It's all about expectations...
You've decided to explore a unique vacation in the country this year. Where to start?
Where do you want to go?
What do you want to do?
Where do you want to stay?
Whether you've already answered these questions or not, you'll find many unique vacation ideas here, and even links to some great pre-travel shopping products and savings.
You might want to discover your vacation personality or review some destination ideas before getting on with booking your accommodations. Maybe this year you want to consider a vacation rental versus a hotel this year. Read my review of my Summer 2010 vacation rental
Planning a country vacation gives you the best chance to take advantage of thousands of properties
available for vacation rental. This can be a new experience for many travelers.
Beach communities have been doing this for decades, but they are not the only properties available. There are just a few additional things to consider if renting a vacation home instead of booking a hotel is part of your pre-vacation planning.
Do you want a little rustic cabin like the one shown here? Are you sure?
In this case you will probably bring your own food and do your own cooking. Chances are there is fishing and canoeing or hiking nearby but there may be little else. As cute and cozy and "rustic" as it is...it may not be what you want for your vacation. Just get a new fishing rod for Christmas? This will likely be the place for you!
Select this cabin without knowing the details and you could be in for one of your worst vacation experiences because maybe you really wanted "Luxury Rustic" instead and you want to have your meals served to you - you don't want to catch them...
For you, "rustic" might actually mean...
Olde Moat House near Rye, England, holds the exceptional 5 Diamond Gold Award accolade from the English Tourism Council, which is the highest award available for a Bed and Breakfast and only given to a few top quality establishments throughout the country,
The house stands in 3.5 acres of gardens and paddock and is surrounded by its own moat. It has a storybook elegance from the white walls and pitched roof to the beamed ceilings and canopied beds.The guest lounge boasts a wealth of oak beams and an enormous inglenook fireplace ablaze with logs during the cooler months. A delicious breakfast for you is included each morning made with locally purchased produce.
Luxury rustic at it's finest, a bed and breakfast versus a cabin rental, and a entirely different vacation experience from the first venue. You can see why a little extra "detecting" is required during your vacation planning stages, but don't let a little research worry you...this will be fun!
Active, Restful, or Both?
The level of activity you desire for your country vacation is another important consideration and country vacations tend to be more of one-or-the-other.
Do you want to sit on the beach at beautiful Monterey, California?
Maybe either one of these pet-friendly vacation cottages will work for you:
Two charming oceanfront beach cottages overlooking the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, with unobstructed ocean views.
Dolphin Cottage: a 3 bdrm/2 bath home with a hot tub overlooking the Pacific, and Seashell Cottage: a studio with full kitchen. Book them both and take some friends.
2br - Oceanfront/Petfriendly Cottages in Sunset Beach!
Or, do you want to spend a week doing nothing but skiing?
How about this "ski-in, ski-out" luxury vacation rental in Park City, Utah?
Nestled in a grove of aspens in one of the premier private neighborhoods, it offers a unique combination of a tranquil setting, but is just minutes from restaurants, shopping, and night life. Winter or summer, spring or fall, the Retreat at the Canyons is an exclusive, spacious choice for an executive retreat, a family vacation, or a reunion with friends.
With its warm interior wood detailing and antiques, the Retreat at the Canyons combines function and luxury. Its 5500 square feet of space offers plenty of room for sharing meals, conversation, good wines, billiards, or a movie in the media room.
6br - Ski-in, ski-out luxury home
Decisions, decisions...
Fortunately, most of the vacation rental info available here will give you full details on what activities are either included in or available from your selected country vacation accommodation.
There are also links to your left to give you some great ideas for how to spend your vacation time such as
ranch vacations and
working farms,
state parks,
gourmet travel,
spa vacations, and
intrepid travel,
etc., and some great
tours and attractions passes to use once you get there.
Getting down to specifics...
If you have identified required level of accommodation, do you already have a specific purpose in mind? Want to tour wine country as in Napa and Sonoma Valleys? Need a ski resort? Want to play golf all day, everyday? Want to shop for antiques?
Wherever you decide to go, there are some fabulous vacation rentals available, for singles, families, and large groups just about anywhere you want to visit!
Level and Quality of Accommodation, Food, and Service
A good place to start when looking for quality of furnishing and service is the star rating system. Unfortunately, the star system does not have universal standards and results are therefore subject to whomever is doing the rating.
Triple A (AAA), uses a diamond system, rewarding more diamonds for more luxurious and quite often more expensive, accomodation options. Remember, many country destinations are small and off-the-beaten path. A lack of review, or stars, OR diamonds, does not mean you will not receive excellent service and an incredible vacation experience. International members will want to check here for the most up-to-date info on travel in the United States.
The Mobile Travel Guide
The Mobile Travel Guide features properties in destinations throughout North America, as well as international ratings in Hong Kong, Macau and Beijing. Their listings and rating cover hotels, restaurants and spas. You can read more about their rating system and categories here.
So, decide what you want to do and where you want to go. Try taking a
vacation personality test to fine-tune your research. Prepare for
vacation travel. Identify your
vacation goals and needs, research available vacation rentals, and plan a great vacation!
