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.

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.

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.

More Green In Your Pocket

What you can do to go green and save money, click here to read the article.

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.

Spa-aahhhs--Easy on You and the Environment

If you own a spa or spend time in one on vacation, you know the relief it brings for stress, back or neck problems, injuries, or arthritis. But with the soak comes chemicals--mainstream spa products contain deadly chlorine and pesticides--not so nice for your skin, lungs or draining into Mother Nature. And if you're chemically sensitive like me, spas can trigger hives or asthma.

There is an alternative, a natural enzyme product in use for over 20 years. We use it in our vacation rental tubs and find it works for three months with no itchy skin, burning eyes, or smells. Again,I don't take money for writing about products, I want to stay objective. I'm not getting paid to write this or when you buy product and this isn't multi-level marketing.

I've spent some time getting to know the Nature Safe Spa distributor, Burt
and here's what he's shared with me about environmentally friendly spas:

"After retirement I moved to the beautiful mountains of Virginia, however my life changed after a devastating car accident. My doctor recommended a spa for pain relief and a natural muscle relaxant. The spa helped me manage my pain. But I hated having to test the water so often and having to remember when to add another chemical. My skin reacted to the harsh chemicals, but I continued using the spa because I didn’t realize I had any other choice.

Hydrotherapy, which comes from a good spa or hot tub, is one of the best pain and stress relievers out there. I personally believe it is one of the best kept secrets for those who could really use hydrotherapy. There is comfort in being in a spa and enjoying all the benefits without the itching, smell and knowledge that you’re soaking in a chemical soup.

I was so sold on the wonderful benefits of my hot tub, that I started selling them in a local spa store. During the next five years, I was introduced to The Natural Hot Tub Company Water Treatment & Conditioner. I found I could use my spa daily without testing or adding anything to the water. I didn’t have to take a shower after soaking and there was no chemical smell. My skin was soft and I stopped having rashes. We started selling the Water Treatment at the store where I worked and the customers who tried it were as amazed as I at the results and ease of use.

I also had the great fortune of having hundreds of customers using this water treatment as well, and the privilege of speaking to the doctor who invented it sometimes on a weekly basis. He was a wealth of knowledge regarding the product which I was able to pass on this information to my customers. I learned a lot about spas and spa treatment programs during this time and this is by far the best product I have seen or used. That’s why I became a distributor and decided to start this website, so I could share this product with everyone.

One of the many things I learned while selling spas and hot tubs is you probably will have a hard time finding this product in retail outlets. The reason is simple! Most retailers believe this product will negatively affect their chemical sales. That is somewhat correct. However, the No. 1 reason people decide not to buy a spa is maintenance. While it is true that a spa actually is virtually maintenance free, the traditional spa water treatment is usually an everyday procedure. First, checking the water for chlorine or bromine levels, then pH and alkalinity, then adding some chemical every other day at least and adding another chemical for metal content or a clarifier. Also when you consider most people do not drain their spas but once or twice a year, this chemical build-up is enormous.

Then we drain our spas into our ground water system which pollutes our environment. With this Water Treatment & Conditioner, you add one bottle every three months and that’s it. I personally add an all-natural clarifier, Sea-Klear®, once per week just as I get out of my tub. Clean the filter once per week which you should do, no matter what you use as a water treatment. I also use a small amount (1/2 tsp) of Spa Chlorine Granules when necessary and leave my cover off to 'gas' it out."

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 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...

Eco-Friendly And Recession Ready

Here's some link love from the newsphere and blogshere on saving green, yours and Mother Nature's:

Making a Home Greener, Healthier, and a $$ Saver

Save money on doctor bills, make your home healthier. Green Bedrooms Help Allergy Suffers

Tax Breaks for Going Green

Five Ways to Green Your House for Under $100 (And save money!)

Cut back on pesticides and irrigation and save big. Green Your Landscaping for Less

Save money and cut waste on vacation.

Travel Green Without Sacrificing Style Tips

Recession-proof travel tips: find cheap gas on the road, booking tips and more.

Red Hot Rate Specials

WINTER GETAWAY TO DELRAY BEACH, FL $990 USD Jan 3-10, 2009. The Dover House Resort on A-1A. One bedroom unit with kitchen and pool all for less than a hotel. Contact us for details, this is a rental not available through the resort.

Delray Beach is a walkable town, rated "Very walkable" by Walk Score. Park your car and you won't have to drive it again on your vacation. Clean beach with blonde sand, not developed, all buildings are across the street. This charming "Village By The Sea" has a New England feel, if you splashed New England with color and a little salsa.

SAVE ON AIRFARE. Airfare costs dropped in the Orlando and San Francisco markets, check major airlines. Cheaper than driving. Some fares as low as $89.

Croctober? Time to Luxuriate

Slow cooking is perfect for a fall evening meal in Sedona or a staycation weekend. And now you can save even more eating in with this coupon for a crock-pot rebate. Or get your out your own or one from Goodwill (I found a super clean one there for $9) and cook some one dish recipes from Cooking.com. Better yet, share your fave recipe or slow cooking site here...

Fall Savings~Rate Alert

SEDONA, AZ. Save $174 Oct 25-31 at Casita Colibri. Use code Blog3 for discount.

CANYON De Chelly, Az $69 a night winter 2008.

Winter Specials in Yellowstone as low as $125.

SAVE ON AIR TO FLORIDA. Airfare costs dropped in the Orlando market, check major airlines. Fly in there and head to St. Augustine to catch the eagles returning to nest. Details on the vacation rental website.

MYRTLE BEACH, NC $29 a night. Beautiful Crown Reef Resort, unbelievable rate.

Lean and Green: Money and Earth Saving Tips

No, I'm not going to give you yet another suggestion to change your light bulbs. I get that eco-fatigue has some of you wishing you could donate to Bono's causes or buy those $200 organic sheets, but you just can't afford it. And yet, other greenies will ride their bike to work no matter which way the winds of the economy blow. I swing back and forth depending on my mood, cynical one day, optimistic the next. But whatever my inclination, I always love saving green. I love a sale, a deal, and every bargain.

Here's how I'm cutting back on spending and helping Mother Nature at the same time. Feel free to add your ideas.

Saving With Solar. For many years, adding solar panels was too expensive for me to install. But new leasing programs like those offered by Solar City help people with utility bills over $150 save money switching to solar, as NBC points out in their recent coverage. As a penny pincher, I get very excited watching the dial spin backwards on my utility meter. Take that APS!

Throw in the Towel. The average American has $497 worth of cleaning products in their house and only uses three of them more than once a year. Paper towels and tissue costs go up every few days. I've given up 80% of my cleaning products and paper towel use.

Dura-hooked microfiber clothes and hot water can replace chemicals and cleaners. I didn't believe it until I tried it, but it cleans better than abrasive cleaners or fume-filled sprays for most cleanups. As for getting rid of the unused products, if I have just a small amount of cleaner left, I wash or flush it down the drain with lots of water. For large quantities, I check Earth911 to see how to dispose of it. My neighbor sold her cleaning products at a yard sale! Didn't help the planet to keep those products in use, but in the long run Mother Nature wins because she won't be buying any more cleaners.

Give it Up. Cutting back on spending for me means less cash to donate to my favorite causes. Instead of feeling guilty, I'm cleaning out closets and clutter to recycle unwanted, unused household items through Freecycle.org. Artwork that no longer fits my decor and jewelry I no longer wear goes to the local silent aution.

I gave up shopping alone and joined a warehouse club with friends. BJs, Sam's Club and Costco can take a big bite out of shopping expenses. They also allow member's to bring a guest. I drive and shop with my friends for more fun, less gas, and lower fees. I also pick up tips about coupons and specials and new items by shopping with someone else.

The nearest health food store is 20 minutes away from my house by car. I've cut back on driving by buying in bulk from Amazon.com. Shipping is free when you sign up for auto delivery.

Cut the Plaque. Research makes a connection between poor dental health and heart health. Realizing that keeping your teeth clean now might prevent bill health care costs in the future, some health insurance companies have started offering inexpensive dental plans. Steve and I spent $600 on routine cleanings on our last visit to the dentist. All of that is covered in our new plan for $10 a month, no co-pays. We have to use the HMO providers, but there were two green dentists on the list which made going HMO easier to swallow.

All Washed Up. I switched from my expensive, organic soaps to Kirk's basic bar and saved $4.97 a bar. Available for $1.57 a bar on Amazon. But watch the shipping, if you're not in the Subscribe and Save program, the shipping is a ridiculous $6.00.

Check what food is in season locally and therefore, usually less expensive. Lime.com has a map for the entire US to help you find it.

For me, eco luxury is about making life easy on me and the planet, it's not about one or the other, it's both.

[Investor Insight] 10 HIP Places to Park Your Cash — for Profit and Good

[Investor Insight] 10 HIP Places to Park Your Cash — for Profit and Good

Posted using ShareThis

Top Ten Things Vacation Rental Owners Won't Tell You

1. It's a renter's market, so let's really make a deal. The number of vacation rentals in some areas like Florida have doubled in the six months. Owners can't sell or rent, so they're looking for quick cash from a vacation rental. When supply exceeds demand you can not only get better rates off-season, you can negotiate perks in-season. Ask the owner to pick up the bed tax or cleaning fee. Or see if they'll have a bottle of wine or supplies for you at check in. Ask questions to be sure you'll be booking with experienced owners. No point in taking a break from work just to break in a new owner.

2. You Can Get a Guarantee, Free. HomeAway offers a gaurantee for properties listed on their website. Amateur owners won't stay in business for long if they can't meet tough standards that guarantees like HomeAway demands. This is one reason I list my properties with HomeAway. And I don't make any money for saying so.

3. A Picture Isn't Always Worth A Thousand Words. For an example, see the picture in my July post showing a vacation rental promoting their view and outdoor dining. The table is actually in a driveway. Another picture shows the view, it is actually a photo from the Chamber of Commerce, not the view from the property.

4. "Sleeps Four, Must Eat Out." You can't save money eating-in if the vacation home is furnished with a cafe table that seats two. New owners often focus on getting beds and sofas and skimp on the dining. I visited one rental that used the outdoor furniture for the dining table.

5. Good Rate, Lot's of Extra Fees. Owners sometimes lower the rent and add a key fee, a parking permit fee, bed tax, security deposit, or a processing fee. Stick with owners who disclose fees upfront or better yet, book with owners who include fees in the rent.

6. Extra Paperwork. Do you really need a complicated lease, more forms for key pick up, and an extra stop at the management office when you want to relax? Make sure the hours for key pickup aren't limited, you may not want to rush your drive just to make the office hours. Look for rentals where you don't have to deal with a third party and the owners keep things simple by handling paperwork online. New laws mean you don't have to use fax or mail for signatures and credit card payments mean you have added security from your financial institution if something should go wrong.

7. Great Views, And Road Construction. Highway 89A in Sedona, AZ will be under construction for nearly a year. The heavy equipment, trucks, and traffic jams echo in the canyon walls, amplifying already ear crushing noise. Add a house on the hill with a view and you've got round the clock headaches and dust. Always ask owners about nearby construction.

8. What's an Air Filter? Indoor air is usually more polluted than outdoor air, especially in homes where the heating and air conditioning filter isn't changed regularly. Manufacturers recommend changing standard air filters every 30 days, but many owners cut costs by stretching the life of cheap filters. I've stayed in 12 vacation rentals in the past two years and had to buy or request a new filter at each one. Ask that the filter be changed for your arrival and support owners who spend the extra for permanent or HEPA filters changed on a regular basis. Who needs to go on vacation and get sick?

9. We Spray. You get respiratory problems. Bug spray, pest control may get rid of roaches, but it also aggravates allergies, asthma, and can weaken your immune system.

10. Lots of tennis courts, pools, and golf--NO ACCESS. Make sure you don't have to wait for play time. Find out how crowded the pool gets and what availability is like for recreation sites.

Summer Travel Deals on Rental Cars

Many rental car companies have been running specials as steep as 50% off regular rates. The bad news is these rate specials end in June and most companies plan to increase rates over the summer.

There are a few exceptions. Hertz has a fleet of gas saving, green vehicles. To promote the new fleet, it will offer $25 off a weekly rental on these eco-cars this summer. If you're calling, use the promo code 113503 for the Green Collection.

And you can save 10% if you reserve with Alamo on its Web site and pre-pay with a credit card.

Click here for ad and guilt free green car rental tips and easygoing green hiking tips.

Get Away and Still Save Money: Staycation Trend

The hottest summer vacation? "Staycations" where you stay close to home, visiting sites within a day's drive or in your home town. Vacationing close to home or even staying home, saves money on air fare and cuts carbon.

Vacation rentals outside of major cities make a good choice for spending smart if you can't stay with friends. You can reach destinations like Sedona in a day from Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, and nearby states. A day's drive takes folks from Atlanta to posh locations in northern Florida.

If you're staying home for your vacation, a good way to return to work more rested is forget the chores. Those who choose to stay at home for their staycation tend to end up doing projects and tasks from their to-do lists. If you're going to skip the packing, airport check in lines, and traffic, you may want to skip the chores too.

Get tips on how to negotiate prices with vacation rental owners from the Wall Street Journal. Check rate specials the big vacation rental websites like VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) and HomeAway, which owns most of the smaller vacation rental websites, including VRBO. Free vacation planning available when you book at ecoLuxury Lodging.com, you'll have a personal conceirge.