Glory Be! A Vacation! (and some tips on how to rent a vacation home)

If you read this post, this one, and this one...you've heard me bitch ad nauseum about how I didn't think we'd be able to manage a vacation this year (apologies. but then it's partially your fault for reading this crap in the first place). It turns out if you complain enough about something...the universe will get tired of hearing you whine and will either a) grant your wish or b) smite you on the spot a la Old Testament Yahweh. Thankfully, I was the recipient of option A.

After a brief chat with my friend Becca, a conversation with K, a peek into our bank account (not for the faint of heart, btw), and several days spent scouring the web for the perfect locale and rental home, I stumbled across this place in Santa Barbara. After more discussions and back and forth email exchanges between myself, the property owner, and Becca...we decided to rent the place for a week in early July.

So my friends, the VDB and Adams clans are going to attempt our first multi-family vacation together. It will either be the most fabulous time of our lives....or we will, on day three or four of the trip, stop speaking with one another completely and refuse to mention each others names ever again. While a Montagues vs. Capulets-style feud would certainly spice things up in our dull suburban lives, I personally hope we have nothing but fond memories of this trip.

The fun officially begins on July 1. If you happen to have any tips or advice with regards to Santa Barbara or surviving multi-family vacations, please share. And stay tuned for more....!

PS Regardless of where you currently reside on the planet, should you ever be interested in renting a vacation home anywhere on earth (aside from the Artic and war-torn parts of the world), I can highly recommend VRBO.com. We've used them for several trips, including this one, and have yet to be disappointed by the properties we've stayed at. When I use VRBO, I feel confident I'm not getting lured into some dodgy horror movie-type setup the way I do with Craigslist.

PPS The trick for successfully renting a vacation home are as follows:
1) Always try to book at least two to three months in advance (and if you are looking for a property during a high-volume season like the holidays or summer, book at least four months in advance).
2) Don't fret if you waited until the last minute to book. You can, like we did this go-round, find some great spots thanks to last-minute cancellations.
3) Try to spread out your options as much as possible. In other words, while you might have your heart set on one property, be sure to request availability for at least four or five.
4) If you are using VRBO, be sure to check the date last modified in the "property availability" section. This will give you a sense of how frequently the owner is checking and updating the calendar. Unfortunately, some folks who are no longer renting have yet to pull their rental ad from the web site. And some folks are total slackers when it comes to keeping their calendar updated.
5) Before you agree to anything, always read carefully through the rental contract and check for any hidden fees.