San Diego is an all-season tourist destination, but vacationers who come during the spring can enjoy some seasonal events that are well worth a visit to southern California.  Between March and May, visitors can tour the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, where they will see dozens of acres of flowers in bloom.  This outdoor attraction is open seven days a week during the target months.

April is an ideal time to come.  Early in the month, rowing teams compete in Mission Bay in the Crew Classic, a two-day event that features more than 90 separate races.  Spectators can watch the races from shore or on the giant jumbotron, or even take a break in the nearby beer garden on the beach.  In mid-April, San Diego hosts its Annual Earth Fair in Balboa Park.  This event is one of the biggest environmental events in the world, drawing about 70,000 guests each year.  At the end of the month, the Mission Federal ArtWalk features over 300 artists as well as music and dance.

Special events are not the only reasons to visit, however.  San Diego boasts more than 30 museums, 15 of them in the city’s enormous Balboa Park.  The world-famous Torrey Pines golf course, host of the US Open in 2008, is one reason why Golf Digest ranked San Diego as one of the “top 50 golf destinations in the world.

Spring is one of the best times to visit this coastal city, but San Diego vacation rentals are available year-round.

Villa Dei Fiori D’oro San Diego Vacation Villa Residence Rental

5 Star AC Pool/Spa Horse/Hiking Trails United States » California » San Diego View This Listing at VacationRentalDirect.com San Diego Vacation Rental Villa USA Southern California San Diego North County Encinitas Olivenhain Rancho Santa Fe Family Vacation Rental, Rom Property Details Listing: 13488 Type: House Sleeps : 10-12 Bed(s): 4 Bed(s): 3 Children: Yes Pool :Yes Amenities Air Condition Washers & Dryer Stove Internet Fireplace Pool

Contact: Marian Phone: 619-851-0808 email: sdvacationrental@earthlink.net

Holiday Rentals | VacationRentalDirect.com | Vacation Rental Software

The most famous amusement park on Earth is Disney World Florida, but what many people do not realize is that there are several different parks in Disney’s 25,000-acre complex.  The original one that opened in 1971 is the Magic Kingdom, which features Cinderella Castle along with dozens of rides from fairy tale experiences to rushing roller coasters.  A more recent addition, Disney’s Hollywood Studios includes thrill rides as well as shows that reveal some of the secrets behind movie magic.  Epcot with its enormous geosphere towering over the park offers visitors pavilions showcasing innovations in energy, technology, space, and architecture, while Disney’s Animal Kingdom allows guests to take an actual safari featuring live animals displayed in their natural habitats.

Disney World is more than just theme parks, however.  The complex also offers tourists two water parks, including Blizzard Beach, designed to represent a ski resort on a summer day — all the snow has melted.  Blizzard Beach abounds in thrill slides, whereas its sister park, Typhoon Lagoon features gentler attractions — but not too gentle, since guests can snorkel alongside live sharks.

Downtown Disney offers a wide variety of shopping and dining opportunities and features the LEGO Imagination Store, where children can choose from sets that are rarely offered for sale.  24 AMC movie theatres show the latest releases and restaurants include Wolfgang Puck, Planet Hollywood, and the Rainforest Café.

Fortunately, the many Disney vacation rentals in the vicinity mean that tourists are not far from the fun.

The Anaheim area in southern California is famous for its amusement parks, including Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, and Knott’s Berry Farm.  Disneyland is open every day of the year, including Christmas and New Year’s Day, and offer rides and attractions suitable for all ages.

Teenagers will enjoy roller coasters such as Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain, but for the young and old there are gentler rides, many of them based on Disney’s famous movies.  You can sail over London on the Peter Pan ride and take a trip through the world’s many regions in It’s a Small World.  The Pirates of the Caribbean ride has even been updated to feature a Johnny Depp animatronic figure.  Disneyland’s sister park, Disney’s California Adventure, is located right next door and features attractions based on the wonders of the “Golden State,” such as San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

Knott’s Berry Farm is less famous than Disneyland, but just as worthy of a visit.  In addition to roller coasters and other rides, Knott’s features a full-scale replica of Independence Hall.  The original is located in Philadelphia and was where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were approved; Knott’s Berry Farm’s replica attractions include daily shows that bring this history to life.  Since Knott’s is also a working farm, producing specialty jams and jellies, it is also the ideal place to buy unusual preserves such as California plum jam.

Vacation rentals in and around Anaheim are located close to all of these attractions.

A sample of a great vacation home near Disneyland is the Storybook Villa. Featuring a beautiful pool, convenient location and a great website (with online booking), the Storybook Villa is a must visit for families visiting Anaheim.

Featured Anaheim Vacation Home

Disneyland Sunset United States » California » Anaheim View This Listing at VacationRentalDirect.com You Can’t Get Any Closer to Disneyland Than This Place…Welcome to your next perfect California Vacation at our “Anaheim Sunset” retreat. Property Details Listing: 14269 Type: Condo Sleeps : 4 to 6 Bed(s): 2 Bed(s): 2 Pets: No Children: Yes Pool :Yes Smoking: No Amenities Air Condition Phone Radio Washers & Dryer TV Cable DVD Player

Contact: Scott Phone: 626-608-6505

So you are the proud owner of a vacation home – congratulations. But just as with your own home, a vacation home needs a lot of tender loving care. Who is going to look after it when you are away? And, perhaps, how is it going to pay its own way? Thoughts like these tend to push vacation home owners into thinking about appointing a property management company. So what should you be looking for in a property manager, and how do you go about finding one with the qualities you want?

First and foremost, you have to decide if you just want the property taken care of, or if you also want it rented out. This will determine what kind of property management firm you want, and whether you need to check their credentials for marketing your firm, or just for looking after it. Assuming that you would like your home to generate some income for you, you need to look for several key capabilities

• A firm which will ensure the highest standards of care and attention to the fabric and contents of your property. Lots of rental income will not make up for the damage caused by careless renters. Make sure that your chosen firm will keep on top of every

• Personal check-in and check-out of every rental. Many firms take advantage of the availability of keyless coded locks to allow renters to check themselves in and out. This means that they never know who is in your property, and whether your four-bedroom home which is supposed to have a maximum of 8 guests actually has 16 grad party celebrants all over the floors

• The highest standards of cleaning. Cleaning a property thoroughly is time-consuming and expensive. Many property management firms cut corners here, and if they do, you will eventually pay the price in worn-out carpets and other forms of dilapidation.

• Superior marketing capabilities. Marketing vacation rental properties has become a sophisticated business these days. Make sure that the primary website on which your property will appear is ranked highly against the most popular keywords for your location. A local firm without much experience in search engine optimization may be able to take good care of your property but they won’t generate a lot of income since no-one will know that they exist.

• Great service for guests. Look for a manager who knows how to offer excellent service to guests: arrival baskets of food and drink, pre-booking of activities, restaurant reservations etc. If guests feel they are well looked-after, they will be more inclined to come again, but also feel more of an obligation to take good care of the property they are in.

• Great service to you. You should expect VIP treatment when you are using your own property, but also VIP service when you call up your property manager to enquire about availability, discuss renovation and maintenance issues, query your income statements or any other matter. Make sure you will always get to speak to someone senior who knows you and your property.

Have a look at this page: Whistler property management for a company which looks as if they know what they are doing. But make sure you talk to them in detail and go over the management contract with a fine tooth comb before you sign on the dotted line. You should expect to pay 35-50% of gross rental income to the management company; if they charge less you might want to be suspicious of what they are offering; if more, they’re probably too expensive. This may sound a lot, but remember that they are looking after your property for no fixed outlay to you, and they only make money when you do as well.

Good luck with your search.

By Henry Schlee

By JUDI BOWERS

Private home rentals are a hot topic. People on both sides of the issue speak their minds. Lawsuits have been filed, ordinances submitted on their way to the ballot box, and city and county officials are swamped with information to wade through enroute to decisions.

Private home rentals are houses rented for periods of less than 30 days. In the city of Big Bear Lake, all private home rental units must be registered with the city and undergo inspections. Private home rentals are regulated by an existing city ordinance.

San Bernardino County is considering a similar ordinance. The proposal spent several months at the county Planning Commission level before being kicked upstairs so to speak to the county Board of Supervisors. Crafted using the city of Big Bear Lake’s existing ordinance, the county version would regulate short-term rentals in the unincorporated areas of Big Bear Valley. However, the county ordinance applies only to the mountain communities within the county.

The ordinance appeared on the supervisors’ Aug. 15 agenda for consideration. The proposed ordinance survived and was placed on the Aug. 22 board of supervisor’s calendar for approval. The ordinance will be put in place for 12 to 24 months then reviewed to see how it’s working.

CITPRO representatives spoke to the Big Bear Lake City Council Aug. 14 on the impact a proposed ballot initiative would have on the city and the economy. Nick Lanza told of how property values would go down when houses flood the market being sold because owners can no longer rent them for vacation use. Tyler Wood added to Lanza’s comments saying many people purchase vacation homes in the Valley on a 1031 tax exchange, which allows owners to use the houses for personal vacations and rent them to others to defray the cost.

The proposed ordinance would effectively put the short term rental owners out of business, Wood said. He called the proposed ordinance a “formula for disaster.”

J.J. McClelland and her husband recently purchased Big Bear Mountain Resort Rentals. She told the council of the risk she and her husband took investing in a business, but said they felt confident in the community and the stability of a 13-year-old business. But the proposed ordinance threatens McClelland’s future as well as the financial stability of the many businesses like carpet cleaning that support the private home rental industry, she said. “Without us who will make this community what it is?” McClelland asked the council regarding short term rentals. “It’s not just the loss of revenue, but the quality of people we have up here.”

Earlier this year Jim and Barbara McLean of Apples Bed and Breakfast filed a federal law suit against the city regarding private home rentals. Judge Stephen G. Larson dismissed the suit July 17. McLean said he and his attorney are working on an appeal. In the meantime he and his supporters are pursing their plan to place their proposed initiative before the voters.

McLean presented the ballot initiative to the city May 30. He said the city delayed long enough that the matter couldn’t be placed on the November ballot. Now the city will be forced into a special election, McLean said, which he claims could cost the city as much as $250,000. “Screw ‘em,” McLean said regarding the city.

McLean says he receives a barrage of phone calls from folks upset about the problems caused by renters in private homes. While these people support McLean and his ballot initiative and are willing to help collect signatures, they won’t come forward publicly for fear of retribution, McLean said. The only ones going on record as supporting the initiative are Bob Pool and Brandon Schlarmann, both local lodge owners.

Regardless, McLean said he’s not giving up on his search for equality within the lodging industry. He said that’s all the ballot initiative asks for and that it won’t put anyone out of business. Instead it will regulate an existing business.

Battle wages toward war regarding vacation rentals

By JUDI BOWERS

Wednesday, August 16, 2006 10:08 AM PDT

Private home rentals are a hot topic. People on both sides of the issue speak their minds. Lawsuits have been filed, ordinances submitted on their way to the ballot box, and city and county officials are swamped with information to wade through enroute to decisions.

Private home rentals are houses rented for periods of less than 30 days. In the city of Big Bear Lake, all private home rental units must be registered with the city and undergo inspections. Private home rentals are regulated by an existing city ordinance.

San Bernardino County is considering a similar ordinance. The proposal spent several months at the county Planning Commission level before being kicked upstairs so to speak to the county Board of Supervisors. Crafted using the city of Big Bear Lake’s existing ordinance, the county version would regulate short-term rentals in the unincorporated areas of Big Bear Valley. However, the county ordinance applies only to the mountain communities within the county.

The ordinance appeared on the supervisors’ Aug. 15 agenda for consideration. The proposed ordinance survived and was placed on the Aug. 22 board of supervisor’s calendar for approval. The ordinance will be put in place for 12 to 24 months then reviewed to see how it’s working.

CITPRO representatives spoke to the Big Bear Lake City Council Aug. 14 on the impact a proposed ballot initiative would have on the city and the economy. Nick Lanza told of how property values would go down when houses flood the market being sold because owners can no longer rent them for vacation use. Tyler Wood added to Lanza’s comments saying many people purchase vacation homes in the Valley on a 1031 tax exchange, which allows owners to use the houses for personal vacations and rent them to others to defray the cost.

The proposed ordinance would effectively put the short term rental owners out of business, Wood said. He called the proposed ordinance a “formula for disaster.”

J.J. McClelland and her husband recently purchased Big Bear Mountain Resort Rentals. She told the council of the risk she and her husband took investing in a business, but said they felt confident in the community and the stability of a 13-year-old business. But the proposed ordinance threatens McClelland’s future as well as the financial stability of the many businesses like carpet cleaning that support the private home rental industry, she said. “Without us who will make this community what it is?” McClelland asked the council regarding short term rentals. “It’s not just the loss of revenue, but the quality of people we have up here.”

Earlier this year Jim and Barbara McLean of Apples Bed and Breakfast filed a federal law suit against the city regarding private home rentals. Judge Stephen G. Larson dismissed the suit July 17. McLean said he and his attorney are working on an appeal. In the meantime he and his supporters are pursing their plan to place their proposed initiative before the voters.

McLean presented the ballot initiative to the city May 30. He said the city delayed long enough that the matter couldn’t be placed on the November ballot. Now the city will be forced into a special election, McLean said, which he claims could cost the city as much as $250,000. “Screw ‘em,” McLean said regarding the city.

McLean says he receives a barrage of phone calls from folks upset about the problems caused by renters in private homes. While these people support McLean and his ballot initiative and are willing to help collect signatures, they won’t come forward publicly for fear of retribution, McLean said. The only ones going on record as supporting the initiative are Bob Pool and Brandon Schlarmann, both local lodge owners.

Regardless, McLean said he’s not giving up on his search for equality within the lodging industry. He said that’s all the ballot initiative asks for and that it won’t put anyone out of business. Instead it will regulate an existing business.

By Walt Harvey, 5/10/2006 11:33:51 PM

Hawaii is an attractive location for buying a second home and how you classify that property has significant tax ramifications. Disclaimer: I’m a real estate broker and not allowed to give tax advice so consult with your tax professional regarding your specific circumstances. With that said, here are some guidelines.

A second home is a property other than your primary residence and of course it’s an investment. Any property owned as an investment may fall within the definition of a vacation home. The term vacation home is generic and applies to a property that an individual or family member uses personally to any extent. If there is personal use, tax write-offs may be limited.

14-Day Rule: Vacation homes may be considered residences if used for personal purposes more than 14 days or 10 percent of the number of days during the year for which the home is rented at a fair rental price, whichever is greater. Time spent working on and improving the property is not considered in the 14 day usage.

If a vacation home is rented for 14 days or less during the year and there is any personal use, you can keep the rental income and not report it (Code Sec. 280A(g), however, you can claim no expenses beyond the mortgage interest and property tax.

If rented for more than 14 days, then all rental income must be reported along with deductions for the rent-related expenses like advertising, broker’s fees, utilities, maintenance, upkeep, mortgage interest, property taxes and insurance. Depreciation may be deducted against the rental income however all deductions may not exceed the rental income.

Always consult a tax professional. When considering real estate, consult a real estate professional.

Houseboating Brings Families Back Together Without
the Hassle and Headaches of Other Forms of Vacationing
Forever Houseboats Offers Families a Unique Vacation Filled with Rest, Relaxation and Recreation
Scottsdale, AZ – January 2006 – Forever Resorts invites families across the country to experience an entirely different vacation this year. Houseboating, an old vacation idea, popular with many families in the 60’s, has now been revised into a great getaway to reconnect with family and enjoy a relaxing, stress free vacation. Now there’s one vacation that will please children, looking for fun-filled days, and their parents who seek a restful getaway. Houseboating brings families together in a unique, bonding experience.

Forever Resorts (www.ForeverHouseboats.com), the respected leader in houseboat vacation rentals, has modernized the houseboat of today to include many comforts you’d expect to find in a vacation home; TV, stereo, gas grill, full kitchen, queen bedrooms, bathrooms, linens, towels and central air conditioning and heat. Plus, one feature not usually found in vacation homes – a waterslide off the upper deck!

The experience of houseboating goes beyond just the boat. It has become a tradition with many, which weaves the commonplace vacation into vivid memories. From exploring the serenity of the lake to the excitement of playing captain of your own boat, a houseboat vacation provides an outdoor adventure that allows you to reconnect, relax and spend quality time with each other.

When Forever Resorts asked recent vacationers their favorite part about houseboating, the company received many answers. But one commonality rang true; families revealed houseboating is truly a magical experience and they plan on returning to have that vacation experience again and again.

Houseboat rentals can be found in many waterways of the United States. Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada and Don Pedro Lake in California are two popular destinations for houseboating.

About Forever Resorts
The Forever Resorts family of companies has been based in Arizona since its inception in 1981 and owns and operates properties in national parks, recreation areas and national forests, and choice destinations of North America, Hungary and South Africa. The firm is a leading hospitality provider with significant experience in lodging, marinas and related services, food service and retail operations and is a respected industry leader in houseboat manufacturing and luxury houseboat vacation rentals. “Soaring to be the Best” each Forever Resorts’ location is ISO 14001 certified and is committed to protecting human health and the environment, and many properties have received other awards and third-party certification for its environmental practices. For more information visit the company website at www.ForeverResorts.com.

The Florida-based technology firm provides reservation management systems for the vacation rental industry.

According to the company, vacation rental management companies can now connect with travel global distribution channels via ISILink. An official release states: ISILink acts as a database linking property information and rental availability to various sales distribution channels. With ISILink, the door is open for small vacation rental operators to reach travel agents and travel agencies efficiently and effectively.

”The entire line of Instant Software Group’s products, including First Resort Software, Entech and Property Plus, will now have a method to reach the GDS. ISILink can also provide vacation rental properties easy access to other key distribution systems such as web based agencies and portals,” states the company.

“Smaller vacation rental property companies have always been at a decided disadvantage when it came to the travel distribution channels not only because of their size, but the type of accommodations offered made it difficult to provide the critical mass needed to pave the way for access to the GDS system,” said Dave Hopcroft, founder and President of Instant Software. “ISILink gives us critical mass and gives our partners the flexibility to compete anywhere they want.”

“Vacation home managers want to use multiple distribution channels at the same time and ISILink makes this easy and most importantly, allows independent owners to reach a wider audience through distribution channels,” said Hopcroft.

08/11/2005

By Todd Thatcher , Staff Writer

Residents of Hershey’s Cedar Avenue, along with Derry Township officials, are concerned that local owners renting out their houses to visitors may be a growing trend – and it’s one they want to nip in the bud.
Diane Leonard, who lives on Cedar Avenue, is worried that if such renting is allowed, the trend will only grow, and ultimately change the character of the village of Hershey.
“I speak for most of the neighborhood in that we’re concerned this is going to be an up-and-coming trend, and the neighborhoods we’re used to where you know your neighbors and look out for each other might change,” she said.
The properties in questions are located at 310 Cocoa Ave. and 164 Cedar Ave.
After purchasing the 310 Cocoa property last spring, new owners – and realtors – Chris and Joy Daniels – quickly began renovations, turning it into a 2,500-square-foot vacation home that, according its listing at www.vacationhomerentals.com, offers four bedrooms, a backyard deck, a fireplace, and a game room.
The owners argue that they are not violating any zoning regulations by renting their property.
“We believe we are using the property in accordance with the applicable zoning regulations,” the Daniels said in a statement. “We will be promptly seeking clarification and confirmation of the use from the Derry Township Zoning Hearing Board.”
According to a listing at www.heartofhershey.com, the 126 Cedar house includes three bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths, a kitchen, dining room, and living room, and rents for $175 a night during the “on” season and $140 a night during the off-season.
“We purchased it last fall – September or October,” Francine Walker, the owner of the Cedar Avenue property, said. “We actually had our first renters in over Thanksgiving.”
According to Walker, the home has been rented by everyone from tourists to people with family in town – as well as visiting members of her own family.
“It’s been sporadic, especially during the fall or winter – [then it's mostly] local townspeople who had relatives to visit over the holiday,” she explained. “At least half of it has been local people. Our friends and family use it too, so to make it a bit cost-effective, we rent it too.”
Walker said she has never heard any complaints from neighbors about the rental activity – quite the contrary, in fact.
“An immediate neighbor said he has been very happy with it actually – much more so than the previous owner,” she said. “We live in town ourselves, so we meant in no way for this to be bothersome to people.”
But following complaints from neighbors of the 310 Cocoa Ave. property, Jeff Keiser, the township’s director of community development, stepped in, making the rental issue a priority for his department.
“We heard the allegations here in the department for a number of weeks,” Keiser said. “We were periodically looking at the property, and about two weeks ago, we were able to find people that were staying at each of the dwellings and talk to them. They both indicated they were there for about week.”
Keiser then looked into the township’s related zoning ordinances to find out what provisions about length or type of rental – if any – were being violated.
“The use of that or any other property is governed by the zoning ordinances,” he said. “We don’t come out and say, ‘You can’t do that.’ The way most zoning ordinances are written is to spell out what you’re allowed to do, not what you’re not.
“It was my determination that that use was not permitted in a village residential district, which these properties are both in. I sent a cease-and-desist order to the owners of both properties. ”
Walker said that she was told the opposite by a township zoning officers when she first looked at the 126 Cedar house.
“Prior to purchasing the property, we spoke to a zoning officer who said there’s nothing in the regulations that say we can’t do what we’re doing,” she said. “What I was told was ‘That’s an interesting question, but there’s nothing that says how long a property can be rented.’”
Both property owners have appealed Keiser’s order to the [Derry Township] Zoning Hearing Board.
“What will happen now is that will be discussed at the zoning hearing board’s meeting on Sept. 21,” he explained. “The board has 45 days then to render a decision. The board could uphold my position or overrule it.”
According to Keiser, his cease-and-desist order will be staid until the hearing board has made a decision, meaning the owners will be able to rent their property’s at least until that time.
In the meantime, residents of Cedar Avenue are working to make sure their opposition continues to be heard by township officials.
“We spoke early on with some of the township staff, and later in the process we’ve spoken with some of the township supervisors about it,” Leonard said. “There’s a petition that’s going to be circulated and that’s going to be presented at the September supervisors meeting, and I know there’s lots of signatures on that.”

With a growing number of people investing in property abroad with the ‘buy to let’ vision, TipTopVillas.com allows holiday home owners to advertise for free.

Liverpool, North West England (PRWEB) August 3, 2005 — TipTopVillas has announced an extension of its free advertising offer, allowing holiday home owners around the world to advertise free of charge until 2006.

When browsing through vacation rental websites, holiday home owners are faced with a number of questions: How many visitors does the site get; how many enquiries can I expect from this site; what percentage of enquiries will be translated into bookings? These types of questions make it very difficult for villa owners to part with their advertising budget.

When creating TipTopVillas.com, founder Andy Heaps posed these questions. “TipTopVillas has been allowing villa owners to advertise free of charge for nearly 12 months now and we have recently extended this offer until 2006. We have cut out the uncertainty of whether advertising your villa online will be cost effective. Free is always cost effective and I am yet to find another vacation rentals site that can compete in terms of property detail along with the extensive period of free advertising.”

In less than 12 months TipTopVillas has accumulated a solid base of properties and has seen many satisfied customers.

TipTopVillas allows holidaymakers to arrange bookings directly with the owner of their chosen villa, cutting out the costs of the travel agent. As the service offered is free, TipTopVillas can offer a vast and diverse range of properties and locations, translating into a greater choice of accommodation for the holidaymaker.

Now almost a year old, TipTopVillas is beginning to establish itself as an authority amongst vacation rental websites. With the forecasted growth of the large international client database, TipTopVillas will continue to offer high quality, good value villa rentals direct from the owner.