Good surprises can be great, especially on vacation. Discover the surprises that Gulf Shores vacation rental homes and cabins have to offer. These properties are located in every destination, from Disneyland to Lake Tahoe to Hawaii and beyond. Enjoy the comforts of home on your next family vacation - for surprising cost savings.

More space to relax - A 400 square foot hotel room vs. a 2,500 square foot home…any more questions? That extra space equals more relaxation while traveling with family and friends. A vacation rental is a wonderful alternative to a hotel room. On a family vacation, everyone just needs their space. The kids need to play, mom and dad need to wind down and relax, and your guests certainly need their own room (not a creaky, uncomfortable rollaway bed right in the middle of everything). Not even a fancy end suite in a hotel can provide the space you’ll find in a vacation rental - not to mention the $3000 per night you’ll spend for that end suite. The kitchens alone in most vacation rentals, beach homes, ski chalets and condos are larger than even a 5-star hotel room.

More bang for the buck - Booking that perfect vacation rental for a few nights, a week or perhaps a month will be so much cheaper than even a mid-grade hotel room. Hotels make a large portion of their money from the restaurants on the premises. How much was your last room service bill? I recall spending $85 for a continental breakfast for two in Hawaii…yep, that’s right, 85 bucks for coffee, juice and a couple of danishes! Private vacation rentals come with fully equipped kitchens ready for home cooked meals on the cheap. Or, how about a drive to the local restaurant everyone has been talking to you about for a night out - one or two nights out instead of every night? The versatility that comes built in with these homes for family vacations is often overlooked by travelers. Rental owners don’t have the cost and expenses associated with property tax, large loan payments, restaurants, upkeep and advertising; therefore the savings is passed along to the renter. In terms of size, comfort, luxury, amenities and location, your bucks go a lot further when spent on a vacation rental.

Peace and quiet - It’s 7:30am…knock, knock, knock “Housekeeping, housekeeping!” followed by the key in the door. Does this sound familiar? Most hotels rooms are surrounded by other rooms with other people. While sleep is important on vacation, no hotel I’ve ever stayed in has a curfew. “Bang, boom, thump,” sound familiar? We all know the irritation of noisy neighbors in the room next door or up above yours. A vacation home is as quiet as you make it or as loud as you want it to be. It’s your choice. Vacation homes come with space around them and insulation to buffer you from the outside world when it’s your time to rest and relax.

Have a party and where does everyone end up? All together now: THE KITCHEN! The most important part of any home, it’s where home cooked meals are created and eaten. We can’t say enough about the kitchen. From a “these are the moments life is made of” perspective, having your own kitchen on vacation is priceless. From a hard cash perspective, having your own kitchen on vacation can save you bundles. Eat out two nights instead of every night. Pack picnic lunches instead of dining out. Enjoy breakfast in bed, and not for those exorbitant room service rates. Put leftovers away to enjoy the next day. That extra money? Sock it away and save it. Or spend it on one more day of lift tickets, Sea Doo rentals, a Mickey hat, or one last fabulous meal at a fabulous restaurant.

Have it your way - No more planning around the hotel shuttle, no more spending premium rates for taxi rides (or the tips)…you can make your own schedule in a vacation rental. Need some ice, board games, movies, books, a hot tub, pool, WIFI or how about a backyard? You are in luck. Booking a vacation home is your choice and so are the cool amenities that come with it at no extra charge. Most all amenities that come with vacation homes and cabins are included at the time of booking and are FREE!

Vacation Rentals in The Gulf Shores are everywhere situated along the beaches but did you know that most all top visited travel hot spots offer vacation rentals, beach homes, villas and condo rentals? Families traveling with kids or in groups are finding some great deals on these amazing properties around the world.

If you have not stayed in a vacation rental check out some of the most desired travel destinations that offer vacation rentals for all budgets. Cape Coral, Myrtle Beach, Indian Shores, Orlando, Destin, Breckenridge, Vail, Keystone, Telluride, Steamboat, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Big Bear Lake, Table Rock, Shawnigan Lake, Davenport, Hilton Head, Fripp Island, Scottsdale, Cancun, Palm Desert, San Diego, Las Vegas, Oregon, the Virgin Islands…just about any destination you can think of, you will find a vacation rental, not just hotels.

How about that cute little cabin along the river where the kids can play in the swimming hole throughout the afternoon or that ski home next to Northstar ski resort in Lake Tahoe? A nice bungalow in the Caribbean can have its advantages. Don’t get me wrong, hotels do have their place, but for family travel, take advantage of some of the great deals on your next beach home down in the Gulf Shores or wherever it is you like to vacation.

It is important to remember to always do your research BEFORE booking a vacation rental. There are a ton of scams in this market place. Your hard earned money needs to go to an owner that is verified as a good manager. ALWAYS USE WEBSITES THAT VERIFY THEIR RENTALS! NEVER BOOK VACATION RENTALS THAT ARE NOT VERIFIED! These days anyone can post a few pictures and some rates on a vacation rental listing site but getting to know who stands behind that home is very important!

You may pay a few extra bucks for verified vacation vacation rentals in The Gulf Shores rental but it is well worth every penny. Most advertising websites for vacation rentals from Lake Tahoe to the Caribbean do not verify any of their listings. It is always worth looking for reviews of the rental you are interested in and reading all of the different comments. Then take the middle ground and at least you will have a pretty good starting point in to your investigation. Property management companies are usually the best resource from verification purposes as many of these managers have viewed the rental home or cabin first hand. Vacation rental sites that accept credit cards are also a great solution as many credit card companies offer insurance. Scams are out there and the last thing you and your family need is to end up at a parking garage.

You are all ready to book your next Lake Tahoe Vacation, family get-together in San Diego or a Maui, Hawaii adventure. Finding a vacation rental is as easy as search, find and book. Simply type in “BOOK VACATION RENTALS IN TAHOE” or “BOOK VACATION RENTALS in Maui, Hawaii” or “BOOK VACATION RENTALS IN THE GULF SHORES” OR where ever you desire and away you go!

Learn more about Gulf Shores Rentals. Stop by Mandy Morris’s site where you can find out all about Gulf shores Beach Homes for your next family Gulf coast family holiday.

If I was going to buy a condo anywhere in this country it would be Perdido Key Florida. There are a few reasons. Number one is that there are awfully few hotels in the area, so you can rent them out. The view on the shoreline is just stunning over the Gulf of Mexico. You are close to both Alabama and Florida and even Mississippi.

I one time traveled to this area for the Mullet Toss. It is a beach festivity where people throw a fish from Florida to the Alabama line. It was a extraordinary beach party, with a lot of stuff to do. The thing I love about this area is that it is so casual. You can go all over the place in just a bathing suit, or a t shirt. You dont need to be all fancied up to go out to have a meal.

If you are looking to travel to this area you are going to rent a condo. There plainly are no hotels in this city that I am aware of. Everything there is vacation rentals. This is not a unpleasant thing, because you can in actuality get a nice place right on the beach with a veranda for less than you can get a hotel room.

There are many property managers that run the condos, so if you are looking for an investment this is a great place to invest. You can by a condo, and then take a vacation to it for a few weeks a few times a year. Then the other 48+ weeks you can rent it out like a hotel room by hiring one of these property management firms.

The only competition you have is other condo owners. This allows you to travel free, and you can actually depreciate the cost of the condo over time since it is an investment property.

There are some tips though if you can invest and you are just traveling to the area. Most of the hotel websites that rent hotels, also rent condos in the area just like hotel rooms. You can save a lot of money by simply getting a condo this way.

Simply visit a discount hotel site and search for Perdido Key Florida and book yourself in one of those beach front condos. Keep in mind they are STILL rebuilding from the damage of Hurricane Ivan. It is still just a beautiful place to stay.

The beach town of Del Mar California is one of the most beautiful destinations along the SoCal coast of the Pacific Ocean. Situated on the northern edge of the city of San Diego, Del Mar is a quaint historical village that serves as a backdrop to a seaside resort where Hollywood stars Bing Crosby and Jimmy Durante built a horse race track in the 1930s.

1. The Place To Be Is Epazote

Del Mar’s downtown area has a definite European flavor. More than seventy unique shops, cute hotels and 23 restaurants offer enough variety to please everybody. The artsy “Italian” outdoor mall, Del Mar Plaza, is at the north end of town at the corner of Highway 101 and 15th Street, where you will find trendy shops and unique bistros among the ironwork and tiled fountains of an Italian piazza.

The plaza is the home of Epazote, a local restaurant favorite. It’s a wonderful place for lunch or end of the day cocktails because it has an outdoor patio that swells with sunshine, sea breezes and enchanting panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s also one of Del Mar’s favorite nightlife destinations with a contemporary, upscale vibe. Sleek and sophisticated, with a 180-degree views of the Pacific, hip bar and a cutting edge ocean view lounge, Epazote is a great day or night experience. Oh, and did I mention the food? All of it is creative, unique and wonderful.

2. Hike Through Abstract Red Rock Canyons

If you enjoy a nature hike with phenomenal scenery, Torrey Pines State Reserve is for you, with nearly 2000 acres of natural habitat along the ocean. The reserve was created because this is where the rare and beautiful Torrey Pine tree grows. You will find 6 or 7 trails for hiking, each with it’s own brand of awesome views: wind bent Torrey pines, abstract rock formations and lush wildflower displays, all framed by the magnificent Pacific Ocean. Parking Tip: You can park outside the park along the ocean and Highway 101 for free, then walk up the drive into the reserve for a great workout with magnificent views. Take your camera - especially in the spring when fields of wild flowers are in bloom and everywhere you look are fantastic views of the ocean.

3. Come Sail Away In Your Beautiful Balloon

Every evening we see them from Encinitas - hot air balloons, specs in the distance, soaring through the sky just before sunset after taking off from Del Mar. We have been “up there” and can testify that a balloon ride is a one-of-a-kind experience. You can’t help but gain a unique perspective of the immenseness of the Pacific Ocean and sweeping San Diego countryside. Our usual sunny skies and calm morning and evening winds allow you to experience what it’s like to float among the clouds. Hot air balloon companies have sunrise and sunset tours - weather permitting - from Del Mar.

Many describe flying in a hot air balloon as one of the most serene, enjoyable activities they’ve every experienced. Sunny skies and a heavenly sunset allow you to experience what it’s like to float among the clouds. If you’re staying at a hotel in Del Mar, you can experience the views and flights of a lifetime with Panorama Balloon Tours, Skysurfrer Balloon Tours or Magical Adventures. Simply Google them for information.

4. Get The Tan Of A Lifetime

Located just north of Torrey Pines reserve, Del Mar Beach is a beach-lover’s delight, a great spot for families, friends and surfers who enjoy its wide expanse of soft sand. Swimming, loafing, sunning, walking, jogging, surfing, body boarding, boogie boarding and even grunion hunting are just a few of the activities you will enjoy here. In town, the most popular beach is at the end of 15th Street. Crowded year-around with families, couples, friends and surfers, parking can be a problem at 15th Street, and even if you find a space, you must feed the meters. Parking is free on 17th Street if you get there early in the day - during the summer the parking spaces fill early. Lodging and accommodations can be found throughout the area, from cute and intimate Del Mar bed and breakfasts to the more traditional hotels in Del Mar.

5. Pedal Around Town

Bike riding is one of the simplest ways to have fun, enjoy the wonderful Del Mar scenery, especially if you’re staying at a Del Mar B&B or other vacation lodging. With near-perfect weather all year, enjoying the great outdoors is a way of life for most Del Martians who enjoy riding down quiet residential streets along the ocean. Del Mar is full of paths and trails that give cyclists an opportunity to relax, exercise and explore. Any way you cut it, Del Mar is a great place to have fun, get fit, and relax!

What is it about Cardiff By The Sea that makes it so different from the other beach communities lining the Pacific Ocean north of San Diego? Well, there’s the ocean, an ecological reserve, a lagoon, fantastic beaches, restaurant row, surf breaks, Cardiff-By-The-Sea bed and breakfasts and never-ending sea breezes. To help you capture the flavor of Cardiff, here are Eight Things You Must Do when visiting Cardiff By The Sea.

1. Go For A Magic Carpet Ride

Look for our $120,000 surfing statue right across Old Historic Highway 101 from the Cardiff Lodge, on the bluffs above Cardiff State Beach. You’re looking for a bronze sculpture of a young surfer dude with his arms stretched out, supposedly riding a wave. The bronze is entitled “Magic Carpet Ride” and the locals have been highly steamed about the statue ever since it was unveiled July, 2008. Local surfers complain that the surfer’s pose does not capture the essence of surfing. Called sissy by some and just too dog-gone feminine by others, surfers have had a field day dressing the statue in pink skirts, stuffed animals, bikini tops, bikini bottoms, lingerie, Fruit-Of-The-Looms and glittering wands. It is one of a kind.

2. Watch The Surfers At Cardiff State Beach

Cardiff State Beach stretches from our bronze surfer sculpture all the way south to Solana Beach with some of the most beautiful coast line in California. The beach is popular with surfers because of the soft sandy bottom and mushy “perfect” waves for long boards. Visitors, photographers and spectators love the views of the surfers from any where along the beach. The nearby bed and breakfasts in Cardiff lodge many visitors who enjoy having lunch at the seaside restaurants while watching the surfers.

3. Take A Hike in an Ecological Reserve

San Elijo Lagoon is one of San Diego County’s largest coastal wetlands. It lies along the Pacific coast between Cardiff-By-The-Sea and Solana Beach, extending inland to the community of Rancho Santa Fe. This mosaic of habitats supports more than 310 species of plants, 21 species of fish, 22 species of reptiles and amphibians, 24 species of mammals and more than 300 species of birds. The new visitor’s center is open to the public seven-days-a-week from 9 am to 5 pm, and is an excellent vantage point from which to explore the Ecological Reserve and its more than seven miles of hiking and jogging trails.

4. Work On Your Tan

Cardiff State Beach is a great beach to have fun. You can watch surfers, work on your tan, read a book, have a picnic, or try your hand at surfing, boogie-boarding or body surfing. Cardiff Beach has been called the Riviera of the West because it has warm water and a sandy beach. You will see people swimming, surfing, bicycling, walking and jogging. These beaches area a great place to stretch and watch sunrise after a night at a Cardiff lodge or bed and breakfast in Cardiff-By-The-Sea.

5. Relax In Your Own Private Hot Tub

The Inn at Moonlight Beach just 2 miles up Historic Highway 101 is a romantic seaside inn located on a hillside above Moonlight Beach. The four guest suites overlook the Pacific Ocean and the quaint beach town of Encinitas and recall a French-European Inn with spotless private baths, wi-fi internet, refrigerator and cable TV. Inquire about the Penthouse Suite with it’s own private balcony and private hot tub with a commanding view of sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.