Photo via Flickr user Funky Chicken

When planning a vacation, one of the first things my family does after deciding on our vacation destination is book lodging.  For most of us, this comes in the form of a hotel.  However, in some areas such as the Jersey Shore where I live, vacation rental homes are more plentiful than hotels.

If your family is like mine, you may be a little gun shy about jumping into a vacation rental.  We just have so many questions and don’t know where to start.  There is some comfort in the familiar and staying in hotels brands that we trust.  All the unknowns involved in renting a home for the first time make it a scary prospect!  To answer some of my questions and quell some of my worries I began to ask around.  This led me to Chris Fotache, owner of Jersey Shore Vacation Rentals.  While his site specializes in finding rental properties in our area his advice is great for wherever you may seek a vacation home.

Taking the Plunge

I let Chris know I was among the uninitiated when it comes to home rentals and asked him what he could tell me to ease my first-timer fears.  Chris believes it comes down to availability and management.  In some areas, such as here at the shore, there are no resort-style hotels and rental homes are more plentiful than motel or hotel rooms.  Rental homes offer families a larger variety of lodging options and as well as the comforts of home.  Just like staying at a new hotel for the first time, you may not know what exactly you are getting until you get there, but unlike a hotel which is working with hundreds of customers at one time, a vacation home owner only has one customer to consider at a time, you.

Benefits of a Rental Property vs. a Hotel Room

The most obvious benefit of staying in a home instead of a hotel room is the additional room.  Chris points out there are more benefits than just additional living space.  For an extended stay, a rental home may be more cost effective than a hotel stay for the same period of time, especially if your group is large enough to require more than one hotel room.  Another benefit is that it is a great way to reconnect or bond with your family and friends.  What better way to spend time together than sharing a home?

Photo via Flickr User Sizemoresr

Finding the Perfect Home for Your Family

So now I’m wondering how I go about finding the perfect rental home for my family.  Chris points out that you need to start by finding the best location for your needs.  Is the purpose of your visit to be family-friendly or are you looking for nightlife?  Are you looking for pristine beaches or a spot in the woods?  Once you find the region that fits into the type of vacation you are looking for then it is time to look at the home itself.  You should look at the size of the house in order to find something appropriate for the size of your family or the group that you will be traveling with.  You will also want to note location of the home in relation to local attractions such as restaurants and activities.  Chris recommends some highly reputable sites to begin your search and browse hundreds of vacation rentals.  Some of the largest websites are HomeAway or VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner). Sites with more of a local focus such as Jersey Shore Vacation Rentals offer home listings as well as regional information such as event listings and  beach information.

What to Watch For

Again, as a newbie to the rental arena, I want to know what to avoid and what to watch for.  Chris recommends staying with specialized sites with well-known reputations.  These sites take steps to ensure that scams aren’t offered to help protect the renter.  Sites like Craigslist are becoming popular resources, especially for last-minute deals, but you should be extra cautious using sites like these as you are more likely to encounter scams.

It isn’t easy to spot a scam so renters need to pay attention to the ad itself (is the ad clear and professionally written?) and to the behavior of the home owner.  Red flags include avoiding phone calls and requesting wire transfers or other unusual payment arrangements.

Realtor vs Home Owner

I asked Chris if there was a benefit of renting a home through a realtor vs. going through the home owner directly.  He pointed out that a large percentage of owners rent out directly without the help of a realtor so you may miss out on some great properties by only going to a realtor.  Home owners have to pay a commission to a realtor so you may be able to find better prices when working directly with the owner. However, to make sure you are finding the best home for your family or group, keep your options open and browse both realtor websites and rentals-by-owner websites like those listed above.

When to Book

My next question for Chris was how far ahead should a family be prepared to book a rental property?  He stated that the best homes (as far as location and price) are often booked a year in advance and often by the same family who like to rent the same house every year.  Here at the shore, winter time seems to be when most of the properties are booked.  The longer you wait, the less likely you are to find a nice home with a good price.  The closer you get to high season, the more likely that the homes left are over-priced or furthest away from a prime location.

Bargain Hunting

I asked for tips on scoring a deal and while the resulting answer was what I was expecting, I was hoping for a potential surprise tip.  Chris points out most home owners that are renting out are unlikely to negotiate.  If they are in a high rental area, they know that they will most likely rent out their property for the entire season and what they can get in terms of price for the property.  Occasionally you may be able to snag a last minute deal as a result of a late cancellation and you can often get better rates if you are renting for multiple weeks or an entire season instead of just one week.  Off-season rates are usually lower as well.

I’m glad I had the chance to talk with Chris and get some good advice.  I’d love to hear some more tips from our Trekaroo families as well!

Related:

• Budget Travel: Tips for Planning to Eat in While on Vacation
• Family Travel Tips for Roaming on a Budget
• Budget Travel: Family Vacation on a Shoestring
• Budget Travel: Tips for Saving on Lodging as a Family
• Home Exchanges – The Backdoor to Family Travel on a Budget
• Last Minute Hotel Deals

Beth Keklak is Trekaroo’s Destination Guroo for  New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | UT|VA | WA

Traveling with a food allergy is not easy. Meet my youngest.  Although she suffered from birth with some pretty annoying tummy issues, it wasn’t until this sweet age of 7 months that we discovered, through a terrifying trip to the emergency room that she has a life-threatening allergy to all dairy products.

While the momma bear in me wants to hunker down, build a Seinfeld-esce Bubble Boy suit and call it a day, I know that her life needs to be as “normal” as possible; she still needs to play at parks, go to birthday parties, and travel the world.

Prepping for travel, security checkpoints, and language barriers while managing hungry kids in need of healthy food and drinks can be difficult, stressful and overwhelming even for the non-allergic family. Startling facts are surfacing that severe food allergies are on the rise.  According to the CDC, 4 out of every 100 children suffer with food allergies and between 1997-2007 food allergy incidences increased 18%!  If you or a family you know is dealing with this serious condition, here’s a few handy tips I have put together for family travel with life-threatening food allergies.

Medication

Prepare for the worst

• Make a list of all of your child’s regular and emergency medications; check it twice.
• Ask your doctor to place extra refills on your file in case you need more medication while away from home.
•  Properly store auto-injectors for the weather you will be encountering.  (Some very cute insulated epi-pen cases are available in the guide below; no matter how you carry them, always use caution to ensure they are stored between 59° and 86°F)
•  If traveling by air, get a doctor’s note for all required medication and keep original labeling and boxes.
•  Keep medication with you in a carry on. Do not check medication in luggage– you don’t want to risk it being lost or not connected on a flight.
•  If you require more than 3.4 ounces of liquid medication, keep it separate and declare your medication to TSA security upon entering the security line. (Taking all of your allergy medications out of your bag and in a separate bin will help TSA to quickly identify and approve your medications.)

Food

Do your homework

Photo by: Flickr/Jennifer Kumar

•  Pack more than enough safe snacks and meals for the traveling portion of your trip.
•  Research your destination for natural food grocers so you don’t have to pack an entire week worth of food.  I typically look for a nearby Whole Foods, Sprouts or Trader Joe’s to ensure I can get the essential Dairy-free products I need once I arrive at my destination.
• Dining Out:  
  • My favorite  new resource is AllergyEats.  The site functions similar to Trekaroo, but in this case, users rate restaurants based on how helpful the staff and restaurant are towards your specific food allergy!  Best of all, it’s free!
  • If we can’t find our restaurant on AllergyEats, we use our smart phone to look up current allergy information. I almost always ask fast food employees to double check the box and show me the ingredients.  Restaurants are NOT required to state if they have had a change in ingredients on the menu; your ingredient chart might not be up to date.
  •  Still have a question, just ask. A quick talk with the manager can usually get you detailed food ingredients on almost anything in many restaurants.
  •  International restaurants: For about $10, Select Wisely offers explanatory cards to show foreign language speakers the severity of your child’s condition in their own language!!

Airline Travel

Communicate, Be Safe, Communicate

• Note dietary restrictions while booking your ticket, by calling the airline directly AND at check in.
•  If your child suffers from a peanut allergy, take extreme caution in choosing airlines.  Some will guarantee a peanut-free flight or buffer zone, but the recirculated air can pose a threat.  Call guest relations to get details from the airlines on how to keep your child safe.
• Request to pre-board the plane to thoroughly clean surfaces.
• Don’t take a chance; only eat food you are 100% certain is allergy-free.  You are literally thousands of miles up from medical care!!

Accommodations

Upgrades worth the extra cost

•  Many hotels are now offering upgrades to hypoallergenic rooms; although these rooms don’t pertain specifically to food allergies, this upgrade will get you a more thoroughly cleaned area before you arrive.
•  Request a room with a refrigerator to store essential snacks, beverages and meals.  Better yet, upgrade to a suite with a full kitchen to prepare a safe “at-home” meal.
• Numerous luxury chains offer grocery shopping services; you can arrive at your destination with a fully stocked kitchen of all of your favorite allergy-free brands.
•  If you plan on using a resort kids club, use caution.  Many well intending employees don’t understand the severity and risk of severe food-allergies.  This is especially dangerous for little ones not fully able to communicate or understand their condition.  For safety, my daughter wears a medic-alert bracelet and sports some adorable tee shirts reminding caregivers of her condition. A quick discussion with the manager on duty can usually leave you feeling relaxed enough to walk away and enjoy your evening.

Resources

AllergyEats is your go-to source for community based reviews on restaurants, all filtered through the lens of food allergy accommodation. 

Select Wisely offers food allergy cards translated into the language of your destination.  Custom cards available upon request.

Allergy Apparel has some adorable clothing and medic alert bracelets (see accommodations photo above) for the hippest allergy kids on the block. 

Use promo code TREKAROO for free shipping!

Kozi Epi offers a great selection of auto-injector cases, ID tags & accessories.  

Use promo code TFA15%OFF for 15% off your order through 4/24/12.

Sources: Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network | Center for Disease Control

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC| FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR| PA| TN | TX | UT | VA | WA

Imagine amazing ocean views, large luxury appointed villas, and a one-minute walk from your room to the white sands of the Pacific.

Photo by: the Retreat In Laguna

If you’ve been looking to add a bit of luxury to your vacation life, consider The Retreat in Laguna, a brand new property set on the stunning Pacific Ocean in Laguna Beach, CA.  The Retreat offers the best of two worlds; unsurpassed hotel luxury seamlessly mixed with the comforts, flexibility, and convenience of a private villa.  All of the villas are stocked with full-size modern kitchens, patios, and expansive rooms making The Retreat in Laguna the perfect getaway for a home-away-from home vacation.

Photo by: The Beach House

Don’t worry about missing hotel amenities, The Retreat will arrange an in room private chef or deliver catered dinners from partner restaurants like the Beach House, featuring one of the most stunning views in SoCal, or Savannah Chophouse, an upscale casual American restaurant featuring sustainable practices and divine food!  Concierge services are available to arrange local tours & activities, like a guided walk with the OC Wildlife & Beach Tour , or a dolphin and whale watching experience with Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching.  In room spa services and yoga are available and access to the Laguna Health Club is included.

The Retreat in Laguna | Savannah Chophouse | The Beach House | Dana Wharf 

The Steal: Win a Lauguna Beach Luxury Villa Vacation Valued at $3,000!

Details: One lucky winner will receive:

• A 2 night stay at The Retreat In Laguna (subject to availability, excludes holidays)

• Welcome tote bags from the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau

• 2 mornings worth of breakfast vouchers for four at The Beach House

• Low Tide walk for family of four with OC Wildlife & Beach Tour

• Dolphin and Whale Watching trip for four with Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

• Dinner for 4 at Savannah Chophouse

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

 Simply click on the rafflecopter box below and follow the directions. We’ve got lots of entry options on this one, so be sure to snag them all.

Read the rest of this entry »

As a SoCal resident, I am lucky to enjoy Disneyland frequently. Without a doubt, I can say that Disney is magic; the joys and memories made are well worth the price-tag as Disney provides quality, top-notch entertainment that permeates every inch of their parks.

However, with a “down-turned” economy, a single-family income, and three kids, Disney can get expensive.  Here’s your guide to the best Disney Vacation Deals (and a few to avoid!).

Spring 2012 Promotions & Special Offers

 Disneyland and Disney California Adventure

-Through May 28, 2012, get 3-day Park Hopper tickets for $199. Visit both parks in one day!

-Southern California Residents can Go Wild and visit twice for $99; now through June 1, 2012.  You pick the park, you pick the day.

-Active and retired U.S. military can enjoy a 3-day park hopper ticket for their families (up to 6 people) for just $99 through September 28th, 2012.  Special hotel rates are also available to military on select days.

-The Southern California CityPASS includes 3-day Park Hopper tickets to both Disney parks as well as one day tickets to Universal Studios, and SeaWorld.  The pass can save you over $100 if you bought individual tickets to each activity and is good for 14 days from first use.

-Score up to 25% off Disneyland Resort hotel rooms when you book a vacation from April 16th- June 9th.

- Trekaroo keeps tabs of great hotel deals near Disneyland

Walt Disney World

Photo by: Trekaroo/lilkim00033

- Book a 5 night/6 day Magic Your Way Package before May 18th to get a FREE DINING PACKAGE for your entire family!  (Select availability between August 25- September 29, 2012).  This special package can save your family up to $848 on dining!

-Florida residents can enjoy the Wild for 3 Pass; a 3-day ticket to a Walt Disney World theme park—for just $99.  Tickets must be used by May 24, 2012.  You can add a 4th day for just $30 more!  Folks who call the Sunshine State home can also a special “after 2pm” water park annual pass.

-Active and retired U.S. military can buy a 4-day Park Hopper pass for their families (up to 6 people) for just $138 through September 29th, 2012.  For just $27 more, the pass can be upgraded to the Park Hopper and Water Parks, Fun & More pass for even more value.  Special hotel rates up to 40% off are available on select days.

-Save up to 30% off at select Walt Disney World hotels for travel between April 13th- June 14th. (Book by March 31st!)

- Trekaroo watches for the best hotels deals near Walt Disney World

Cruises

Photo by: Flickr/twodolla

-Book your cruise online to receive an extra $25 onboard credit.

-Florida and SoCal residents, keep checking in as new promotions are posted frequently.

Tips on buying tickets

The absolute best resource for finding an awesome deal on Disney vacations is to head to the source: Disney constantly offers special packages on their own websites and the prices online are almost always cheaper than buying your tickets at the door.  Check back often as promotions change throughout the year.  Disney’s California Parks | Disneyworld | Disney Cruises

Don’t buy tickets from eBay, Craigslist, or anyone else offering you what seems to be too good of a deal.  Scam artists are very eager to prey on budget-conscious tourists by offering passes at low rates.  The catch is you have no way to guarantee that the ticket they are selling is real, or has any days left.  Don’t be sorry, buy your tickets from Disney’s offical site or from reputable resellers or travel agents.

Resources

Want more detailed information? Pick your park:

Disneyland | Reviews | Fastpass | Rider Swap | Character Map | Best Rides for toddlers| school aged kids | teens & tweens

Disney California Adventure | Reviews | Fastpass | Rider Swap

The Magic Kingdom |  Reviews | Best rides for teens & tweens

Epcot | Reviews | Fastpass

Disney’s Hollywood Studios | Reviews | Fastpass | Special Events

Disney’s Animal Kingdom | Reviews | Fastpass

Planning your day | Busy Day Activities | Apps | Ridemax | Resort Hotels | Children’s activity centers | Best Pools Near Disneyland | Hotels offering Kids Camps Near Disney World |   Hotels near Downtown Disney | Special Needs | Best Disney World Restaurants  | Parades | Resort Hotels with Story Rooms | Hotels for Large Families or Groups |  Dinner Shows |  Disney World Special Events |

Check out what is new for Disney in 2012.

Share your favorite Disney tip with other Trekaroo readers. Disneyland | Disney California Adventure | Magic Kingdom | EPCOT | Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Don’t forget to enter to win our Disneyland Resort Vacation!!

______________________________________________________________________________

Katie Bodell is Trekaroo’s Assistant Editor, a wife, & a mom to three sweet California girls.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | UT | VA | WA

For our first trip to Cancun, my family chose to stay at a Marriott, a brand we trust to provide the quality and value we’re accustomed to.  CasaMagna Marriott Cancun is located on the beautiful Mexican Caribbean coast where warm days abound and white-powdery beaches inspire sea-shell hunting expeditions. CasaMagna translates to “The Main House” in English, and this six-story property features arched open air walkways leading to beautiful ocean view rooms with flat screen televisions, water purification systems, and marble bathrooms.  These awesome amenities make it an incredible main house where you can truly get away from it all!  The air-conditioned lobby with its shining marble floors, long, gorgeous hallways and elegant chandeliers has my daughter convinced CasaMagna means “the main house to pretend you live in a palace!”

The Marriott Kids Club is a program for children ages 4 to 12 and operates daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. It offers professional supervision, daily play in the pool, and twice a week visits to the beach. Activities include sand castle building, piñata making, cooking classes, and arts & crafts. Every September and October, children are invited to participate in a turtle release program where kids have the unique opportunity to release baby turtles just after sunset. What an unforgettably experience!

Feast like a Royal Family

The CasaMagna Marriott offers a wide selection of restaurants and bars with great variety of cuisines and atmospheres. My favorite, La Capilla Argentina Steakhouse, is a softly lit restaurant decorated like the inside of a chapel. At dinner, a loaf of “Mexican” style focaccia bread is served with butter and a chimichurri sauce. The bread is amazing! My 3 year old practically ate an entire loaf. The chimichurri sauce is pure heaven-in-a-ramekin and I devoured it straight cookie monster style. The salad bar’s selection of exotic cheeses, Italian prosciutto and grilled vegetables would please most any foodie, while their sophisticated children’s menu is one even YOU may be tempted to order from!

The breakfast buffet at La Capilla can best be described as Holy_mother_of_all_that_is_yummy! Yes, it is that good! Every morning the first words out of my daughter’s mouth were “Yay! We get to eat breakfast!” All of my family’s favorite breakfast and brunch foods were beautifully presented in the center of a circular oceanfront dining area. The spread is huge and there are no lines. La CapillaArgentina’s breakfast buffet has become my new happy place.

Purely on accident, I discovered the resort’s gift shop/coffee shop/deli and ice-cream parlor sells really delicious pizza.  I walked in to buy some sunscreen and walked out with a Chai Tea latte, a large pepperoni pizza, a chocolate donut and chocolate ice cream! Turns out, not only was the pizza darn good, it was also a budget friendly way to feed the kids poolside. And although not technically a Marriott amenity, it should be noted there is a McDonalds directly across the street from the resort’s circular driveway. For this alone, I was a hero in my children’s eyes.

Family & Children’s Activities Nearby

A trip to Riviera Maya would not be complete without a visit to Xel-Ha and Xcaret. Xel-Ha is a natural aquarium park known for its rich underwater life and luscious jungle. Xcaret Park is the Yucatán Peninsula’s top eco archaeological park for family fun. Delphinus provides opportunities to swim with dolphins at both locations. Arranging a trip to Xel-Ha and Xcaret couldn’t be easier. A luxurious bus, equipped with your very own tour guide, transports your family to either park directly from Marriott CasaMagna.

Read more about the Riviera Maya Dolphin Discovery Riviera Maya and Tulum- A History Lesson in the Riviera Maya.

Tina Buell is Trekaroo’s Northern California Destination Specialist, single mom, and mother to a constant ray of SONshine

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC| FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR| PA| TN | TX | UT | VA | WA