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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

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Link to The FlipKey Blog - Vacation Rental Market News, Travel Tips, and Big Ideas

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PST

Thanksgiving is such a happy time of year – family and food abounds, and there is a warm sense of relaxation and togetherness that settles over those around you. But sometimes as wonderful as it is, it can also be stressful if you're trying to feed a whole family with differing tastes. Whether the argument be over stuffing or cranberry sauce or pies, it's hard to suit every individual preference.

And while you can't always please everyone, you can certainly try! I'm starting today by looking at pies, taking traditional ideas and giving them a new and inspired spin, and also introducing a few more unconventional confections for those less traditional folks who don’t mind something out of the ordinary for a Thanksgiving feast.

We all know the basic Thanksgiving pies – we've got apple, pecan and pumpkin. On their own, they can get boring and stale, but there is so much you can do with a simple pie to make it a smashing success (with everyone). The key to a killer pie is to start with a really fantastic pie dough, and build layers of flavor from there. This crust here uses an unconventional ingredient to achieve the perfect flaky pie crust texture – vodka! But trust me, it's perfect, and can be swapped into any pie recipe for the given crust.

So let's get down to those fillings, shall we? I'll break down fun flavor additions to our most traditional pie categories, and then introduce a few outside-the-box options as well.

Apple Pie: arguably the most traditional Thanksgiving pie, and a definite American tradition, this pie is always delicious but often uninspired. Below are a few fun twists that might be worth exploring.

Pumpkin Pie: another Thanksgiving favorite, but often falls short on flavor. Pumpkin itself is a mild ingredient, so it needs lots of help to showcase it's flavor to the fullest potential. Why not try one of these ideas?

Pecan Pie: last but certainly not least, this nutty creation is overly sweet but very rarely features any type of variation. You could be the family favorite this year, if you decide to dress up your plain old pecan pie with one of these variations.

Now if you're looking to get off the beaten path completely, I've got a few more ideas for you. These pies are rarely linked to Thanksgiving festivities, but that's not to say they won't become family favorites after the first bite. If you're looking to mix it up these year, try one of these non-traditional pie ideas.

Non-traditional pies

I hope you find at least some inspiration in these recipes, and that they get you excited in the kitchen – I know I will be!

I am an Owner Services Specialist at FlipKey. I enjoy traveling, being outdoors, being active and trying new things, and I love baking. When I’m not writing for the FlipKey blog, I spend the majority of my time photographing and writing for own my personal baking blog.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

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Festival Season and Block Parties in Baños, Ecuador

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 07:13 AM PST

Today we’re proud to feature a post by Melissa Ruttanai, a world traveler and the blogger behind World Winder. She and her husband, Neil, have been traveling the world and recording their experiences since they married in 2006. You can follow Melissa on Twitter at @MelissaRuttanai

by Melissa Ruttanai

For over a month, I've called Baños, Ecuador my home. While snow has pummeled my homestate of New York, thin clouds skim off the Andean Mountains and into the river valley, a simple prelude to a warm afternoon. Three and a half hours south of the capital Quito, Baños is a spa town that boasts mineral-rich hot springs and cascades that plummet all around town's edge.

When I moved here with my husband Neil, we thought it would be a nice place to see spring in Ecuador and ease into South American living. We needed an ideal place to rest and work for a month, and found a beautiful town pulling itself out of winter and bursting into spring with festivals, block parties, and all night fireworks. Loving every moment of the season, we realized that October and November is a time for celebration.

Block Parties

Baños is a small town with safe streets, fresh bread baking on every corner, and a colonial basilica crowning its main plaza. Like us, many foreigners come for a vacation and before the week is up, sign a lease for a new apartment. Within days of moving in, we saw little signs of festivities: candle vendors at the church, rose petals scattered throughout the streets, and the faint echoing sound of a band playing across town. We didn't know any better. We had no idea that each neighborhood took turns throwing parties. Like any other street festival, food was sold, children chased each other, and music played past midnight.

It seemed simple and, well, festive—until it was our block's turn to boogey down. At 6 am the fireworks began. Crack-crack-BOOM! I jerked out of bed, swallowing my heart back into my chest. At the window, I craned my neck out into the street. Streamers hung from every telephone line and vans were pulling to the curb. At 9am, the marching band struck up their first notes and wove their way up and down the neighborhood. Trumpets swung from side to side and massive drums ricocheted the bass from building to building.

By noon, we opened our door in shock. Our entire block had transformed from a narrow lane into a concert hall. Giant speakers lined sidewalks as four men rigged wires and arranged tables. The skeleton of a stage sat in the middle of the road and still the band played on. Watching our neighbors shuffle supplies and equipment from houses to street, we saw our landlord, Mayra, packing her kids into the car. Her face resigned, she held her youngest son on her hip. "Do me a favor and keep an eye on our building. I have to sleep at my mother's tonight. The noise is too loud." When I asked how long the block party lasted, her eyes widened slightly. "Past 3 am."

Neil and I couldn't be happier.

As sunset approached, Saturday night began and the party came to us. Marching bands gave way to organized talent shows. Singers, dancers, and performers took the stage. They belted out high notes, swung dance partners around, and kept the crowd jiving past three and toward dawn. Like all barrios, a princess of the neighborhood was chosen, which gave rise to further celebration. As fireworks shot through the night sky, our new neighbors invited us into the mix and offered something to eat and drink. Grandmothers swept up after young kids and teenagers milled about with their friends in tight groups. Our street was unrecognizable as hundreds of people packed into self-contained parties. All ages and multiple generations attended the festival, every one proud to represent their neighborhood and celebrating the place they call home.

Monday, November 7, 2011

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It’s Summer in Uruguay: Where to Rent in Paradise

Posted: 07 Nov 2011 07:01 AM PST

December brings summer to Uruguay. If you want to trade in the cold snow for sunshine and and good vibrations, consider a vacation rental in Uruguay.

The Vacation Rental Advantage

Uruguay has a more than adequate number of hotels, but staying in a vacation rental offers some distinct advantages. Having your own kitchen, for example, is a major perk, because it allows you to buy well-priced, and incredibly fresh fruits and vegetables, and prepare them in your own home. Most Uruguay houses and apartments have a pariilla, or outdoor grill. Not only is the food delicious, hosting a barbecue, called an asado, is a great way to meet your friendly neighbors.

Now you just have to pick out a location.

Montevideo

Montevideo is a vibrant, dynamic city, which stays awake 24 hours each day. It has all the typical conveniences and excitement of urban life, including an eclectic menu of museums, monuments, restaurants and nightlife. A regular bus system takes you everywhere you want to go. If you want to learn more about the practicalities of the city, a group of English-speaking expats meets every Thursday and Sunday to share English conversation and tips.

Some people find Montevideo to be a bit overwhelming, but if you want to experience the calm of the beach while staying close to the pulse of the city, consider renting in the Pocitos neighborhood.

Punta del Este

Punta del Este is beach town that sits along the the waters of the Río de La Plata and the Atlantic Ocean. Its abundance of upscale shops and restaurants– including a place that delivers sushi– makes it a popular vacation destination for celebrities and other beautiful people. Its beaches offer a combination of mild waves, suitable for swimmers, and stronger waves for windsurfers and kite-surfers. Many of the upscale vacation rentals in Punte del Este sleep up to 12 people.

Jose Ignacio

Jose Ignacio, located 30 minutes from Punte del Este, was once a small fishing village, but it is quickly becoming its neighbor´s glamour rival. Celebrities such as Colombian singer Shakira and Rolling Stone guitarist Ron Wood vacation here, hoping to avoid the paparazzi of Punte del Este. Some of the vacation rentals in Jose Ignacio offer views of the sea.

Don´t let winter chill your soul. Escape to Uruguay, a small country with a big, warm heart!

Friday, November 4, 2011

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Car Sharing and Green Car Rentals

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PDT

When it’s time for your next road trip, don’t you wish you could save on fuel costs and avoid spewing too much pollution into the atmosphere? For those who don’t own cars (or only need a car once they get to where their destination), there are some greener solutions out there than road trips and old-fashioned car rentals.

Car Shares

Car sharing is typically used by city-dwellers who don’t want the hassle of owning their own car. With these programs, vehicles are parked in convenient spots all over a city or region, and members can reserve times to take them for a drive, as needed. Rather than standing at some car rental desk, you can reserve online and be on your way with a car accessible from your own neighborhood.

Zipcar is probably the most well-known car sharing company. Its mission is to reduce the number of personally owned cars on the road by providing vehicles when and where people really need them. Hybrid vehicles are included in Zipcar fleet, and you can save on gas in the long run by only using a truck or SUV once in a while, like when you have to transport equipment or drive in wintery conditions.

There are other car sharing initiatives cropping up all over the country. Mint, in New York and Boston, offers tiny fuel-efficient vehicles including Smart cars. I-GO, based in Chicago, has hybrid models available. The Bay Area’s City CarShare program includes plenty of hybrids as well as traditional vehicles.

If you’re really into the idea of sharing, you can put your car on loan or borrow from fellow residents with one of these new peer-to-peer car sharing programs. Boston area drivers are turning to RelayRides to rent cars from each other. The Bay Area equivalent is Getaround, and the Standford University community is experimenting with Wheelz.

Greener Car Rentals

If you don’t need a car frequently enough to join a car sharing program, or there isn’t one close to where you live or vacation, you may need to stick to regular car rental companies. But you can seek out more fuel-efficient vehicles whenever possible.

Some companies are making it easy for customers to go green: Enterprise offers hybrids and/or electric vehicles in 33 cities and regions. The Hertz website allows you to filter searches with the “Green Traveler Collection” to quickly find hybrids and other fuel-efficient models.

It’s Electric

You can also try using electric cars to really reduce your environmental impact. If you’re trying out an electric vehicle (EV) for the first time, it’s sure to be an adventure on a longer trip. You’ll barely need any gas, but the newness of the technology means that getting charged up is not as easy as pulling over at a rest stop. Just prepare yourself with information about the EV network and you’ll be fine: check out the CarStations website or EVChargerMaps to get started.

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.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

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My First Day in Barcelona

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PDT

by Harriet Freeman

I remember my first day in Barcelona. I got to the city center on the Aerobus from the Airport of Barcelona. I got off and saw this nice square called Plaza Catalunya in front of my eyes, it was then when I realized that I was in Barcelona! My dream of visiting one of the jewels of Europe had come true.

I was very excited and wanted to get to the apartment in Las Ramblas that I had rented. I was eager to see if it was as nice as I had seen in the pictures. So, I asked somebody where the Ramblas were. Not far! Just at the other side of the square, turning right.

Once in Las Ramblas, I quickly saw the fountain of Canaletes, where FC Barcelona fans celebrate the victories of the best football team in Europe! I must admit that I think "deep red-blue blood" runs through my veins. I started walking down Las Ramblas which were so crowded… What stroke me the most was the beauty of the place and the buildings on both sides of the famous avenue. On the right, the market of La Boqueria was inviting me to enter and see its stalls with the most colorful, fresh fruit and vegetables. But I couldn’t stop, I wanted to get to my accommodation in Barcelona and leave my bags. So, I went on my way down Las Ramblas and saw the Gran Teatre del Liceu. I really love opera and this is one of the best opera halls in Europe!

The buildings were not the only things in Las Ramblas that caught my attention. There were loads of street performers, stallholders, peddlers and painters in this emblematic avenue of Barcelona. I could feel the lively ambiance in Las Ramblas, and noticed that having a walk along this street was one of the best things to do in Barcelona.

The human statues were impressive! A beautiful angel in front of me was smiling but didn’t move. There were people around her, a little kid got near her and throw a coin into the hat at her feet. The nice angel made a slow, gentle move and sent a kiss to her audience. A little further down, there was a couple dancing a tango. They were dressed up in smart tango clothes and their dance was so beautiful and sensual… When they finished, the people who had got together around gave them a big round of applause. It was fantastic!

I was about to get to my apartment. I just had to turn left, walk through the Plaza Real and along a few narrow streets in the Gothic quarter. It was not difficult to find the place. I got to the apartment and when I came in, it was perfect! As beautiful as I had seen in the pictures and with all the equipment promised. I was so happy! My life in Barcelona had just started and I’m still living here after 4 years…

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

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Rivesaltes and the Fête de l’Abricot

Posted: 02 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PDT

French people are sometimes viewed by foreigners as being overly stuck up, pinched, coincés, as the French would say – and when you have a word for it, it must be true… right?

I understand where the stereotype comes from; Parisians, for all their virtues, are not the smiliest bunch, especially in comparison to the Americans who are often casting aspersions. But it’s not a fair judgement to make, especially when one considers the residents of the south of France, who are willing and ready to throw a party at a moment’s notice, whatever the reason. At least, that’s the impression I got at the annual Fête de l’Abricot in Rivesaltes.

Apricots are everywhere in July in the south, with giant crates being sold on the side of the road at ridiculously low prices. People stock up and head home to make jam, so that apricot season can last them all year. But when it’s finally time, once again, for the soft fruit to be eaten out of hand with reckless abandon, the good people of Rivesaltes throw a party.

The mid-July Fête de l’Abricot combines the very best of farmer’s markets, county fairs and barbecues. Stalls pop up selling homemade jams and pies; grillmasters prepare sausages in half-baguettes and plastic cups of local wine and Abricotade — a drink made of sweet white wine and apricots. I grab a sandwich and join the assembly of people positioned before a platform, waiting for I’m not quite sure what to transpire.

People slowly begin to fill the dozen-or-so seats in front of a giant table, and an emcee stands before them. Crates of apricots are loaded onto the stage. Oh… I see.

The Fête de l’Abricot’s version of a hot-dog eating contest involves the contestants ingesting as many apricots as they can in ninety seconds. When the winner stands, he is weighed… and given his weight in apricots as a prize.

Apricots are lovely eaten out of hand, but one can only eat so many before the urge to make other apricot-flavored treats arrives. Apricot jam is easy to buy and nearly as easy to make: Confisuc, a brand of special sugar for the making of jam, is sold in grocery stores in a pink 1-kilo bag. An equal weight of fruit is cooked with the sugar for just shy of 10 minutes, and voilà, your very own homemade jam. And the primary ingredient in apricot jam tart.

Apricot Jam Tart
2 pâtes brisées (you can make your own crust, but the storebought ones, available in every supermarket, are made with pure butter (pûr beurre) and are an excellent time-saving tool)
1 cup apricot jam (homemade or good quality storebought)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Farenheit (176 degrees Celsius).

Arrange one of your pâtes brisées in the bottom of a pie dish. Use a fork to poke holes all over the bottom. Cover the pâte with greased aluminum foil, and place pie weights or dried beans on top. Bake for 10 minutes.

Remove the pâte from the oven and dispose of the foil. Spread jam over the top of the crust.

Cut the second pâte brisée into 1/2 inch strips. Place them over the top of the jam layer in a criss-cross pattern. Bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Allow to cool before eating; the jam stays hot and runny for a very long time.

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, November 1, 2011

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Top Ten Reasons to Rent a Vacation House for Thanksgiving

Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PDT

by Lee Foster

I don't know about you, but Thanksgiving sneaks up on me before I even have the Halloween decorations put away. Suddenly everyone is talking about food, the cost of airline reservations and who is going where for dinner. Since I live in the city, work full time and am not a good cook, I have found the perfect solution for Thanksgiving…

Rent a house in some great vacation place that is driving distance from home. In my case, the Outer Banks is a perfect. There are hundreds of great houses for rent and North Carolina has been known to have a seventy-degree warm spell over the Thanksgiving holiday.

For the more adventurous, find a place to reach by ferry: Bald Head Island, Nantucket, Oxford or Sausalito are great choices. Having a vacation rental house in a magical place makes even the shorter holiday seem long and the memories more lasting. When we travel for Thanksgiving, we take along our traditional Thanksgiving accoutrements - special serving dishes, placemats and napkins, holiday sweaters, family recipes and, of course, a football.

In David Letterman style, I offer you my Top Ten reasons to rent a vacation house for the Thanksgiving holiday. Counting down, reason number:

10. There is Room for the Extended Family

There are lots of large houses available for rent and splitting the cost between the guests makes them a better deal than a hotel – plus, a hotel doesn't offer common space for charades or pillow fights – not to mention everyone cooking their favorite food and dining as a family.

9. Houses with Fireplaces & Mountain, Lake or Ocean Views

I live in the city, and my view is lovely, but not exactly expansive – my neighbor's roof is eight feet away. So I love having a broad expanse of nature outside my window. I find it very relaxing – a prime goal for my holiday. I do have a fireplace at home, but it involves carrying in the wood, getting kindling started and leaving the front door open to create the right draft for the flue. Turning on a gas fireplace and watching the ocean sounds better to me.

8. Great Outside Activities at your Door

For some of us, Thanksgiving is the last gasp of outdoor activity before clothes involving down are required. Hiking, kayaking, walking on the beach and the traditional family football game all lure me outside. Shopping in small villages at the beginning of the Christmas season is also a treat.

7. A real Bed for Everyone- No Air Mattresses

Notwithstanding the improvement in air mattresses, they do not compare with sleeping on a real bed. This perk also prevents a post holiday trip to the chiropractor.

6. Multiple Televisions for Football Games & the Macy's Parade.

Our family starts Thanksgiving Day with the Macy's parade no matter how many times we have seen the giant Snoopy and the Texas marching bands. Having it on multiple screens is great. When the football games start there will be no arguments over which ones to watch. They can all be on, usually with large screen viewing. (This is time for non-fans to participate in #8.)

5. Personal Chefs Available

OK, its not traditional, but it is possible. The property manager of your house can let you know how to contact someone to do the cooking for you. For those of you who find cooking to be the fun part of Thanksgiving, some houses have huge kitchens that let everyone cook, talk and drink in the same space. I have seen some kitchens on the Outer Banks that could be their own vacation.

4. No one has to clean his or her house for company

No one knows that the towels are not clean and the beds are not perfectly made at your house, because – no one is coming to your house! Think of the hours saved and the "clean up your room" arguments avoided.

3. Off-Peak Pricing

If you have only rented a house "in season," then you will be astonished at how reasonable off-season rates can be at Thanksgiving. The savings can be as much as 50% for the off-peak pricing. Some houses even have additional discounts for Thanksgiving week.

2. Everyone is a Guest

Being the host can be an exhausting honor. Even when everyone shares the cooking they don't share cleaning the house and preparing for a group sleep over. When you rent a house, everyone is a guest and no one person will be in charge of making beds, putting out towels, setting the table or cleaning up.

1. Maid Service when You Leave

How great is not cleaning up! You just drive off at the end of the holiday. I don't even need the other nine reasons!

Lee Foster is an architect and interior designer who has a website with vacation rental houses that have been selected by designers. She also writes a blog for vacation house home owners called www.rentyourvacationhouse.com.