Cheap Ways To Have Fun On Your Sedona Vacation

1. Watch for bobcats at Casita Colibri.  They sneak down the arroyo to eat the ground squirrels that have infested the vacant lot near the labyrinth.
2. Check out a rock art site down a road less travelled.  Red Tank Draw is sure to impress those patient enough to find it.  Click for map and directions.
3. Hike to the bottom of the sacred and beautiful Montezuma's Well.
4. Go birding for endangered southern eagles, spot western bluebirds, hummingbirds, flycatchers, warblers, Kinglets, or Abert's Towhees.
5. Browse free books and check out southwestern sculpture at the Sedona Library, including the reknown Schnebly sculpture.
6. Take a guided geology or birding hike or just check out the most photographed spot in the world from the Red Rock State Park.
7. Hang out at a coffee shop with locals, bring your own mug keeps plastic out of the environment (plastic never goes away).
8. Get inspired at Sedona's Favorite Architectural Attraction, the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
9. Roam through an ancient pueblo and take in some of the best views of the Verde Valley at Tuzigoot National Monument.
10. Hike a scenic Red Rock trail.
11. Search for turquoise jewelry and other southwestern treasures at Saddlerock Barn Consignments, "giving new life to old treasures."
12. Check out an intuitive, get a 15 minute sand play session free of charge. 
13. Cool Off Like a Cave Man. Arizona has many caves like the one above where temps often stay the same as the previous night's cool air. Thunder Mountain and Sycamore Canyon boast a few places to cool it. Cave men and femmes alike can also groove on the petroglyphs and pictographs of Platki and other ruins.
14. Investigate a vortex, real or hype?
15. Get enlightened at a lecture or uplifted at a Sedona Creative Life Center concert. (fee)
16. Hike Page Springs hatchery and watch for migrating birds.
17. Explore the rich photography of Four Corners Magazine and the articles by new thought leaders.  Available free online.
18. Drink wine and appreciate art on the First Friday of every month in Uptown Sedona.  Be sure to go to the largest seller of local artists, the Sedona Arts Center.  Check out paintings and sculpture by one of the original cowboy artists, Joe Beeler.
19. Play 18 holes at one of the Sedona area golf courses, ask them how they're working to conserve water and reduce the use of pesticides. (Fee)
20. Take a swim at Sedona's community pool.  Children $2, adults $3.
21. Imagine the meaning of the 1,032 petroglyphs at the V-V (say vee bar vee) past the Beaver Creek Ranger Station. Only open Friday through Monday (long weekend).
22. Laugh it up at a Canyon Moon performance.  Most performances around $20. 
23. Learn about indigenous cultures at the free Ringing Rocks Museum.
24. Feed the giraffes at the wildlife preserve, Out of Africa. (Fee)
25. Soak in the Verde Hot Springs.
26. Stroll Whiskey Row in Historic Prescott.
27. Mountain Bike the Big Park Loop and miles of other bike trails.
28. Study anthropology and art at the Mueseum of Northern Arizona.
29. Cruise on your skate board at the skate boarding park (free).
30. Hug 200 acres of trees at the Arboretum at Flagstaff.
31. Check out local events and concerts.
32. Run the Sedona Marathon.
33. Explore Wupatki's multiple ruins.
34. Watch the flicks at the Film Festival in February. (fee)
35. Enjoy a free musical event at Talaquepaque.
36. Walk in, dance out of a free Zumba class with Eric 5:30 PM at the Priya Pilates Studio.  One free class a visitor to try it out.  Best dance floor in Northern Arizona.
37. Sip some wine at an Arizona winery and enjoy a free barrel cellar tour on Saturdays.
38. Try a MeetUp group for hiking, this one is in the Phoenix area.
39. Protect the treasures of the American West.
40. Get spiritual with a private, guided hike to sacred lands (fee).
41. Join the Wednesday night drumming circle at OCB (Oak Creek Brewery)
42. Dance at the Tuesday Stick Drum Dance Night.
43. Discover what's grander than Niagara at the Grand Falls (water flow varies, best to go in March and April).
44. Dunk in one of the "10 Best Swimming Holes." Rated by Outside Magazine as one of the best places to swim in a natural pool, Wet Beaver Creek is at the end of 179, about two miles past I 17.
45. Beat the heat with a summer hike.  Towering pines keep trails into canyons like Boynton, Sycamore, and Secret Canyons cool enough for a solid hike even in the hot temps of August. Really want something Alpine? Kachina Trail hovers at 9,500 feet for most of its 5 miles. Picnic with the largest organisms on the planet, aspen groves.
46. Check out this related post: How to Save Money on Your Sedona Vacation.
47. Get tips on hiking gear, trails and good sales from The Hiking Lady blog.
48. Map it. Get maps for all your outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, backpacking--with Trail Finder. Or check out the free iPhone application, Trails.
49. Skip the pricey art galleries and cut out the middle-man when you browse and buy art direct from native and local artists at the Sedona Art Mart.  Save on sales tax at the Sedona Arts Center.
50. Plan your trip online with Nile Guide: maps and info all in one place, save paper.
51. Ring famous bells and explore an alternative to urban sprawl at Arcosanti. It will stretch your imagination with amazing architecture and you can ring the famous bells at the foundry and ceramics studio.  (fee)

Dana's 5 for Eco Summer Travel

1. Tyvec Papier Travel Bags. Light and 100% recyclable. saskia-diez.de

2. Los Poblanos, NM Lavender Shampoo & Conditioner. Delightful, pure and organic from the farm at Los Poblanos Inn.

3. Earth-friendly luggage on sale and travel bags with free shipping and return shipping.

4. Sedona's new farmers market at the airport parking lot, Fridays 8 AM - 12 PM.

5. Shared luxury. Fractional ownership in boats, boutique hotels, eco-destination clubs.

This blog is for bottom-up dispensers of cool who enjoy eco-travel deals and healthy living. We feel that "the small, the slow, the local, and the personal" will build the new economy. Your comments will help enrich this information for all of us. Please share your tips and experience.

Summer Savings on Holiday Homes & Vacation Rentals

1. Southern Arizona Day Trips.

2. Most Romantic Green Vacations.

3. Save up to 50% percent off vacation rentals. Sedona, Arizona healthy living vacation rental, $699 the last week of July. St. Augustine, Florida $85 a night in June. Some restrictions may apply.

4. Best place to host your blog or website about your healthy vacation home.

5. Big Green Lies. New TV show exploring common myths about eco-friendly practices such as cloth versus disposable diapers, hybrid versus traditional cars.

This blog is for bottom-up dispensers of cool who enjoy eco-travel deals and healthy living. We feel that "the small, the slow, the local, and the personal" will build the new economy. Your comments will help enrich this information for all of us. Please share your tips and experience.

Affordable Travel - 5 Ways To Save On Your Next Vacation

Who isn't trying to save money these days?. But it's time for summer vacation! Time to immerse yourself in the local life of a new place or just take a break at the beach. It may be just what you need to reduce stress.

Fortunately, if you want to save money, this summer is a much better time to travel than last summer. Gas prices are lower, the dollar is stronger in some countries, airfares are down, and there is no time like the present.

These five tips will help you wring more value out of your summer holiday.

1. Take advantage of the strong dollar in Western Europe. Prices have fallen in the UK, Turkey and Iceland.

2. Stay in a private home. More space, save on meals, sleep on the sofa, or rent a joint big enough for a family reunion--each way can bring big savings. Self-catering rentals, holiday homes, vacation rentals, or just a room or sofa in someone else's home is less expensive than B&Bs and hotels. My neighbors just rented their beautiful condo out while they went to visit family for the Memorial Day weekend. All they did was respond to an ad a young couple from Vegas ran on Craigslist. asking for a place to stay for the weekend for less than $300. And they got it! A comparable suite in a hotel would have cost $900 plus tax.

3. Learn about deals before it's too late. Instead of spending all day browsing the Internet, have the deals come to you. Sign up for all the RSS feeds like this one and newsletters from airlines and travel blog magazines. Deals like our free week to people who quit smoking, or JetBlue's $14 San Francisco-New York airfares sell out fast. If you get an email about it, you can get to it first.

4. Don't go to Sedona or St. Augustine during wedding season. May and June fills UP both towns with brides, grooms and their loved ones. Year-after-year the couples come back to celebrate their anniversary. Find out when it's shoulder season in your chosen destination and make sure the weather is still good. The rates on lodging and dining go down when high season ends. Plus there will be fewer people on the hiking trails.

5. Call home for free. Bring your laptop or iPhone and download Skype. When your friends and family do the same it is free as long as you call Skype to Skype. Skype to land line or cell phone call. Once the software is loaded and you plug in a headset or USB phone and connect to the Internet, you can talk to friends all over the globe no charge. Don't want to bring a laptop or download software? Book a vacation rental home like ours, we include unlimited US long distance calls in the fee.

Summer Fun--Dana's Top Five for May

1. Are You Stuck on Teflon? Guests often ask why the gourmet kitchens in the vacation rentals don't have teflon pans (aka PFOA, a likely carcinogen). My answer? "Teflon has sticky health issues." I'm a stickler for cast iron and green pans.

2. Last Minute Vacation Rentals. No healthy homes or eco conscious properties in the current specials, but I did see some screamin' deals for summer savings. Listings change daily, so smoke-free or green vacation homes may get posted.

3. Six Secret Ways to Save On Your Next Vacation. Good ideas but I say, "No way," to Number Five. Never found renting an RV to be inexpensive or eco conscious.

4. Tools to Help You Plan, Book, and Share Your Travel. Check out their famous Packing List.

5. Looking For Someone To Hike With? Check out Fitness Singles.

Award winning "pinhole" photography by Sheila Bocchine

This blog is for bottom-up dispensers of cool who enjoy eco-travel deals and healthy living. We feel that "the small, the slow, the local, and the personal" will build the new economy. Your comments will help enrich this information for all of us. Please share your tips and experience.

Healthy Travel Tips

Your best bet for staying healthy on the road or anywhere else for that matter, is to keep your immune system strong. While anitbiotics or Tamiflu may shorten the length of time you're ill by a few days, there is no cure. Flu vaccines reduce the risk of catching the bug, but only protect about 39% of the people who take the shot.

Here's how I keep my immune system strong:

• Avoid stress. I get outside--hike, bike, or just take a walk! Being in nature is a healing balm, the wonder and beauty relaxes me and reminds me of the order and grace that exists regardless of what the balance is in my IRA account.
• Increase Vitamin D. Most adults in the US suffer from an acute shortage of vitamin D. 15 minutes of sun a day on my legs and arms will boosts my levels to normal and helps protect your immune system. Yet another reason to get outside on my vacation.
• Increase exercise. Our sedentary lifestyle contributes to our weak immune system. I spend an hour a day walking and on vacation, I hike for hours.
• A Breath of Fresh Air. I avoid toxic places and stay out of hospitals and gyms (with the exception of the Sedona Spa which is hyper vigilant about keeping the place sanitized). 92% of indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air. I open the windows at least 45 minutes a day, except during heavy pollen seasons, ozone or air quality alerts. I avoid staying in places that have been remodeled within six months--most likely the carpet, paint, drywall, and other materials will be out gassing toxins like formaldehyde and other respiratory irritants and carcinogens.
  
• Insist on Truly Smoke-free Lodging. Enforcement can be lax unless the establishment is committed to healthy practices. And a smoke-free room on a smoking floor is still a smoking room. I use http://www.smoke-freehotels.com/ to find lodging on the road.

Dana's Top 5 - Includes $7 A Day Rental Cars

1. The top 25% of people in India, when ranked by IQ, is a larger number than the entire population of the US. Put your lifestyle in context with this must see video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY.

2. Free WiFi for Mac Users from Skype. http://www.boncherry.com/blog/2009/03/19/free-wi-fi-skype-access-for-mac-users/

3. "The Lost Generation," watch and read this AARP award winning video all the way through to the end http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA.

4. Rental cars for $7 a day at carrentals.com.

5. Luxury 4 Star Hotels for under $100 a night http://www.hotwire.com/destination/four-star-budget-hotels.jsp. Still not as good as a healthy vacation rental for under $100 a night (June to Sept at my place)! But if you don't want to go to St. Augustine, FL or Sedona, AZ, click away:-)

Taj photo by Eric J. Mayer
This blog is for bottom-up dispensers of cool who enjoy eco-travel deals and healthy living. We feel that "the small, the slow, the local, and the personal" will build the new economy. Your comments will help enrich this information for all of us. Please share your tips and experience.

Best Ways to Find Vacation Rental Deals Online

Supply exceeds demand with vacation rentals, which means better deals for you. After failing to sell or rent their property, many home owners have turned their homes into vacation rentals, flooding the market. And those of us with experience in the vacation rental market find ourselves with more cancellations and erratic off-season occupancy. This makes us more likely to flex on price. Here's how to get the best deal on your vacation rental.

1. Start Searching. Look for the hungry owners with an Internet search using the terms "self catering" or "vacation rentals" along with the name of your destination. More than likely, it will turn up the same old third-party rental sites and management companies that mark up the price--but there will be some owner listings as well. And some sites have sections for special rates. Owners have to pay to be listed in these sections, which they do to generate traffic. But sometimes the deals are worthwhile.

2. Go Directly to the Owner. Most rental sites have no contact with the owners. By finding ways to reach owners directly, you cut out the management and listing fees. If the owner doesn't have to pay a third party or $20 to get in the rate specials section, they may pass the savings on to you.

Start with a search using unique terms like "smoke-free," or "hikers vacation rental." The results are more likely to put you directly in touch with an owner.

3. Call, Don't Email. It may not be as fast, but if it puts $100 in your pocket, it may be worth it.

I get about five inquiries a day by email. Most are for dates in the next 10 days that are already booked. Many are for large parties (we have two bedrooms and one person wanted to know if they could bring 14 people). The rest read something like this, "Hi, what's your best rate for these dates?"

I consider myself to be an honest person which means my "best rate" is the rate I post on the websites. This type of email doesn't get much of a response from me or other vacation owners I know. A personalized message or phone call gets our attention. It's a real person, with real interests.

Chat with the owner about the unique term you used to find them, you'll find they may be more willing to discuss a sweet deal if you've expressed genuine interest. It will also give you a sense of what this person is like and if their home is a good match for you or if they're running a scam. Read my article about how to avoid being disappointed when booking online.

4. Be Flexible About Travel Dates. I don't make deals during peak season, Dec-April in the sun belt. I don't make deals for holidays. Why? I don't have to--I can book the place five times over. In the summer, vacation owners in my neighborhood rent for up to one third as much as they get in season. This applies to beach area rentals as well, but their peak season is June-September.

5. Dana's Top Five. I only stay in vacation homes with healthy air quality, low toxin fixtures and furnishings rented by experienced owners. I rarely stay in hotels. These are the sites I do and do NOT use to shop for deals:

HotStays.com does not charge owners to feature their listings and they do not copy listings from other sites which means the information is more likely to be accurate. The site is easy to search. And no, I don't get paid to mention them or anyone else. This is an ad-free site.

Last minute deals on international vacation rentals and villas.

CyberRentals special deals and offers, mostly in the US, they charge the owner to be featured.

Find deals on Scottish cottages.

As for CraigsList, with a few exceptions like the geek-rich cities of Austin and Seattle, I find it difficult to search, filled with strange deals offered by disreputable people, and most owners are very inexperienced. Problems range from owners being unwilling put things in writing like directions and rental terms, they only have one frying pan in the kitchen, or you have drive all over town at odd hours to get the keys which can be difficult if you're driving and can't control traffic jam delays.

And last, but not lease, this site! I often take advantage of deals other vacation rental owners ask me to post. Some never make it to the site because I have people email me about their interests and just connect them right to the owner. Check this blog frequently, I post deals almost every week. Or better yet, subscribe to the feed and you won't miss any.

Photo of Matanzas River Pier at the Riverview vacation rental in St. Augustine, Florida. Rate specials offered May through August.

This blog is for bottom-up dispensers of cool who enjoy eco-travel deals and healthy living. We feel that "the small, the slow, the local, and the personal" will build the new economy. Your comments will help enrich this information for all of us. Please share your tips and experience.

Budget Travel: Renting self-catering, vacation rentals

Pssst. I've got a secret. Did you know you can stay in some the world's most beautiful and unique accommodations, located in the best neighborhoods and do it all for rock-bottom prices? Follow this link to read more

Vacation Rental Rate Specials

Red Hot Rate Specials Sedona. One month $900 Studio. March only.

Delray Beach, $799 March 7-14, 1/1 with pool.

Follow this link to email me for details.

Vacation Rental Travel Deals

1/1 Beach front, Delray Beach, FL $799 March 14-21. Email us for details.

Vacation Home Owners: Want to see your rate specials here? We post deals on healthy vacation homes for FREE. Email us the details and we'll include them in the monthly postings OR just add your discount as a comment. Subject to approval, of course. This is a free service we offer our guests and healthy travel fans.

Casita Colibri Special Spring Spa Promo--Free Yoga and Pool, July - Sept 2009. Book by Feb 28 and get two passes to Los Abrigados Spa and Gym. Located on the banks of the OAk Creek, the resort offers daily yoga, pilates, and aerobics classes and has a state-of-the-art weight/workout gym, heated pool and jacuzzi, steamroom, sauna. Spa treatments additional. May not be used in combination with other promotional offers. Use code FEBSPA when making your reservation.

Red Hot Rate Lovers: February Vacation Rental Deals

SEDONA Studio for $250 a week in March! Special, in -own location. No pets, no smoking. Rare opportunity. Email Dana for details.

Win a Free Weekend in Sunny Florida if you quit smoking. Be our guest on the waterfront in St. Augustine, FL just minutes from the beaches and historic district. Win a three day stay if you quit smoking in 2009. Don't smoke? Tell a friend who does and get them to take you on the vacation to celebrate their new health.To enter, just write to Dana about two things: 1. What you plan to do to replace the cigarettes and 2. Why you want to quit. Taxes and cleaning not included, based on availability.

Photo by Fran Palmeri

Make Money - Save Money, Rent Local & Peer2Peer

In the spirit of less-is-more, let's keep renting! Peer-to-peer renting is big news in 2009, one of the many changes to come in the new economy. To make money, bottom-up, people rent their backyard as a campground, camera equipment for a photo shoot, power tools, strollers, designer purses, you name it, it's for rent on Zilok.

This blog is for bottom-up dispensers of cool who enjoy eco-travel deals and healthy living. We feel that "the small, the slow, the local, and the personal" will build the new economy. Your comments will help enrich this information for all of us.

Quick Tips for Finding a Vacation Rental or Self-Catering Holiday Home

This blog is for bottom-up dispensers of cool who enjoy eco-travel deals and healthy living. We feel that "the small, the slow, the local, and the personal" will build the new economy. Your comments will help enrich this information for all of us.

Whadya Want? Great views? Smoke-free? Gourmet kitchen? Barbeque grill? Write it all down so you quickly sort through your choices. Be prepared to choose between your needs versus your wants.

Look, Look, Look. Play the numbers, look at lots of properties to get a good idea of what your money will buy. You'll learn the meaningless, overused, buzz words used to describe features you want to avoid--along with the current market prices for the features that mean something to you and your traveling companions. Try at least ten Internet searches for what you want, be creative. That super sweet Sedona vacation rental you're looking for may not turn up on VRBO because it's likely that owners who've rented their quality property for several years have plenty of repeat guests, they don't need to pay for listings. Turning up their website may take a search using a unique term or clicking through to page four or five.

Google smoke free or comfortable, affordable vacation rental and you turn up homes with character, not just the timeshare vacancies. World-class amenities also make good search terms--try infinity pool or vacation rental, new furniture. If you're vacationing outside the U.S., learn what terms have meaning in your country of interest. Europeans take "holidays" not "vacations." Try self-catering or guest home instead of vacation rental.

Make a Good First Impression. Let owners know that you'll be a responsible guest by sharing your strengths or experience. Stayed in vacation homes before? Mention it. Owners will like that you know the ropes. Don't smoke or bring your pets? Include that in your introduction. Have pets? Mention that too, cat lovers connect! Find the best digs for Fido. Don't just fill out the inquiry form with your dates of travel and email address, put a face on your message and you'll be much more likely to get the owners' attention when you ask for a deal or peak season dates.

One Man's Floor is Another's Ceiling. Even if you can't tour the property in person, don't just settle for a quick glance at the photographs. Check out the closet space, ask about water pressure, nearby noise disturbances, whatever is important to you. Don't ask yes or no questions like, "Is it a quiet location?" Ask, "What noise disturbances are nearby?" Then you can decide for yourself.

Close the Deal. Understand what you're agreeing to do. Pay mandatory fees at checkout for keys, cleaning, tips? Is key pick up only during specific hours? Will you have more paperwork? Can you get a discount for paying cash? Referring a friend?

Vacation Rental Travel Deals ~ Free Stuff, Super Bowl and More

2009 Red Hot Rate Specials for FREE stuff. Going toxin-free, plastic-free, oil-free, and smoke-free can get you rent free, jeep rides, workshops along with good health in 2009 when you enter our health promotions. Subscribe to this blog by email or RSS feed so you don't miss the offers like the ones below for smokers, women and Super Bowl fans.

Give Yourself the Gift of Health and be our guest. Win a 3-Day Weekend Sedona, Arizona or St. Augustine, Florida. If you quit smoking for New Years or plan to quit in 2009, you could stay for free in one of our healthy vacation homes. We're running promotions this year to encourage people to get healthier, starting with a promotion to support those kicking cigs or whatever you smoke.

Don't smoke? Forward this to a friend who does and get them to take you on the vacation when they quit.

To enter, just write to Dana and tell us two things, 1. What you plan to do to replace the cigarettes (chew gum, call your coach, take a walk) and 2. Why you want quit. If you make it smoke-free for 90 days, you can stay for free at the waterfront treehouse or Red Rocks Retreat in Sedona. Taxes and cleaning not included, based on availability. Entries will be posted on the blog, so let us know if you want your name included or not.

When you quit smoking:

• In 20 minutes your blood pressure will improve.


• In 8 hours the toxic gasses drop by half and oxygen levels return to normal.


• In 48 hours your risk of heart attack drops, nicotine will have left your body and your sense of taste and smell returns.


• In 72 hours your broncial tubes relax and your energy will increase.


• In three to nine months you can win a vacation and your coughing and wheezing problems will go away.

The Gift of Shift, FREE for two women. Two scholarships available to the Sedona Women in Transition Retreat, Jan 31-Feb 1. Scholarship not based on need but on willingness to "pay it forward." $899 fee paid by sponsor. Email Dana for details. $25 registration fee required.

Super Bowl Savings! St. Pete, FL vacation home rental, $333 a night. Smoke free, pet free cottage sleeps four. Email dedeskye at msn.com for details. Minimum stay required.

Red Hot Rate Specials Coming in 2009

Staying at a knowledgeable friend’s house while on vacation can mean your hosts know the new restaurants and shops, let you whip up a quick meal in their kitchen and live in a quiet, attractive neighborhood well-off the tourist track. And best of all, they would leave you to your own devices and give you a key to the front door.

If you don’t have the benefit of a rich pal with a vacation home in your desired destination, that's what vacation rentals are for--if the owners dish out the inside scoop. Look for all the conveniences of home—fully equipped kitchens, with dishwashers and sufficient china and cutlery for all you plan to entertain (not a Spartan set of four bent forks and spindly knives). Also check for the comforts of housecleaning services, washing machines, and owners who provide backpacks, parkas, binoculars, or other gear for the local environs (like we do).

Our specials include insider information on our website, coupons and deals for local restaurants, adventures, and shops on this blog and on site in the vacation homes, and occasionally, when we have a cancellation, a rate special.

In 2009 returning guest will get a free service: a tour, massage, wilderness guide, or session with a healer.

We'll also post deals at other vacation rentals with a commitment to the local culture, economy, and environment PLUS fab healthy homes for sale so you can make your own vacation rental property. Buy low! Join the $240 billion dollar vacation rental industry! Or just get inspired to green your own home or redecorate with health supporting materials.

Red Hot Rates ~ Florida Vacation Rentals + More

FLORIDA RATE SPECIALS--BEACH GETAWAY

Delray Beach, the Village by the Sea. SAVE $460 Jan 3-10, 2009. One bedroom unit with kitchen for less than a hotel. Delray is rated a highly walkable town. Weekly resort rate is $1,400 plus tax, but you can take ours for just $990. Contact Dana for reservations/details.

St. Augustine, FL. Save $180 in November 2008. Stay one week for just $799. Smoke, fragrance free and check out the sunrise view from the balcony! REMINDER: Book early for March when the right whales swim through with their calves.

$100 AMEX gift card when you book with Wyndham Vacation Rentals. Not a green destination, but it is a good deal.

2-Nights Yellowstone from $125. Experience winter in the Rocky Mountains of Yellowstone National Park with a special deal from Xanterra Parks and Resorts. Enjoy discounted rates -- starting at $125 per person -- on a minimum two-night stay at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel in Wyoming, and receive a welcome gift, unlimited ice skating and skate rental, free breakfast, free hot tub rentals, and a Snow Card for 10 percent off selected gift shop items, meals, tours and rentals. Details at the Yellowstone National Park Web site.

Red Hot Rate Drop in Hawaii

Rates Slashed for Hawaii Vacation Rentals
By Conde Nast Traveler(Concierge.com)
The nightly rate for this Oahu vacation rental home that sleeps 10 has dropped to $120 per person. That's a remarkable price for a top-notch beachfront house in a central location. Tempted by those dirt-cheap air fares to Hawaii and dropping vacation rental prices over the holidays, read more...
The Perrin Post Travel Blog:... - http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/blogs/perrinpost

No rate specials yet, but a new website just launched featuring green lodging in Hawaii, http://www.bigisland.org/ecotourism.

Hit The Hay

Sleeping in a barn on hay, a new way to travel cheap and eco. Or is it? Read more...

Study Shows Travelers Growing Interest in Vacation Rentals

The first comprehensive study conducted by an independent source validates the growing interest in vacation rentals.  In uncertain economic times travelers indicate vacation home rentals offer significantly more value than hotels, timeshares, and resorts. This is evidenced by the fact that vacation rentals have become a $24 billion dollar industry in just a few short years.

The Home Away sites rank as the most-trusted and visited, surpassing all other vacation rental sites by a significant margin.  Home Away, the largest vacation rental marketplace owns VRBO and VacationRentals.com.   Our guests love HomeAway because they offer a vacation rental guarantee—for FREE.  We list our green vacation rentals with Home Away so guests can relax when they take advantage of up to $5,000 in coverage.  All you need is our property number, 159004/Sedona or 193216/St. Augustine and the link on the home page of Home Away.

And no, I don’t get paid for promoting Home Away.