Ramblings

In the the vacation rental world, consolidation is a good thing. A one-stop shop like HomeAway is a necessary evolutionary step. But gathering everything in one place (quantity) begs the next evolution (quality).

Consolidation is all about convenience, efficiency. Whether I'm trying to organize my thoughts or my closet, I typically gather (dump) ell related elements in one spot. That's my "universe". Then I sort. That's a quality-based task.

HomeAway has good advanced search options that help you quickly narrow the field according to basic categories -- number of bedrooms, pet-friendly? -- that are meaningful to you.

But then you're on your own. Nobody at HomeAway is gonna dish on quality. Not when vacation rental owners pay to to listed on the site! Which doesn't make the listings bad, by any means. But just know, at the end of your advanced search, you're likely to be left with a list of apples and oranges. Which are exceptional? Which ho-hum? Take your best guess. Based on the owner's description and photos.

Maybe you're someone like me who loves discovering "gems". A riverfront cottage with a redwood tree growing up through the center ... a private apartment round the corner from the last unpaved road, plum in the center of San Francisco ... These truly unique, memorable places confirm vacation rentals are a world away from hotel chains and even B&Bs.Finding them requires lots of trial and error or reliable sources of unbiased, first-hand dish. The best, the highs and lows.

That is the next necessary evolution in the vacation rental world.

For now, check out reviews on Slow Travel, TripAdvisor (where you can find them) and, yes, my own Renting Paradise picks.
 

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

More often than not, the best thing about renting a vacation home is the owners. Here's why.

Most I've met or spoken to are passionate about the home they rent -- and tickled pink that you'll be staying.

Like trusted friends, they'll clue you in on the best restaurants (and probably recommend what to order). Some pamper you with breakfast fixings -- freshly squeezed orange juice, rich coffee beans, homemade scones and a jar of organic jam. Some owners may leave a bottle of local wine. A phone card (if they don't already offer free long distance calling). A disposable camera.

Some invest time detailing step-by-step driving routes or walking tours. Check out this blog compiled by Mary Jane Hutchinson of At The Bay's Edge.

The thing is, I'm always surprised -- and, yes, delighted. I guarantee you won't feel that kind of love staying at a hotel (I don't care how efficient the concierge) or even at many fine B&Bs.

Vacation rental owners are a real treat ... most of the time. Like anything in life, there are exceptions. (One owner chewed me out rather rudely when I called to say the woodstove was smoking.)

My advice: just to be sure, plan to have a short chat (by phone) before you rent.   

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 06:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We're all busy. Just give us broad-brush description, the highlights, the "meat" and the bottom line. Until it comes to our vacation.

If you're going out of your way to search for a vacation home -- an accommodation unique from any other -- I'm betting you're can't get enough detail. Some owners and management companies get this and thier online descriptions reflect, with acres of text and a dozen photos. But, many don't and that puzzles me. It can even concern me if I've parted with cash for a deposit.

As I mentioned, I recently booked a house for a family get-together that I'm sort of nervously lukewarm about. The listing shows enough photos, but the rooms look drab -- no art on the walls. It was also light on text, which was brochure-y. "Walk to the sand. Enjoy water sports or soak in the sun at one of California's most picturesque beaches....  So much to be found!" That could describe hundreds of other homes on or near the California coast.

I think it's going to be okay. Once I'd narrowed the field based on my clan's needs, it seemed like a reasonable option. But okay is typically not my style. When I review homes for Renting Paradise or hotels for i-escape, I layer on specific detail. Just like my readers:

• I want to experience the place ahead of time. Paint me a picture. Describe the views, the sounds, the smells. The little extras the owner left behnd for my breakfast. I can't dream on a diet of brochure-speak. I want first-hand experience to fire my own sweet anticipation. If I wanted a room at a chain hotel, I'd book one.
  

• I want to be sure I'll experience what I'm already envisioning. It's nice to be surprised. But not all surprises are nice. I'm wondering, is there some little thing you're leaving out that I might care about? I'll give you an example from my own experience -- our dramatically  situated beachfront home had a driveway on a blind curve of Highway 1. My heart was in my throat every single time I ventured out. Detail prepares me.

• I want specific guidance and recommendations that will help me plan my trip. What shouldn't I miss if this is my first visit? What are your (as the owner) favorite things to do?  Places to visit? Eat? Too many descriptions gloss over this important element. Detail makes a prospective guest feel like a welcome friend.  

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 09:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Every trip has its own character and specific set of requirements that influence your Internet search. Local and regional vacation rental web sites level the field.

My goal in Renting Paradise is to spotlight the "gems" among all the tens of thousands of vacation homes available online. But because vacation homes come in all shapes and sizes, some simply aren't going to work for my semi-annual get-togethers with my parents, brother, husband and (now three!) dogs.

Just recently, I was searching for a pet-friendly home on the beach. I fell in love with a beautifully restored cottage. So much so, that I tried to ignore the reality of fitting five adults and three dogs into 1,100 square feet with one bathroom!

Luckily for us all, I was overruled. So I went back to the drawing board. HomeAway seemed my best bet, because it consolidates the most (dozens!) of homes into a single click. It was easy to search for the right number of bathrooms and sort out only pet-friendly homes. (I'd tried some of the pet-friendly accommodations sites and was disappointed by the lack of offerings.)

However, despite the buffet-style selection of vacation homes I was offered on HomeAway, it took me hours to come to a decision. Admittedly, I am picky, but it bugs me that I'm not jumping-up-and-down excited about what I finally reserved. It's not on the beach. (Very close, but no sand.) And perhaps this is troubling only to me, but it lacks character. Sort of a rather non-descript shell. (Which doing what I do, almost feels like it's against my religion.)

Here's the kick: as soon as I'd posted my deposit, I stumbled across a site serving only that particular region with -- you guessed it -- some genuine gems. It made me remember that many of my very best "finds" over the years have come from regional or local sites. I booked my very first rental in Lake Tahoe on a Coldwell Banker site featuring properties for sale and rent. After much wheel-spinning while planning a family get-together in Sedona, we finally happened upon Red Rock Realty. Spot on! I know I've talked at length before about my love for Russian River Getaways in Sonoma County, CA.

My point: don't make my mistake by checking out only HomeAway. Google regional and local websites by typing in the name of the city or town and state you're traveling to and "vacation rentals". If nothing else, you'll gain access to a ton of information about activities, restaurants, shopping, etc. that really enriches your trip planning! 

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I've been watching the development of HomeAway, the mega-site for vacation rentals (the one with the venture capital silver spoon) with great interest. I even used it to plan my upcoming family get-together (more on that later). But I have to say, the "bait and switch" they pulled in their most recent e-newsletter is, well, sleazy.

In the "second edition" (undated), the editor invites readers to "Be sure to check out the new sections: Readers' Travel Stories, as well as letters to the editor."

Cool! I clicked -- and clunk-- I was taken to a page (the same page for both "new sections," by way).

It said: Welcome to HomeAway! This is a bit of an unconventional way to access our site (huh?), but if you are looking for vacation rentals (well, I was kinda looking for some stories or feedback from reader's... like you promised), you've come to the right place!"  What followed was a blantant advertisement.

Shame on you, HomeAway! With all that cash, why not invest some classier editorial? Your readers (potential customers) don't like to be jerked around by these stunts. If you don't have the content yet, at least say it's "coming soon."

This is simply spam.  

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 08:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)