Vacation rentals by owner, vacation homes, FREE LISTINGS, holiday villas, apartments for rent

The Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on October 10, 2010.

Curaçao has been one of five island territories of the Netherlands Antilles, which has had its seat in Willemstad, Curaçao, ceased to exist as a country on October 10, 2010.

Curaçao will now exclusively reap the benefit of taxes brought in from its rapidly-developing tourist industry. The change in Curaçao’s status to that of being an independent nation within the Dutch Kingdom translates to more tax dollars available for tourism development. Now, greater resources will be available on-island to develop new port facilities and accomodations, positioning Curaçao for significant growth in its tourism product.

“Curaçao is thrilled to announce our status as the newest country in the world,” said Curaçao Tourist Board executive director Hugo Clarinda. “With this historic change brings huge potential for growth in our tourism landscape to meet the demands of the North American market which, as evidenced by Curacao’s consistently rising arrivals numbers, is increasingly interested in traveling to the hidden treasure of the Caribbean.”

The anticipated increase in hotel rooms will be welcomed by the North American market, which is showing a growing demand for an exotic, off-the-radar destination such as Curaçao, visible in the sheer number of Americans and Canadians visiting. Curaçao has seen an increase of nearly 40 percent in arrivals from North America, as of August 2010, the most of any other Caribbean island.

Looking forward to 2011, Curaçao is well-positioned, proving popular among sophisticated, upscale travelers, having been named as one of the “9 Top Spots for the Savvy Luxury Traveler” in a recent article on CNN.com. Curaçao also has plans to increase airlift from the Eastern Seaboard in the coming months, which will further enhance tourism to the island. The new flight schedules are projected to launch by the end of 2010.

Curaçao becoming its own country, in addition to the new accomodations development, will help to propel the island on to the North American travel radar as an emerging destination for Americans and Canadians to consider for travel in 2011.

Bestowing responsible tourism awards is an initiative of the leading Italian travel trade daily, L’Agenzia di Viaggi, the professional journal for tourism under the patronage of Enit, Fiavet, and Uftaa. With the award “TRI (Turismo Responsabile Italiano),” L’Agenzia di Viaggi identifies the products of responsible tourism and companies engaged in this important segment of the tourist industry as a means to promote responsible travel among agencies and travelers.
In collaboration with World Tourism Expo (WTE), the award focuses on TRI combinations of tourism and culture to "promote travel slow, emotional, and conscious, which constructs a heritage, memories, and a passport to peace," as defined by Claudio Ricci, Mayor of Assisi and the President of the Association Italian Cities...

Qatar's largest multipurpose complex will be located on the northern highway linking Doha International Airport with the proposed Bahrain Causeway and will include a full retail center, an entertainment park, and two hotels - designed with the visitor in mind.

Al-Futtaim, Qatar Islamic Bank, and Aqar Real Estate Investment signed an AED 6 billion (QAR 6 billion, US$1.6 billion) joint venture agreement to construct the state-of-the-art entertainment and retail complex in Doha, slated to become a driving force behind Qatar's diverse economic development.

Construction for the 433,000 sqm project - the first of its kind in the country - will begin in early 2011. The first retail phase is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2012, and the remaining two phases will be completed...

Vacation rental is a place which is fully furnished where people go for a retreat by renting it for a certain period of time. A Kauai vacation rental is one of the best vacation rentals. It is located in Kauai islands which is one of the oldest and major islands of Hawaii. Kauai covers an area of 5623 square miles which is the fourth largest island in Hawaii also referred to as Garden Isle because of its flourishing greenery and tropical foliage. Going for a retreat means leaving everything and having a total rest of mind.

You have to definitely keep certain factors in mind while choosing the vacation rental. The very first and the most important aspect is regarding the budget. Planning has to be done on the expected expenses including the rent for the home. Always compare the budget...

Having a mountain vacation without actually staying in one of the mountain log cabins does not seem to have the same appeal as if you had stayed in one of them. There are some lovely unique timber cabins just waiting for people to go and stay in them.

The mountain cabins may look quite basic when you see them from the outside. But when you get inside you will see that they can still offer the same modern day amenities that you can get from many of the hotels in the area. Cabins can vary greatly according to their location and size. If you are a lone traveler or even a group of friends there is a cabin to suit your needs.

You could be a loving couple trying to find some romantic place for the weekend or a family going on vacation. These cabins are a much better choice than the hotels...

Hotels in New York charge more and give less than their counterparts in other U.S. cities. So look instead to private apartments, which go for far less and offer much more.

In New York, a whole world of alternative lodgings is based upon what one critic called "the dirty little secret of American life, that no one has enough money." More supposedly well-off New Yorkers than you'd ever imagine are supplementing their incomes and balancing their budgets by inviting visitors into their well-appointed apartments, converting their homes into mini-hotels. There are also those New Yorkers who simply rent out a room within their apartments, often with a private bathroom attached. Though the privacy for the visitor isn't as complete, the prices are even lower.

And in that kind of "hosted"...

Hawaii vacation rentals are a favorite way to enjoy the islands without being amongst a throng of tourists typical of hotels and resorts. Hawaii's rentals are diverse and all you need to do is go online and punch it into a search engine, and you'll be flooded with rentals and package discounts and deals. These are complete with information about what they have to offer and phone numbers if you would like to make a reservation.
Take the example of Hanalei Bay on the island of Kauai. This beautiful beach stretches for three miles with a backdrop of waterfalls and tropical mountains, with only eight vacation homes on the stretch of beach. You have the choice of a lovely four-bedroom holiday home, or a smaller cottage by the ocean beautifully designed for couples. They are ideal for Hawaiian...

You have decided to bring your family to Disneyland in Orlando for a family holiday vacation. You do know that getting a comfortable hotel room for a family of 4 or more is usually a hassle because there is only one television set and your children will fight over which program to watch.
What is more, with only one bathroom, cleaning up and dressed is like waiting in a long queue for a thrill ride in, well, Disneyland. Your family will feel cramped, stifled and tempers can flare up easily unless you book two hotel rooms and that may be expensive in Orlando especially in hotels nearer Disney World.
Is this really a holiday vacation hotel room or a prison cell? Is there any better way to enjoy your Disney holiday?
Well, you certainly have other accommodation options such as staying in...

The post-holiday, early-winter doldrums provide an ideal time to start daydreaming about summer vacation. Whether that means a camping trip in a national park, some serious beach time, or a European jaunt, timing is everything when it comes to finding the best deals and availability.

But is booking early always the right approach? Here's the rundown on when and why to book summer cruises, vacation rentals, and trips to Europe and national parks.


Cruises

Fans of cruising often talk about how easy travel is aboard a ship. You only have to unpack once, but you see many different places. Food and entertainment are never more than a short stroll away. It works whether you're going solo or traveling with a crowd. And with so many different itineraries, there's always more to...

Here are a few tips from the Better Business Bureau, travel experts and seasoned renters to make sure you don't get burned when you rent a home for your vacation.

—Get a written agreement spelling out terms and conditions. Never wire money or write a personal check. Plastic is the way to go because your credit card company may offer some protection. If you can show that promised goods and services were not provided, you may be able to get a refund.

—Don't trust an owner who will only communicate via e-mail, and don't hesitate to pick up the phone to ask the owner/property manager detailed questions or even request more photos than those displayed in the online ad.

—Find out how you'll get back your security deposit, if there is one, and what it covers.

—Ask friends for...

Hospitality company Wyndham Worldwide said Monday it agreed to acquire Britain's Hoseasons Holdings Ltd. for $60 million.

Wyndham, in Parsippany, said it made the acquisition through its European rentals business unit. HgCapital and other individual owners sold Hoseasons, a provider of vacation rentals for more than 15,000 villas, cottages and boats in seven European countries, to Wyndham.

Wyndham’s European vacation rentals business includes such brands as English Country Cottages, Landal GreenParks and Canvas Holidays, with more than 60,000 properties across more than 20 countries.

Wyndham said it hopes to secure regulatory approval before end of the first quarter.

By Sarah Pascarella, SmarterTravel.com
I've talked up vacation rentals quite a lot in the past. They're an outstanding value, often providing more room and amenities for your travel dollars than a typical hotel. Rentals can be found in all corners of the globe, from ski destinations to world capitals, spring break beaches to secluded shores. They come in all shapes and sizes, from condo rentals to cozy cabins, sprawling chalets to city apartments.

Fully equipped kitchens allow you to cook some or all of your meals, thus saving money over pricey restaurants. Larger spaces enable groups to travel together and split the lodging costs, offering more affordable per-night rates overall than hotels. The trade-offs? No room service, no daily maid service, and no concierge (for the most part)....

ISLAND PARK — As of late Friday, Feb. 26, twenty-eight vacation cabin owners had filed paperwork with Fremont County protesting regulations the county commissioners recently imposed on people who rent their cabins on a short term basis.

They each filed a form provided by the state Attorney General’s office titled, “Request for Taking Analysis.”

The owners claim that the county has violated their private property rights and right to earn income by requiring that they comply with a long list of regulations, and pay annual fees, before they can rent their cabins on a short term basis.

The vacation cabin rental business is huge in Island Park and brisk in other areas of the county. Dozens of cabins are advertised on the internet, and several businesses, including Realtors,...

DEL MAR — Del Mar voters will soon be asked to decide whether people renting beach cottages should be responsible for paying the same tax paid by guests staying in local hotels.

If approved, the change would raise an estimated $181,000 annually to help the city pay for beach and park maintenance, fire safety and law enforcement.

The City Council voted unanimously Monday to place on the June 8 ballot a measure that would extend the city’s 11.5 percent hotel tax — known as a transient occupancy tax — to vacation rentals of houses and duplexes. The existing tax applies to stays of 30 days or less in multiunit properties, such as hotels, rooming houses, apartments and condominiums.

The ballot measure will require a simple majority to pass.

Del Mar Mayor Richard Earnest...

There’s no place like home. Even the most luxurious hotel cannot give you that homely feeling. No hotel bed is ever comfortable enough, regardless of how highly rated, or how high priced the hotel is, because it feels like a hotel, not home.

Many travelers prefer the homey environment of a home rather than a hotel, motel or inn. This is why “vacation rental” is rising in terms of popularity in the travel industry. It basically means renting out a fully-furnished house or condominium room for a predetermined period of time. This type of accommodation is adequately equipped to ensure a comfortable stay away from home for travelers.

Compared to most hotels, vacation rentals offer more space for the guests and more amenities. In addition, there is generally a fully functional...