If you've ever considered a family vacation rental, this is the year to go for it. With fewer travelers and an abundance of inventory at greatly reduced rates (often 20 to 60 percent off), you'll find last-minute bargains on houses of all sizes that offer a wide range of amenities, and all for a lower per-person cost than you'd spend on hotel rooms and restaurant meals. So, connect with family, live like a local, and save money this summer.
"In terms of Italy, this summer there are extraordinary bargains to be had," says Mara Solomon of Homebase Abroad. "Families are still traveling," says Solomon, "but they are being more thoughtful and are waiting longer to book. They are asking sensible questions about what they'll get for their money: What extra services will be included? Will there be cooks, continental breakfasts, or housekeepers?"
And deals are abundant from coast to coast in the U.S. as well. "We're seeing discounts on almost all of our listings this summer", says Bob Barnes, CEO of Zonder, "and properties in popular vacation spots like Destin, Florida, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, are listed up to 20 percent less than last year."
TJ Mahony, CEO of FlipKey.com says, "The largest discounts are in off-season areas like the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Tahoe, California, and Aspen, Colorado." But he adds, "You'll still find deals at the beach during nonholiday weeks. Always make a phone call and ask the homeowner or manager about amenities they are willing to offer. By checking guest reviews, you can learn about past deals and know what to ask for this summer."
Advance Work
Learn the lingo before you embark on your rental search. In the Caribbean, Mexico, and Italy, rental properties are generally called villas, while in the U.K., they are often listed as cottages or farmhouses. In the U.S., you'll generally find listings for private homes, apartments, or condominiums. The word villa doesn't always mean "grand," so do your homework through agencies, rental-by-owner websites, and references from past renters. A "self-catering vacation" loosely translates to "do it yourself" and allows you to explore local markets and prepare meals for your house. A more fully-staffed villa often includes a cook— who does the grocery shopping—in your package.
Best Bets Now
There are bargains to be had from the South of France to Snowmass Village, Colorado, this summer. Consider an off-peak visit to the Caribbean (Wimco.com) where the temperature is a steady 80-plus degrees (hurricane season is typically most active mid-August through October), and a villa can be had for 25 to 50 percent below peak winter-holiday rates.
If you're looking at Europe, there are fantastic deals on Italian villas in Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, and Umbria through Homebase Abroad as well as in France, Greece, Spain, and Croatia through Sanctuary Retreats (Cookie readers get 10 percent off on Villa bookings received by July 31, 2009; mention Cookie magazine. Scott Dunn specializes in chalets and villas for families around the globe. To save even more this summer, consider a house swap through such sites as HomeExchange.com and Intervac.com where, for a nominal membership fee, you can get a great, centrally located property, often with a car included.
Where you'll find more deep discounts ...
U.S.: Orlando, Florida.; Naples, Florida; Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; Bald Head Island, North Carolina; Aspen, Colorado; East Hampton, New York; Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts; the Jersey Shore, New Jersey; Kennebunkport, Maine; Michigan's Upper Peninsula (Houghton, St. Ignace); Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee; Maui, Hawaii; Lake Tahoe, California
Abroad: Harbour Island, Bahamas; Algarve, Portugal; Costa Rica; Virgin Gorda, BVI; Barbados, Dominican Republic; Bahia, Brazil; Punta del Este, Uruguay; Corfu, Greece; Cape Town, South Africa
Using an Agency
There are numerous benefits to using an established agency that can sift through large amounts of rental inventory and give you peace of mind throughout the process. Most will match your family's needs and interests (say, playgrounds by day, followed by wine tastings at night) to a lovely house that is well maintained, and they'll share "insider" knowledge about a particular area. An agency will also deal with issues (no fixing burst pipes or pool cleaning for you!) and refunds, should you be dissatisfied with your digs. In addition, agents can prestock your house with groceries, diapers, and find you a reputable babysitter or housekeeper. This is a "higher touch," higher-cost approach, but after you factor in this summer's sale prices and all of the "extras" you'll get, you can still stay within your budget.
Going It Alone
Renting directly from an owner or property manager is generally more cost-effective, and sites such as Vacation Rentals by Owner, HomeAway, VacationRentals, and Zonder are good places to start your search. In addition, VacationRoost offers over 100,000 properties that are all professionally managed, and Rentalo gives a "worry-free lodging guarantee" for $5,000 of payment protection. Since you won't have the safety net of an agency behind you, you'll need to get a solid rental agreement in place before you send any deposits. Book with a credit card whenever possible, and consult TripAdvisor and local brokerage sites for additional reviews and pictures.
Ask Questions
In either case, you'll need to ask many questions about the house and its surroundings. Are there steep steps, ungated swimming pools, or noisy neighbors? How far is it from town or the airport? Request references from people who've used a particular agency or stayed in a property, and above all, ask for deals and discounts this summer, as you'll very likely get them. If you don't want a full week, inquire about that, too. With inventory sitting, and the Fourth of July approaching, you will find that owners are becoming flexible fast.
Buy Insurance
When you've got small kids, it's possible that something will go wrong before your scheduled departure. In the event of unforeseen natural disasters or bouts of flu, you'll want trip-cancellation insurance to help recoup your money (it costs between 4 and 8 percent of the total trip cost). Both CSA Travel Protection and InsureMyTrip.com offer competitive rates and package policies that can save a substantial portion of your payment. If you're renting directly from an owner, you might also want to consider insurance from Travel Guard that will protect you in the event of a foreclosure.
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