Ramblings

During a self-imposed (read:  money-making)“sabbatical” that has extended to several months, I’ve been watching and listening rather than posting. With a little distance, I find I’m more than a little confounded by how the vacation rental market is growing. Is it just me?

The consolidation—what I call the Hotels.com-izing—of the vacation rental industry lumbers awkwardly along. The monster site seems to get more ungainly with every smaller site it gobbles up, which strikes me as kind of sad. Because the defining feature of a vacation rental vs. a hotel or B&B is its uniqueness. No two vacation homes are alike! That’s a beautiful thing in this world of chain retailers and copycat brands. One uber-site may be more efficient, but is it the most effective way to promote the singular charm of your vacation home?

And why has the media stuck on the same old two-note praise of vacation homes for trips to Europe and for families? Can’t we all tell them new stories—direct from your own guest books—about vacation homes as perfect places to celebrate romantic milestones or quiet babymoons, to reconnect with old friends or even work through grief?

And why are we trampling on our brilliant prospects with negative sites like Vacation Rentals Watchdog.com without launching an equal number of positive sites? Certainly, bad experiences happen! But do they truly exceed the norm across all types of accommodations—or outweigh the good experiences?

I guess my point is, we’ve got something truly exceptional in this young industry. Let’s not let the dog (whether it be the big site or the media) wag us by just going along with the prescribed program. Let’s look for ways to celebrate the personal style—the heart—that distinguishes us from any of our competitors.

One very cool site called Slow Travel has gotten fabulous press for the way it embraces that lifestyle concept of “slow travel”. 

I launched my series of e-guidebooks called Renting Paradise to review vacation rentals I hand-picked for their unique charm. I separated these homes from the pack, not they are the best. But because each is exceptional on its own merits.

More owners are blogging. Bravo!

Let’s not be afraid to be individuals. Then maybe we can all figure out the best way to shine together.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 07:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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!

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 05:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you're dipping a toe in the vacation rental waters for the first time, you may worry about sending 500 or more of your hard-earned bucks to "Joe-owner" as a deposit for a home you've selected solely on the basis of a brief description and a few photos on an Internet web site. 

Your best strategy: Don't fear the owner; chat him up. Pick up the phone and put your mind at rest.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 09:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I attended The (San Francisco) Bay Area Travel Show this past weekend and you know what presenters were calling "the next big thing"? Renting a vacation home!

Okay, I was a little surprised. But what surprised me even more was NO ONE was there representing that option in the exhibition hall except a Mexican condo comany! A lost opportunity!

A few attendees volunteered they had had good experiences renting homes through VRBO. But even Pauline Frommer -- who is the first guidebook author to go into any detail about vacation rentals as "Alternative" accommodations -- had never heard of HomeAway (the big conglomerate that has gobbled up a dozen smaller booking sites). Not that that's such a bad thing. There is Google after all. But  as the buzz grows in the area, new renters need choice, education and discrimination.

Imagine this: a "concept" booth hosted by Slow Travel, with representation from Vacation Rental Owners Association (VROA) (an organization that has taken on the task of certifying the quality of  vacation homes). Then a starburst of international, regional booking and specialty sites (Zonder, Russian River Getaways, BeachHouse.com, PetVR.com And somewhere in there, Renting Paradise. of course.

Here's to the mainstreaming of vacation home rental! 

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 06:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Mystery" rashes, staph infections, Legionnaires' disease ... not the kind of souvenirs anyone wants to bring home after a relaxing stay in a vacation rental home. I'm not  a hot tub aficionado, so I admit I never dipped even a toe in a hot tub in any of the homes I've reviewed for Renting Paradise. Turns out, even the cleanest-looking hot tub (and even whirlpool bathtubs and private swimming pools for that matter) can easily become a petri dish for some of the worst kinds of bacteria.

I had my eyes opened wide after chatting Stacy Intille. A healthy 44-year-old Registered Nurse at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento. iN 2001 Stacy contracted Legionnaires' disease after soaking in a non-permitted portable above-ground hot tub at a hotel in Monterey,California. She almost died. In October 2006 she settled a lawsuit against the hotel for just under $1 million.

This puts vacation rental home owners and management companies between a rock and a hard place. In many areas, home that have tot tubs are more desirable -- easier to rent. However, owners cannot be on site to properly maintain the hot tub 24/7. I'm not going to wade into the slimy "guts" of the issue here. But suffice it to say, health/maintenance regulations vary by county and management companies tend to take a "soak at your own risk" approach in rental contracts.

How do you protect yourself -- especially if your party includes vulnerable children, pregnant women, elderly people and/or anyone whose immune system has been compromised?

When in doubt, stay out. Don't mean to be a party-pooper. But how else can you be sure?

Insist on safe practices. Thanks to Stacy's advocacy, the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH), has taken a closer look at the infection risks and potential hazards of above ground portable hot tubs and jacuzzi bathtubs commonly found in rental properties across the state.  Their warnings and recommendations are outlined in a new guideline posted on their website in October 2007 titled Guidelines for the Installation and Operation of Fill and Drain Spas and Hot Tubs.  You can use the guidelines in this document to personally vet a vacation rental home owner's maintenance practices.

Bottom line: The CCDEH has determined that most of the portable hot tubs commonly found in vacation homes are designed to be used by private families and their invited guests. Once an owner begins to offer their home as a vacation rental, they are required to upgrade these residential hot tubs to commercial grade, obtain a permit and follow the daily maintenance requirements and logs as outlined in the code. The guideline estimates as many as 1,000 owners are currently in violation of the code. 

If you have your own hot tub and this seems like a real pain, you're right. But remember, you KNOW exactly who you invite into your tub.You can't be sure what happened (how many people used the tub how many times) before you arrive at even the best vacation home. That's just the facts. 

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 04:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Like fitness, renting a vacation home is a choice you make. One that has the potential to transform your vacation from a visit to a much deeper experience.  

One site that’s been getting a lot of buzz these days promotes a lifestyle concept I love called “slow travel”.

I've never understood the 14 cities in 10 days concept. The site’s founder and webmaster Pauline Kenny recommends renters apply a “Concentric Circles" plan to day-tripping. “Think of your touring area as a series of concentric circles around your base,” she says. The first circle includes everything within a 30-minute radius of your home. The second, an hour, and so on. “See what is close to you instead of dashing about on long day trips to see the ‘highlights’ or ‘must-sees,’" Kenny says.

Kenny has authored a dozen more really helpful articles to guide renters in choosing and booking vacation rentals, planning your trip and what to bring with you when you rent.    

Slow Travel is primarily focused on Europe -- where renting a villa or self-catering cottage has been a tradition for generations. But, hello? The concept applies just as well here in the U.S., even for weekend trips to places like San Francisco and Sonoma County.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

“I love Sonoma in the winter …” ?

During the fall harvest, Sonoma Valley is teeming with tourists. And it can be hot. Very hot. The vine-covered hillsides are parched yellow. Good restaurants have humbling-ly long waits.  

Which makes off-season trips look pretty darn good. According to Adrien Glover in “Suddenly Sonoma” (Budget Travel Online, Feb. 18, 2005): “Springtime is still considered ‘off season’ but it’s an excellent time to visit. Not only are plum trees, quince, and yellow wild mustard flowers in bloom, you're almost certain to land a good deal at an area hotel. And there’s plenty to do year-round.”

My husband and I spent a wonderful early March weekend exploring Kenwood. From our home base at a stylish yet cozy rental, aptly named Kenwood House (look for a full review of this rental right here in the coming weeks), we ventured out to explore nearly deserted tasting rooms. Winemakers aren’t busy at this time of year so you can actually spend time chatting with one.

Because it had been an unusually rainy winter (we had hail and snow during our visit), the landscape was lush green, with Spanish moss dangling from bare branches of valley oak trees. We lingered at the fascinating Bartholomew Park Winery Museum. We enjoyed a delightful hike to the remains of Wolf House in Jack London State Park. We were seated right away at some very good restaurants, including the new Doce Lunas, where there was a guitarist playing at the bar and signature sticky toffee for dessert. At night, we cozied up to the woodstove and watched movies.

Most of my review trips are planned during the off-season. I’m so spoiled, now I won’t go any other time.

HINT: Treat yourself to a trip during the “shoulder” weeks—just before some invisible bell clangs and the high season floodgates open on throngs of tourists. You may never subject yourself to that kind of madness again.

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

"Mystery" rashes, staph infections, Legionnaires' disease ... not the kind of souvenirs anyone wants to bring home after a relaxing stay in a vacation rental home. I'm not  a hot tub aficionado, so I admit I never dipped even a toe in a hot tub in any of the homes I've reviewed for Renting Paradise. Turns out, even the cleanest-looking hot tub (and even whirlpool bathtubs and private swimming pools for that matter) can easily become a petri dish for some of the worst kinds of bacteria.

I had my eyes opened wide after chatting Stacy Intille. A healthy 44-year-old Registered Nurse at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento. iN 2001 Stacy contracted Legionnaires' disease after soaking in a non-permitted portable above-ground hot tub at a hotel in Monterey,California. She almost died. In October 2006 she settled a lawsuit against the hotel for just under $1 million.

This puts vacation rental home owners and management companies between a rock and a hard place. In many areas, home that have tot tubs are more desirable -- easier to rent. However, owners cannot be on site to properly maintain the hot tub 24/7. I'm not going to wade into the slimy "guts" of the issue here. But suffice it to say, health/maintenance regulations vary by county and management companies tend to take a "soak at your own risk" approach in rental contracts.

How do you protect yourself -- especially if your party includes vulnerable children, pregnant women, elderly people and/or anyone whose immune system has been compromised?

When in doubt, stay out. Don't mean to be a party-pooper. But how else can you be sure?

Insist on safe practices. Thanks to Stacy's advocacy, the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH), has taken a closer look at the infection risks and potential hazards of above ground portable hot tubs and jacuzzi bathtubs commonly found in rental properties across the state.  Their warnings and recommendations are outlined in a new guideline posted on their website in October 2007 titled Guidelines for the Installation and Operation of Fill and Drain Spas and Hot Tubs.  You can use the guidelines in this document to personally vet a vacation rental home owner's maintenance practices.

Bottom line: The CCDEH has determined that most of the portable hot tubs commonly found in vacation homes are designed to be used by private families and their invited guests. Once an owner begins to offer their home as a vacation rental, they are required to upgrade these residential hot tubs to commercial grade, obtain a permit and follow the daily maintenance requirements and logs as outlined in the code. The guideline estimates as many as 1,000 owners are currently in violation of the code. 

If you have your own hot tub and this seems like a real pain, you're right. But remember, you KNOW exactly who you invite into your tub.You can't be sure what happened (how many people used the tub how many times) before you arrive at even the best vacation home. That's just the facts. 

For more information, you can contact directly at rnwithld@aol.com.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 07:52 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 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Always a humbling experience. My family's semi-annual get-together at a vacation rental home I chose was a disappointment. And if it had been my first experience renting a vacation home? It might also have been my last.

Here's (only part of) the laundry list. Most of the walls were scuffed up to waist-level. There were two TVs in our bedroom; neither worked. Two propane cans for the gas grill; both empty. The upstairs air-conditioning didn't work. No wireless Internet, as advertised.

I will say, the manager was very responsive, if a bit spacy.  But my technical-guru husband got the TVs working. And we all were determined to have a good time, so we did. The consensus among the rest of my laidback family is: the house was "fine". In fact, it was the worst we have visited in four years. Frankly, I spent too much of my precious vacation time dwelling on my mistake. Every time I walked the beach or drove along the coast, I kept wishing I could go back in time and chose another, better place for us.

And if it can happen to me, believe me -- it can happen to anybody.

I've visited dozens of vacation rental homes while researching my "Renting Paradise" series of e-guidebooks featuring firsthand, unbiased reviews of a select group of distinctive rentals. I even fancied that I had developed a "sixth sense" for homing in on the cream of a very large (and growing!) crop of vacation rental homes. Here's how I was fooled (so you'll be better prepared).

• Details  left out of description. Short and sweet can turn sour much faster than a long passionate treatise by a passionate owner. So take your time browsing listings and listen for heart. Some of the most interesting, dedicated, welcoming people I've ever met are vacation rental home owners. When they go on and on, it's generally not fluff, but pure love. And their greatest desire is for you to experience it too.

• Few--and/or deceiving--photos. The featured (un-captioned) photo in the listing for my recent misstep? Not taken from the house, but from the beach. Which was not a block away, as described. It is a block and a half to Highway 1. Once you reach the beach, you find it is not exactly pet-friendly. Threats of $270-plus fines are levied by park personnel! Walk-to access to a pet-friendly beach was one of the main considerations I expressed to the owner/manager. Yes, I was pissed. 

• Sloppy management. Walls scuffed. "Beautiful gardens" that are overgrown, weed-choked patches. Listed appliances missing. No propane...  You can't see this until you arrive. BUT, if you call and talk to the owner/manager you can glean a lot of information. As I've said, ours was responsive. But in all communications, she  kept saying she was "old" and "not technical". Clues. Big time.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 09:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

During a self-imposed (read:  money-making)“sabbatical” that has extended to several months, I’ve been watching and listening rather than posting. With a little distance, I find I’m more than a little confounded by how the vacation rental market is growing. Is it just me?

The consolidation—what I call the Hotels.com-izing—of the vacation rental industry lumbers awkwardly along. The monster site seems to get more ungainly with every smaller site it gobbles up, which strikes me as kind of sad. Because the defining feature of a vacation rental vs. a hotel or B&B is its uniqueness. No two vacation homes are alike! That’s a beautiful thing in this world of chain retailers and copycat brands. One uber-site may be more efficient, but is it the most effective way to promote the singular charm of your vacation home?

And why has the media stuck on the same old two-note praise of vacation homes for trips to Europe and for families? Can’t we all tell them new stories—direct from your own guest books—about vacation homes as perfect places to celebrate romantic milestones or quiet babymoons, to reconnect with old friends or even work through grief?

And why are we trampling on our brilliant prospects with negative sites like Vacation Rentals Watchdog.com without launching an equal number of positive sites? Certainly, bad experiences happen! But do they truly exceed the norm across all types of accommodations—or outweigh the good experiences?

I guess my point is, we’ve got something truly exceptional in this young industry. Let’s not let the dog (whether it be the big site or the media) wag us by just going along with the prescribed program. Let’s look for ways to celebrate the personal style—the heart—that distinguishes us from any of our competitors.

One very cool site called Slow Travel has gotten fabulous press for the way it embraces that lifestyle concept of “slow travel”. 

I launched my series of e-guidebooks called Renting Paradise to review vacation rentals I hand-picked for their unique charm. I separated these homes from the pack, not they are the best. But because each is exceptional on its own merits.

More owners are blogging. Bravo!

Let’s not be afraid to be individuals. Then maybe we can all figure out the best way to shine together.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Pristine beaches, magnificent landmarks, whitewater rivers. “Find Yourself Here” is the slogan of the California Travel & Tourism Commission. But use the state's official web site and/or guidebook to plan your trip and you may find yourself staying at a Howard Johnson motel, an RV park, a B&B....because you didn't know about all the cool vacation homes for rent. That's right, vacation rentals are not even included among the “Accommodation Options”! What’s up with that?

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

A large occupancy vacation rental home can be a great place to host special event:  a fiftieth anniversary party, a small wedding or a reunion, a corporate or creative retreat. Just a few things to keep in mind.

Ask first. Some owners have shared horror stories with me such as finding empty liquor bottles strewn around the property. For that reason, some owners simply don't allow parties of any kind. If you’re set on a blow-out bridal shower or big band reception, rent a hall.

Clarify the bottom line.  Weddings are allowed at the sprawling River Queen (occupancy 20). But plan to pay an additional rental charge of $1,600 plus an additional cleaning charge of $200. Here’s the official policy: “Guests are strictly limited to 100, including the wedding party and guests staying at the house. Parking is limited to 16 cars and additional guests must be transported by shuttle. All catering, delivery and pickup of rental items and flowers, arrangements for music, trash removal and the like must be coordinated through our event planner. Her fee will depend upon services provided and will be strictly between her and the renter. No live or loud music is permitted after 10 p.m.”

Stick to maximum occupany limits. Not only do vacation homes have noise and parking restrictions, many allow a limited number of extra “day guests”. But you may pay a fee for the privilege. This is for practical reasons (such as septic capacity). So, no slumber parties. If you exceed the maximum occupancy, you’ll pay a per person penalty ($100 per night, and that includes children) or agree to terminate your booking immediately. 

That said, some vacation rental management companies will help you coordinate rentals of homes next door or close by. Russian River Getaways has a handy list (scroll down to find it) of more than a dozen groupings of homes of various sizes within easy walking distance of each other. This arrangement gives your group maximum flexibility. Couples can have privacy; seniors or families with infants a place to retreat. The whole group can gather at a local park or beach.

Here are some more tips:

• Think low-key luxury. While you’re more on your own at a vacation rental home than at a full service resort, you’re not completely on your own. Many vacation rental management companies offer an ala carte list of concierge services and special occasion options. BeautifulPlaces.com will hire a top-drawer chef to prepare a multi-course sit-down dinner for 20 or set you up with a caterer who specializes in barbecue. Concierge services range from private wine-tastings and cooking classes to in-home spa treatments and hot air ballooning adventures. Other services include pre-stocking groceries, arranging limo rides from the airport, scheduling pet sitters -- pretty much you name it.   
  

• If children are in the equation, make sure amenities add up.  Make sure easily bored siblings or bonding cousins have plenty of safe places to let off steam. Some houses are kid palaces. River Queen has a canoe and kayaks, as well as a spacious “rec” room with a pool table and table tennis. There’s also a basketball hoop outside. Many large occupancy homes have river/beach access, a swimming pool, neighboring bike paths and state-of-the-art entertainment systems. Russian River Getaways and BeautifulPlaces can arrange for bonded childcare.

• Make sure you can get down to business. If you’re planning a business retreat, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a vacation rental home that doesn’t offer high-speed wireless Internet access, unlimited long distance and often a fax machine. Many large occupancy homes also have larger common areas (family rooms with stone fireplaces, sprawling decks and lawns) that are perfect for informal meetings.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 09:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The sticky part of finding the right vacation rental … or any type of accommodation … for a large group? Sleeping arrangements. How many beds are there? What sizes? Private or shared bathrooms? We all have our particular – sometimes peculiar – preferences when it comes to our space.

When my family rents a home, we don’t mind sharing a bathroom. And in the beach home we rented, my single brother happily slept on the futon which doubled as the sunroom couch during the day. At the other end of the spectrum, I’ve talked to sisters who love traveling together, but refuse to share a bathroom.

I can almost guarantee the configuration issue will make your search for a large occupancy rental home a challenge. Once you have a clear understanding of the preferences of each member of your group, you may need to do a little simple math.

1. Automatically round down maximum occupancy in the rental listing. Owners typically calculate maximum occupancy as every possible sleeping surface occupied -- including fold-out couches, daybeds and dual-purpose futons. I call it the “slumber party syndrome”. Few groups are going to fit that scenario, so don’t get your heart set on a place that clearly won’t work from the get-go. Read the fine print and think logistically.

The River Queen, a historic home on the banks of the Russian River, has seven bedrooms, five and a half baths and sleeps 20. Uh-huh. Who can do the math and show their work? I’m not saying this home wouldn’t be a perfectly viable option for some groups. But don't fall in love with the 47-foot-long deck of the Titanic-style sun porch before you figure out who’s taking the bunk beds.

Here’s another example. The maximum occupancy of Reflections in Russian River town of Guerneville is 11. The master suite has a king-sized bed with its own bathroom – that’s two people. The second bedroom has a queen-sized bed and separate bathroom – that’s four people. The living room has a queen sleeper. Ah. And which two people will sleep in the middle of the common living room to bring the main house occupany to six?

Moving out to the patio, one cottage has a queen-sized bed and separate shower (bringing the total to eight people). The other cottage has two bedrooms—one with twin beds and one with a daybed—that share a bathroom. One person is each bed brings the total to 11. Certainly a workable equation for a group of couples with some single friends or kids. But only you know whether this particular vacation rental provides the right configuration for your group of 11. 

2. Recognize that size DOES matter. Bed size, that is. (Call this the geometry portion of your math exercise.) I know more than a few couples who refuse to sleep in anything smaller than a king-sized bed, period. But it’s safe to assume that your gang of girlfriends would prefer twin – or at least separate – beds. See where I’m going with this?   

3. Resolve the bathroom conundrum. Some of the most charming homes I’ve visited don’t have a separate bathroom for every bedroom. Sometimes it’s just not architecturally feasible to build modern convenience into historic character! However, if “separate bathrooms” is the bottom line (so to speak) for your group, you will find homes that fit the requirements. Typically it’s easy to spot – the number of bathrooms is equal to the number of bedrooms. This information is listed prominently on each listing.

4. Fill in the common-ground variables. The beauty of renting a vacation home is that every member of your group can gather in a comfortable, private common area. But if the maximum occupancy seems stretched to its limit, you may find common area facilities don’t add up either. For example, the indoor dining room in Reflections (occupancy 11) seats eight. If you’re planning to serve Thanksgiving dinner to a full house, you’re going to cart along some TV trays or card tables.

Then again, maybe group dinners aren’t in your plan. In that case, Reflections offers plenty of room—between its main house and patio—for smaller groups to congregate casually. Again, just think it through ahead of time.    

Recommended resource: As you've no doubt guessed by now, I consider Russian River Getaways a good resource for large occupany homes (if you're planning a large gathering in the Russian River area of Northern California, of course). The management company features a dozen vacation rental homes with occupancies of 10-20. I’ve walked through about 10. Stylistically, they are a mixed bag. But Russian River Getaways listings are chock-full of really good photographs and there are detailed and relevant and you can expect the staff to be very helpful.

Again, many vacation rental listings are often written by owners, meaning some information that’s important to you may be left out. And some owners can be hard to reach or downright unresponsive. If you’re planning a gathering of particularly fussy people, I recommend listing everyone’s personal preferences down on paper and don’t reserve a home until every single one of your questions is answered to your (that is, everyone’s) satisfaction. Only then do you have a workable equation. 

Rather than try to cram a group of 10 or 20 into a block of peculiarly smelly (am I right?) hotel rooms, think mansion. Think private compound, even chateau. Because, those are just some of your choices when you choose to rent a vacation home instead.

Here's how to begin looking for a vacation home that will turn your reunion, retreat or celebration into a truly once-in-a-lifetime event.

Expert advice:  It's always easier to have someone else (hopefully knowledgeable and objective) do the leg work for you.

• Fine Living. An article in my latest issue of “Inside Fine Living,” (e-mailed by the Fine Living TV Network) proves my point.  It highlights half a dozen “family-friendly" vacation rental homes featured on the FineLiving Channel’s, “Around the World in 80 Homes”. These homes have occupancies ranging from 8 to 14 and represent a limited -- though interesting -- spectrum of styles, from a Victorian-style house with wraparound decks and porches on the Jersey Shore to a log cabin 30 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. (The 17,000 sq. ft. Cabo San Lucas villa that sleeps 19 at the top of the article is no longer available.)

• The Travel Channel. Samantha Brown of the Travel Channel also showcases some distinctive rentals. (But note: not all are large occupancy rentals).

• Renting Paradise. And while the vacation rentals reviewed in my own e-guidebook series, Renting Paradise, covers a range of occupancies, I can recommend Tzabaco Lodge (Renting Paradise: Sonoma County). This rambling hilltop estate has three romantic suites circling a patio with a pool, waterfall and sweeping views of the Alexander Valley wine country, plus two downstairs rooms. One is made for kids – with twin beds and a ladder to a ladder to a small loft with a trapdoor. Kid heaven. Plus a 900-square foot great room.     

Regional Focus. Obviously, I can't make a comprehensive recommendation of regional sites here.(See "Tips for Re-searching" below.) However, while in Sonoma County on a recent research trip, I did poke my head into about a dozen or so large occupancy homes along the Russian River. Here are some sure bets.

• Reflections looked like a smallish cottage from the driveway. But stepping through the main house to the back patio, I found two additional cottages set around a small in-ground pool and spa. In a third "cottage," I found a complete office set-up with high-speed Internet access, making this a perfect spot for small retreats. This is one of the sweetest set-ups I’ve seen. A B&B feel with lots of room for gathering, yet plenty of privacy. The outdoor kitchen has a gas grill and there’s a large outdoor dining area.  The indoor kitchen is no slouch either. And one cottage has its own kitchenette. Total occupancy: 11 people, plus the family dogs if you want to bring ‘em. Most rooms tend toward the romantic. (One cottage has a wood-burning firpelace!). However, one cottage has two bedrooms—one with twins and one with a single daybed. (More about bedroom configuration in Part 2.).
  

• Artisan House and Sundancing River Lodge equal Reflections in style. Others, like Grandma’s House is in a noisy neighborhood and has more of a frat house-feel to me.
  

• Beachhouse.com lists a number rambling beach homes. Searcgh by clicking first on "Vacation Rentals" (left) and then on the up or down arrow to the right of "Sleeps" under Sort Criteria.
  
• Simply Chateau. If you’re planning a special occasion in Europe -- known for its wealth of “self-catering” homes, apartments and villas -- take a gander at this site. Nothing "simple" about these digs. The site represents the widest selection of self-catered chateaux available anywhere, covering the whole of France. It’s easy to search by region and group size of your group. If you group is not so big, you may be able to rent a self-contained private wing or smaller apartments within a chateau.

Quantity Worldwide:  If you've had no luck with any of the above resources, VRBO should be the answer. (Scroll down to the Large Occupancy listings -- ranging from 14 to 30+) on the home page.) I found numerous "villas," "country homes," "estates," "mansions," (large, I assume) "cottages," "chalets," "bunkhouses"—you name it. If you have the time, dive in and enjoy the tour. But remember, the descriptions are penned by the owners. One man’s “castle” may be another’s much less sexy home. The questions you need to ask are coming up in future posts. 

Tips for re-searching. If you don’t find what you’re looking for using these resources, I’d do a search using “large occupancy vacation rentals” + the name(s) of city, state and/or region you want to visit  + the type of accommodation you prefer as your search criteria. What turns up is liable to be a mixed bag, leaving you with a lengthy search and sort process.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 06:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The weekend after our wedding my husband and I gathered our families and closest friends together for a lovely weekend in Pacific Grove, near Carmel. By planning a year in advance, we got everybody reservations at a 22-room bed & breakfast inn.  It was lovely. But if I had a do-over, I’d definitely rent a “large occupancy” vacation home.

First of all, it would have been cheaper. I estimated that the nightly total for our 11 rooms was $1,540. Scouting around on VRBO, I found an entire ranch renting for $1,335. An entire ranch!

Large occupancy rentals come in all shapes and sizes—from majestic villas to dressed-up frat houses. Some, like the ranch I found, are a cluster of private houses or cabins.

Large occupancy homes can be ideal places for easily-bored kids. Some have pools, trampolines, well stocked game rooms, and even river access with kayaks. I’ll tell you where you’re apt to find the real gems.

But, of course, every opportunity brings its own pitfalls. Renting a large occupancy home requires a sharper eye and extra attention to detail.

For one thing, there’s the issue of actual occupancy. You’ll notice in some listings that the ratio of bedrooms to people doesn’t seem to match up. “Six bedrooms, sleeps 30” is a pretty clear indication you’re looking at a bunkhouse. Which may be your dream weekend if you're a  20-something snowboarder. Anything-but for a gathering of multiple generations.

Something else to consider: configuration. Your guests may be friendly—even close family—but that doesn’t mean they’re anxious to snuggle up together in a queen-sized bed. So you can’t always take the total number guests and divide by two. More to come on that.

There’s a lot to consider, but it’s so worth the process. In fact, it would be my delight to help you sort it all out.

Stay tuned for upcoming posts – starting with RENTING LARGE OCCUPANY VACATION HOMES: PART 1-- for caveats, good questions to ask upfront and some of my own personal vacation rental recommendations.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 06:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

…“Send your camel to bed…”  If you adore out-of-the-ordinary accommodations as much as I do, take the Concierge tour of luxury tents and tree houses in exotic places such as Kenya, Mongolia, Tunisia and Dubai. Oh, and Santa Barbara, California, too.

Because it’s my job to point out sweet spots in Northern California that somehow miss the big lists, I’m adding Safari West in Sonoma County.   I reviewed my stay in the game keeper’s cabin for Renting Paradise: Sonoma County.

But check out the luxury tents (plush beds, polished floor, private bathrooms with hot showers) scattered across the grounds of this sprawling wildlife conservation park. It’s not a zoo or a drive-through park. It’s a wildlife preserve where the whole family can experience some of nature's most beautiful animals in a natural habitat.

Feed the giraffes on the way to breakfast. Fall asleep to the cries of lemurs. Take an authentic safari tour of the “back 400” acres, where you’ll see hundreds more exotic breeds—gazelles, ostriches, zebras, water buffalos—roaming free. 

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 04:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Like fitness, renting a vacation home is a choice you make. One that has the potential to transform your vacation from a visit to a much deeper experience.  

One site that’s been getting a lot of buzz these days promotes a lifestyle concept I love called “slow travel”.

I've never understood the 14 cities in 10 days concept. The site’s founder and webmaster Pauline Kenny recommends renters apply a “Concentric Circles" plan to day-tripping. “Think of your touring area as a series of concentric circles around your base,” she says. The first circle includes everything within a 30-minute radius of your home. The second, an hour, and so on. “See what is close to you instead of dashing about on long day trips to see the ‘highlights’ or ‘must-sees,’" Kenny says.

Kenny has authored a dozen more really helpful articles to guide renters in choosing and booking vacation rentals, planning your trip and what to bring with you when you rent.    

Slow Travel is primarily focused on Europe -- where renting a villa or self-catering cottage has been a tradition for generations. But, hello? The concept applies just as well here in the U.S., even for weekend trips to places like San Francisco and Sonoma County.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 03:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The emphasis of the flood of “summer family getaway” articles seems to be the “where in the world” and the “what to do”. But what if you’re not the typical family?

1. Our extended family (Mom and Dad who are retired in Arizona, my brother from Denver, and me, my husband and our two dogs living outside of Sacramento) get together at a different rental home every other year. The set-up is perfect for just spending time together in a beautiful setting. So far we’ve spent weeks in the forest above Lake Tahoe, on the beach in Sonoma County and facing the gorgeous red rocks in Sedona, Arizona.

2. I loved them all, but I have to say the memory etched most deeply in my heart is of walking the beach each morning (we had private stairs from the house in Sonoma!) and watching our two suburban dogs discover a whole new world. Few pet-friendly hotels offer this freedom. 

3. My friend celebrated her fiftieth birthday by gathering her Mom, sisters and three of her closest friends for a long weekend in a rented a house with a pool. Some of the best times, she says, were spent preparing dinner in the kitchen! They gabbed over margaritas as each concocted her own specialty. 

4. I’ve read a number of profoundly touching entries written by guests who appreciated the privacy and quiet, natural surroundings of a particular vacation rental to heal after the death of a loved one. 

5. And how about living vicariously? Renting a vacation home in a city besieged by tourists -- like San Francisco -- lets you step out of that madness and blend into a neighborhood. I guarantee living in a Victorian cottage or Nob Hill flat will change everything about how you experience this great city. (If you’re contemplating a move or lifestyle change, this can be a great way to try it out.)

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 02:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you’ve had great experiences renting vacation homes—and especially if you’ve been swept into the welcoming (usually figurative) embrace of a particularly passionate owner—a funny thing might start happening. You might start imagining yourself doing the vacation rental thing yourself. And why not, ask Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner?

If you own or are thinking of buying a vacation rental property, the Glossbrenners will show you how to pay your mortgage and make money by renting it yourself. Their 300-page book/CD “seminar-in-a-box”— called How To Make Your Vacation Property Work For You! The Quick & Easy Guide to Advertising, Renting, Managing, and Making Money from your Second Home”— is based on what the couple learned from a decade renting a two-story Williamsburg-style cottage on their property in Bucks County, PA. Today their second home is routinely fully booked as much as six months in advance.

The book is engaging (the Glossbrenners are successful authors with over 60 books to their credit)  and full of practical wisdom, step-by-step instructions and clear examples that will guide you in maximizing the Internet to promote and rent your dream vacation or retirement home (finding the right listing sites, boosting your search engine ranking etc.)  

HERE'S WHAT I ESPECIALLY LOVE:  Guidelines for writing a property description! “Write from the Heart!” These smart-cookie marketers advocate infusing rental descriptions with “personality.” (Because, aren’t we all tired of the hype?)  They talk about “painting a picture” for rental prospects… going into detail about what you (the owner) personally love about the property such as distinctive architectural details or an interesting history … weaving in off-the-beaten-path secret places you’ve discovered. That’s music to a prospective vacation renter’s ears. AND they devote a whole section to “Enhancing Your Listing With Great Photos”. Hallelujah!

The Glossbrenners also include a CD containing a collection of personally-selected Windows programs to help you manage and market your vacation rental property—in what is becoming a highly competitive market niche—in your spare time.

Check out the 30-day Money-Back Guarantee. But also check out the Glossbrenners’ promise: “Regardless of your rental rate, and regardless of season, if you get just one extra booking as a result of what we have to teach you, this vacation rental owner’s training package will have paid for itself many times over. And it will continue to do so year after year from now on.”

Psssst:  You save $40 buying it direct from the Glossbrenners (instead of on Amazon). Check with your accountant: you may be able to write the whole thing off as a business expense.  

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm embarrassed. And deeply disappointed. Embarrassed because, when I finally read Frances Mayes' "A Year in World" after recommending it, it was nothing like what I expected. I'm disappointed because I was misled by Mayes' own comments in a newspaper review.

Here's what I said in my second post on this blog:

"She (Mayes, author of the wildly successful "Under the Tuscan Sun") and her husband choose to rent, of course, so they can really immerse themselves in the local culture... 

Mayes and her husband tried to stay in each country for at least a month. Renting made the difference, “because the minute you’re in your own place, you start relating to your surrounding in an entirely different way then if you‘re in a hotel,” said in a Sacramento Bee article last month."

Here's what actually happened. Nearly every time Mayes arrived at a rental, she was disappointed. Many times she didn't even bother to unpack, hightailing it to a nearby hotel no matter the lost rental fee. One time, she admitted to renting without viewing photographs. (Her fault.)

But there were other times when, she says, she was misled by owners or agents who had never viewed the place firsthand! "Who rents a vacation home on a highway?" she laments, after stepping into an otherwise grand country home in the Cotswolds. "Mental note," she writes, bound for a nearby hotel. "Agent must have physically visited property."

Amen to that, Ms. Mayes. It's just too bad that you (the Oprah of travel) may have indelibly imprinted your own bad experiences on impressionable travelers following in your footsteps. The key message here is do you homework! Firsthand, objective experience is absolutely crucial.

Exactly why I started my series of e-guidebooks called Renting Paradise. Blatant self-promotion aside, prospective renters need a resource for independent, unbiased, firsthand commentary.  Believe me, owners -- unless they have something to hide -- are all for it.

Slow Travel has an excellent TripAdvisor-like message board specifically focused on European vacation rentals. But there are precious few unbiased resources for prospective renters in the U.S., because renting vacation homes is just catching on here in America. Where they exist, use them! Where they don't, don't take anything for granted.

My advice:

1. Look for lots of photos

2. Read descriptions very carefully

3. Ask LOTS of questions before you reserve.          

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 07:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We dog-people are a special breed. So stuck on our four-legged friends that we want to take them on vacation with us -- leashes, dishes, slobbery toys and all. It tickles me that the number of web sites focused on finding "room at the inn" for dogs and their people is growing.   

In fact, I'm astounded that when I apologized in advance to one vacation rental owner with a particularly lovely home that we planned to vacation with bring THREE dogs, she scoffed "I've never had any trouble with pet-owners. It's kids I worry about."

ANYway: The latest dog-friendly I like is PetVR.com. It features more than 5,400 pet-friendly vacation rentals (homes, cabins, condos and B&Bs, by their definition).

I initially checked out the site when I was searching for a destination for our upcoming family vacation. I was looking for a dog-friendly beach on the California coast. Voila! PetVR provides a link to pet-friendly beaches by state And lo, there are plenty in California. However, I must admit they do not list the beach I finally picked in Morro Bay. And, er, I did ultimately select a home from another site.

But! That that in no way diminishes what PetVR has to offer. I appreciate the reach (selections encompass all 50 states and 24 other countries ... you'll find many more options than you will on some vacation rental site that hyave been around for years!). And I lap up the site's authentically goofy spirit. Their "Top Ten" lists include the "Ten Gassiest Dogs."  (Honestly? We have a little problem in that area with our Terrier-Corgi mix. I was afraid to check.)

Resources include a handy list of things you might not think to pack. In fact, the site is compiled for and by pet owners -- a singularly gregarious group. So click in whether you're traveling by car or internationally.

"More than 67% of pet owners travel with their pets," Dow Scoggins, president and creator of PetVR.com, said. "And, according to surveys, nearly 40% more would travel with their

pets if they found it easier to do so." (Okay, even a math-idiot like me knows that adds up to more than 100%. But, hey, I'm a dog-lover -- which means over-the-top already.)

And I'm not as over-the-top as it gets! My "kids" sleep in their own beds when they travel. But if your pet is more "discriminating" than mine, check out the Restful Paws Bed & Breakfast in Massachusetts (complete with indoor, bone-shaped dog pool) or The Paw House (where dog portraits and Doggie Mystery Weekends are available).

My advice? IF YOU LOVE YOUR PETS ENOUGH TO TAKE THEM ON VACATION?  YA GOT NOTHIN' TO  LOSE BY CHECKING OUT PETVR.COM. Go fetch!

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you're dipping a toe in the vacation rental waters for the first time, you may worry about sending 500 or more of your hard-earned bucks to "Joe-owner" as a deposit for a home you've selected solely on the basis of a brief description and a few photos on an Internet web site.