Aug 31, 2009
There aren’t many things as satisfying as spending quality time with good old Mother Nature, especially when she’s getting ready for winter. It’s a beautiful transformation indeed.
Watch the leaves change colors all over America with these fall foliage vacation deals.
Great Smoky Mountains
New England
New York
Also
Need more fall foliage vacation deals? Check out Vacation Rentals.com’s picks for the best places to see fall foliage.
Aug 27, 2009
Dreaming of a beach getaway, but don’t think you’ve got the bucks to make it happen? Well, before ruling out a trip to the coast, check out Vacation Rentals.com’s top 10 Cheap Beach House Rentals. But book fast, because many of these deals expire tomorrow.
1. Puerto Vallarta
What: 3-bedroom condo with pool, hot tub, and chef (!)
Why: $375 a week
2. Surfside Beach, SC
What: 3-bedroom pet-friendly beach cottage
Why: $595 a week
3. St Augustine Beach
What: 3-bedroom ocean front condo
Why: $600 a week
4. Flagler Beach
What: 2-bedroom ocean front condo
Why: $716 a week
5. Destin
What: 6-bedroom cottage with heated pool
Why: $1,100 a week, plus a free street legal golf cart (worth $300)
6. Cape San Blas
What: 2-bedroom pet-friendly townhome, steps from the beach
Why: $787 a week
7. Palm Coast
What: 3-bedroom ocean front home
Why: $876 a week
8. Longboat Key
What: 1-bedroom beachfront condo
Why: $696 a week
9. Panama City Beach
What: 2-bedroom condo at the Tidewater Beach Resort
Why: $132 a night, and a free 45-minute massage (worth $74)
10. Laguna Beach
What: Beachside studio
Why: $179 a night and free Disneyland tickets (worth $400)
Find more cheap beach house rentals in Florida by clicking here.
Aug 26, 2009
This is our first of two Labor Day deal blogs – we’ll post the second one as we get closer to the much-anticipated holiday weekend. For now, here are five great last-minute Labor Day vacation deals! Take advantage, and take the trip of a lifetime!
All of these rentals have two things in common: they’re right near the beach, and they’re affordable (especially if you travel in a group). We can’t think of a better way to say goodbye to summer than to chill out underneath the sun, waves crashing over our feet… all while making our parents proud by how well we budgeted our pennies.
Here are our favorite Labor Day vacation deals of the moment -
Where: Seaside Park, NJ
What: 2-bedroom home near the beach
Why: Get 3 free nights (worth $642) when you book a week
Where: York Beach, ME
What: 3-bedroom home near the beach
Why: Get Labor Day weekend for free (worth $450) when you book a week
Where: Wells, ME
What: 2-bedroom cottage near the beach with shared pool and hot tub
Why: Just $700 a week
Aug 25, 2009
If you like fast cars, specifically fast cars that race around a track, then we’re guessing you like NASCAR. Well, speed on over to an actual track and watch those cars zoom by, and occasionally crash and burn, in person! We’ve got the remaining 2009 NASCAR schedule, and found cheap NASCAR vacation rentals that have availability and cheap rates to go with it. Check it out…
Top NASCAR vacation rentals for 2009:
Atlanta GA, September 6
@ Atlanta Motor Speedway
Save: $169 a night or less
Stay: 2-bedroom mid-town home with shared pool
Richmond VA, September 12
@ Richmond International Raceway
Save: $1,450 a week or less
Stay: 3-bedroom Norfolk home
Loudon NH, September 20
@ New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Save: $1,250 a week or less
Stay: 2-bedroom Lake Winnisquam condo
Dover DE, September 27
@ Dover International Speedway
Save: 10% off, $900 a week
Stay: 3-bedroom Rehoboth Beach condo
Fontana CA, October 11
@ Auto Club Speedway
Save: 10% off, $180 a night
Stay: 1-bedroom Pasadena cottage with private pool and hot tub
Charlotte NC, October 17
@ Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Save: Free boat rental
Stay: 4-bedroom home on Lake Norman
Talladega AL, November 1
@ Talladega Superspeedway
Save: $900 a week or less
Stay: 3-bedroom Lake George home
Fort Worth TX, November 8
@ Texas Motor Speedway
Save: $175 a night or less
Stay: 4-bedroom home
Phoenix AZ, November 15
@ Phoenix International Raceway
Save: $1,140 for the whole month
Stay: 2-bedroom resort condo
Homestead FL, November 22
@ Homestead-Miami Speedway
Save: $600 a week or less
Stay: 2-bedroom home, close to the Keys
Aug 24, 2009
Vacation Rentals.com is celebrating Hawaii’s 50th birthday month with some hot, handpicked deals. There’s never been a better time to whale watch, scuba dive, surf, swim, eat good seafood, sun bathe, sail away, and sightsee in Hawaii. From the Big Island to Maui, we’ve got 9 great vacation deals to Hawaii. Check them out!
Oahu
The Big Island
Maui
Kauai
- 2-bedroom oceanfront Poipu Beach condo with shared pool and hot tub: $99 a night
More vacation deals to Hawaii can be found by clicking here.
Aug 21, 2009
We know it’s tempting to overspend on a hotel, just so you can purchase a flight/accommodation package and be done with it! Well, we strongly urge you to save those pennies, and make the teeny tiny extra effort required to pair up a great flight deal with a great rental deal.
Here are some low airfare deals, and a few rentals to go with them!
Round-trip Jamaica, from $168
One-way to and from NYC, from $69
Round-trip Mexico, from $183
Round-trip London, from $442
One-way Las Vegas over Labor Day, from $47
- Luxury 4-bedroom villa in Las Vegas with pool and hot tub: $191 a night
Round-trip Fort Lauderdale, from $198
- 1-bedroom condo in Fort Lauderdale Beach with shared pool: $480 a week
Round-trip Hawaii, from $317
Aug 20, 2009
You can tie the knot in an excotic locale on even the tighest budget. Here's how.
Destination weddings aren’t just tabloid fodder anymore. You don’t have to follow up your paparazzi-filled, Caribbean wedding with a divorce the very next year, like so many celebs have done. Cheap destination weddings mean that “average” lovebirds can say their vows in a setting that makes their guests say WOW. Choose a luxurious vacation rental for your wedding and/or reception, or for your guests to stay in (book two to five properties or one with 10+ bedrooms, and you can accommodate many – if not all – of them). We’ve rounded up some amazingly beautiful homes from around the world that are not only roomy enough for your destination wedding, but are also pocketbook-friendly. And don’t forget…after you’ve said "I do," you won’t have to pack up and leave for your honeymoon. You’re already there!
Mexico
Caribbean
Hawaii
Europe
Brazil
Australia
Need more inspiration for a cheap destination wedding? Read Vacation Rentals.com’s guide to Wedding Vacation Rentals.
Got any great cheap destination wedding tips? Follow @VRDeals, and send us a tweet!
Aug 19, 2009
From Freddie Mercury sound-alike Adam Lambert to Big Bird, entertainers are making their way around the country. And they’re giving you a great excuse to get out of town. Plan a girlfriend getaway to Tempe, AZ to see Legally Blonde the Musical (and shop, of course), or take the kids to see Disney on Ice in Tampa. We’ve matched up a slew of vacation rentals with touring shows that range from Broadway to stand-up comedy. Each rental listed here has an available deal for the specific show's dates (at this moment in time, at least).
Disney on Ice
When & Where: 9/12 in Tampa, FL
Deal: 3-bedroom golf villa for $100 a night
Sesame Street Live
When & Where: 10/31 in West Palm Beach, FL
Deal: 3-bedroom luxury home with pool for $1,050 a week
Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys
When & Where: 8/21-23 in Atlanta, Georgia
Deal: Chic 2-bedroom condo for up to $1,200 a week
Wicked
When & Where: 9/2 to 10/4 in Seattle, WA
Deal: Stay at this bed and breakfast, and get a free night’s stay (worth $135)
Fiddler on the Roof
When & Where: 10/6-18 in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Deal: Book this 3-bedroom canal front home with pool and hot tub, & get free use of kayaks and fishing poles
Grease
When & Where: 8/25-30 in Orlando, FL
Deal: 3-bedroom luxury townhome for $115 a night
Legally Blonde the Musical
When & Where: 9/22-27 in Tempe, AZ
Deal: 3-bedroom townhome for $765 a week
Monty Python’s Spamalot
When & Where: 10/6-18 in Costa Mesa, CA
Deal: 2-bedroom beachfront condo in Huntington Beach for $1,190 a week
Rent
When & Where: 10/20-25 in Costa Mesa, CA
Deal: Enjoy a free bottle of wine when you stay in this 2-bedroom bungalow in Long Beach
Cats
When & Where: 10/20-25 in Orlando, FL
Deal: 4-bedroom home with pool, hot tub, and game room for $675 a week
The Color Purple
When & Where: 10/27-11/1 in Miami, FL
Deal: Charming studio for $75 a night
Phantom of the Opera
When & Where: 10/28-11/22 in Tempe, AZ
Deal: 2-bedroom waterfront condominium for $500 a week
Jamie Foxx
When & Where: 8/28 in Jacksonville, FL
Deal: 3-bedroom condo with pool, near the beach, for $511 a week
Robin Williams
When & Where: 10/21-22 in Hollywood, FL
Deal: 1-bedroom resort condo for $450 a week
Bill Maher
When & Where: 9/13 in Anaheim, CA
Deal: 4-bedroom home near Disneyland for $269 a night & free amusement park tickets (worth $143)
Cirque du Soleil: Kooza
When & Where: 10/16 in Santa Monica, CA
Deal: Plan an extended stay at this stylish studio for $2,800 a month
So You Think You Can Dance
When & Where: 10/22 in Miami, FL
Deal: 2-bedroom condo for $799 a week
American Idols! Live
When & Where: 9/6 in Grand Rapids, MI
Deal: 4-bedroom cottage in Gun Lake for $1,100 a week & a free pontoon rental
See more touring shows on Broadway by clicking here.
Aug 18, 2009
How low can Vegas deals go? A luxurious 3 to 5-bedroom house with a private pool could be yours (well, for a short while) for the same price as a dinky hotel room! That’s how low. Suddenly, your inner jet setter is telling you that you and your friends deserve an impromptu getaway to America’s swanky City of Lights. So, bust out the planner – are you free this weekend, next weekend? There’s zero time to waste…life’s too short to not live it up, right?
If you’ve got little ones in tow, remember that Las Vegas is a family place, too. Click here for Vacation Rentals.com’s favorite kid-friendly attractions.
Cheap Las Vegas Deals -
$200 a night
- Loaded 5-bedroom pet-friendly house with pool and hot tub
$159 a night
- 3-bedroom home with view of the Strip
Free night’s stay (worth $150), plus no cleaning fees
- Luxurious 3-bedroom home with pool
Free dinners ($150) and Blue Man Group tickets
- Stylish 1-bedroom condo at the MGM Signature
$1,100 a week, plus a $50 restaurant gift card
- Beautiful 3-bedroom home with pool and hot tub
$550 a week
- 1-bedroom condo with access to pool and hot tub
$1,295 a month (or $495 a week)
- 2-bedroom condo with access to pool and hot tub, close to the Strip
For other cheap Las Vegas deals, click here.
Aug 17, 2009
Hey winos, have we got some deals for you. Here are Vacation Rentals.com’s picks for the best wine vacations.
1. Napa Valley, California
It’s certainly one of the US’s classier tourist traps. Sip some cabernet at vineyards like the Jarvis Winery, or learn how to make it at Cakebread Cellars.
2. Tuscany, Italy
Here, you may see a villager stomping on grapes the old-fashioned way, or taste wine in a medieval castle! One-fifth of the world’s wine comes from Italy.
3. Sonoma Valley, California
If it weren’t for Sonoma (and the rest of the California Wine Country for that matter), Napa would be a bit too crowded for comfort! For those who want to soak up as much scenery as wine, Sonoma’s a great choice.
4. Santa Barbara, California
Sideways was filmed here. Enough said.
5. Portland, Oregon
Oregon boasts 9,000+ acres dedicated to winemaking, and Portland makes the perfect home base, in between vineyard hopping. Visit in early May for the annual Portland Indie Wine Festival.
6. Argentina
Better watch out France/Italy/Napa Valley; Argentina’s a rising star in the vino industry.
7. Long Island, New York
There’s a place for wine connoisseurs in New York besides the uppity Manhattan restaurants, and that place is called Long Island Wine Country. This up-and-comer has been getting lots of attention of late, so hurry up and book a flight before everyone catches on to the fab wining and dining that happens here every day!
8. Seattle, Washington
Washington’s Puget Sound is brimming with world-class vineyards.
9. New Zealand
Is the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc found here? Find out for yourself by booking a New Zealand wine vacation!
10. Texas Hill country
Taste the Texas difference in Fredericksburg
Aug 13, 2009
Santa Fe’s got a lot of claims to fame under its belt – it’s the highest-elevated and second-oldest city in the USA. Historically, Santa Fe’s been a hotbed of the arts – take the world-famous Santa Fe Opera for example – and of late, it’s developed into a sort of foodie heaven. When you’re not feeling all sophisticated and snobby, critiquing a musical performance or pricey entrée, there’s hiking and biking year-round and of course, the ski season (which lasts from Thanksgiving to Easter). Could Santa Fe be the perfect four-season destination?
Find out for yourself by booking one of these Santa Fe vacation deals!
$206 a night
$1,320 a week, plus free wine and dinner at an “exclusive” restaurant
$152 a night
$157 a night, plus a $50 gift card to Trader Joe’s
Free $50 gift card to the Shed Restaurant
For more Santa Fe vacation deals, click here.
Aug 10, 2009
Whether you’re planning a last hoorah with the family for Labor Day weekend, or brainstorming your Christmas vacation, we’ve got a bunch of spacious and fully-equipped rentals that spell family fun. Lazy rivers, heated pools, bunk beds, foosball, strollers…these vacation homes are kid tested and approved.
Deals on Kid-Friendly Rentals:
4-bedroom Destin Beach House with private pool and kids room (which includes full bed and bunk bed)
2-bedroom Daytona Beach resort condo with access to pool & hot tub – resort features lazy river and water slides
3-bedroom Disney Area resort condo with access to 2 heated pools and a hot tub; also includes a room with 2 bunk beds
6-bedroom Disney Area home with kiddie pool, whirlpool, oversized heated pool, game room, baby monitor, stroller, high chair, and more
3-bedroom Myrtle Beach resort condo with access to indoor heated pool, lazy river, outdoor pool and kiddie pool
3-bedroom Winter Park mountain view condo – self-proclaimed as “kid friendly” (deal lasts through November)
4-bedroom San Diego home, foosball and air hockey
Aug 7, 2009
We’re going to forgo the cheesy golf puns for this blog entry, and just get straight to the deals – after all, each one is a hole-in-one. Oops. We mean… you’ll really have a ball staying in one of these rentals. Click these links for great deals on the links? Bring your vacation up to part with these great rentals?
Never mind.
We found a bunch of cheap golf vacation rentals (meaning they're all located in hot golf destinations), so whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’ll have no trouble finding a budget-friendly accommodation.
6-bedroom home with pool: 50% off = $2,050 a week - plus a free golf cart rental
3-bedroom home in Hilton Head Plantation with shared pool: Up $1100 a week, including a $50 gift card to the Boathouse Restaurant and free use of 4 bikes and beach equipment
3-bedroom condo with shared pool and hot tub: 20% off = $85 a night
Ocean view 1-bedroom condo at the Blue Water Resort (which has a pool and hot tub): 10% off = $540 a week
4-bedroom home with private pool and hot tub: 25% off = $825 a week - plus a welcome gift with wine, Starbucks, shampoo, suntan lotion, and more
2-bedroom condo at the Palm Desert Resort (which has golf, tennis, and a pool): 15% off = $510 a week
- Princeville, Hawaii (in Kauai)
4-bedroom home: 50% off = $100 a night
Not sure which cheap golf vacation rentals to book? Read more about the hottest destinations for golfers by clicking here.
Aug 6, 2009
Of all the silver linings to the “Great Recession,” our favorite has to be the rediscovery of the Great Outdoors. While hotels and attractions may be out of our budget, wondrous experiences at the Rocky Mountains, Grand Teton, Everglades, and other national parks are as cheap as ever. In fact, on August 14th and 15th, admission to each and every national park is totally and completely free.
So, all you have to worry about is lodging. And turns out you don’t have to worry about that at all, because we’ve got you covered with some must-see national park vacation deals:
City: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Deal: $127 a night
Digs: Warm and inviting 3-bedroom pet-friendly home
Stay Between: 8/3 and 10/15
City: Estes Park, Colorado
Deal: $567 a week
Digs: 3-bedroom pet-friendly B&B with hot tub, private deck, and free gourmet breakfast
Stay Between: 7/22 and 1/1/10
City: Marco Island, Florida
Deal: $500 a week, and free wifi
Digs: 2-bedroom beachfront condo with shared pool
Stay Between: 8/22 and 9/12
City: Acadia, Maine
Deal: $900 a week
Digs: Lovely 2-bedroom home
Stay Between: 9/5 and 10/31
City: Asheville, North Carolina
Deal: $830 a week
Digs: 2-bedroom pet-friendly cabin – rustic look, luxurious amenities
Stay Between: 8/8 and 8/15
City: St George, Utah
Deal: Stay 3 nights and get the 4th free (worth $199)
Digs: 3-bedroom condo with shared pool and hot tub
Stay Between: 8/22 and 9/30
City: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Deal: $1000 a week
Digs: 2-bedroom luxury town home
Stay Between: 9/1 and 9/30
There are plenty more national park vacation deals where that came from – check all out our Great Smoky Mountain rentals in NC, for example.
Aug 6, 2009
Good music, good wine…good vacation. From August 5th to the 23rd, Napa Valley comes alive with the sounds of eloquent chamber music. World-renowned musicians gather in various vineyard settings for intimate concerts throughout the 3-week festival. Want to listen in on the Music in the Vineyards festival? Well, what do you know, we’ve got some great Napa Valley lodging deals with availability for several of the fest’s dates.
$900 a week
Up to $750 a week
$1000 a week
Up to $1250 a week
Aug 4, 2009
What do Snoop Dog, Depeche Mode, and the Killers have in common? They’re all headlining the Lollapalooza music festival this year. Surprisingly, tickets are still available and so is cheap lodging. We’ve found a few good Chicago rentals that you can call home in between rocking it all weekend-long.
Lollapalooza 2009 will be held August 7th through the 9th in Chicago's Grant Park.
$1000 a week
$1000 a week
$198 a night
Aug 3, 2009
Not only is it the Windy City’s most suspensful summertime event, but it’s also the biggest of its kind – the Air and Water Show in Chicago, IL draws in 2.2 million spectators each and every year. (Due to the crowds, you’re wise to take advantage of the city’s public transport system.) We’ve got four excellent vacation rental deals in Chicago that have availability for the show, held August 15th and 16th at Lincoln Park.
The Chicago Air and Water Show 2009 will feature the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Firebirds, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and other likeminded daredevils. Watch as fighter pilots and freestyle fliers play chicken with Chicago's buildings (don’t worry – it’s all an act), and wave riders liven up the lake.
Vacation rental deals in Chicago:
$113 a night
$1000 a week
$150 a night
Free night’s stay (worth $142) and free laundry ($10)
