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Health & Fitness

Planning a vacation? Consider a vacation home rental

Spring and Summer will soon be here and it's time to plan for that much needed vacation.

If you've ever considered renting a vacation home but never made the move, here are a some reasons why you might want to reconsider.

Vacation homes or condos are ideal for families. Instead of staying in a cramped hotel room with, at best, a coffee maker and small refrigerator you could stay in a home with separate bedrooms and bathrooms, a fully stocked kitchen for cooking and separate living area.  This is especially perfect for people with small children who need naps or go to bed before adults and older kids.  It's also nice if you want more privacy for teenagers and even for grandparents.

Renting a vacation home is also more economical than you may think.  A vacation rental home is usually close to what a moderate hotel room would cost and you don't get the privacy of separate bedrooms and bathrooms or a full kitchen (which saves money on going out to eat for all meals).  Not to mention people walking, talking and closing doors down hotel hallways.

One other consideration is that there are now many properties who are pet friendly, so you can bring your pet without the cost and worry of boarding them.  Most do charge a pet deposit but it is still usually less than boarding.

So, how do you get started if you are interested in renting a vacation home?  There are many internet sites offering vacation rentals, but the most popular are www.vrbo.com (Vacation rentals by owner) and www.homeaway.com.  They offer vacation rentals not only in the United States but all over the world. Most have detailed pictures and if you ask, most owners will provide more pictures via email.  Another important component to renting is to read reviews from previous guests. These are valuable if there are any concerns about renting without physically viewing the property.  www.tripadvisor.com is also a good place to get reviews on rental properties since they have added this feature because the vacation rental home business has become more popular.

What's more, is that dealing directly with the owner, you may have more room for negotiating the rate, especially if it is a last minute rental.  Another advantage of dealing with the owner is that they are a great resource for recommending all the best local places to go to, such as restaurants, shops and entertainment.  It's like having your own personal concierge.

So, start planning your trip now as the really great vacation homes book up quickly!

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