| You've finally decided you and your family on | | | | greater the odds you'll end up in an overpriced, |
| going to take that long awaited dream vacation in | | | | undesirable vacation rental. Here's another great |
| Hawaii. You've decided that you want to go the | | | | hint. If a reservation service states that they |
| vacation rental route for numerous reasons: | | | | have hotels or condos available in Kailua, or will |
| privacy, comfort, location and cost effectiveness. | | | | have them soon, choose another service. Since, |
| Next, you probably Googled Oahu Vacation | | | | by zoning law, Kailua does not allow hotels or |
| Rentals and are faced with the daunting task of | | | | condos, you should realize that once again, this is |
| choosing among some 175,000 web sites. Where | | | | a service that wants your money, not your piece |
| to begin? Here's two secrets that will help you | | | | of mind. Always ask the reservation service |
| make the right choice so you can enjoy your | | | | person you are talking to where they are located. |
| stay in Hawaii to its fullest. | | | | Someone based in Las Vegas or Los Angeles |
| Secret One: Use a reservation service. There are | | | | won't have a clue about how to give you the |
| several reasons for this. First, a single property | | | | best property for the vacation experience you |
| vacation rental listing by owner will severely limit | | | | have in mind. |
| you to the dates that you can take your | | | | With the standard vacation rental property terms |
| vacation. Vacation rental properties in Hawaii run | | | | being no refunds after you've paid your deposit, |
| nearly 90% occupancy, so unless you know your | | | | you absolutely want to make sure you make the |
| travel dates six months to a year out the odds | | | | right choice. A good reservation service will ask |
| are high that their property won't be available for | | | | you questions about what you want to do and |
| the travel dates you had in mind. Second, the | | | | see on your vacation and will actually try and talk |
| owner is only concerned with booking their own | | | | you out of a property you had in mind if they |
| property so they will extol the virtues of their | | | | don't think it appropriate to what you had in mind. |
| vacation rental and not mention any of the faults. | | | | This is not an attempt to upsell you, it's more a |
| Secret Two: Make the right choice of reservation | | | | matter of matching your vacation desires and |
| service. Make sure it is locally owned and | | | | needs with the perfect choice of vacation rental |
| operated. Websites like vrbo and findrentals (for | | | | venue. One vacation rental reservation service |
| instance) don't have a clue about geography, | | | | that meets all these requirements is Pacific Islands |
| weather, attractions, events and the other | | | | Reservations. They are owned and operated by |
| necessary information required to give you the | | | | Ingrid Carvalho, who was born and raised in the |
| property that best fills your needs. For instance, | | | | islands, as were her parents, grandparents and |
| let's say you want to whale watch but also want | | | | great-grandparents. She has been serving visitors |
| to vacation on Oahu. Your reservation service | | | | to Hawaii vacation rental needs since 1996. She |
| should be able to tell you that you need to stay | | | | currently represents ninety vacation rentals on |
| on the windward side of the island if you want to | | | | Oahu and another 90 vacation rentals on Maui, |
| see the whales. Another tip-off of services to | | | | Kauai and the Big Island. She has actually been to |
| avoid are those that do automated, credit card | | | | each and every property she represents--she |
| bookings. Steer clear of these services as this | | | | even took most of the photographs of the |
| implies they aren't interested in talking to you, | | | | vacation rentals you see on her web sites. She |
| they just want your money. Be wary of sites | | | | doesn't take credit cards but she's happy to |
| that have more than 100 properties....there aren't | | | | spend time talking with you to make sure you |
| that many decent selections on Oahu, or any of | | | | get the right property to maximize the value and |
| the other Hawaiian islands, on the market. The | | | | enjoyment of your vacation. |
| more a service exceeds 100 properties, the | | | | |