Today's active grandparents may be finding scarce opportunities to spoil their grandchildren. Some children's schedules have become as hectic as those of their parents, while others simply live too far away.

Perhaps that explains the increasing popularity of "Grandtravel," which a local news station recently identified as one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry.
They also offered some tips for grandparent-grandchild travel:

• Parents and grandparents should communicate beforehand about ground rules and children's abilities. This will ensure that some well-intentioned spoiling doesn't thwart a parenting strategy, and will make sure kids aren't dragged into an activity beyond their skill.
• "Don't insist on togetherness for the sake of togetherness." This is a theme we've seen with family travel before. You should genuinely want to spend time with the little ones, or nobody will have fun. Also remember, grandtravel seems to be successful because Grandma and Grandpa are more likely to do what the kids want to do, not what the grown-ups want.
• Do a test run. Spend a weekend together before booking a week at Disney World. Pick a fun, local town that a has a children's museum and a nearby petting zoo.

Find excellent vacation rentals ideas at iGOvacation.

*Reproduced from VRO, March 2007

Labels: Vacation Rentals

Rimadyl, a drug made by the drug company Pfizer, killed my adorable chocolate lab today. I'm not sure how the clinical vetrinarians at Pfizer pillow their heads at night knowing the tremendous adverse effects of this drug.

In short, Bailey sufferred a terrible bleeding condition in which she basically bled to death. It was only the heroic efforts of my vet that gave her any comfort and life in her final days.

Pfizer, Rimadyl, dogs, especailly labs .... Pfizer claimed they have no other claims reported. I found out that they settled a class action law suit for Rimadyl just a few years ago.

I won't do a documentary on You Tube, I won't call Dateline Investigations; but, I will tell every dog owner I know to stay away from Pfizer's drugs and Rimadyl. It will spread and dog owners will become educated.

For Bailey - my precious lab.

Hawaii is the king area for surfing, and has a long Polynesian history behind it, based on petroglyph carvings. Chiefs used surfing as a strength and agility builder. Today, Oahu surfing has a reputation for huge wave sizes between October and March, while other areas like Wakiki and Kauai are good areas for beginning surfing. Oahu’s town of Haleiwa is an especially attractive for travelers, with vacation rentals available, quality surf breaks, and nearby campgrounds. You may even catch a world championship for surfing or windsurfing while you travel.

You can find your Hawaii vacation rentals at iGOvacation.

There, behind the buildup, open, pristine Outer Banks
Taken from the Boston Globe
Sacha Pfeiffer, February 4, 2007

There were no street lights, no pedestrians, no other drivers, no signs of life at all from the shuttered homes and stores along Highway 12 , a two-lane route notorious for its summertime gridlock.

It was dusk in February in Corolla, the northernmost village of North Carolina's Outer Banks and one of the barrier island chain's priciest peak-season destinations. We were headed to the Inn at Corolla Light, a resort overlooking Currituck Sound where rooms from May to September can top $300 nightly. An hour earlier, we had phoned to inquire about availability that evening. Not to worry, we were told; rooms were plentiful. The price? A mere $65 a night.

Like Cape Cod , the Outer Banks is vastly different -- and dramatically less expensive -- in December, January, and February than at the height of tourist season, when their year-round population of 33,000 explodes to more than 300,000. The massive influx of vacationers brings the usual accompaniments : inflated room rates, packed tourist attractions, long waits at restaurants, and ghastly traffic congestion.

But during our four-day visit last winter, when we drove the whole 130-mile coastline from Corolla to Ocracoke Island, we had the place nearly all to ourselves.

Read the entire article. You can find your Carolina vacation rentals at iGOvacation!

Las Vegas is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. And while that city is most famous for its gambling facilities, there’s plenty more to do - see a live show, go dancing, climb the Stratosphere Tower, the tallest free-standing observation tower in America, see the Liberace Museum or the Elvis Presley Museum, or just take a walk down The Strip and take in the sights and lights of the city. And when you’re tired of the hustle and bustle, you’ll be glad to retreat to your Las Vegas vacation rental home for a bit of relaxation!

You can find beautiful vacation rentals in Las Vegas at iGOvacation!

The islands of Turks and Caicos are a great place for a vacation rental because it is a close proximity to both the United States and the Bahamas. The islands are less than 600 miles from Miami and only 40 miles south east of the Bahamas. The islands cover just under 200 square miles of space in the ocean and boasts one of the longest coral reefs in the world. Many people who reserve a Turks and Caicos vacation home rentals here go scuba diving along the reefs.

The flat islands with pristine white sand beaches are separated into eight larger islands as well as some smaller islands. The main islands are: Salt Cay, Grand Turk, South Caicos, East Caicos, Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Providenciales, and West Caicos. On each of the islands you will be welcomed by the friendly locals, in part because tourism is its main source of revenue.

When planning to reserve a vacation home rental on the island of Grand Turk, you will be surprised at the wide variety of restaurants from international cuisine to native dishes and everything in between. Most restaurants here are very accommodating toward the tourists needs. Throughout some of the smaller islands, the accommodations and restaurants have a more casual local atmosphere to it.

The main attraction to Grand Turk is the diving, so be prepared to get wet. The island is also full of historical sites and old architecture. One fun spot to check out while staying at your vacation home rental is Salt Cay. This area was once the center of the salt trade industry until the early 1960’s when the salt industry stopped. Only 200 residents remain in the area which is watched by a single unarmed policeman. Only 12 cars drive along the roads of Salt Cay.

Although you will not be able to find a vacation home rental on the island of East Caicos, it does make for a fun day trip. The island is currently uninhabited, but there is evidence of early settlers there. The island is often used by Sea Turtles who lay their eggs in the sand.

North Caicos is also a fun place to reserve your vacation rental. The population consists mainly of farmers who live in villages such as Bottle Creek village, Whitby, Kew and Sand Point. North Caicos is also home to the largest flock of pink flamingos in the area. Popular sites include the Crab Farm which is located on Greenich Creek. The farm grows King Crabs through adulthood.

Bird watching is also a popular activity on North Caicos. The island is ripe with bird sanctuaries that are home to flamingos and ospreys who make their nesting sites here. The nature reserves also protect the native iguanas on the island.

If you like to gamble, a good place to reserve your vacation home rental would be Prvidenciales which is usually known as “Provo.” Here you will find all modern conveniences as well as a Casino and golf course. The island does have an airport which is capable of dealing with large planes. A popular place to do some souvenir shopping would be Turtle Cove which offers a variety of boutiques. The down town area also has a variety of retail shops.

Find your vacation rental at iGOvacation.

Renting a vacation home is a great way to enjoy the splendor of South Carolina. The combination of home conveniences and a premier location is what attracts thousands of tourists to this lodging alternative. While few would argue the benefits, it is important to note that there are some risks. By using the checklist below, you can ensure your family will have a great vacation in South Carolina.

1. Destination - South Carolina offers a number of fun areas to find a vacation home. The key is to make sure you choose a destination that fits your expectations. The barrier islands, like the Isle of Palms, have unmatched privacy but are limited in their extracurricular attractions. Myrtle Beach on the other hand has a wide array of amusement activities, but is very densely populated. You should consider your vacation expectations before choosing a destination.

2. Budget - A complete assessment of your vacation budget should be done befo re shopping for a vacation rental. Keep in mind that the rental rate does not include ancillary costs such as tax, travel fares, food and beverage, or amusement prices. Depending on your situation, the vacation rental rate may only represent half of the total cost of your vacation.

3. Time of Year - The season that you visit South Carolina will have a direct impact on the cost of your vacation. The most expensive time period falls between Memorial Day and Labor Day. You are more likely to find bargain prices if you can avoid this peak season.

4. Rental References - In the era of online information, most people are utilizing the internet for reserving their South Carolina Vacation Rentals. While this is a time efficient way to search properties, you need to conduct in-depth research on the property you are considering. Ask the owner for three or more references from previous rental tenants. Call the references and ask them questions about the cleanli ness and upkeep of the property. You may also want to ask about the accessibility of area attractions. Calling rental references is a great way to make sure your dream vacation rental lives up to its billing.

5. Rental Terms - One of the easiest ways to exceed your vacation budget is to overlook the terms and conditions of your rental agreement. Be sure to incorporate common costs such as lodging tax, linen charges, cleaning costs, and club memberships. Most of these items are clearly outlined in your rental agreement. You should also be comfortable with the terms of payment. Most vacation rentals require 50% of the rental rate provided up front, along with a security deposit. The balance is typically due about 14 days prior to the rental date. Overlooking these deadlines could result in losing your reservation and deposit.

6. Amenities- Although there is a distinct advantage to using a vacation rental when it comes to home-like provisions, you shou ld be aware of everything that is advertised to be included with your rental. Televisions, stereos, cooking utensils, towels, and bed linens are all important things to check for. Not having access to these supplies could lead to costly trips to the local Wal-Mart.

7. Weather - Take a minute to study the average temperature and climate conditions for the time of year you are renting. While it is safe to assume that South Carolina is warm in the summer, seasons such as spring and fall can provide more uncertainty in temperature. Also take note of the precipitation forecast. Rain and wind can lead to cooler temperatures and the need for appropriate apparel.

8. Vacation Insurance - Most vacation rental owners have very strict refund policies. Unfortunately, they rarely refund your money. You can assume that full payment is expected as long as the property is standing and in livable condition. This comes into play for instances of hurricanes and natural disasters. Basically, unless there is unforeseeable damage to the house, you are obligated to complete your contract. Thus, it could pay dividends to investigate the cost of vacation insurance. This type of policy protects your losses in the event of a family emergency, weather conditions, or any other variable that prevents you from reaching your destination.

Author: Xavier Gallery
Excerpts from a Travel Blog.

Imagine yourself in the setting of Pirates of the Caribbean. You are surrounded with crystal clear, blue waters, white sand beaches, and beautiful, sunny days. Now imagine that instead of a historic village, you return at the end of a busy day to your very own villa, rented for the occasion. Spend your evenings watching the sun set from your private deck, perhaps from the comfort of your own hot tub. This is no fantasy – in fact, these could be the facts of your very next vacation.

The Bahamas are a chain of islands with the charm and beauty that is so hard to find in this modern world. Imagine yourself in a comfortable villa where a green hill leads up to your vacation home rental. Wander out onto the expansive deck and look out over the sparklingly warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Keep an eye out for friendly dolphins from your private deck, or wander a little closer to a secluded beach or the top of a limestone cliff. This is a description of a real rental home in the Bahamas, and this vacation could be yours.

Spend your days on the ocean, swimming in the warm water for hours. If you are a lover of adventure, then try taking a Discover scuba course and enjoying a day underwater. This course is a one-day course that teaches you the basics of scuba, and then lets you loose in the water under the close supervision of your instructor. Examine the tropical fishes up close, and enjoy watching the marine animals going about their daily routines.

One of the best things about renting a vacation home in the Bahamas, is that you can easily rent a vacation home that is not in or near a normal tourist center. If your true goal is to relax, then a private home in a private part of a sparsely populated island is just what the doctor ordered. Find yourself with an entire beach to yourself, and relax in the quiet of the natural world.

Hot sun, warm waters, and a perfect home to retire to each night. What more could you ask for? There is no better place for your vacation than the Bahamas, and no better way to experience it than by renting your very own vacation home rental while you are there. Now: relax.

Find all of your vacation rentals at iGOvacation.com!

Condo Sales Steady (The State.com, Jan.29th) South Carolina: "Columbia’s downtown condo market is starting to define itself. First, condos are selling, slowly but steadily. Second, the strongest pre-construction sales are of moderately priced two-bedroom condos, from $175,000 to $350,000. And third, the second-home market is leading the trend. What’s not selling: one-bedroom condos that target young professionals. The theory was those small condos would be home to the vaunted “creative class” of young professionals who are supposed to make Columbia’s future, knowledge-based economy tick."

Read the entire article on South Carolina Condo Sales.

You can find your South Carolina Vacation Rentals at iGOvacation.

Old beach homes give way to luxury houses
By Katy Stech
The Post and Courier
January 28th, 2007

From time to time, we like to provide articles of interest to our vacation rentals owners in highly targeted areas - like South Carolina Vacation Rentals.

Nell McDuffie expects that her single-story ranch home soon will sit in the shadow of other houses in her Isle of Palms neighborhood.

To her left stands a two-story family home. Another on the corner is a $1.7 million weekend getaway owned by a family from Georgia.

McDuffie's modest, three-bedroom, 1½-bath residence looks similar to the ones across the street and to her right.

But one of those is set to be demolished and replaced. The other is likely to follow suit, as it is on the market as a $835,000 "teardown" property.

"I'll probably be sandwiched one of these days," McDuffie said, smiling.

Space is limited on the Isle of Palms. With only a few dozen empty lots left on the island and the value of coastal properties pushed to sky-high levels, buyers and investors are looking to older beach homes as prime locations for roomy new dream houses to live in or resell for a tidy profit.

In some cases, real estate agents don't even factor the structural value of the existing homes into the selling price. And despite the coastal housing slowdown, many expect investors to continue the trend of tearing down old homes until almost all of this beach community's structures are replaced with towering luxury spreads.

"One thousand square feet of house isn't going to meet the needs of someone who's paying $1 million dollars for a lot," said Douglas Kerr, the city's building department director.

In recent years, Kerr's office has received a steadily increasing number of demolition permit applications. Only four homes were demolished in 2000.

That number increased to 12 in 2002 and to 25 in 2004.

Last year, 36 homes were approved for demolition.

Compared with the 4,100 total residential units on the island, that's a sizable rate, Kerr said.

Most of the flattened homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s, when the island was beginning a transformation from a sparsely populated seasonal vacation spot to a community of year-round residences.

Residential development on the Isle of Palms blossomed under the direction of the late J.C. Long, who founded The Beach Co., now one of the state's largest privately held real estate firms.

The land was simple and flat, but the area was not that accessible because the only bridge to the mainland was on Sullivan's Island. A daily commute to Charleston could take hours if the span was malfunctioning, said Bill Casey, a 59-year-old lifelong island resident.

Long built accordingly. His first housing models were modest two- or three-bedroom ranch homes that ranged from 1,000 to 1,400 square feet. In the 1970s, the average selling price hovered around $16,000, Casey said

"It was developed as the average man's place to live," he said, adding that many of the homes were occupied by military families.

When Hurricane Hugo ravaged the island in 1989, homeowners had an opportunity to either renovate their property with insurance proceeds or sell "as is," said Jimmy Carroll, owner of Isle of Palms-based Carroll Realty.

In more recent years, tightened building standards have made construction almost an all-or-nothing affair.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has implemented minimum height requirements as part of its flood code since the older ground-level homes were built. And city regulations allow property owners to renovate up to 50 percent of the value of their structure before having to comply with those standards.

That limit pushes many home projects to reach, literally and figuratively, new heights, Carroll said.

"If it meets flood elevations next to a house that's on the ground, it's going to look big no matter what," he said.

Some of the new homes are built for families who intend to live there full time after the sawdust settles.

But Carroll provided numbers that show how often newly built homes are resold as investments: 35 new homes have changed hands since January 2005.

It's not hard to show how investors can turn a sizable profit on an outdated home that's sitting in a highly desirable location.

First, tearing a house down costs about $10,000. Donating the home to charity also can amount to a sizable tax break for owners in higher tax brackets.

The land that remains is the real gem, said Ron Davis, owner of Isle of Palms-based Ron Davis Realtors.

An industry standard for home pricing is that the land is worth 20 percent of the value, and the home structure is worth 80 percent, he explained.

But on places such as the Isle of Palms, it's almost the opposite case for smaller, older homes. Interior lot values typically range between $600,000 and $800,000. Prices can climb to $3 million on the oceanfront.

Read the entire article.

You can find your South Carolina vacation rentals at iGOvacation.