And who said a vacation rental home couldn't have a pool?

Mine did! Read the review here

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And this one could be yours, and only yours, to use during your vacation....

What about alternatives to staying in a hotel during your vacation? Other than choices like a quaint bed and breakfast, there are also thousands of homes throughout the world available to "let" or to rent to vacationers and their families.

Why rent a vacation home?

Why would anyone want to rent a house to stay in during their vacation? Isn't a vacation about getting hotel room service and maid service and a chance to use the hotel pool, etc., etc? Well, yes...and no...

Why not escape the tourist scenario altogether and stay at your chosen destination in a real home? What better way to really experience the area as a "local" and not just as a"tourist" ? You can find a vacation rental home with maid service AND a pool and quite possibly menus and meals if you so desire. You work hard for your time off and your vacation dollars...make sure you get what you really want and don't settle for the usual or obvious choices.

And remember this...if you rent the vacation home above which just happens to be in Cozumel, only you and YOUR guests use this pool. Not the screamers staying in the room below you or the party-animals who were out by the hotel pool drinking until the wee hours...just you, your family, and your invited guests.

Vacation Rental Homes

The biggest problem you will have when entering the vacation home rental market is choosing from so many fantastic options.

I did a quick search using the term "Florida" and found the vacation rental pictured, located in Key Biscayne:

Clicking on either the image or the link below takes you to full and detailed information on the property, its amenities, its location, costs, whether they accept pets, etc., etc. Literally, everything you need to know in order to reserve online.

You don't have this level of control over a hotel booking. Quite often, you just get whatever they select for you and what they have available when you get there.

5br - Affordable luxury villa Otro Mundo in Key Biscayne

But there is yet another option...

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Vacation Home Exchange

Tell me you would not want to stay here during your vacation to Scotland?

Fly into Edinburgh and head on out to your own Country Manor house in beautiful Scotland.

Dollarbeg Lodge, a stunning Scottish country house was built in the mid 1800s. The current lodge was originally the gate house of the Dollarbeg Castle and Estate, still located at the top of the private drive. It is set in its own grounds with large garden and driveway and the accommodation was extended only a few years ago.

Under the trees is a decked area with a hot tub (who needs a pool?). The house is centrally heated, has high speed wireless, as well as the usual toys! (Wii, LCD TVs, Satellite Television and a Sonos multiroom music system). The lounge has a working coal/log fire for those cozy evenings in. The house sleeps 8 comfortably in 4 separate bedrooms and a separate family room which has a pull out sofa bed.

Since this gorgeous property is listed with Home Exchange, all you have to hope is that you can convince the owners of this property to stay in your home or to host you as a guest in theirs! Confused? Here's how it works:

Home Exchange is a vacation alternative where you stay in someone's home and they stay in yours.

There are two types of exchanges: Home exchange and Hospitality exchange.

Home exchangers trade their homes, condominiums or apartments at a time that is convenient to both parties, but these are not the only types of accommodations that one gets to choose from. For example, one exchanger traded his home for a 40-foot yacht. Another couple swapped their villa in Italy for a RV in Oregon because they had always wanted to tour the U.S. in true nomadic style. Often, home exchangers will include their automobiles as part of the package.

Hospitality exchangers, on the other hand, host each other in their homes at designated times. Your home exchange partners stay with you as guests and then you go and stay with them as their guests. There is a social aspect to this kind of exchange that some exchangers particularly enjoy. Conceivably, you also get a built-in tour guide with this mode of exchange.

If the idea of home exchange is unfamiliar to you, or even a bit frightening, rest assured -- there are 250,000+ successful home exchanges every year.

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Membership in the Home Exchange network is as little as $99 for the first year...don't make an exchange during that time - your second year is free. You can not be treated more fairly than that.

Whether you decide to rent a vacation home via VacationHomeRentals.com, or do a swap with a fantastic site like Home Exchange, you won't be disappointed.

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