Puerto Rico Vacations

Flipkey Poised tobe Number One!

2011-01-24T11:25:00.008-05:00

One of the oldest and largest travel websites is TripAadvisor.com. They are presently positioning themselves to take over the number one spot presently held by homeaway.com. for vacation rental listings. Their new vacation rentals listing site is Flipkey.com.

We were approached by Flipkey in February of 2010 to list our vacation rental with them for a 60 days free trial listing. This was an opportunity to get more exposure with what I thought to be one of the best travel related sites. We were contacted by Flipkey again at the end of our 60 days with instruction on how to pay and keep our listing. I wrote back and expressed that we had not received any viable inquiries because we did receive two inquiries but none of them had phone numbers. We do not count inquiries without phone numbers as serious or true inquiries because anyone could be sending them in. They came back with an extended sixty days and they we finally received several more inquiries with phone numbers and booked one of them. We continued to get inquiries and soon realized that most of our inquiries were coming from Flipkey.

I started to research them and realized that not only was my listing on Flipkey but they had also added a vacation rentals tab to TripAdvisor.com and were also showing our listing and we were receiving inquiries from TripAdvisor.com also.

They do something very unique in that once someone inquiries about a property they also offer up other options to send the inquiry to. This is great because if someone inquires about another rental in the same area they offer up our rental asking if they want the inquiry to come to us also.

VRBO and Homeaway have gotten bad raps for the way they handle the testimonials site allowing the owner to pick and choice which ones are posted, Flipkey has a process in place which we also like as they allow us to select who we want to ask for a testimonial and they post it once received.

With their ten million plus visitors to their websites I think these guys are poised to take the number one spot for vacation rental listing site in just a few more months or by 2012.

What this means to all property owners is that they are the site to list with so run do not walk over to the site and get your property listed for the ten million plus visitors they have to offer.

Get Your Sixty Day Trial Today!

Al & Nelida Rios
Owner Operators
Villas de COSTA MAR

Villas de Costa Mar Dorado Puerto Rico Slideshow & Video

2011-01-21T20:45:00.000-05:00

Villas de Costa Mar Dorado Puerto Rico Slideshow & Video: "TripAdvisor™ TripWow ★ Villas de Costa Mar Dorado Puerto Rico Slideshow ★ to Dorado, Puerto Rico. Stunning free travel slideshows on TripAdvisor"

Best Holiday Season I ever Celebrated without the Cold!

2009-11-25T20:41:00.001-05:00

I don’t know about were you are at but it’s getting cold here in Delaware.
The heat is on and the temperature is truly dropping in the evenings. We have already changed to nice warm blankets, as we both like it when we are warm. Coming from a tropical climate I really could do without those really cold days and nights when the temperature drops below thirty. Actually I have a problem when it drops below fifty and so does my wife Nelly. Sorry but we like it warm!

The only things we like about fall & winter are the holidays. That being said the best Christmas holidays we have had were when we were in Puerto Rico for the holidays.
Christmas in Puerto Rico is a non stop celebration all the way to January 06 “Dia de los Reyes” (Three kings Day). Jan. 06 marks the end of the Christmas holiday season in Puerto Rico. Just like in the main land USA the holiday starts with thanksgiving celebration. Some households due opt for the traditional Turkey dinner but it goes beyond the turkey to baked picnic hams (Pernil or pork ham) to pasteles (Puerto Rican savory cakes in banana leaves), arroz con gandules (Rice with Pigeon peas). The food is all to die for and the best part of any holidays anywhere!

So why are we talking holiday, foods and Puerto Rico? Because! It’s the best time of year to visit Puerto Rico. The weather is great; the natives are in celebration mode and willing to share. You could never go to a Puerto Rican household during the holidays and refuse a meal; they are just not going to have it. They will start offering you different things as they bring it to the table and before you know it the music is playing and you are sitting in front of a fest fit for a king. NO! is not an acceptable response to an offer to dine in any Puerto Rican household.

I recall when I lived there and was working and took the bus to work, kids singing Christmas songs on the bus every day. No matter where you went the holiday music was playing and everyone was in a festive mode and there was always plenty to eat and drink.

If you have never spent a Christmas in Puerto Rico my advise to you is that as soon as you finish reading this go book a two or three week trip and really have a holiday trip to remember. Leave the diet vocabulary back at home or make a new years resolution that you will definitely start eating health when you get back. But definitely bring your appetite!

For vacation accommodations in Dorado Puerto Rico look to Villas de Costa Mar beachfront vacation rentals for clean, safe secure accommodations.

FELICIDADES Y PROSPERO AÑO NUEVO, Happy Holidays & a prosperous New Year!

Vacation Rentals during Economic Times

2009-04-18T10:11:00.003-04:00

Vacations offer us and our families the necessary getaway time to relax and spend some quality time together. Do not postpone this very important time with your family, as we all need that time to relax and regenerate our bodies and mind. It is not healthy to just focus on our jobs and not take the time to be with our family. Everyone needs to get away, change our environment, relax and do something different with our loved ones. You have worked all year and the kids and you have also been concentrating on school and their activities. Everyone needs to get away no exceptions, as we all deserve it for our health and the stability of our families and relationships.

That being said; how can we spend some quality time together and not break the bank. The answer would be to select a destination we want to explore or even somewhere you have been before and had a great time at. The next thing is to forgo the hotel reservation and rent a house, villa, condo, apartment or cabin depending on your chosen location. There are several vacation rental listing sites that you can use to find the right rental accommodations for you and your family.

Vacation rentals provide us with a much more affordable accommodations and give us the choice of either eating in or eating out. We can also stock the refrigerator and have breakfast and lunch plus snacks available for all times of day. This is the economical way to feed the family while on vacation.

Then there is the room to spread out and secure your own space within the rental for quite time to read a book or go online and do some Internet surfing. A lot of rental accommodations have master suites so the parents can have some along time in the evenings to spend with your spouse or partner.

Vacation rentals are a lot more comfortable, economical and private than a cramp hotel room. You will also be away from those late night doors slamming and people in and out of their rooms making all that noise. Breakfast will also be a lot more private and less stressful with just your family having what they want and planning the day out.

So to review vacation rentals are the new way to vacation with your family for the benefit of all to get away relax and spend some quality time together and regenerate ourselves. They are also more private, economical and you will have more room for the whole family.

Another great article to help you select the correct vacation rental accommodation is “Picking a Vacation Rental” you can find it in the articles on this same blog.

For vacation accommodations in Puerto Rico look to http://www.villasdecostamar.com/.
Rentalbot.com http://www.rentalbot.com/ also offers a varied amount of vacation rentals world wide by owners that care and will assist you with your inquiries.

Happy vacationing starts with the right location and vacation rental.

Picking a Vacation Rental

2009-01-26T23:56:00.001-05:00

More and more people are finding that vacation rentals by owners are the new way to vacation. Weather you rent from a property owner or property management service here are some very important things to help you select the best vacation place in the listings.

The number one thing when making a vacation rental decision should not be the price. You get what you paid for is still the theme to remember here. There are a lot of different vacation rental accommodations by owners and selecting the perfect one is not hard. If you do your research, ask the right questions and follow the below you will be fine and have a great vacation.

Look for vacation rental accommodations that have plenty of pictures of their rentals. You should only deal with owners that are willing to call and speak to you. Owners who like to qualify their potential guest are ones who care about who stays in their rentals. This is a good thing since they are concerned about keeping their rentals in prime condition. They want guest who will take care of their place and things.

You want to rent from someone who has plenty of testimonials from prior guest. This is your best source of information about the accommodations, services and the general area where the rentals are.

Always look for rentals that offer parking off the street and offer safe secure comfortable accommodations. The testimonials are a great place to confirm this is true.

If you are still note sure speak to the owners and ask if they can provide you with references and or review the testimonials for emails and names of prior guest and ask for permission to contact them.

Price should not be the determining factor in your selection. If you have a price in mind, speak to the owner and negotiate with them. Always remember that the more inquiries they get for the same time period and the more popular their rentals are the faster you need to move to secure said rental. Ask them if they have availability and if there are other inquiries for the same time period.

If you have never been to said destination ask questions as to how the area is during the time of year you will be visiting. A lot of beachfront rentals will get a lot of local traffic during high beach season for said area.

Look for rentals that have their rentals listed on multiple paid for listing sites. Better yet look for rentals that have a professionally build website. The website should have their contact information. Look for owners that take credit cards even if you pay by check. This guarantees you are renting from an establish rental owner. You should always be able to pick up the phone and contact then and not just via email. Never rent from an owner who will only deal with you via emails! Never pay for a vacation rental via Western Union, as these funds are not traceable.

Communicating with the owner and asking questions is the best way to guarantee you get a safe, clean, secure and proven rental accommodation. Always read the rules and regulations in advance and know exactly what you are paying for. Know what the amenities are, these should be clearly listed on the website. Prices should also be clearly listed on the website along with information on the area and attractions.

The final price should be in writing in an email and always insist on a payment confirmation with every payment made. Owners that have property managers who meet and greet you and show you the rentals are always a nice touch. They will usually be your point of contact. Owners should also provide you with a phone number you can contact them at in the event you cannot reach the property manager.

Always do your research and contact the owners at least four to five months in advance. The decision process should take three to four days of back and forth telephone conversations after the initial email. Most owners will email you information and follow-up with a phone call to review the details on the email and get to know who they are renting to. Always provide a call back number and the best time to call you back.

What you will finally get is a great vacation rental accommodation that will be like a home away form home with all the comforts of home. Vacation rentals are great for a family of three or more as you will have room to rest and relax in after a day of exploring, hanging out by the beach, whatever the area has to offer.

Vacation rentals are a lot better than cramp hotel room that you will probably pay twice as much for as you will for a vacation rental. Plus you will always have the option of eating in or going out for your meals.

Another great thing about a nice vacation rental with a master bedroom is that you will be able to spend some private time with your loved ones after the kids are tucked in for the night.

Enjoy you next vacation rental and visit Rentalbot.com for all your vacation rental destination needs. If your destination is Puerto Rico check-out VillasdeCostaMar.com for the best beachfront vacation rental apartments in Dorado Puerto Rico.

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2007-05-31T23:12:00.000-04:00

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Why a Vacation Rental in place of a hotel

2007-05-23T09:47:00.000-04:00

Hotels & Timeshares Vs. Vacation Rental Homes

With a standard hotel, you get:

•One room with a bed and a bathroom

This is particularly difficult setup for families with small children. When the kids go to sleep, mom and dad's have no option but to go to sleep for fear of waking the kids. They are limited, as the whole family is sharing one room.
However, with a timeshare, you typically get full living accommodations like a condominium unit. A typical timeshare offers:

· A central living room (usually with a sleeper sofa)
· One, two, or three bedrooms
· Dining area
· A kitchen area with stove, oven, microwave as well as pots, Pans, utensils and dishes
· One, two, and sometimes three full bathrooms
· Washer and Dryer
· Balcony or Terrace sometimes both
· TV, VCR & Stereo system
· Internet access

With a timeshare, mom and dad can put the kids to bed in one bedroom and continue to enjoy themselves in the spacious living areas or retreat to the comfort of a master bedroom.
However, with timeshare come the monthly expenses and maintenance fees that are usually associated with many timeshare agreements. You are locked into that place and if you want to venture to other locations, you had better book early in order to guarantee that week.
Vacation rentals by owners offer you the best of both worlds. You get the amenities that timeshares provide without the monthly expenses or yearly maintenance fees. Some even do better as most vacation rentals provide DVD players, Cable TV, local phone service and internet access.

Most rental owners use their vacation homes one or two weeks out of the year and if they want to go somewhere else, they do vacation a rental swap with other owners. Owners are a great source of information for your next vacation rental stay as there are vacation rental homes all over the world.

Vacation rental homes are fast becoming the best way to go especially with the increase price of Hotels and timeshare fees that have to be paid each month. Most families looking to get away are looking to vacation rental homes as their vacation home. Vacation homes provide them with all the comforts of home and the cost savings that timeshare owners have to pay.
A great source for information on vacation rental homes is “vacation rentals by owners website ( www.VRBO.com ). They have the most comprehensive list of vacation home rentals in the world. They cover the United States, Hawaii, Caribbean, Africa, Central America, Mexico, Canada, South America, Asia, South Pacific, Europe just to mention a few.
So when planning your future vacation stays keep vacation rentals at the top of your list, for all the comforts of home for you and your family. If you are ever looking for rentals in Puerto Rico visit Villas de Costa Mar's website for information on all the amenities this little island paradise has to offer. http://www.villasdecostamar.com/

Another great resource for vacation rental owners is RENtalbot.com, This is a vacation rental directory site. RentalBot offer vacation rental property owners an unparalleled array of Property Management features including detailed availability calendar, renter contact lists, payment tracking, reminders, and much more. Visit their site for complete information... http://www.rentalbot.com/