Whether you're planning your first trip to Santa Barbara, or making an annual pilgrimage, selecting the right Santa Barbara vacation rental can make all the difference. Staying in a beach house rental is the perfect solution for many travelers. It offers all the luxury of staying in a high-end hotel, with the comfort and privacy of your very own home away from home.
How to Choose a Vacation Rental Tip #1: Decide Where you Want to Stay.
Location is key when selecting your Santa Barbara beach house rental. Do you want a true beachfront property? Or would you prefer spectacular ocean views to easy beach access? Beach house rental properties that are close to the beach (1-2 blocks) may be located behind other homes so they won't have an ocean view. Other beaches homes may have an awesome ocean view from atop the Riviera, but will be about a 5-10 minute drive to the beach. Property descriptions will often make these details as clear as possible for renters, but it's definitely important to ask to make sure you are getting what you want.
How to Choose a Vacation Rental Tip #2: Make a wish list.
Consider your individual needs and prioritize your preferences for vacationing in Santa Barbara. Do you want to watch the orange sun set over the silvery horizon every night from your roof deck of your beach rental, or do you want to be front and center on the sand with seaweed wrapped between your toes? Do you want to be within easy distance of a good jogging beach? Do you want to wake to the smell of sage and explore a new hilly trail every day in your vacation rental? Or maybe you want to stroll the red-roof district and explore the art/food/shopping scene downtown? If you know what you want out of your vacation rental, you're a lot more likely to get what you want.
How to Choose a Vacation Rental Tip #3: Get specific.
Don't hesitate to ask detailed questions about everything from the beach gear that's provided to sleeping arrangements at your Santa Barbara vacation rental. If you have kids and pets, then you will want to know which beaches are most kid-friendly and dog-friendly - along with the best way to get there from your beach rental. A beach house that requires a steep walk to or from the beach, or necessitates that you bring all of your own beach Toys and paraphernalia with you may not be the best match. Most properties provide sun umbrellas, beach chairs, beach towels, etc., and even sunshade and Toy rentals for kids through concierge services, so you don't have to schlep all your own beach gear on vacation.
How to Choose a Vacation Rental Tip #4: Hit the Web.
Explore online resources and check out online Santa Barbara vacation rental travel-review sites. Photos of your potential a beach rentals are important, but they may not give the whole story. Pay particular attention to the visitors' comments. If it was important enough for someone to write about, it will probably factor into which beach rental you choose, too. Before you put down your deposit you'll want to know whether the Santa Barbara vacation rental's advertised "beach neighborhood" is actually a twenty-minute drive from the sand, or if the "friendly neighbors" mentioned in the ad peek into the windows at night.
How to Choose a Vacation Rental Tip #5: Stick with the Professionals.
Obviously, if you deal with a professional beach house rental agency, you have more protection and options. Mrs. Kravitz may not care that you don't like the dilapidated shack she advertised as a romantic beach rental cottage, but a professional will knock themselves out to help you find what you're looking for. They want your business, and will do whatever they can to make your visit a special one.
How to Choose a Vacation Rental Tip #6: Call the Source Directly.
Once you've found a few potential Santa Barbara vacation rental properties that seem to fit your criteria, call their managers and ask specific questions about the homes. Whatever is important to you should be important to the agency. They are experts in their field. If, after talking with them, you decide that a particular beach house rental is not what you're looking for, they may be able to make another suggestion that would fit the bill perfectly, even if it's through another company. Is the staff friendly and helpful? That is a good sign that they will continue to be attentive during your actual stay in your Santa Barbara beach rental.
And there's no reason to give up the high-end service you crave either. Some beach house rental companies offer concierge service free of charge. These professional men and women will fulfill all of your requests as quickly and cheerfully as any Golden Key professional. There are many, many options when it comes to choosing a Santa Barbara vacation rental. There is something for everyone. It may take a little digging, but it will be worth it when you find your ideal beach house rental. Simply put, the town is your oyster. Pick your pearl of a Santa Barbara beach rental.
Graham Farrar is a Santa Barbara local with specialized knowledge in the popular destination's attractions and activities. He is a Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals expert and offers tips and advice for traveling to Santa Barbara on the http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com blog.
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