There are so many advantages to renting a vacation home

 Outdoor Area – Paradise!

• First and foremost, you will have many unique options from which to choose.  Want to stay in a castle? A beach house? Or a houseboat? How about a teepee? All of these options are available to you in a vacation rental property.
• You will have more room.  You will have a whole house to yourself, with such amenities as a private bath, a kitchen, and as many bedrooms as you want to pay for.  This can truly be your home away from home.

• You can stay for a longer period of time.  Renting a home is likely to be a less expensive option for a long stay, than say, a hotel room. Or rooms, if there are several of you.
• You can move in and make yourself comfortable in privacy.  Relax and unwind without worrying about interruptions by hotel staff.  Want to swim in the buff?  You can do that in a private rental home!

• You don’t have to live out of a suitcase.  You can hang up your clothes in your closet, place your undies in a drawer, and keep everything neat and tidy.  Oh, and when your things get dirty, you can take advantage of the laundry room that comes with the house.
• You can try out a new area and live in it as if it were your own.  This is a great way to try before you buy.  And while there, you can live like a local.  I love that!
• You can save money by not eating every meal out.  Rentals come with fully equipped kitchens and patio areas. You may spend your travel money on sightseeing instead of eating out.  But if you feel the need to sample the local restaurants, go for it!  After all, you are on vacation.

 

                                         

• You can choose the type of property and amenities that will make your vacation special. Want to try out having a pool, a hot tub, or a fire pit?  You may choose a rental that has those options.  (see beautiful photo above)

 

The Other Advantage (the one no one ever talks about)

In addition to those obvious advantages, there are many more.  But here is the one that I love the most…You get to try out A WHOLE NEW SET OF HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT.  That’s right, it’s the amenities, baby! That’s kitchen equipment, bedroom sheets, comfy recliners, outdoor furniture, and a whole house full of other stuff!  Woohoo!  Every time I rent a vacation house or cottage, I come home with decorating ideas and a list of items I want to purchase.

 

Here is this year’s list of items I tried and now want to buy

 

Awesome Sheets

 

Reasons why I love these sheets! 

• Made of pure 100% cotton, so comfortable
• Finely woven 500 thread count
• Hypoallergenic, breathable and stain-resistant
• They are cool to sleep on, not like polyester
• They have a substantial feel, not at all skimpy
• Even though they are cotton, they don’t wrinkle much if they are removed promptly from the dryer
• Ample size to fit very deep mattresses
•  Certified for no-pilling, low shrinkage, and colorfastness 
• Love the tag that indicates “Head or Foot” so you don’t have to wrestle with putting the fitted sheet on the wrong way!  So cool!

Best Blender

 

This is the best blender I have ever used, albeit probably just the third blender I have ever used.  At home, I am using a Ninja Professional.  It’s OK, but since I use it primarily to make my smoothie every day for lunch, it leaves much to be desired.  First of all, I need to stand there and hold my finger on the “single-serve” button.  It blends just OK with quite a bit of powder stuck to the sides of the blender cup.

Not so with the Oster Pro.  I just pushed the “smoothie” button, walked away, and came back when the blending was done.  Hallelujah!  Nothing stuck to the sides.  Other features:

• Smart settings technology and 7 speeds including 3 pre-programmed settings for the most common blender creations
• Dual direction blade technology for extra blending power to chop and grind with precision extra-wide 3.5” blade system allows ingredients to flow down into the blade easier for faster and smoother results
• 1200 power watts and 900 watts of ice crushing power
• 6 cup dishwasher safe glass jar withstands thermal shock
• Pulse feature for added control and precision; It features a 50% larger blade system (compared to previous Oster blender models) and patented dual direction blade technology that blends in forward and reverse.
• Oster 10 year Duralast all-metal drive limited warranty for lasting durability
• Includes extra-large capacity 24 ounces smoothie cup
• Dimensions: 14.25 inches x 7.25 inches x 8 inches, cord length:16 inches

After using it for a month, I want one!  I highly recommend this blender!

 

Handsome Magnetic Knife Block

 

 

In the past I have used 2 kinds of knife racks; the one that fits in a drawer and takes up a ton of drawer space, and the one that sits on the counter and takes up a lot of counter space.  This beautiful wall-hung magnetic knife rack is the winner!

• Super Strong Magnets – When storing your kitchen knives on a knife bar, you want to be assured that they will be held safely and securely. You’ll never have to worry about your knives slipping or falling off this wall knife holder.
• Looks Great – With a focus on premium quality and safety, this wall-mounted magnetic knife holder is made from Acacia wood and has been finished to the highest standards to ensure that it is functional and looks great.
• More Kitchen Space – This dark wooden magnetic knife holder will help organize your knives in a practical way. It’s a perfect method to store your knives so they are neat, tidy, and easily accessible.
• Easy To Install – The last thing you want is a knife magnetic strip that’s difficult to install. All the pieces required for the installation of the knife rack are included, as well as the instructions. This knife magnet strip can be easily installed in minutes.
• Kirra Family Promise – Lifetime Promise means that you will never have to worry about buying another Kitchen Knife Magnetic Strip again! Enjoy a lifetime of use knowing that if there are any problems with this Knife Holder, another will be sent to you at no cost.

 

Comfy Leather Reclining Sofa

 

Truth be told, I probably wouldn’t buy this extraordinarily comfortable sofa for my New England living room.  But, wow, it was SO COMFORTABLE for a vacation home.  

• Constructed of top-grain leather on all seating areas and polyurethane sides and backs
• Features power articulating headrest and power reclining leg rest
• High-resiliency foam seating
• Super convenient built-in outlets for your electronics

 

Beautiful Spanish Design Dinnerware

This beautiful European-style dinnerware is perfect for a Florida town called Venice, which is where I was.  But really, it would be gorgeous anywhere.  Attributes of this beautiful set:

• The striking combination of colors creates a stunning place setting for family dinners and larger events.
• EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF SPAIN: The in-glaze hand-applied design provides a silky smooth finish and an unbeatable pop of color bringing the vibrant culture of Southern Spain to your everyday table.
• PERFECT FOR EVERYDAY USE: Made of high-quality ceramic material suitable for everyday use on all occasions!
• COMPLETELY SAFE, COMPLETELY PRACTICAL: Lead and cadmium free dishwasher and microwave safe (may become warm in appliances, please use caution)
• SET CONTAINS 4 dinner plates, 4 Salad plates, 4 24oz all-purpose bowls, and 4 14oz mugs. 

 

Chinese Garden Stool

Here are some of its attributes:

•  Made from beautifully glazed ceramic in antique blue-green with a stylish linked coin motif
• So versatile! Perfect for adding texture and charm to any room, this garden stool can be used as an accent piece, side table, or plant stand
• Its small size makes it perfect for any room. Full dimensions are 13″ wide x 13″ deep x 17″ high making it perfect for the patio, porch, veranda, sunroom, garden, backyard, living room, bedroom, or bathroom
• No assembly is required. Arrives fully assembled for ultimate convenience and instant enjoyment in your home

 

 

Beach Wagon

It is a pain in the neck to lug beach chairs, umbrellas, toys, coolers, etc. from the beach house or from a distant space in the parking lot to the beach.  This is a fantastic problem solver!

 

Why is this beach cart so good?

• Large capacity. Unfolded dimensions 36.22″ x 21.65″ x 14.96″, folded dimensions 11.42″ x 9.06″ x 24.41″; Constructed with a heavy-duty metal frame that can hold up to 80 kg.; Includes two drink holders for your beverages
• Made of high-quality materials. It’s made of 600D Oxford fabric and PVC material that’s durable, waterproof, and won’t tear when you put something sharp in it.  And it’s easy to disassemble and clean
• Adjustable Handle: Built with an adjustable handle that smoothly rotates to where you need it; The handle will not fall and its height locks with a joint, so no need to worry about an uncontrollable wagon
• Rotating EXTRA WIDE front wheels: Designed with 360° rotating front wheels that move smoothly, so no matter which direction you want to go, you’ll have no trouble wheeling this bad boy around
• Quick and easy to fold and store: This wagon’s compact design folds into a mini size; So easy to fold up with just one hand; Just pull up the tab in the middle of the cart and it folds up like an umbrella!
• Saves time and space.  Everything can be wheeled in just one load onto the beach.

Laundry Baskets

There was one of these baskets in each bedroom closet of our rental.  So much better than throwing our dirty clothes in a pile on the floor.  

 

There were so many other items I tried out in my vacation home.  Here are a few:

• Induction Range: Just Ok, I love my gas range
• Front-load Washing Machine:  Very nice and it got my clothes cleaner than the top loader that I have at home.  It’s on my “to buy” list.
• Electronic Keypad Deadbolt

This was great.  It made access easy, yet made us feel secure.

 

My Final Take

As you can tell, I am a big fan of renting a vacation home.  When you plan your next trip, give it a try. Rent from one of the reputable vacation rental sites such as VRBO, the one I use. Read the reviews on the property, and do a price comparison of similar properties in the area. There are so many benefits of a vacation rental, including those I listed here, and they often can be less than the cost of a hotel. When you find a listing you like, snap it up.  Great listings go fast. Book a vacation rental and enjoy a home away from home.  While you are there, enjoy using all the amenities!

 

As always, take care. You can do it!

 

 

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