Renting vacation homes is a great idea this is because you will get more space, amenities, and overall value compared to staying in a hotel room.  The following are a few things to know when renting your vacation house.

It is a huge decision choosing the right vacation home, it is one of the up-most important investments that you will make for your vacation.  Be sure to give an interview to all of the possible property owners and then pick the one that will help make your dream home come true. While you are interviewing the property owners and/or managers be sure you ask all of the right questions;  how long have they been renting vacation houses, also if you can view any of his property websites, and to see references.  It is also advisable to choose home layouts that will make a good vacation rental home for your stay, the property owner can help with the selection process.

Before you plan your visit take these few things into consideration; your budget, the size of the home to be rented, number of bedrooms, design features that you would like, vicinity to attractions, safety features, all amenities included, and exterior features.

If you are having a difficult time picking the location of the furnished home you could make an appointment with the owner, as he should be prepared to guide you through this selection process.  Property managers are equipped to make sure you end up with the right home for your stay to every tiny detail.  When they have done all of their studying they will provide you with an information packet, be sure to have lots of time because this is a process and you will be sitting for a few hours discussing this.

Along with this information of things to know when renting vacation houses don’t forget other important things; added costs, extra fees, or additional services that ma make your family’s stay more pleasant such as turning the pool heater or adding some amenities.

Croatia is tipped to be one of the most popular destinations in 2010 for British holiday-makers with its non-Euro currency, high quality, good value tourist accommodation and excellent flying links from UK airports. Hidden Croatia has come up with its pick of Easter holidays, from a 5* water-front hotel in Dubrovnik to island hotels in locations reminiscent of the Cote d’Azur.

Easter on the cosmopolitan island of Hvar, 4* b&b £735
For travel over Easter 2010 Hidden Croatia has a 7 night b&b stay at the 4* Hotel Riva Hvar Yacht Harbour for £735 per person, based on 2 sharing and including return flights from Gatwick to Split, road and ferry transfers. The hotel is located on the chic harbour front of Hvar island, reminiscent of an upmarket French Riviera resort, and is a member of the Small Leading Hotels of the World, offering contemporary styling in a wonderful location. Contact Hidden Croatia on 0844 477 9999, www.hiddencroatia.com

5* waterfront hotel in Dubrovnik, with complimentary wine
Hidden Croatia is offering a complimentary bottle of wine with dinner each day for guests spending a week at the 5* Grand Villa Argentina, a classic water-front, Dalmatian building made up of three noble villas, renowned as the most exquisite hotel in Dubrovnik. A week’s half board stay costs from £675 per person (child £499) over Easter, including flights from Gatwick to Dubrovnik and airport transfers. Contact Hidden Croatia on 0844 477 9999, www.hiddencroatia.com

Remote island off the tourist track, 3* b&b £599
The remote island of Vis is as impregnable as a Bond villain’s lair and as beautiful as Capri before the tourists. It has no big hotels, no big resorts, and despite its magnificent unspoilt scenery and deserted beaches has only recently opened up to tourism. The island’s Hotel San Giorgio is a charming 10 rooms boutique 3 star hotel and Hidden Croatia offers 7 nights bed and breakfast accommodation from £599 per person (April 2010), including flights from London Gatwick to Split and road and ferry transfers, based on 2 sharing. Contact Hidden Croatia on 0844 477 9999, www.hiddencroatia.com

Car free Croatian island, 7 nights £409
Croatia’s Kolocep island, the smallest of the Elafiti islands, is completely car free, has just one hotel, the Hotel Villas Kolocap, and a population of less than 150 inhabitants, which combined with its low-rise, unspoilt landscape makes for very good walking and cycling opportunities. Unusually for Croatia the island has a sandy beach. Hidden Croatia offers 7 nights room and breakfast at the 3* Hotel Villas Kolocep from £385 in April 2010 (children £285), including return flights from Gatwick to Dubrovnik, road and ferry transfers. Contact Hidden Croatia on 0844 477 9999, www.hiddencroatia.com

Croatia’s Makarska Riviera, boutique hotel
80kms south of Split is the tranquil town of Tucepi, with its turquoise fringed golden beaches, where the family-run, delightful boutique style 3* Hotel Villa Andrea offers a friendly and unpretentious welcome right beside the sea. Hidden Croatia offers a 7 night stay from £495 per person in April 2010, including b&b accommodation, return flights from London Gatwick to Split and airport transfers. Contact Hidden Croatia on 0844 477 9999, www.hiddencroatia.com

Hidden Croatia reservations 0844 477 9999, www.hiddencroatia.com

- 6,700 British holiday homes available to ‘book direct’ through Holiday Lettings
- Demand for British holidays so far in 2010 accounts for 20 percent of all enquiries
- Demand for UK holidays in 2010 is up 44 per cent year on year, further to the 88 per cent year on year growth experience in 2009 from 2008
- Choice of British holiday homes has doubled year on year
- UK holiday homes offer better value for money compared to hotels, especially for families

With 6,679 British holiday homes currently available for short term rental, holidaylettings.co.uk is an undisputed ambassador for National British Tourism Week, showcasing the largest choice of ‘book direct’ UK holiday homes.

The staycation marketplace accounts for 18 per cent of Holiday Lettings’ current inventory and 20 per cent of booking enquiries sent so far in 2010. The popularity of the staycation in 2009 saw demand for UK holiday homes increase by 88 per cent year on year. Demand for UK holidays in 2010 continues to grow, so far at an increase of 44 per cent on the same period in 2009.

The British homes cater to every budget, taste, holiday type preference and holidaymaker need, and regularly feature special offers to accentuate their affordability.

Most popular British holiday locations with HL holidaymakers:

City breaks in London, brighton, Edinburgh and Bath
Newquay, Cornwall Croyde
Bournemouth
St Ives
Padstow
Penzance
Cowes
Stratford upon Avon
York

UK areas where Holiday Lettings represent the most homes:

The West Country (Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset)
Holiday Lettings has more than 2,100 homes in the West Country with Cornwall dominating the landscape with 1,000 homes.

Up and coming areas increasingly popular with Holiday Lettings holidaymakers:

Cirencester
The New Forest
Rye, East Sussex
Brixham
Torquay
Whitby
Matlock
Canterbury

Some typically British holiday homes

BEACHSIDE VIEWS
Porth Beach View Apartment, Porth, Newquay, Cornwall
www.holidaylettings.co.uk/97602
£537 per week, sleeping six, (£89.50 per person)
Porth Beach View is part of an exclusive self catering holiday complex on the outskirts of Newquay town centre and near Watergate Bay. Overlooking Porth Beach, one of the best family beaches around Newquay, this two bedroom apartment is well equipped for up to six people and access to the beach is only a couple of minutes walk away. This apartment benefits from three separate balconies with spectacular coastal views.

BEAUTIFUL brighton
brighton Brunswick Apartment, brighton & Hove, Sussex
www.holidaylettings.co.uk/23119
£425 per week, sleeping four, (£106.25)
Stunning 5 star Visit Britain graded single bedroom flat in a beautiful period property. With floor to ceiling windows and original period features throughout, this property oozes luxury and is ideal for those looking for a stylish stop over to explore brighton. Only a one minute walk from the beach and ten minutes from the heart of town this spacious property also gas a home entertainment system, mini bar and ipod docking station, making it perfect for entertaining.

COTSWOLDS COUNTRY COTTAGE
Cats Abbey, Sherborne, Burford, Oxfordshire
www.holidaylettings.co.uk/26072
£4,419 per week, sleeping 24, (£184.125 per person)
an enchanting Cotswold farmhouse conversion that is located just off the A40, about five miles west of Burford, with spectacular views of Windrush Valley.
The big barn has a magnificent beamed ceiling, a gallery, a stone fireplace, wood-burning stove, and a stone floor with under floor heating. The kitchen is a cooks dream and the dining table can seat 24.

WONDERFUL WINDMILL
Braunston Mill, Braunston, Warwickshire
www.holidaylettings.co.uk/58307
£750 per week, sleeping six, (£125 per person)
A detached, contemporary retreat that features six floors of luxury, including: a very large kitchen, three bedrooms, a spacious lounge, bathroom and whirlpool bath, two en suite bathrooms and four WCs. The top floor offers breathtaking views that stretch across the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire countryside and there is a peaceful balcony area on the 4th floor.

Essential Italy are delighted to offer a 15% discount on this amazing villa which sleeps 6-7 deep in the Tuscan countryside for the Easter week 3rd – 10th April, 2010. A saving of £320.

Casolare de Noattri (sleeps 6-7) - http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/casolare-noattri.php

This private villa offers all the best of Tuscany. With views across the surrounding fields this house is very secluded and yet just a few minutes from the town of Volterra.

With three bedrooms (one en-suite), a lovely living room with fireplace, plus dining room with access to the wonderful terrace which overlooks the pool and fields beyond – this really is a holiday haven. The large pool has plenty of space to spread out and take in the sun and views and a cook can be arranged to prepare meals.

Location: Volterra 8kms, San Gimignano 30kms, coast 35kms, Pisa 60kms, Florence 75kms, nearest restaurant 1.5kms, nearest shop 4 kms

Price: Easter week 3 – 10 April, 2010 just £1810 for the week. Usual price £2130 per week.

Essential Italy are pleased to add this charming apartment in the ancient part of Siracusa (Ortigia), Sicily to their portfolio.

Casa Luisa / Ortigia, Sicily http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/casa-luisa.php

(Sleeps 2)

Casa Luisa offers pretty and simple accommodation in the heart of the ancient part of Siracusa. This charming and romantic ground floor apartment will make you feel like you are one of the locals from the moment you arrive.

Casa Luisa is in an impressive sea-facing building with a majestic wooden gate leading into a courtyard. The apartment is found at the back of the building and the more than stylish design and décor makes up for the lack of sea-view. There is a super outside terrace that sits between the tightly packed old “palazzi” of Ortigia where you may enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner and enjoy the warm air day or night!

The location of the apartment means you will find yourself in the middle of Italian life with an easy stroll to the local bars or to the archeological sites, shops, restaurants and sea-front as well.

Location: Catania airport 65km, Taormina 120km, Ragusa 78km, Porto Palo 60km, Trapani airport 375km, Palermo airport 290km

Prices: From £515 – £630 per week depending on season

On Thursday 4 March, Copthorne Hotel London Gatwick and Copthorne Hotel Effingham Park both received an award at the region’s most prestigious business event, the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2010. The Gatwick Diamond Awards celebrates the best of businesses and people who have shown innovation and inspiration in their work, and have demonstrated a real commitment to the sub-region.

The award in the category of “Commitment to Developing People and Skills” recognises commitment to the development of staff at the heart of the organisation, and recognises that developing people in business will drive business forward.

Judging the entry, Russell Strutt, Principle of Central Sussex College, commented that the Copthorne Hotels “manage to wholly engage its workforce to achieve its business objectives through a comprehensive review process, a commitment to personal development and incentivised recognised programmes. Peer training champions in each of its departments help to drive and deliver development and training linked to organisational objectives, with targets translated into meaningful milestones for staff at every level. In an industry renowned for transient employment, this company has a stable staff with an amazing 43% of them in a post to which they have been promoted, proving that talent identification and development really works.”

Heinz Skalnik, General Manager at both hotels, commented: “We are incredibly honoured to receive this prestigious award which demonstrates that effective staff development can have a dramatic impact on the performance of a business, and this is fundamental to supporting our success at the Copthorne Hotels.”

Haven Holiday parks all around the UK are preparing to start the new season on March 19th by unveiling the results of a £40million winter investment programme.

Holidaymakers booking an early season break will be amongst the first to try out the new facilities at Haven’s 35 parks. New attractions range from Adventure Golf courses, new sports and play areas, improvements to venues and ShowBars, upgraded accommodation and, best of all, two fabulous Space Bowls giving guests the ultimate ‘Wow’ factor at Combe Haven near Hastings and Marton Mere at Blackpool!

Swimmers using the Space Bowls can expect a high speed ride down the flumes before spinning around the bowl and dropping into the pool. Great fun but not for the faint-hearted!

Haven say, ‘We’ve invested £40 million in our parks to ensure that families can enjoy even better facilities and some spectacular new innovations. But we’ve made sure our prices have remained affordable to provide the best possible value for money.’

Spring breaks start from as little as £99 for a family of up to six in ‘Superior’ holiday homes on three night breaks from March 19th or four night breaks from March 22nd. The special deal is available at a wide choice of parks including The Orchards near Clacton in Essex, Golden Sands near Mablethorpe, Hafan y Mor in North Wales and Haven’s flagship park, Devon Cliffs near Exmouth.

If you can’t get away until the Easter holidays Combe Haven is offering breaks from April 9th at £179 for a family of six and Marton Mere is offering Bank Holiday Breaks, arriving 2nd April from £299 – both prices based on ‘Superior’ bedroom holiday homes.

For bookings and more info call 0871 230 1900 or click on www.haven.com

Thanks to Eurocamp, those seeking some early summer sunshine have the opportunity to bag their summer break for less than £400 for the whole family.

Why not take advantage of fantastic early summer deals and enjoy magnificent Vendée? Spanning 300 kilometres of spectacular Atlantic coastline, endless golden beaches and crystal clear waters; it’s a paradise for watersports enthusiasts, while the region’s climate makes it an idyllic holiday destination for all the family.

Eurocamp’s Le Clarys-Plage parc in the Vendée is lively all season, making it a great choice for families, particularly those who enjoy splashing around in the sun. With its fantastic swimming pool complex, comprising of sun terraces and a selection of waterslides, there’s also the option of beach-side fun with a wonderful sandy beach located just a short stroll away.

The parc also offers a selection of first class activities and regular entertainment. And with an excellent children’s play area and free Mini Fun Station kids club offering – supervised fun activities like sand play and painting for children aged 6 months to 5 years – there’s plenty to keep the little ones entertained.

A seven night break, staying at Eurocamp’s Le Clarys-Plage parc, arriving 11 June 2010, staying in a 2 bedroom ‘Comfort’ mobile home (sleeps up to eight), costs just £327 for the whole party, including return Dover-Calais ferry crossings.

Another of Eurocamp’s popular Vendée parcs is Sol à Gogo. This modern parc has an exceptionally high standard of facilities, including a superb pool complex with waterslides, a covered pool and Jacuzzi.

The parc also offers direct access to a stunning beach and is just a few kilometres from the bustling resorts of St Hilaire and St Jean de Monts, where there’s a variety of restaurants and bars, for holidaymakers to enjoy.

A seven night break at Eurocamp’s Sol à Gogo parc, arriving 06 June 2010, staying in a 2 bedroom ‘Comfort’ mobile home (sleeps up to eight) including return Dover-Calais ferry crossings, costs just £348 for the whole family.

Ferry crossings, fly drive packages, rail travel and overnight stops – at hotels or parcs en route – can also be arranged through Eurocamp at a supplement.

For further information on Eurocamp, please call 0844 406 0552 or visit www.eurocamp.co.uk

Special Offer Valid the weekend of the 30th April through to the 2nd May…….

In honour of the famous and popular festival of Sant’Efisio, patron of Sardinia with a parade of traditional Sardinian costumes and folk dances, this spectacular hotel is offering the following – 2 nights half board £ 145.00 per person. This includes 2 nights in a room facing the park, half board (from dinner on Friday to breakfast on Sunday) with the use of sunbeds and beach umbrellas included. The offer is not inclusive of drinks.

To view:
www.italian-connection.co.uk/italiancollection/details2.asp?propid=433

Martin Dunford, one of the founders of the Rough Guides series of travel guides and reference books, has joined forces with the learning holidays specialist GoLearnTo.com.

Started by Vanessa Lenssen, GoLearnTo.com specialize in selling high quality learning holidays and experiences online, including language courses, cookery weekends, painting holidays, surf breaks and much more. Vanessa has over 20 years experience in the travel industry, working across a number of sectors, and was previously a Managing Director at STA Travel and MyTravel.

Dunford believes that there’s huge potential in the learning holidays sector.

‘Vanessa has established a great business in just two years, and I feel that together we can raise it to the next level. Our ambition for GoLearnTo.com is massive: to become the principal portal for learning and experience-based holidays on the web, with an inspirational and content-rich site that is the last word on this new kind of travel.

It’s a great opportunity. The sector is bigger than most people think, and getting bigger all the time. ’

The numbers bear this out. Just over three million adults attended a course while on holiday over the past three years, and over the past five years the number of consumers swapping beach holidays for trips that educate and provide new experiences has grown by 66%. Society is changing: a zeitgeist culture is driving the need for self-fulfillment, self-expression and status –holidays that satisfy the need to show off a new skill when you get home.

There is also growing interest in travel that can act as a fast-track catalyst for career changes, career progression and major ‘life-shifts’, and significant growth in the singles population and the ‘active retired’, both of which are key markets for GoLearnTo.com. According to National Statistics projections, the singles population in England and Wales is set to grow by almost a third by 2031, when it’s estimated around 45% of the adult population will live in single households.

Dunford continues: ‘Travel is in a relatively mature phase in the UK. For a huge number of people it’s just not enough to fly and flop anymore. They either want to give something back – hence the rise in volunteering and gap year experiences – or they’re looking for some aspect of self-improvement, hence the rise in activity breaks and in particular learning holidays, which are expected to be the number one growth niche market in travel in the next five years.’

Vanessa Lenssen comments: ‘I’m delighted to have Martin on board at GoLearnTo.com. He has a proven track record in building a fantastic brand at Rough Guides, and his experience, expertise and drive to succeed will be a fantastic asset in taking GoLearnTo.com to the next level.’