Travelling and Photography

February 9, 2010

Your Kailua Vacation Rental Options

Filed under: Vacation Rentals — Tags: , , , — arkan @ 4:28 pm

Are you interested in booking a stay at a vacation rental for your next Kailua, Hawaii vacation? If you are, you will soon find that you have a number of different options. A few of your options, as well as situations that they may be best for, are outlined below.

One of the many options that you have, when staying in Kailua, is booking a stay at a vacation home. Kailua vacation homes are popular among tourists. One of the many reasons why they are popular is because many are private and they have home-like feels. You will also find that vacation homes are often full of great and much needed features, including washers and dryers, dishwashers, cable television, internet access, and so forth. If you carefully choose your Kailua vacation home, you may gain access to a swimming pool or a garden patio area.

Kailua home rentals are ideal for all vacationers, especially those who enjoy having privacy and a home-like feel. With that in mind, some Hawaii tourists can benefit from vacation home rentals more than others. For instance, if you are looking to take a romantic getaway or a honeymoon, you may enjoy the privacy of a vacation home rental. If you are traveling with your family or a large group of friends, you may enjoy the large space that accompanies most home rentals.

Another one of your options, when looking to take a Kailua vacation, is renting a condo. When renting a Kailua condo, you are provided with a certain level of privacy, but not as much privacy as provided with a vacation home rental. For example, you will be able to rent your own living space, but there will be other residents or tenants in your condo complex.

As with vacation home rentals, Kailua condos are ideal for all vacationers, but they are ideal for those traveling in small groups. Although vacation condo rentals do come in a number of sizes, you will find that they typically have one or two bedrooms. Perhaps, the only downside to renting a Kailua condo is that they are difficult to come by. If you are able to find an available Kailua condo that you like, you are urged to make your reservations right away.

You also have the option of booking a stay at a Kailua villa, when taking a Kailua vacation. What is nice about villa rentals is that they are luxurious and elegant in nature. Generally speaking, a villa rental is a step up from a vacation home rental. Although there will be some variances, Kailua villas are often large in size, somewhat secluded, and are often stocked full of great features, such as swimming pools and hot tubs.

As with all other Kailua vacation home rentals, Kailua villas are ideal and available for anyone who wants to rent them. With that in mind, the elegance and luxury of them makes them perfect for romantic getaways and honeymoons. Since most villas are large in size, you may also find villa rentals perfect for large group trips, such as a surfing trip with friends.

Although not as popular as Kailua vacation homes, condos, and villas, you will also find Kailua apartment rentals available for booking. These rentals are traditional apartments. In fact, if not rented for vacation purposes, these rentals would likely be filled with local tenants. One of the few downsides to renting a Kailua vacation apartment is the privacy. While you will still have your own private rental, you may hear your neighbors coming and going.

Due to typically being small in size, Kailua vacation apartment rentals are ideal for those who are on romantic getaways or honeymoons. Speaking of small sizes, you will find that size has an impact on cost. Vacation apartment rentals are one of the most cost effective ways to vacation in Kailua. If you are on a budget or just looking to limit your vacation expenses, a Kailua apartment rental may be worth looking into.

As outlined above, you have a number of different options when looking to find a Kailua vacation rental to stay at. If you are still unsure as to which type of vacation rental is best for you and your needs, you may want to take the time to examine all of your options. This is nice and easy to do with websites, such as HawaiianBeachRentals.com.

HawaiianBeachRentals.com specializes in pairing vacationers, like you, with vacation rentals in Hawaii. Visit their website to examine Kailua vacation rentals.

October 23, 2009

Vacation Rentals – 21st Century Family Vacations

Filed under: Vacation Rentals — Tags: , , , , , — arkan @ 2:18 am

It seems as if Vacation Rentals are becoming more and more popular. With the rise of the world wide web, you are able to communicate with a vacation rental owner anywhere in the world. Years ago your only option was to visit your local travel agent and book a hotel. There were no vacation rental directories or portals in the past. Now you can surf the web for the perfect vacation rental house. No need for a travel agent as you usually negotiate directly with the owner of the property. Since vacation rentals are slowly becoming the preferred method of booking a vacation, I decided to create an article to give renters some tips about finding the perfect vacation rental.

First, let’s define what we are talking about when we say vacation rental. We call it a vacation rental when a renter rents a property directly from the owner (or representative of the owner). The property usually has it’s own kitchen, living room, bedrooms, etc. They come in many shapes and sizes including condos, single family homes, townhouses, cabins, chalets, and more. Vacation rentals are usually near resort locations and activities such as theme parks, beaches, and skiing. A hotel or motel room is not a vacation rental!

What makes vacation rentals different from hotels? The comfort is the main difference. You have all of the same luxuries that you have at home. Most vacation rentals have kitchens and most of the other amenities that you have at home, plus many have additional amenities such as hot tubs, pool tables, etc. With larger groups there is definitely a cost advantage. A 3-bedroom vacation rental usually hosts more visitors than 3 hotel rooms. Make sure to keep this in mind if you do any cost analysis. Also make sure to include meal savings in your analysis since you may not dine out as often in comparison to a hotel vacation. These items alone could be substantial savings.

Imagine this scenario: Yourself and two other families pay a visit to a popular tourist destination. Your touring of the destination is complete for the day at about 3 pm. From 4pm – 6pm you dine together. It’s now 6pm with still some time remaining in the day. If you have a hotel, what do you plan to do? You can waste all of your money at numerous tourist traps (activities such as spending $3, to try to throw a ball into a bucket or $2 to throw a plastic ring around a bottle). With a vacation rental there is no need for that stuff! You can have family game night sitting in a nice comfortable home or take advatage of all the other amenities your rental has to offer. This is why it is important to learn about the amenities of the rental before you enter into a contract. As stated earlier some have hot tubs, pool tables, movies and many other activities.

Tips for Renters:

1. Bookmark as many “vacation Rental” websites as possible. This way when you are searching for a rental, you have all of the portal sites at your fingertips.

2. Always make sure to find out what items are provided and what is not provided by the owner. For example, in some rentals you may need to supply your own linens. It would be unfortunate to show up with no towels/sheets, etc.

3. Always book early. Many of the popular destinations get filled quickly.

4. Check for references if possible. The exception to this rule is if the owner is just starting out.

5. If you enjoyed your trip, try to negotiate a better price for next year. The owner would probably love to start filling his/her calendar for next year.

6. Make sure you have the owner’s contact information with you while on the trip. If there is an emergency, you may need to call.

7. Read the fine print and make sure to read all fine print on any leases or documentation that you are asked to sign. Also, read any fine print on the vacation rental web listing.

8. If you’re trying to save some money, scroll to the bottom of the list. Many vacation rental portal sites have hundreds of listings. Many times, the listings at the bottom of the list are just as good as those at the beginning. The listings at the bottom don’t get as many page views so you may find some better prices and some owner’s looking to fill a quick vacancy.

9. Make sure you ask any questions you may have before making a reservation. Questions about the amenities, pets, smoking/non smoking, handy capped accessibility, and cribs for children are some questions that come to mind.

10. Lastly, have fun on your vacation and please respect the owner’s property and follow all of his/her rules and regulations. Please remember this is someone’s personal property that you are renting.


About the author:

The author is in the business of assisting vacation rental owners in promoting their rental properties. He designed and owns the following vacation rental websites: Jersey Shore Rentals, Beach House Rentals, and Destin Vacation Rentals.

Author is in the business of promoting vacation home rentals.

July 20, 2009

How to Create a Thorough Vacation Rental Agreement

Filed under: Vacation Rentals — Tags: , , , , — arkan @ 7:38 am

It’s important to create a rental agreement for your vacation rental business so that you can get everything in writing from your guests.  You should clearly outline the expectation for you and for your renters so there are no disputes down the road. 

Below are 10 must-haves for your vacation rental contract:

1. Maximum Occupancy and Age Requirements. When going through the screening process for your vacation rental guests, you should be able to determine a rough estimate for their age and how many people will be staying in your vacation property. However, your vacation rental agreement should remind renters of your rules for required parental supervision of designated age groups, along with the maximum occupancy of your home in case they are considering bringing any extra guests.

2. Check-in and Checkout Dates & Times. To coordinate your cleaning and housekeeping duties, you’ll need to clearly communicate the check-in and checkout dates and times.  In the event of early arrival, the house might not be clean and could result in complaints. If your guests stay too late, your housekeeper might not have time to sufficiently clean your vacation home before the next group arrives. Your renters should be made aware of these important times, and your vacation rental lease should state the penalties if these times are not observed.

3. Cancellation policy.  Your vacation rental contract should spell out the penalties according to the time frame in the event that a renter needs to cancel his or her reservation.  As the date of the reservation nears, it will be increasingly more difficult to fill those dates with other renters. Therefore, the penalties should be higher as the date approaches.

4. Total payment due. You can not rely on your renters to write down prices from your vacation rental listing or during a phone conversation. The total rental rate, including all fees and taxes, should be included in your vacation rental contract.

5. Payment schedule.  Just because the renters know the cost of your property does not mean they know your deadlines.  Your vacation rental contract should provide a timeline for payment due dates, including deposits.

6. Pet Policy & Smoking Policy. It is up to you to let renters know about restrictions regarding pets or smoking at your vacation property. Just because a renter says that he doesn’t plan to bring a pet, you should still spell out your rules in your vacation rental agreement in case he changes his mind. Also, it cannot be assumed that people will be simply know to not smoke in your home. Your vacation rental lease should define the penalties if it is determined that a renter has smoked inside your vacation rental.

7. Checkout Policy. As soon as your renters arrive at your vacation home you should tell them what is expected at the time of checkout. Let them know in your vacation rental contract whether they need to wash sheets, take out trash, etc., so there is no confusion on the day of checkout.

8.  Weather policies. Vacation rental owners should use their vacation rental agreement as a form of protection in the event of inclement weather or Acts of God. Spell out your storm and hurricane policy up front to avoid disagreements about refunds later on.

9. Requirements for security deposit refund. When renters pay the security deposit for your vacation rental, they should be aware of what is covered and what is expected of them in order to receive a full refund. Your vacation rental agreement should also explain the penalties for violating these rules.

10. Your contact information. Although it seems obvious, your vacation rental contract should include all of your contact information and emergency contact information, including the address of the vacation rental home.

Your vacation rental agreement should be as specific as possible and include detailed information to protect yourself and your renters.

Leah Carroll is the Assistant Editor of the HomeAway.com Owner Community, a comprehensive resource for vacation rental owners. The site includes educational articles, vacation rental news, owner polls, monthly newsletters, sample forms and checklists, webinars, and a weekly internet radio show by bestselling author, Christine Karpinski. Or if you’re looking for a vacation home to rent, browse Vacation Rentals on HomeAway.com

5 Tips To Help You Find The Hawaiian Vacation Rental Of Your Dreams

Filed under: Vacation Rentals — Tags: , , , , , , , — arkan @ 7:37 am

Are you in the process of planning a trip to Hawaii? If you are, you may be interested in booking a stay at a Hawaii vacation rental. While you will find some variances, Hawaiian vacation rentals are known for their beauty and their privacy, especially when compared to traditional hotels and vacation resorts. Those are just a few of the many reasons why vacation rentals in Hawaii are increasing in popularity.

As you likely already know, you will have a number of different options when it comes to making reservations for a vacation rental in Hawaii. The phrase “vacation rentals,” is often used to describe a number of establishments, including vacation homes, vacation apartment rentals, vacation villas, vacation cottages, as well as vacation condos. As nice as it is to have a number of different options, in terms of booking a stay at a Hawaii vacation rental, your options may seem overwhelming. To assist you, five tips that can help you, easily find, the vacation rental of your dreams for your next Hawaii trip are outlined below.

1 – Know What You Want

Knowing what you want is one of the best ways to find the perfect vacation rental in Hawaii. In fact, knowing what you want is the best way to have a great vacation in general.

When examining your vacation wants, it is important to examine the purpose of your vacation. For example, if you are taking a Hawaii trip with your family, you may want affordability and convenience. On the other hand, if your Hawaii trip has romantic purposes, you may be looking more for beauty, elegance, and privacy.

2 – Research All of Your Vacation Rental Options

As previously stated, the phrase “vacation rentals,” describes a number of different establishments. In Hawaii, you will find vacation homes, condos, villas, cottages, and apartment rentals available for the taking. It may be a good idea to examine all of your options.

What is nice about researching and examining all of your options is that it is easy to do with the internet. A number of online travel websites, especially those that deal specifically with Hawaii trips, allow you to quickly find a large number of vacation rentals. You can examine pictures and other information to see if you should stay at a Hawaii vacation home, Hawaii vacation condo, villas, cottage, or apartment rental.

3 – Research Some More

In addition to researching each type of Hawaii vacation rental you come across, like vacation homes and vacation villas, it is extremely important that you thoroughly research and examine your final choices. For example, although many vacation home rentals are similar in nature, they are different in a number of ways. That is why it is important that you examine all Hawaii vacation rental listings to see if the rental in question is the perfect match for you. Pay close attention to size, rental costs, additional fees, features and amenities, and any rules or restrictions that may be imposed.

4 – Examine Nearby Activities

Unfortunately, many individuals believe that the most important part of choosing a Hawaii vacation rental is choosing the rental that is the perfect size or price for them. While these are all important factors that should be taken into consideration, you will also want to examine nearby Hawaii attractions and activities. For example, if you are interested in spending your Hawaii trip surfing, boating, or swimming, a beachfront or beach view rental may be your best option and so forth.

5 – Make Your Reservations Early

As soon as you find a Hawaii vacation rental that you would like to book a reservation for, it is important that you do so right away. As previously stated, Hawaii vacation rentals are a popular choice among tourists. If you do not act fast, you may later find that your first choice Hawaii vacation rental is already booked for your intended travel dates.

The above mentioned tips are just a few of the many that can help you find, choose, and book the Hawaii vacation rental of your dreams. While you may not necessarily think about it at the time, your overnight accommodations can have a significant impact on the success of your next Hawaii trip.

Hawaiian Beach Rentals specializes in connecting vacationers with vacation rentals in Hawaii. To book your next Hawaii vacation rental, visit their website today.

May 30, 2009

Vacation Rentals – Undiscovered Travel Retreats

Filed under: Vacation Rentals — Tags: , , , , — arkan @ 7:39 am

Vacation time may be several months away, and you may be starting to think about where and what might be the perfect vacation this year – the beach, golf resort, SCUBA diving, skiing, maybe just sight seeing? And you think about places you have been – and the problems you have had. You cannot forget the time you went on vacation and discovered that the rooms that were really too small, or the room service was bad. There was also the time that the people in the next unit were loud and obnoxious, and the primary reason you had taken a vacation was to find peace and quiet. If only you could have the comforts of your home magically transported to your fantasy destination, then you could have had the perfect vacation.

Well, your dream arrangement is (almost) possible – you just have to look at vacation rental of a home, condo or cabin instead of hotels, motels and resorts. If you’ve never tried a vacation rental, there is a whole world of opportunities out there, just waiting for you to discover them.

Lots of people have vacation homes or condos that they use only part of the year. Many of these people rent out their places when they know they aren’t going to be there to use it themselves. The process is a little different than pulling up in front of a Best Western or Holiday Inn, but the principle is the same – you get to use a room or set of rooms where you are able to reside, for the length of your vacation.

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