loved. I waded in the Mediterranean, clear and blue, and tried not to miss the waves of my childhood Atlantic, as a North African man strolled up and down the beach, singing a list of wares for sale, "Birra, birra, cerveza, Coca Cola, hello, hello, hello, pronto!" Even today, I can’t get it out of my head.

It wasn’t until two years later when I moved to Cannes that I finally visited Nice, instead of just slipping through, and it was only then that I got to know this Provencal city for what it is. Nice isn’t just French: its name is a remnant of former Italian control – Nizza – and its culture is a hodgepodge of French by default, American by import, Italian by history, and Provencal by undercurrent. I strolled in the old town and was surprised at how un-French and un-Italian it felt, but I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly it was.

The food in Nice reflects this atmosphere, hailing neither from France nor from Italy… it’s decisively nicois: salads with tomato and tuna, crêpes made of chickpea flour from north Africa, and a sort of pizza that’s conspicuously devoid of tomatoes, decorated delicately with tiny anchovies in diamond shapes.

Pissaladière

1 puff pastry dough or pizza dough
2 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
4 large onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 tsp. herbes de Provence
1 tin anchovies
several black olives (6-12 depending on the size of your pissaladière)
salt and pepper

Heat a skillet over low heat and add the oil and butter. When the butter has melted, add the onions with a hefty pinch of salt. Allow to cook without stirring for fifteen minutes or so, until the onions begin to color. Add about half of the wine and stir.

Continue to cook for about an hour, stirring every 2-3 minutes until the onions have caramelized, adding wine when they look dry. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

When the onions are cooked, stir in the herbes de Provence and some fresh black pepper.

Unfold or roll out the dough onto a baking sheet. With a puff pastry dough, use a fork to prick the dough all over. Spread the onions in an even layer over the dough. Lay the anchovies over the onions to form a diamond pattern, with an olive between each diamond. Bake at 450 degrees 10-15 minutes, until the dough is cooked and slightly golden. Serve hot or cold.

Emily Monaco is native New Yorker, living and writing in Paris since 2007. She loves discovering new places and, of course, their local cuisines! Read about her adventures in food and travel at tomatokumato.com or follow her on Twitter at @emiglia

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The Latest from the FlipKey Blog

Eco-Friendly Rentals on FlipKey

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 07:43 AM PDT

Suitable Digs

Many travelers care about their environmental impact nowadays, and owners of vacation rental homes are making it easier to have an eco-conscious place to stay. From solar panels to rainwater irrigation systems to recycled building materials, countless FlipKey property owners are doing what they can to give you a clean, green vacation experience. A little eco-minded search through the listings brought up some very impressive results.

Solar-Powered Homes

If you're going on vacation to enjoy the sun, why not use it to power all of your activities? Solar panels provide a way for you to live totally off the grid without sacrificing your need for lighting, electronic entertainment, hot water, and the like. Several FlipKey listings boast the use of 100 percent solar power.

Villa in St. Croix Michael Dance and Terry Chretien’s brightly painted villa in Saint Croix not only offers solar electricity and a solar water heater; it also adds nice touches like complimentary organic, fair trade coffee. Other rentals making very efficient use of their sunny slice of paradise include a beachside cottage in Barbuda, a stilt home on a private island in Florida, a horse ranch near the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, and a bungalow near a tropical rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

But solar panels aren't limited to tropical locales. Even way up in central Wisconsin, the Sustainable Living Center bed and breakfast uses solar energy to provide heat, hot water, and electricity – and guests can even eat organic produce straight from the garden. Cool Green Lodgings in Santa Fe offer solar energy, biodegradable soap, and composting in the kitchen. And a luxurious solar-powered cabin in Southern California offers endless entertainment, with access to the Big Bear ski resort and hiking trails, as well as a game room.

LEED Certified Buildings

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is a certification for new green buildings and homes. The rating system includes a long list of design and construction factors that promote energy efficiency and water conservation, use of recycled materials, clean air and natural lighting, and eco-friendly activities (such as providing infrastructure for storing bicycles in a building). There are plenty of LEED certified vacation rentals listed on FlipKey; here are some that stand out:

Earning a Platinum certification, the highest LEED rating, Harbor Retreat, a unique Spanish-style home in Santa Barbara is a luxurious modern space made with natural materials. One of its eco-friendly features is a rainwater collection system to maintain landscaping needs. Across the country on Martha’s Vineyard, a LEED Platinum cottage on Martha's Vineyard makes the perfect cozy retreat for two couples.

Funky Bend, OR LEED Gold House Next up, with a Gold certification, is Oregon’s first LEED Gold rental. The décor blends vintage and contemporary styles, and everything—from the deck to the sheets to the cabinets—is of eco-luxury grade. Another Gold certification earner is a brand new Toronto townhouse, which is near public transportation and within walking distance of the heart of downtown. Its multiple balconies let you relax outside right in the middle of the city.

Besides solar panels and LEED certification, there are many other ways that vacation rental owners are making their homes environmentally friendly. Some features you can seek out in a rental home include: the conscious use of materials such as recycled fiber carpets or reclaimed building materials; the owner's purchase of electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar; paints and stains that are free of harmful chemicals; and furnishings with creatively repurposed elements or vintage origins. If you're not sure what eco-measures the owners have taken, you can always ask.

Deals of the Week: Luxury Meets Savings

Posted: 18 Jul 2011 08:14 AM PDT

Get ready to relax in style. If your idea of vacation involves beach access, modern amenities and a no-restrictions attitude when it comes to convenience, then this is your vacation home. Bring up to 20 of your friends to San Diego and take advantage of a two year planning process that combined elegance and functionality in one package. Book a vacation before the end of July and you can get a $100 spa certificate to help you ease into the mood of perfect vacation bliss.

Get a free massage!	Get $1000 off!
Looking for luxury, rest and relaxation? Ever dream about a tropical paradise? All you need to do to make that dream a reality is hop on a flight to Bali and settle in to this new three-bedroom villa. Within easy striking distance of Seminyak, this villa comes complete with the full package, including a rental car and driver.	Seclusion, peace and the sound of waves crashing… who could ask for more? Escape the demands of day-to-day life and enjoy a more harmonious existence. Make Casa Playa Vista your base for enjoying all the activities Costa Rica is famous for, from surfing to fly-fishing, then come home and enjoy comfort and incredible views.
Get 2 nights free!	Get 60% off!
Set among the arbors and olive groves of Tuscany, comfort and relaxation await your arrival.This residence may only be a one-bedroom, but don’t let the size fool you – the amenities are fit for a mansion. With access to the pool, free WiFi, an outdoor barbecue area and more, you’ll be thankful for your 2 free nights because you’ll never want to leave.	If the words “South of France” make you think of beauty, romance, and comfort, then this Cote D’Azur guest house may feel like it was built specifically for you. With terraces and a private garden, you may be content to keep to the house – that is, until you are drawn out by the nearby towns of Lorgues and St. Antonin, and the short drive to Marseilles and Nice.