Beach Vacation Rental Scout's Blog

Jul 30, Social Media Tips: How to Expand Your Search Through Your Network of Friends

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:26:46 GMT

Social Media Tips: How to expand your search through your online network of friends

Apr 6, Beach Safety Tips

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:49:48 GMT

Beach Safety Tips: 10 ways to stay a healthy and accident-free at the beach.

Mar 27, Bodega Bay California Waterfont Apartments Near Superb California State Beaches

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 23:21:38 GMT

These two Bodega Bay California waterfront apartments are close to championship golf, some of the best whale watching in California and award-winning Northern California wineries

Mar 23, The Monterey Bay Rentals Experts: Monterey Bay Property Management

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:57:33 GMT

Turn to the Monterey Bay rentals experts. Monterey Bay Property Management has an expansive inventory of beach and golf vacation rentals and great customer testimonials.

Mar 19, Dillon Beach California Vacation Rentals for Family and Pet Friendly Vacations

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:58:04 GMT

These Dillon Beach California vacation rentals overlook one of the most popular dog friendly beaches on the Northern California coast. It's one of those secluded vacation spots families love.

Mar 16, Southern California Beach Vacation Rentals Made for Family Beach Vacations

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:52:01 GMT

Southern California Beach Vacation Rentals: VIP treatment rules for guests at these resort-luxe condos with all the amenities -- perfect for family reunion activities and celebrations.

Mar 14, Celebrations Guide for Renters: From Beach Wedding Ideas to Girls Getaways

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 04:06:49 GMT

Celebrations Guide: From beach wedding ideas to 40th birthday celebration ideas, beach house vacation rentals give you the space and privacy for memorable events.

Mar 10, Property Scams and Scare Tactics: Consumer Safety Tips for Vacation Home Renters

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:58:30 GMT

Property Scams and Scare Tactics: Consumer Safety Tips for Vacation Home Renters

Mar 8, Fort Myers Beach Cottages for Family Beach Vacations or Family Reunion Ideas

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:40:02 GMT

Fort Myers Beach Cottages and Villas: Plan fun affordable family vacations -- or family reunion vacations -- in these Fort Myers Beach Florida rentals with dog friendly yards.

Mar 6, Destin Florida Vacation Rentals That Welcome Families, Including All Your Pets!

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 21:41:58 GMT

These Destin Florida vacation rentals have dog friendly yards, private pools and are close from to Destin's Crystal Beach.

Mar 3, Planning a Picnic: 5 Ways You'll Eat Better When You Rent a Vacation Home

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:52:32 GMT

Planning a Picnic: 5 Ways You'll Eat Better in a Vacation Home

Feb 15, Luxury Beach Vacation: Whats On Your Luxury Beach Vacation Wish List?

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:26:44 GMT

Luxury Beach Vacation: Whats On Your Luxury Beach Vacation Wish List?

Feb 8, What Beach Vacation Rental Scout Can Do for You

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:33:48 GMT

About Beach Vacation Rental Scout and how this website can help you feel more confident about booking a beach rental for your next vacation.

Feb 3, Vacation Rentals at the Beach: 5 Reasons a Rental is Better Than a Hotel Room

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:28:56 GMT

Vacation Rentals at the Beach: 5 Things You Can Do in a Rental that You Can't in a Hotel

Feb 1, The Beach Vacation Rental Scout Difference: 5 Things Make This Site Unique

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:32:17 GMT

The Beach Vacation Rental Scout Difference: 5 things that make this site unique

Jan 27, Beach Vacation Checklist: 5 Potential Deal-Breakers for Renters

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:11:47 GMT

Beach Vacation Checklist: 5 Potential Deal-Breakers for Renters

Jan 25, Favorite Vacation Planning Websites: Rental Agent Checklists

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:39:37 GMT

Favorite Vacation Planning Websites: Use Wendy Perrin's handy checklists to evaluate a local vacation rental property manager you're considering.

Jan 24, A Discount Vacation Rental? Here Are 5 Strategies for Getting the Best Value.

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 03:51:13 GMT

How to Get a Discount Vacation Rental: Five Easy Ways to Save On Your Next Beach House Vacation Rental

Jan 20, Pet Friendly Vacations: A Guide to Vacation Rentals Near Dog Friendly Beaches

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:04:58 GMT

Pet friendly vacations: The best family vacations are dog friendly vacations. Scroll down for my list of favorite beach house vacation rentals near dog friendly beaches.

Jan 15, Monthly Vacation Rental: How to Swing a Month at the Beach

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 04:37:32 GMT

Why Not a Monthly Vacation Rental? You can hardly get away for a week, you say? Let these two stories inspire you to extend your time in paradise.

Jan 10, Family Beach Vacations: Tips for Finding a Family Friendly Vacation Rental

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:37:24 GMT

Planning a family vacation at the beach? Renting a house (rather than a hotel room) will transform your family beach vacations. Here are five tips to help you find the right one.

Dec 15, The Expectations Gap: Five keys to managing your rental expectations

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:37:57 GMT

The Expectations Gap: Five keys to managing your rental expectations

Dec 8, Different Vacation Ideas: Plan a Babymoon, Grieve or Scout for Retirement

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:01:18 GMT

Different Vacation Ideas: Desperately need some time away? Here are five good reasons to take a vacation you may not have considered.

Dec 2, Great Customer Testimonials: They Beat Listings, But Not an Independent Review

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:28:54 GMT

Great Customer Testimonials: They beat listings alone. But here's why independent reviews are even better.

Nov 29, Online Vacation Planning Using Personal Recommendations

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:35:42 GMT

Online Vacation Planning: Don't Leave Out Personal Recommendations

Nov 5, Beach Vacation Deals: A Bargain -- or a Low Base Rate Plus Fees?

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:21:10 GMT

How to Evaluate Beach Vacation Deals: Looking for inexpensive family vacation ideas? Be wary of "bargain" hotel rates. Some low base rates are just the foundation for lots of extra fees.

Oct 26, Steps for Planning a Wedding on the Beach

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:47:21 GMT

Beautiful, Bright California Beach Weddings: An expert event planner lays out steps for planning a wedding on Southern California beaches.

Oct 13, Etiquette Questions for Renters: Five Guidelines for Common Issues

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:21:58 GMT

Etiquette Questions for Renters: Five Guidelines for Common Issues

Sep 22, Vacation Planning Websites: Cool Tools for Renters

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:48:27 GMT

Vacation Planning Websites: Cool online vacation planning tools for renters

Sep 12, Great Vacation Ideas: Traveling in the Off-Season

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:30:13 GMT

Great Vacation Ideas: Traveling in the Off-Season

Feb 18, Tips For Scouting the Right Rental for Your Family Reunion

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:39:43 GMT

More and more of us are vacationing with extended family these days. Vacation rentals are made for family reunions. The February issue of Life's A Beach House gives you tips for scouting just the right vacation home and ideas for planning memorable activites during your family reunion vacation.

Jan 23, Sanibel Island Florida Tree House with Loft Close to a Prime Shelling Beach

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:23:49 GMT

This Sanibel Island Florida monthly rental Is tucked into the trees near Bowmans Beach, the island's 30 mile bike trail and the renowned Ding Darling wildlife preserve.

Jan 19, Why You Should Take a Look at Monthly Rentals

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:39:35 GMT

A month of vacation? In your dreams! Youre lucky to manage a week away, right? In the January issue of Life's A Beach House I go out on a limb and suggest that maybe you can swing it. Here are two good reasons to ask yourself why not? 1. You can work from the beach. If you already work from home using a computer, high-speed Internet connection and telephone, why wouldnt you be able to do the same work from a vacation home? 2. You can test drive living in paradise. If youve been itching to find a place with less stress and many (many) more sunny days to raise your family or spend your retirement, you could be among the estimated 40 million who make the move (according to a book I just finished called The Geography of Bliss). Renting for a private home for a month -- or more -- is the best way to try out a permanent move to paradise. Live like a local! Meet two couples who are living the dream. And it all started in a monthly vacation rental.

Dec 19, The Second Issue of Life's A Beach House is Live!

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:41:58 GMT

Take a look at two of the treasures I found on my latest scouting trip to Florida's Gulf Coast. Next month, I'll take a closer look at vacation rentals that are available by the month only. An option you thought was out of reach might just be a brilliant way to stretch your vacation without sacrificing a paycheck... Stayed tuned! Or subscribe so you won't miss a thing.

Nov 22, Road Trip Fun: Rediscovering the joys of traveling by car

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:53:00 GMT

Road Trip Fun: Rediscovering the joys of traveling by car

Oct 22, Beach Wedding Ideas For Southern California: Joan Burns

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:12:02 GMT

Meet Beach Vacation Rentals Scout's Beach Wedding Guru, Joan Burns. She's helped hundreds of Southern California brides create their dream weddings and shares her beach wedding ideas with us.

Oct 7, Beach Vacation Rental Scout E-Zine: Monthly Updates and Great Vacation Ideas

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:58:01 GMT

Beach Vacation Rental Scout Monthly E-Zine: Subscribe to Life's a Beach House for the latest whether you're planning a fun family vacation or just living vicariously.

Oct 2, 5 Things an Overnight Stay Can Tell You That a Listing Never Will

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:37:27 GMT

My upcoming trip to Florida Gulf beaches will be whirlwind. Almost every night in a different bed. But these overnight stays are essential. Here are a handful of things I learned by staying overnight that I never would have known if I'd just done a quick walk-through or made my decision based on a listing written by the owner or property manager. Would they make or break your vacation? You decide. 1. The Pipes (or Traffic, or Locals) Were Noisy.
I thought the First Airborne was buzzing my bedroom at 6 a.m. when the neighbor stepped into the shower. The walls groaned and moaned with rushing water. Water burbled up in my tub. (yuck) 2. The Location (Layout, Amenities)... Not What I Expected.
One home with a spectacular view should have been an easy walk to the beach. But, there was no safe way to cross the busy road separating the home's upscale neighborhood from the charming village and cove. So close to the sand -- yet, no way to get out of getting into your car and driving, and parking, to walk on it. 3. My Preconceptions were Right.
A freshly made-over condo -- granite counters, gleaming stainless appliances, model-home furnishings -- had the polish of a Hyatt. But, no heart. No personal welcome. In fact, in place of a welcome book, there was a posted list of "Rules". Instead of personal recommendations, a short stack of location brochures. The message was clear -- you're on your own. Which is okay, until you've experienced the alternative in home reviewed on this site. 4. My Preconceptions Were Wrong.
Condos are not always as cookie-cutter as I imagined. In Oceanside, I stayed in a spacious condo with a laid back bungalow feel. It was tucked into a resort-style complex with ocean views and access on three sides. The private common area was a lush slice of Hawaii that far, far exceeded my expectations and made it tempting to hang out in quiet corners surrounded by streams, fountains and tropical palms and bird of paradise instead of going to the beach! 5. Bottom Line: How a Place Feels Matters. A Lot.
It's not about the granite, it's the greeting. If you choose to rent a vacation home, you're choosing to forgo sterile style in favor of a more personal, Mi casa es tu casa welcome. You don't pay any more to rent these vacation homes. You just have to know where to find them. Stick with me and I'll point you to the best vacation home values.

Sep 17, Celebrations Guide California: Rentals With Event Venues, Concierge Services

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:04:24 GMT

Celebrations Guide - California: One of these California beach vacation rentals or a local rental property manager might fit with your beach wedding ideas or annual girls getaways.

Sep 15, Pet Friendly Beach Vacation Rentals: California

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:09:04 GMT

Here are some of my favorite pet friendly beach vacation rentals and vacation rental property managers.

Sep 15, Vacation Trip Planner: From family reunion ideas to rental etiquette questions

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:10:54 GMT

Vacation Trip Planner: Whether you're planning a family vacation or looking for ways to travel on a budget, this handy guide is the place to start.

Sep 4, Do You Own or Manage a Spectacular Beach Vacation Rental?

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:25:37 GMT

I'm in scouting mode -- with trips planned to the California coast and to Florida's Panhandle and Gulf Coast this fall. If you own, manage or simply know of a fabulous vacation rental home on or near the beach in these areas, I'd love to hear from you! Click below for more detail about the value of a (free) independent review on Beach Vacation Rental Scout. I can't wait to hear about your gems!

Aug 28, A Virtual Vacation Trip Planner That Works

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:44:09 GMT

This innovative virtual vacation planning tool (click the link below) makes it easy -- and really, really fun -- to do nuts-and-bolts trip-planning. I put it through its paces using San Francisco and Carmel, California as my intended destinations. There are more than 100 destinations to choose from -- including more than a dozen beach locations in California, Hawaii, Florida and South Carolina. I couldnt have built a better itinerary myself! Typically, I like to be in the driver's seat when it comes to trip planning. What would have taken me a hour using the narrowed list provided by the tool (probably many more using a general Web-search and manual consolidation) took less than 10 minutes -- from quiz to final plan. All I had to do was click on the Add button to the right of any sight or activity that appealed to me. I also was presented with a day-by-day itinerary that matched my interests perfectly: - Daily sights and activities where arranged according to geographic proximity. - Costs were noted to the side. (I'd noted I was on a budget.) - Not too much planned for any given day (I said I preferred a relaxing pace). I also got: - Detailed descriptions of what Id see - Live links to relevant medianovels, guidebooks, coffee table books, movies - Ideas for activities that would help me get the most from my visit - Practical information: times of operation, bathroom locations, best modes of transportation - a short and thoughtful list (not the typical unvetted dump) of recommended restaurants And that's just my trip. I could easily see that a hundred different people would get a hundred different results. Really, there's is so much going on with this tool, I can't cover it all. Give it a whirl for a place you already now and tell me know how it works for you.

Aug 24, Beach House Vacation Rentals

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:39:43 GMT

This 10-point beach vacation checklist will help you focus your search for beach house vacation rentals -- and save you money and headaches when you arrive.

Aug 14, Facebooks Cool and Comfortable
Second Porch

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:58:01 GMT

When I wrote my last post about new players in the growing vacation rental industry, I left out social media. Ive seen the articles written about how Twitter, for example, is changing the way people plan trips. Just tweet your request and get real-time advice and recommendations from tweeps in your destination. Im not buying it. Its the definition of hit or miss. Your result is contingent on who happens to be out there within moments of when your tweet appears, and, even more important, whos listening. Most people are busy promoting their own message. If you do get a 140-character response, its likely to be a link to their site. And once again youre on your own to vet the source. I love Twitter -- just not for trip-planning. But Facebook is a whole different story. Its a network built on trust and transparency. Your Facebook Friends have profiles and e-mail addresses. Facebook Friends like interacting. And, guess what? Some of them have cool vacation homes you could rent. If youve got 200 Facebook Friends, you probably know 10 people who have vacation homes, says Brent Hieggelke, president of Second Porch. You may not know it, because its not something that comes up in casual conversation. Second Porch is a Facebook app that gives you easy access to Friends with vacation homes to rent. The beauty of searching for vacation rental homes using Second Porch is that each listing is attached to a real person, the face behind the place, says Hieggelke. You can click on the owners profile, send questions via e-mail and check out recommendations posted by people whove already stayed there. And if youre not ready to rent, click on Follow to save the home on a personal My Second Porch page for future reference. If youve never rented a vacation home and are troubled by nightmare stories and scams played up in the mainstream media -- which, by the way, are counter to a recent study by PhoCusWright, a research authority in the travel industry, that reported only one percent of renters came home unhappy -- Second Porch is a great place to get your feet wet. Choose a vacation rental by building a relationship with the owner first. Youll have a great vacation and a new Friend.

Aug 12, The Scouts Strategies:
My Guide to Finding a Great Beach Vacation Rental -- Part 1

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:07:39 GMT

My first Internet search for a vacation rental took many hours over several days. It was a journey in itself. At first, I felt like a kid in candy shop. Soon, I lapsed in overwhelm. There was a brief period of confusion as I weighed my options. Finally took the plunge and selected a home. Then I worried. Because it was my first experience renting a vacation home, I wondered if the house I chose for my family (traveling from Arizona and Colorado to join my husband and me and our dogs) was going to be everything I expected. Thankfully, it was. But I havent always been so lucky (more about that later.) With Beach Vacation Rental Scout, my goal is to create a collection of really special homes -- the best on the beach -- from among the thousands you have to choose from on the web. Thats a lot to bite off, so its going to take a little while. Meanwhile, as I plan my next review trips, Im inviting you along and sharing my scouting strategies along the way. They come from my experience renting vacation homes in different areas of the country. Theyre informed by hours and hours of searching through seemingly endless listings. And learning from my mistakes. Finding the right vacation is a three-stage process: 1. Surveying the Field
2. Narrowing Your List
3. Choosing with Confidence
Click on the link for the 30,000-foot-high view. You'll learn to Survey the Field with these web search strategies.

Jul 29, Beautiful Beach Houses: 5 Ways Your Accommodations Your Vacation Experience

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:15:18 GMT

Beautiful Beach Houses: 5 Ways Your Accommodations Can Change Your Vacation Experience

Jul 27, 5 Ways This Site is Different

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:41:49 GMT

1. Just the gems
Most prospective renters discover more is not always better. You could spend hours, days even, culling through pages of owner-written reviews. You can sort by number of bedrooms, but not by other details that may matter just as much.
Beach Vacation Rental Scout spends the hours handpicking homes from these monster sites, then doing the legwork -- contacting the owners, visiting and photographing the property and writing a detailed consistent review.
2. Profiles of selected local rental property managers
Watch for boutique rental property managers who specialize in a specific geographical area to multiply in this economy as more vacation homeowners seek income from their properties.
Its a good thing for you and, again, Beach Vacation Rental Scout profiles only the gems. Each rental property manager on this site offers three key things:
a.) A select inventory of stylish and immaculately maintained vacation rentals
b.) The the perspective of a long-time resident who knows each property and the area very well
c) Enthusiastic personal service . Theyll spend all the time you need helping you select the best option for your vacation. (More and more are offering concierge services, too!)
3. Straight talk
Most reviews written by owners or property managers are marketing copy. The best are well-written and detailed. But how many point out potential drawbacks (and every home has them) that might affect your decision? Every Beach Vacation Rental Scout review has two sections: The Very Best Things and Whats Not Perfect .
4. Owners (and managers) 'favorites'
One of the great joys of a discovering a new place is going beyond the standard tourist fare to places the locals love (and sometimes only the locals know about). Every Beach Vacation Rental Scout review ends with personal recommendations. Even if you dont rent the home, the recommendations (most not in traditional guidebooks) are gifts of gold. 5. A consistent format
Thanks to FlipKey, TripAdvisor-style consumer reviews of vacation rentals are finally surfacing to help you make better decisions. Use them! But, also take them for what they are: personal stories. Beach Vacation Rental Scout reviews are written in a consistent format each one covering all the bases that renters care about.