WHAT'S THIS BLOG ABOUT, ANYWAY?
Ramblings goes beyond journal-style travelogues to offer up-to-date reviews of vacation rentals, practical advice, personal recommendations and food-for-thought to active (and armchair) travelers to Northern California and beyond.
Subtitled “Sometimes you want more than a room with a view,” this blog's topics focus on the needs and interests of travelers who prefer renting a vacation home to checking into a room in a hotel, inn or bed-and-breakfast (B&B).
Whenever I discover a remarkable vacation rental, a particularly scenic drive, a phenomenal bakery… I want to stop people on the street, tell them all about it and make them promise they’ll try it themselves. The blog format gives me a chance to do that—without risking a restraining order. I’ve gotten some of my best tips from vacation rental owners and other travelers. I’d love to start an ongoing "conversation" with travelers who share my passion for unique experiences.
As the author of Renting Paradise—a series of e-guidebooks reviewing vacation homes, cabins, cottages, flats, houseboats and estates in Northern California—I admit I have another agenda for the Ramblings blog: to turn you on the joys of renting a vacation home.
It’s unbelievable that to me that the vacation rental industry is still a stepchild in the industry. A few guidebooks briefly mention renting as an option and most major booking sites don’t offer vacation rentals as an option along with hotels and B&Bs. I have very strong opinions about why—and when—renting a vacation home is the best option.
Aside from reading daily posts, you're invited to delve into entries archived in more than a half-dozen categories including “The Rented Vacation,” “Favorite Places” and “e-Planning & Travel Tips. Recent posts have given readers a heads-up on a completely charming alternative for a wine country wedding that’s much less costly than a winery setting, a link to Sonoma County’s Farm Trails Map & Guide, the perfect companion for anyone following the popular Sonoma Diet, and a step-by-step navigation of the granddaddy of vacation rental sites, VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner).
Believe me, I know how cumbersome the selection process can be. It can take days or weeks to find the right rental on dozen of sites. Part of my mission is to review the top web sites and rate them in terms of quality, navigation, tools and user-friendliness.
Enjoy!