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Let's Make a (Vacation) Deal
6 Ways You Can Squeeze in a Great (and Cheap!) Vacation Before It's Too Late
If you've let the summer fly by without taking a vacation, don't fret! There's no better time than right now (and during the next couple of months) to get a great last-minute deal. Christine Karpinski of HomeAway.com explains why.
Just as it does every year, the summer is flying by. Chances are you haven't been able to spend as much time as you'd like enjoying the sunshine, or maybe summer in your part of the country has been plagued with less-than-desirable weather. Either way, if you haven't already taken your summer vacation, you may be in "panic mode," worrying that you'll end up spending the rest of yours in your backyard staring at your neighbor's pool and desperately searching for ways to entertain the kids.
But don't throw in the (beach) towel just yet. Karpinski says that contrary to popular belief, now is the perfect time to get a great deal on lodging – just plan to stay in a vacation rental property.
"When August rolls around, most of us find ourselves mired in the end-of-summer doldrums," says Karpinski, director of Owner Community for HomeAway.com and author of How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner, 2nd Edition (Kinney Pollack Press, 2007) and Profit from Your Vacation Home Dream: The Complete Guide to a Savvy Financial and Emotional Investment (Kaplan, 2005). "We're either lamenting the passing of the great vacation we took in June or depressed about the fact that we haven't gone anywhere. The great news is there are lots of summer deals to be had right now and over the next few months. And because the vacation rental home rates are so affordable in certain areas, even if you've already taken your planned vacation, you can justify a spontaneous 'extra' getaway without busting your budget."
Want to see more?
- Brilliant Deductions for Vacation Homes: Everything Second Homeowners Need to Know About Saving on Their Taxes
- Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness and a Vacation? A 3-step Plan for Breaking the Vacation Entitlement Mindset
- A Season to Buy: Why Now Is the Right Time to Make Your Vacation Home
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