Buying a Hot Tub For Your Vacation Rental Property

Many vacation rental property owners benefit greatly from having a hot tub on the premises. Investing in a hot tub can help you draw more renters, especially during the off-seasons.

Many guests inquire during the months of November and December about our homes having hot tubs.

As for managing and cleaning, we can help you to hire a qualified spa specialist to come and clean your hot tub after each guest leaves. The jury is still out as to whether or not you should empty, clean and refill the water after each guest. If you already have a hot tub, we will add a clause to your rental rules regarding hot tub safety.

If you don't have one already think about Installing a hot tub. It's a big draw for potential guests.

Announcing The Murphys Loft

This beautifully decorated loft has two bedrooms with luxurious queen beds along with a queen sized sofa bed in the spacious, well-appointed living room. With a fully equipped kitchen it has all the amenities you’ll need for entertaining your family and friends. All linens are provided, as well as quality bathroom toiletries in each of the two full bathrooms.

Located right on the historic Murphys Main Street park your car in the reserved off-street parking and you are only steps away from the many great shops, restaurants, and wineries. Rich in charm and character, Murphys provides visitors a glimpse of the past while offering first class food, wine and shopping. You can't beat staying in the heart of “One of the Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America”.

After a fun day wine tasting in the numerous nearby wineries, return to The Murphys Loft and relax on the outdoor balcony overlooking Main Street. A perfect fit for both romantic couples or a family with children. You will simply love the comfort and the personal touches of The Murphys Loft.

Call 800-523-8758 for pricing and availability or visit our website to learn more.

View The Murphys Loft Virtual Tour

How to make your vacation home friendly to green travelers

If you’re looking for ways to attract more travelers, consider going green. With the explosion of greener vehicles and interest in alternative energy sources, now is the perfect time to get in on the green market. People who are willing to spend extra to make environmentally friendly changes in their own lives are also willing to spend the money to rent an eco-friendly vacation home.

By making small, relatively inexpensive modifications to your vacation homes, you will attract these travelers. Offer easy recycling by providing separate bins for plastics, glass, and cans at each home. Use eco-friendly appliances (such as those labeled with the "Energy Star" and replace all your old, inefficient filament light bulbs with newer, longer lasting, economical bulbs. Another easy way to make your vacation homes more energy efficient is to set your water heater at the lowest effective setting, especially when unoccupied. Provide filtered water systems and thorough guides to area public transportation. For more ideas about easy ways you can modify your vacation homes for eco-conscious travelers, check out this article on the top 10 ways to make your home green.

Once you make your vacation homes green, it is equally important to employ a good marketing campaign so that travelers are aware of your efforts. Not only will you gain business by offering green options; you will continue to reap the benefits of the eco-friendly appliances, lighting, etc. that you have installed as they save you energy and money over time. The newer light bulbs commonly advertise 75% energy savings, and can last up to ten years.

To attract repeat business from people who are not already living green, educate them about the changes you have made to your homes. Stock your homes with materials such as books and pamphlets which inform travelers about what you are doing for the environment, and they will likely feel good about returning. Also include information on your website; you might just convince some travelers that an eco-friendly vacation home is what they’re looking for.

By Parag Vaish, Vice President of Marketing Escapia

A Rockin' Restaurant Recommendation

If you want a great meal at a reasonable price then look no further than Sarafina's Itailan Kitchen right here in Arnold CA.

Open Wednesday-Sunday

Sarafina's Italian Restaurant
794 Hwy 4 Arnold, CA 95223

(209) 795-9858

This place is so good you'll need to call for reservations!

Travelocity Tracks Summer Travel Trends

Worth a quick look is the recent release from Travelocity of how Americans' travel plans this summer (given all the economic changes) have matched what they said they would do in January.

Quick takes:

• 55% of Americans are still planning a summer trip despite gas prices and economic weakness


• Average length of stay for a summer trip has gone from 7 to 6 days.

Travelers are booking 4.3% earlier than they did in 2007.

Wondering what fuel prices have done to airfares? Less than you might expect. According to Travelocity, summer fares are up 13% versus 2007 -- diesel fuel prices are up 39% over the same time frame.

Bear Valley Music Festival Special

Come up and celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Bear Valley Music Festival. This Blue Lake Springs Arnold vacation home would make a perfect home base for the upcoming Bear Valley Music Festival.

This spacious home has soaring ceilings and is well appointed. It offers two queen size beds, a twin, along with a loft with 2 twins. The spacious rec room loft has a pool table, dart board, air hockey, PlayStation with games, large screen TV, VCR, DVD and movie collection, as well as a stereo sound system with CD player. You can stay connected with computer and internet access.

Special Bear Valley Music Festival Offer
$40 off the rental rate per night

Only $275 per night for the duration of the Festival
July 26-August 10, 2008

Call us at 800-523-8758 or visit Century 21 Sierra Properties Vacation Rentals
to book the Bushwood home

Just Another Reason to Come Up and Visit

Kayaking at Union and Utica

These scenic small, twin reservoirs are located off the Spicer Reservoir Road. The setting is more rustic than either Spicer Reservoir or Lake Alpine. No developed recreation facilities exist at either lake; however, the area is popular for day use, dispersed camping and paddle sports such as canoeing and kayaking. A primitive boat launch is available at Union Reservoir. Maximum boat speed is 5 mph. Utica Reservoir is managed for non-motorized boating. Open June to October.