Best booking tips for a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Home

While there is a growing abundance of options when it comes to booking a Santa Barbara vacation rental, many travelers still find the vacation home rental market to be a little chaotic - at least in comparison to more traditional accommodations like hotels/motels. The increasing popularity of vacation rentals in Santa Barbara as a value-packed alternative to pricier hotels has led to an abundance of options that can be overwhelming.

Here are some tips for booking your Santa Barbara vacation rental to ensure that you are getting the most bang for your buck, while protecting yourself from scams or disappointment.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #1: Check out niche listers that focus on specific destinations.

Whether you’ve rented a Santa Barbara vacation rental before or not, you’ll want to work with a local company and representatives that know their stuff.

For example, if you’re interested in a Santa Barbara beach house rental, a qualified representative will earn their stripes by walking you through the suitable available properties based on your unique needs and desires. For instance, if you’re bringing your three Bernese mountain dogs along with you, they’ll recommend Santa Barbara beach rental locations that are both dog-friendly and bric-a-brac-free.

Additionally, once you arrive, you’ll want to enjoy concierge services to help you get reservations at that trendy new restaurant, or simply recommend a hike that overlooks the ocean. An anonymous operator three states away won’t be able to deliver that level of local service.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #2: Use a credit card to protect yourself and minimize risks.

You want and expect every detail of your vacation to be perfect. But unfortunately that won’t always be the case. So you need to protect yourself.

Renting with your credit card through a Santa Barbara vacation rental management company offers you that protection. If for some reason the property doesn’t meet your expectations, and the management won’t do anything to fix it, you can keep a record of the problem and dispute the charge with your credit card company.

Property owners who rent person-to-person usually insist on a cashier’s check for 50 percent of the Santa Barbara vacation rental to reserve it, and then the other 50 percent in cash upon your arrival. If you later discover roaches scuttling through the kitchen of your Santa Barbara vacation rental or other elements of the property that were grossly misrepresented, you will have no leverage because you will have already paid in full in cash.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #3: Get the most bang for your buck.
Dollar for dollar, a Santa Barbara vacation rental gives you so much more than a luxury hotel. You get exponentially more space (both indoors and outdoors). You get a host of amenities from luxurious pools to high end kitchens to top flight entertainment systems, all for your exclusive use. Unlike an anonymous hotel room off a crowded corridor, you have a serene private home away from home to call your own.

But there are a host of priceless intangible benefits you get when you book your Santa Barbara vacation rental through a professional management company. Working with a premier Santa Barbara vacation rental management company to find your ideal Santa Barbara vacation home rental gives you a whole new level of service. A Santa Barbara vacation rental company has skin in the game. They are working to establish a good reputation and a list of return clientele, rather than just trying to make fast money.

In the-best-surprise-is-no-surprise category, unlike an absentee owner off Craigslist, with a professional Santa Barbara vacation rental company, you have someone who is troubleshooting issues 24/7, working hard to keep both the renters and the owners happy.

The most underused amenity is the professional Santa Barbara vacation rental staff. Once you arrive at your vacation rental in Santa Barbara, the staff is at your beck and call. Concierge and housekeeping services are a mere button-touch away. The staff’s local Santa Barbara knowledge and connections can turn an average vacation into something amazing. There is no extra cost, and the return is priceless.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #4: Book with confidence.

There’s a HUGE difference between someone who just wants to sell you a room, and a professional Santa Barbara vacation rental company that wants to make sure that you enjoy your ultimate Santa Barbara vacation so much that you return again and again. The key to that difference is delivering on what is promised.

Many vacation rental agencies are just big clearing-houses that list properties, sometimes all over the world. They do not usually specialize in a region and offer no other services, aside from rental matchmaking. They can’t make guarantees about the Santa Barbara beach house rental you’ve booked because their representatives have never visited them, inspected them for health and safety concerns, or even met the owners. They cannot vouch for the actual condition of the Santa Barbara vacation rental property, the advantages/disadvantages of the location, etc.

Some agencies just want to book the Santa Barbara beach rental and collect their fee. They may not care too much about what happens during your stay.

If you’ve never visited the Santa Barbara beach rental house you’re considering, or gotten a firsthand report from a trusted friend, you have no idea whether the photos you’ve seen on the web site are an accurate representation. They might be outdated, retouched, or from an entirely different place. (It goes without saying that you should never rent a Santa Barbara vacation rental that doesn’t at least offer photos!) Beware of any site that only offers view or exterior shots. If they’re not willing to show you what the Santa Barbara vacation house rental looks like inside, you don’t want to stay there.

With a professional Santa Barbara vacation rental company, you can be assured that the quality you see is the quality you will get.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #5: Go with the highest standards of quality.

Professional Santa Barbara vacation rental agencies are held to higher standards than private owners. Even if an owner fervently believes that their Santa Barbara vacation rental is clean and up-to-date, their standards might not match your own. One person’s no-visible-dust-bunnies and hi-fi-system are another person’s filthy and anachronistic. A professionally managed Santa Barbara vacation house rental will also be a professionally cleaned and maintained Santa Barbara vacation house rental.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #6: Understand the risks of booking through free listing sites like Craigslist.

Listing on a free site is, well, free. No crime in that (who doesn’t love free?), but that might point toward a general laissez-faire attitude the owner has toward his property and tenants.

The owners who are willing to pay a fee to keep their vacation houses booked and in first-class condition have already demonstrated their care and commitment to a working relationship that is beneficial to all parties. The management companies they work with are companies you can rent from worry-free.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #7: Don't be afraid to negotiate.

The more often these Santa Barbara vacation rentals are occupied, the happier the owners are, so if you are planning a last-minute or a long-term stay or if you are a frequent visitor, there is often room to negotiate on the price of your Santa Barbara vacation rental. Sometimes the discount might be as much as 30 percent.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #8: Do your research and compare rates, amenities, and conditions before entering into a rental agreement.

When you’re trying to narrow down your choice of a Santa Barbara vacation rental, be sure you’re comparing apples to apples. A smaller house on the beach will likely cost more than a larger one in the hills. Know what you’re getting from each property, and from each management company. Follow your gut and go with the company that will cheerfully show up in the middle of the night to snake the sink.

Another benefit to working with a Santa Barbara vacation rental professional management company is that it’s so easy to do a background check on them. Call or visit the Better Business Bureau or a vacation rental site like FlipKey.com. Has the firm had any reasonable complaints against them? How were they resolved? Type the name of the Santa Barbara vacation rental firm and its owner into Google and you’ll get a wealth of informative opinions.

The increasing popularity of Santa Barbara vacation rentals has led to an abundance of online resources. Your best best bet is to do due diligence and compare rates, amenities, reputations, views, and conditions before entering into a rental agreement. It’s your vacation and booking the right accommodations will help you ensure that your holiday will meet and exceed your expectations.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Allow Travelers to Book with Confidence

SANTA BARBARA, CA – While popular U.S. destinations like New York are implementing restrictions to help regulate the increasing popularity of short-term apartment and other vacation rentals, consumers are still faced with a growing abundance of options to consider before entering into any rental agreement.

Many travelers still find the vacation home rental market to be a little chaotic - at least in comparison to more traditional accommodations like hotels/motels. Therefore it is important for travelers to be able to book a Santa Barbara vacation rental with confidence, especially since they are usually reserving the property sight unseen.

As Santa Barbara vacation rentals grow in popularity as a value-packed alternative to traditional hotel accommodations, it can be difficult for consumers to know how to book a property that best fits their budget as well as travel needs and desires. There are many things consumers can do to protect themselves from scams or disappointment – including working with a professional management company whose goal is to ensure your vacation rental experience meets and exceeds your expectations.

We recommend that renters visit the Better Business Bureau or a vacation rental site such as FlipKey.com for candid reviews. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for travelers to end up in vacation rentals that do not deliver on what is promised. A recent guest even shared the nightmare experience that preceded her Santa Barbara vacation rental stay.

"After flying across the country to LA, we arrived at a home we had rented in Malibu to find it totally misrepresented and truly un-stayable. We considered flying back to New York and then decided to look into Santa Barbara instead,“ said Rory B. from New York, NY. “We contacted Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals and they were able to offer us the Anacapa Villa at a very reasonable price for same day arrival. The condominium was beautiful, every detail was thought through, it was immaculate and comfortable and the next best thing to home."

If you are looking to grab a last-minute holiday as the summer is winding down, give us a call at 805-715-3900. If you’re lucky and can act quickly, you might get a real steal!

Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tips for Touring Historic Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is an area full of rich cultures going back thousands of years. Whether you want to learn more about the indigenous Chumash tribe that first settled the area, the influence of the Spanish and the Mission Santa Barbara, the Mexican rancho era, the incorporation of California into the United States in the mid 19th century or what the good life has been like since then, your Santa Barbara vacation rental is within shouting distance of a wealth of history and aesthetic treasures.

The best place to start exploring outside of your Santa Barbara vacation rental is probably with the self-guided downtown red tile walking tour. Named for the ubiquitous color of the roofs along the route, it is a very pleasant 12-block stroll, which will help you get situated among some of the city’s historical buildings and events.

If you want a more targeted tour try the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara. Their knowledgeable guides weave fascinating tales of history, buildings, the events that happened there and the men and women who were involved. No detail is too small and no painted tile goes unturned. There is also an innovative art tour offered through Santa Barbara Walking Tours, which incorporates art and history.

If your Santa Barbara vacation rental doesn’t have enough flora to suite you, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is an excellent place for a stroll. There are 65 acres of plants in their native settings with 5½ miles of meandering paths.

There are also dozens of historic and artistic walking tours including a self-guided tour or virtual tour through the Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara Historical Museum, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, the Pearl Chase Society, Santa Barbara’s hidden paseos or walkways, the harbor and Shoreline Park.

Many historic homes in the area are open to the public. One of the most striking is Casa del Herrero, or House of the Blacksmith, which was built and enjoyed by the Steedman family a century ago. It’s not a Santa Barbara vacation rental, but it is considered a prime example of Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture, and is open to the public for tours and special events.

Video: See How Much Value Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Delivers

Santa Barbara vacation rental guests come in all different stripes. Some are families who have scrimped and saved all year for one big blowout vacation. Others are visitors to whom leisure is a way of life. But regardless of the guests’ circumstances, we knock ourselves out to provide a premium Santa Barbara vacation rental experience for everyone who walks through our doors.

One of the comments we hear over and over again is how Santa Barbara vacation rentals consistently deliver more of…everything! Our Santa Barbara vacation rental homes have more space, more amenities, more luxury, more breathtaking views, more access to beaches, more knowledgeable concierges, more responsive property managers, more information and more access to whatever important to you.

Our Santa Barbara vacation rental properties are beautifully decorated and equipped. They have high-end amenities and every comfort you could ask for. Many of our Santa Barbara vacation rental homes even have outdoor entertaining areas and outdoor sports equipment.

Every day we strive to exceed our clients’ Santa Barbara vacation rental expectations. We find that it’s the thoughtful little touches that can really turn a nice vacation into the experience of a lifetime. Whether it’s a lit fireplace and a bottle of Cabernet left open to breathe and await your arrival, your favorite model rental car ready at your door or help arranging the adventure of a lifetime, we are here to honor any request.

We were amused and delighted when we saw this YouTube video, posted by a Santa Barbara vacation rental guest Chris Brogan, president of New Marketing Labs, a social media agency. Listen to how he and his friend were knocked out by everything about the Santa Barbara vacation rental they stayed in. It’s a pretty typical response. Hopefully, some day it will be yours, too.

Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals Launches Blog and Vacation Rentals Site with Valuable Guest Resources

At Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals we provide a variety of high-end vacation rentals in Santa Barbara. We continuously aim to make our guests' stay in Santa Barbara as comfortable and pleasant as possible. This is why we have launched our very own blog and SB vacation rentals website featuring insider tips, expert travel advice and trip planning resources. Our Santa Barbara vacation rentals website can be found at: http://www.santa-barbara-vacation-rental.com/

At Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals we know that finding the right accommodations for your trip is only part of the vacation planning process! This is why we want to share our local insider tips and advice with our guests. Our Santa Barbara vacation rentals website is just another way we provide top notch service to our vacation rental guests. We also provide valuable resources for our visitors on our site as well as this blog. Even before our guests arrive at their Santa Barbara vacation rental, we are ready to provide assistance and invaluable information about the area and all that Santa Barbara has to offer to help them create a memorable vacation experience.

On the Santa Barbara vacation rental blog and Santa Barbara vacation rentals website, visitors will find:
• Information on popular Santa Barbara activities including the best hiking trails, wineries and farmers markets.
• Local area guide highlighting insider tips for enjoying dining, shopping, art galleries, ocean activities, antiquing, and more.
• Helpful tips for traveling smarter including ways to save money without sacrificing your overall vacation experience.
• Local events including concerts and cultural festivals.
• Expert recommendations for planning family-friendly vacations, Santa Barbara destination weddings, or romantic getaways.
• Easy ways for our guests to make the most of their Santa Barbara vacation rentals to help stretch their vacation budgets further.

For those who want to explore our Santa Barbara vacation rental properties, the Santa Barbara vacation rentals website also highlights featured vacation homes and provides easy links to view private beach houses and holiday villa properties at www.sbluxuryrentals.com.

View our properties at http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com/ or give us a call at 800-715-8766. We'd be delighted to assist you.

Get a steal on a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental for a Last Minute Central Coast Summer Getaway

Oops! Are you one of the millions of potential vacationers who are waiting in vain for airfares to go down? Do you have vacation days to burn, but nowhere to turn? Are you going to scream if you hear someone extolling the virtues of a “staycation” one more time?

If you’re within a four- to five-hour drive of California’s south central coast, have we got some good news for you. Parenting web site has targeted a Santa Barbara vacation rental as one of the best places to take your family for a last-minute vacation. It’s no wonder. There is so much to do in the area. There are innumerable watersports for kids of all ages, beach activities, history to relive, gardens to admire, plays, movies, outdoor entertainment, etc.

There’s also the perfect family-friendly place to stay. Santa Barbara vacation rentals are beautiful properties that suit almost any budget and timeline. Whether you’re planning to visit for 48 hours or four to eight weeks, a Santa Barbara vacation rental can offer you the perfect estate, villa, cottage, bungalow or apartment to suit your needs.

Guests at our Santa Barbara vacation rentals travel here by plane, train or automobile. You can stay right on the beach in Ocean Oasis, or up in the hills in Le Petit Chateau. The Santa Barbara area offers a lovely temperate climate year-round. It’s never too hot and never too cold at a Santa Barbara vacation rental, so there’s literally nothing to stop you from enjoying the great outdoors at any time of the year.

If you are looking for last minute deals on a Santa Barbara vacation rental, give us a call at 805-715-3900. If you’re lucky and can act quickly, you might get a real steal.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals’ Guests Enjoy New Water Sports

If you’re staying in a Santa Barbara vacation rental there’s a new water sport craze hitting the beaches and it’s a hit with celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. The sport is called stand up paddling (or SUP) and it combines the best of surfing and canoeing. Enthusiasts stand on a board and paddle through the water, and they’re raving about the experience.

Thatsfit.com called Santa Barbara the best place to learn SUP, and in particular recommended Paddle Sports in the Santa Barbara Harbor near several Santa Barbara vacation rentals and in Carpinteria as the best place to rent. Paddle Sports offers a two-hour, $40 rental that includes the board, paddle, a wetsuit and leash.

Originally all the rage in California and Hawaii, SUP is now catching on like wildfire anywhere there’s flat water. If your Santa Barbara vacation rental is near a lake, pond or glassy coast, you will find enthusiastic SUPers. It is being embraced by all age groups, and people of any and all (or no) athletic abilities. You can glide around at a snail’s pace, or race around like a professional outrigger.

Santa Barbara vacation rental guests enjoy a great workout for your abdomen, arms, back and shoulders, but it also tones all of the leg and torso muscles you use to stay upright and balanced. Like any paddling sport, the more upper arm strength you have the better your endurance will be.
But have no fear ladies, in this sport, style counts as much as substance. Anyone can learn the strokes, postures, foot positions, angles and techniques to make an elegant turn and stay dry. And she who stays on her board instead of falling off will always be considered the better athlete. This could be why women account for almost 50% of all SUP board sales.

You may want to check out YouTube or http://www.supsurfmag.com/ to watch videos or read articles to get some hints and tips before you head out on the open water. Remember, the Pacific ocean can be cold. They give you a wetsuit for a reason.

Paddle Sports has many different packages available to suit any experience level from newbie to expert. Your Santa Barbara vacation rental concierge would be happy to organize the right package for you. The Santa Barbara Harbor facility is located conveniently close to several Santa Barbara vacation rentals including Mykonos Villa, Juniper Cottage, Santa Barbara Oceanview and the Anacapa Penthouses.

If you are interested in trying stand up paddling during your Santa Barbara vacation rental stay, book a Santa Barbara Luxury Rental today.