Archive for February, 2010

Canadian Snow Birds Flock to Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals



When Canadian Anne Murray sang her hit song “Snowbirds,” she wasn’t singing about Canadian Geese. She was singing to the thousands of snow-bound Canadians called ‘snowbirds’ who make the yearly pilgrimage from wintery Canada and the Pacific Northwest to warmer climes in places like Southern California. There, snowbirds nest for the winter months, basking in the warm southern California sunshine, in quaint resort gem cities like Santa Barbara. Nestled between the beautiful Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific, Santa Barbara is a premier resort destination.

Snowbirds who come here to what some call “The American Riviera” have a secret: Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals have it all. Those who’ve discovered Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals shun the barren Arizona deserts and even the ritzy Palm Springs oasis for this coastal beauty. Why? They know only too well what Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals can offer them in the way of amenities and comfort and entertainment. Snowbirds who flock to the coastal town of Santa Barbara are not content to curl up with a good book for the winter under some Saguaro cactus or be satisfied with designer shopping sprees that require SPF 70 and a large checkbook. They are too active and full of life for that. They want more and that’s exactly what Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals have to offer.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals cover a wide area of urban Santa Barbara. There are private homes and condo units on the coast, directly on the beach, inland near tourist attractions and everything in-between. For snowbirds who migrate here, camping is not an option. They are not interested in roughing it for the entire winter or sharing public facilities with their neighbors. They don’t own RV’s because they don’t want the hassle of storing an unwieldy RV for most of the year. They are used to comfort and they crave it for the long winter they’re away from home.

David and Leslie Benscott, retired attorneys from British Columbia, used to camp with their children. But they’re empty nesters now, and when they get away for the winter, they’re not interested in foregoing amenities. They have been renting Vacation Rentals in Santa Barbara for the past seven years. “Besides,” says Leslie, “we both love to cook and we’re spoiled enough to admit we want a nice kitchen to do it in. Our condo has a fabulous chef-style kitchen with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. At least once a week, we’ll cook up a gourmet meal in our Vacation Rental in Santa Barbara and meet friends on the beach for a picnic. You simply can’t do that in January in British Columbia.”

The Benscott’s vacation rental in Santa Barbara is fully furnished with all the amenities. Often, owners of vacation rentals will equip a condo or house with things like beach equipment, games, movies and a stocked kitchen. There are no taxes or tips involved in vacation rentals as there would be in a hotel, so in the long run, Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals work out cheaper for them than a long term hotel stay would, especially when you don’t have to dine out every meal. The Benscotts have made it a quest to catch up on all the sights in Santa Barbara as well, each season adding a few new discoveries to their treasure chest. This year, their grandchildren visited and they all took in the Railroad Museum and the Santa Barbara Zoo. It was a memory all of them will hold onto for a lifetime. Luckily, there was plenty of room for everyone to stay at their vacation rental with its three roomy bedrooms and beachfront courtyard. The grand-kids could walk to the beach every morning with the Benscotts. They have the shell collections to prove it.

With over a hundred wineries in Santa Barbara and the surrounding area, cultural events like theatre, beach-front Arts and Crafts fairs, even Santa Barbara’s own International Film Festival, there is something for everyone here. Snowbirds know that if you like outdoor activities with flair, then Santa Barbara is the place for you.

Snowbirds Ken and Marie Linter, a retired surgeon and his wife, come here from Alberta, Canada every winter, drawn by the warm temperatures and the great properties they find with Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals. They’ve rented the same condo now for four seasons. Ken and Marie are avid bikers and kayakers and love the opportunities Santa Barbara provides for them to stay fit over the winter months. “The only exercise I get in Alberta is shoveling snow,” says Ken, who gave up skiing several years ago. “And frankly, I’m over it. Now Marie and I can bike all around the city on the bikes our Santa Barbara vacation rental provides for us at no extra cost. We go home in better shape than when we came.”

It’s just the two of them now and they love the one bedroom condo they found from Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals. Not only do they have in-house housekeeping services, there is a concierge service attached to their vacation rental. When it comes time to decide which fabulous restaurant to choose, the concierge is there to help. “Last week,” Marie says, “the concierge steered us to a five star restaurant tucked into a private little beach cove. It was probably the most romantic dinner Ken and I had ever had. Well worth the trip from Alberta.”

Cheap family holiday packages: Make Your Family Surprise



The family holidays are the wonderful ways of enjoying some stress-free days and fun days. It is necessary for every family to make a holiday tour once in a year because it brings harmony and fun among the family members. It you go for a holiday tour every year, you have some times to go close other members to know their feelings and create love feelings. In fact, it is friendly way to for you to make some unforgettable memories by enjoying a holiday tour with your family.

There is no need to think about the high expenses of the holidays because you can easily minimize them with the help of cheap family holiday packages. these packages are mainly designed for those who don’t have big amounts to plan for expensive tour but they want to enjoy some fun days. There is no need to go to any local agent to search such options as they are available online and it takes only a few minutes in grabbing them.

However, sincere and deep research on online world is a mandatory thing to do so. In fact, if you are thinking about such cheap family holiday packages and you don’t have time to consult with the local agent, the online method will help you handle such conditions with ease.  Don’t forget the fact that there is also the need of going through the reviews of the previous holiday makers from the particular site. It will help you make an approach about the site and know its facilities and services for your world tour. Don’t worry for the costs of holidays because they are normal due to cheap holiday deals.

Why Are Beach Vacation Rentals More Fun Than Regular Vacation Rentals?



We all know that one of the most popular types of vacations is beach vacations but there really is nothing like vacationing on the beaches in Florida.  The tropical weather in Florida alone, makes this one of the most popular places in the world for people to vacation at.  Even if you are traveling in the winter months you can still enjoy your vacation and most likely be able to be in summer clothes despite the time of year.

While Florida does get cold in the winter months, the cold weather is short lived and you will find that the beaches are still packed with tourists with plenty of fun and fascinating things to do.  Most people plan their vacations with hotel accommodations but there are so many more options in Florida.  One of the most popular is vacation rentals.  This is where you can choose to rent accommodations that are fully furnished so that you can relax as if you had your own home.  Hotels can get costly and the price of meals alone can really drain your wallet.  If you are renting your own vacation rental property, you can enjoy your meals right in your own fully equipped kitchen.  

These rentals have everything that you need accept your own personal clothes and toiletries as well as food.  This allows you to come and go as you please so you can enjoy your vacation and feel as if you live in the area.  There are plenty of these rental located right on the beach so you do not have to go anywhere but right out your back door to get to the most beautiful sites in Florida.  Yes, Florida beach vacations have been redefined in Florida.

Once you vacation here, you will wonder why you never went to Florida before.  No matter where you are staying in Florida you can be sure that you are close to some of the most exciting attractions.  Central Florida is known for such places as Busch Gardens and Disney including Epcot which is known for the spectacular night life scene.  If parks aren’t your thing, then you can check out some of the most famous museums such as the Dali Museum or you can take in some of the most breath taking sites at one of the botanical gardens located throughout the state.

There are also plenty of camping facilities if you want to check out the great outdoors and really get close to what makes Florida one of the hottest vacation spots.  If you are planning a vacation then you will want to look into what each area has to offer and what the weather is like at certain times of the year.  This will allow you to plan your vacation to best suit your needs.  You can also look into what time of year is best to travel such as the off season when the beaches are not packed with tourists.  Many times the attractions and accommodations will offer discounts during these times to help offset their slow seasons.