Tag Archives: Vacation rentals

Packing 101: Selection

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

Photo by Craig Sunter via Flickr

Whether flying or driving to your next vacation destination, you can make the travel a little easier by packing smarter. Lightening your load can be liberating, leaving you with fewer things to worry about and more energy to enjoy your adventure. There are countless strategies for managing your baggage, but they all boil down to two categories—organization and selection. Today’s post will cover how decide what you should bring. Check back later for tips on getting it all into your case.

I know you have a closet full of amazing clothes at home. And you don’t know exactly what your new environment will call for. But that doesn’t mean you should pack a unique for every possible situation you might find yourself in. That kind of packing will only make more work for you and likely won’t yield the results you expect. Because nobody can plan for every eventuality.

Make a list. This isn’t a list of each exact piece of clothing you want to bring. OK, if you want to pack your favorite button-up, put that on the list. But otherwise keep it vague. Count the number of days and nights you’ll be traveling, and think of the type of activities you’ll be doing. Then write down loose terms for the absolute necessities you’ll need to bring. You can get more specific later in the process if you’re the type of person who’d forget their head if it wasn’t screwed on. But for now, it should read something like: toiletries, 5 t-shirts, 2 pair shorts, 1 pair jeans, pajamas, swim suit, 5 socks & underwear, 1 pair shoes.

Decide on a color scheme. Try to pick out items that are in the same color family, and don’t be too liberal with items of coordinating color. If you’re afraid of feeling like you’re wearing the same thing all the time, consider opening your suitcase on the final day only to find striped pants and a polka dotted shirt. (While this might technically qualify as a power clash, that’s a topic for another day…and another blog.) By limiting your wardrobe to one color scheme, you’re actually opening up more combinations, which means you can pack fewer items.

Follow the classic rules. We all know that pants can be worn multiple times before needing to be washed. And if you swap out your shirt, nobody is going to notice that you’re wearing the same pants as a day or two ago. Multi-purpose garments are another traditional travel staple. Many ladies have a little black dress that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Similarly, men have a coat and maybe a tie. If you have a piece of clothing that you would only wear in one specific situation, it probably shouldn’t make it into the suitcase. (Of course exceptions will be made if you’re traveling to an event like a wedding. Don’t leave your bridesmaid dress behind just because I said so.)

Plan to do laundry. I know laundry isn’t fun, and it might be the last thing you want to deal with on your vacation. But when space is truly at a premium, this might be your best option. And planning ahead can make it relatively painless. When booking accommodations, try to pick a place that has laundry facilities on-site or nearby. All of Stay Alfred’s vacation rental properties have in-home washers and dryers, so you can wash whenever it’s most convenient. We even provide the detergent! If you aren’t staying somewhere with such amenities, don’t forget to pack a roll of quarters or some cash, and throw some single load detergent pods in with your toiletries.

I hope these tips help you on your next trip. And if you don’t have a trip planned, check out our properties for a little inspiration.

Vacation Rentals: Perfect for Families

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

Photo by Ted Sakshaug via Flickr

Planning a vacation can be daunting and stressful; especially when you’re planning a family vacation. Between managing arguing siblings, making sure everyone is properly fed, and making your way to all the local hot spots, there’s barely any time to actually sit down and relax. Thankfully that’s not the case when you and your family stay with Stay Alfred.

We’ve all been there at one point or another. It’s 6pm, starting to get late, and everyone is hungry. The one problem is, everyone wants to eat something different! Thankfully, when you stay with Stay Alfred, you have access to a fully stocked kitchen. Our guests have the option of dining out and experiencing the local cuisine or stocking up on groceries and preparing meals themselves, making it much easier to make sure everyone’s happy and eliminating the search for the perfect restaurant.

While on vacation, tensions tend to rise when you’re all cramped in the same stuff hotel room. With only one bathroom and usually only one window it doesn’t take long for the cabin fever to set in. But what if you could spread out? At a Stay Alfred property you can! The kids can relax and watch TV in the living room while you take a nap in peace in the master bedroom. Another reason Stay Alfred is perfect for your next family vacation: you’ll have room to relax, spread out, and breathe.

We know that once you’ve stepped through the front door you’ll never want to leave but the convenient location of Stay Alfred properties makes living like a local a breeze. No more squeezing into the minivan and searching for the next attraction. When you’re family is ready you can simply walk out the front door and you are instantly immersed in the city’s culture. Saving you the time and stress of getting everyone ready and loading them in and out of the car.

Overall there are many reasons why Stay Alfred is perfect for a family getaway. Bur location and convenience can’t be beat. Save your family the stress and plan your next family getaway with Stay Alfred!

The Incredible, Historical Attractions of Washington D.C.

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

History buffs, rejoice! Stay Alfred is making its way to beautiful downtown Washington D.C. soon! With new locations for our incredible guests to stay in, we have decided to put together a list of the history attractions everyone should visit.

White House by Diego Camblaso via Flickr

If I were heading to Washington D.C. I would want to start with our breathtaking White House. Built 214 years ago, the White House was completed and John Adams became the first president to call it home. Perhaps the most known building in United States history, the White House is the epicenter of all political life in DC. Who knows, maybe you’ll see some important people while you’re there. Next up of the can’t-miss attractions is the United States Holocaust National Museum. A living memorial to the Holocaust, the powerful museum preserves the memory of those who suffered and encourages all visitors to reflect upon what happened those many years ago.

On a lighter side, the National Mall holds host to millions of visitors each year to commemorate presidential legacies, honor our veterans, and celebrate our nation’s commitment to freedom and equality. Inside of the National Mall stands one of the most iconic buildings in Washington. The Washington Monument was built to honor our first president as a political and military leader. The Monument is open daily, but tickets run out quickly so make sure you arrive early to reserve your spot!

The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial is a breathtaking 3-acre memorial. When a visitor looks at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall they are able to simultaneously see their reflection with the engraved names, which is meant to symbolically bring the past and present together. Finally, if you’re up to cross the Potomac River into Virginia you can spend time at the Arlington National Cemetery. With an elaborate Changing of the Guard ritual every hour and the viewing of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, you don’t want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

There are so many more incredible buildings and places you should check out if you have time while in Washington D.C. like the Lincoln Memorial, the many Smithsonian Museums, the Library of Congress, and so many more that I could go on about forever. Watch for future posts with even more information about the historical attractions of Washington, D.C.

Be sure to visit the Stay Alfred website for updates on our upcoming downtown Washington D.C. vacation rentals!

Avoiding Airbnb Scams

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

We have previously written about avoiding vacation rental scams, and it looks like it is time to bring up the topic once again. Airbnb is currently the hottest thing since sliced bread and their seemingly meteoric rise to the top of the game has included a fair share of hiccups. While the large majority of guests enjoy their stays, there are still a few horror stories out there. Scams can hit hosts as well as guests, and the sophisticated criminals are looking to do a lot worse than just trash your apartment.

Phishing scams are one of the oldest in the book. The premise is simple: you receive an email urgently prompting you to log into your account or provide some other sensitive information. On the surface the message appears to be from a legitimate organization, but if you click on the links you are sent to a website that will actually steal your login information. Once your login has been stolen, the scammers have access to a whole treasure trove of profitable material. They can lock you out of your account, divert payments to their own accounts, and even sent up fraudulent listings to ensnare unsuspecting guests. This is a nightmare situation for any vacation rental owner.

Fortunately, while prevalent, these types of scams are fairly easy to avoid. Let’s look at some examples. First we have what looks like a promising reservation, just waiting to be confirmed:

However, closer examination will reveal significant problems. The first and most obvious is the originating email address. Anything that is legitimately from Airbnb will be from @airbnb.com. This email is not:

Close, but no cigar. The second tip off is that the rates being offered are not correct. This request is showing $99 per night which is the base rate of the listing, not the accurate rate for the specific dates shown. If this was actually a request from Airbnb, it would have had the correct rates. It’s obvious what has happened is that a scammer has simply lifted the rates and the picture from the listing page and build a fake notification using our information.
Along with these phishing emails, another scam we’ve started to see from people using Airbnb is the oldie-but-goodie “I’m in trouble, please send me money” scam. Let’s take a look at another message we recently received:

Jodi was an actual guest of ours and it appears someone was able to gain access to her account (possibly using the methods previously described) and send us this message. There are multiple things about this email that should set off warning signs, not the least of which being the actual warning sign from Google. The next would be the grammar mistakes throughout. Having corresponded with Jodi in the past, we immediately realized that there was something wrong here, but common sense dictates that the obvious falsity of this email should be apparent to anyone.

The unfortunate truth is that scams like these are becoming increasingly common as our society moves more and more of its interactions online. The good news is that scammers are, by their very nature, lazy. They don’t put a lot of effort into creating the perfect rouse. To them it’s a numbers game. If they target as many people as possible, they’re hoping that an unlucky few will not be paying attention enough to spot the obvious. As long as your exercise an appropriate amount of caution and diligence, you can avoid being that person.

Are you planning a trip? Click here to view all of our great downtown vacation rentals.

The Importance of Reviews

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

Source: Flickr user Paolo Camera

When you’re making a purchase online, do you read user reviews before making a decision? If you are like the majority of online buyers, you probably do. Whether it’s a new smartphone case or a new car, it just makes sense that you would want to know what you’re getting. Nearly every online marketplace offers people the opportunity to post product reviews, and checking out those reviews is now just a standard part of being an informed consumer.

Just like everything else online, vacation rentals rely heavily on user reviews. In fact, reviews are probably more important to vacation rentals as a source of advertising than most other products you can think of. First of all, people want to know that your vacation rental is not a scam and that what they see is what they’re going to get. Secondly, hearing about the great times previous guests have had makes it easier to spend a significant amount of money on something they’re not going to see in person until they arrive.

All the great photographs and glowing descriptions in the world will not have as much impact on your vacation rental as the heartfelt endorsements of people who have had wonderful experiences at your property. A recent survey by TripAdvisor found that travelers are 80% more likely to book a vacation rental listing that includes guest reviews. Obviously the more reviews you have, the better, but Homeaway and VRBO advise that you try to have at least 12 reviews for the highest Listing Quality Score.

Getting guests to leave reviews on your listing can be a challenge, but it is worth the effort. Vacation Rental Marketing Blog founder Matt Landau found that soliciting reviews is the most cost-effective ways to generate more bookings. Sending a guest an email, or even a handwritten note, inquiring how their stay went is an excellent way to generate feedback. If they had a positive experience, it is a good opportunity to politely ask them to leave a review. One method we have found to be highly effective is to send each of our past guests a survey using SurveyMonkey. We get the valuable feedback we need and are able to ask guests who enjoyed their stay to post a review. If a guest did not have a good experience, the survey gives them the chance to express their frustration without turning to the public forums.

Getting a bad review is not the end of the world. It is just a fact of life that you cannot please everyone all of the time. The important thing to remember about a bad review is that it is just as important as a good review when it comes to showing that you care about your guests. Travelers will read the bad review, but they will also read your response. Always be courteous and professional, another TripAdvisor survey found that an aggressive or defensive manager response to a bad review would make 64% of travelers less likely to book. Instead, your response should include five parts: address their specific complaints, apologize for your mistakes, let them know what you’ve done to fix the problem, highlight the positive parts of their stay, and always invite them back!

Are you planning a trip? Click here to view all of our great vacation rentals

Marketing Your Vacation Rental, Part 2

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

In our previous blog post we discussed how to create a listing for your vacation rental that will stand out from the pack and attract guests. However, just having a catchy title, a great description, and professional-looking photos is not enough. With so many vacation rentals on the professional listing sites, you need to be proactive in promoting your property.

The main place that travelers search for and book their arrangements is online, so naturally this should also be the place that you focus most of your marketing efforts. Listing services like VRBO offer ways to increase your listing’s visibility, for a price. Purchasing a higher subscription level or paying to temporarily boost your property with a “special offer” or “featured listing” status can greatly increase the number of people who will see your listing, especially if it’s located in a crowded market. But not everyone has the budget to spend on these services, and while more viewers might get your more inquiries, it doesn’t guarantee more bookings.

The only good Spam is in a can. Source: Flickr user freezelight

One way to promote your property that doesn’t necessarily have to cost anything is to utilize social media. It’s free to set up an account with the major services like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin. With so many people checking in on these sites daily, it’s practically a given that you should have a social media presence for potential guests to verify your professionalism. Social media users generally don’t appreciate being spammed with blatant advertising, but if you post a good mix of interesting links, funny pictures, and some subtle self-promotion, your base of followers will start to grow. Who knows, you might even go viral!

The most direct way to reach potential guests is with targeted emails. Start compiling a list of email addresses from everyone who has ever stayed with you or even sent you an inquiry. Using a service like Vertical Response will allow you to create a promotional offer or informational newsletter and send it to select groups of people. You can also track how many people open the email, click on included links, unsubscribe from your list, etc., which lets you know just how effective your email campaign is. Targeted email can be a powerful tool, but should not be used carelessly; if too many people report you as spam, you risk getting your service suspended.

Not all marketing needs to be online. There are still plenty of traditional print mediums where you can advertise your vacation rental. Local visitor’s bureaus and chambers of commerce publish city guides that often include advertisements for short-term accommodations. Websites like Club Flyers offer an affordable option for printing flyers and brochures that you can place in local visitor’s centers. And don’t forget about one of the most reliable forms of advertising: the good old business card. Make sure you always have a few on hand to turn the next stranger you strike up a conversation with into a potential guest.

Planning a trip? Click here to view all of our great vacation rentals.

5 Reasons Stay Alfred is Perfect for Valentine’s Day

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

539400562_1f6f12ef00_o Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Now’s the time to start thinking about what you are doing to show that special someone just how much they mean to you. Sure, you could buy roses or make homemade coupons for “1 Free Backrub”, but getting away for the weekend as a couple is as romantic as it gets. If you want to make the most of your time together, skip the typical hotel experience. Here are five reasons why picking a Stay Alfred vacation rental can be the key to the perfect Valentine’s Day getaway:

Privacy: If there’s one day of the year when you want your privacy, it’s probably Valentine’s Day. In a vacation rental, you have plenty of space to be secluded with your significant other without feeling like you’re being crammed into a tiny hotel room. Plus, if you can’t escape the kids, at least you’ll have separate bedrooms and bathrooms.
Amenities: One of the best reasons to choose a vacation rental is all the extras you won’t find in a hotel room. Want to whip up a special candlelight dinner just for two? That’s what the full kitchen is for. How about sitting on your private balcony, sipping champagne as the sun sets over the city? Done.
Location: We wouldn’t blame you if you want to spend the whole weekend staying in, but there’s always plenty of excitement right outside your door. Canoodle in a fancy restaurant, catch an after-dinner show, or get tipsy at a swanky nightclub without a worry because your great vacation rental is within easy walking distance.
Atmosphere: Is there a bigger mood killer than spending time and energy planning something special, only to be totally disappointed by the result? Say goodbye to underwhelming surrounds, our rentals really are as great as they look in the pictures. Modern furnishings, amazing views, and spectacular locations all add up to an experience you’ll never forget!
Value: When you take into account location, space, and amenities, vacation rentals are usually the most cost-effective way to spend any trip. That means you’ll have some extra cheddar to splurge on that high-end meal or fancy bottle of champagne.

Still planning your Valentine’s Day getaway? Click here to check out all of our great vacation rentals

10 Helpful Articles for Vacation Rental Owners

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

In the ever-changing vacation rental landscape, it’s always a good idea to stay on top of current trends and new ideas. Luckily, there is a wealth of information out there in the form of blogs and news sites. As a growing company, we spend a lot of time doing research and we’ve found quite a few great resources for staying abreast of the latest developments in the market. We’ve put together a list of 10 articles that we’ve found to be quite helpful, not just from the owner’s perspective but also for looking at the industry from the guest’s viewpoint. Hopefully you’ll find these as useful as we did:

Matt Landau has been called the vacation rental marketing guru and if you aren’t reading his site, vacationrentalmarketingblog.com, you’re doing yourself a serious disservice. His articles use a ton of data-driven experimentation as well as interviews with key industry figures. He writes mainly for vacation rental owners and a large number of them are active participants in his readership community. You can find all sorts of tips to increase your bookings, here are three of our favorite articles:

Top 10 Cost-Effective VR Marketing Activities

21 Clever Ways to Close More Bookings Over the Phone

10 Experts Predict Vacation Rentals in 2015

The folks over at Evolve Vacation Rental Network focus on providing a good mix of B2B and B2C articles that cover a huge range of topics, from help on collecting the proper taxes to the best songs to play on a road trip. As a vacation rental owner, it is always a good idea to put yourself in the potential guests’ shoes and anticipate their questions. Being able to answer those questions before they’re asked is a great sales strategy, which is why we like these articles:

8 Reasons to Rent a Vacation Home Instead of a Hotel Room

Want to Book a Vacation Rental? 10 Questions You Should Ask

How to Write a Standout Property Description for Your Vacation Rental

No matter how hard you try as an owner, you’re bound to inevitably have a guest who is less than satisfied with their stay. Just remember: it’s how you deal with these guests that will have a lasting impact on your business.

The 3 Types of Guests

Dealing with Difficult Guests

How to Deal With Negative Reviews of Your Vacation Rental Property

One of the most important aspects of the modern vacation rental business is digital marketing. Your online presence is the way that potential guests will find and connect with you. The sheer scope of and complexity of marketing in the digital age can be intimidating, but there are plenty of companies out there that provide an easy playbook for DIY-ers and as much additional assistance as you’re willing to pay for. This comprehensive list of marketing tools provides everything from data integration to SEO optimization.

Planning a trip? Click here to see all of our great vacation rentals.

How Important is Free Wifi?

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

The short answer is: very. Travelers these days are bringing all kinds of devices with them and they fully expect to be able to connect to the internet with all of them. Your guests want to share their photos, watch their movies, and play their games from anywhere on the property. Fast, high-quality wifi is no longer an amenity, but an expected necessity, like indoor plumbing. You wouldn’t charge your guests extra to use the toilet, would you? Well, you could, but you would be inviting a barrage of terrible reviews. And as everyone in the vacation rental industry knows, it’s your reviews that can make or break your property.

In the ongoing fight between hotels and vacation rentals, access to free wifi is one of the areas where hotels are lagging behind. One of the standard-bearers for the industry, Marriott, was recently fined $600,000 by the FCC for illegally jamming guests’ personal wifi hotspots while charging $250 to $1000 per device to connect to its own wireless network. When hotels do offer free wifi, most of the time it is only in public area and it is typically of poor quality. A recent survey by JD Power found that of the 20% of guests who reported a problem with their hotel stay, a third was for problems with their internet.

Consider for a moment that over 90% of business travelers list quality wifi as major priority, and one third of them would consider a lack of it to be a deal-breaker. Additionally, 27% of travelers in the United Kingdom would refuse to stay somewhere without free wifi. In fact, when asked, they ranked access to wifi higher than luxuriousness of accommodations. Free wifi consistently ranks number one in surveys of desired amenities by travelers, both business and leisure. For the savvy vacation rental owner, the benefits of offering this service should be apparent.

At the risk of being redundant, let’s recap. Guests want fast, reliable wireless internet. On top of that, guests don’t want to pay extra for said internet. By offering free wifi, you are already setting yourself apart from most hotels and making yourself much more attractive to a huge segment of travelers. If you don’t offer free wifi, you are setting yourself up for negative reviews, which will drive away many potential guests. Obviously internet service isn’t free, but resist the temptation to pass on the cost directly to the guest. Instead, consider it an investment in future bookings. After all, what do you think your guests will be using more: the wifi or the indoor plumbing?

Free wifi is always included in Stay Alfred’s properties. Click here to view all of our great vacation rentals.

Vacation Rental Experts’ Predictions for 2015

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

In a recent article, Matt Landau, founder of the Vacation Rental Marketing Blog, interviewed vacation rental industry leaders about their predictions for 2015. Landau’s article provides excellent insight into where these organizations are anticipating growth and change in the industry. We thought this would be a great opportunity to go through each of these predictions and see where Stay Alfred fits into the big picture. If you are interested in reading Matt’s article in full, head over to his great blog.

“The Year of The Aquisition,” Dennis Schaal, News Editor at Skift: HomeAway will be acquired by Booking.com or Expedia. Stay Alfred’s take: With over 120 properties listed on both HomeAway and Booking.com, this would be great for increasing our exposure to an even larger customer base.
“The Year of the Vacation Rental Professional,” Ben Edwards, President of VRMA: With increased regulation looming, it will be more important than ever that the industry is run professionally. Stay Alfred’s take: It looks like we’re ahead of the curve. As a professional vacation rental company, we already pay the taxes, have the licenses, and follow the regulations that will have mom-and-pop shops playing catch up.
“The Year of VR Partner Services,” Eric Horndahl, VP of Marketing for FlipKey: As vacation rentals grow and cut into the traditional hotel market share, we will see a rise in new companies offering tailored services specifically to VR businesses and travelers. Stay Alfred’s take: By keeping most things in-house, we’ve avoided needing any of these outside vendors. One exception is Glad To Have You, which makes a great product. See #5.
“The Year of Instant Bookings,” Jen O’Neal, Founder & CEO of Tripping.com: Spurred by Airbnb’s growth and HomeAway’s announcement that 100% of their listings will be instantly bookable by 2016, competing rental sites are upgrading their technology to support real time bookings. Stay Alfred’s take: We were doing this 2 years ago. Welcome to the future.
“The Year of the Lifestyle Concierge,” Chip Conley, Head of Global Hospitality & Strategy at Airbnb: Guest are choosing vacation rentals for the whole experience, not just for a place to lay their head. As hosts, we are in a perfect position to provide insider knowledge and facilitate a memorable travel experience. Stay Alfred’s take: GTHY’s customizable app is a great way for the host to act as the local tour guide for their guests.
“The Year of the Personalized and Seamless User Experience,” Jia En Teo, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder at Roomorama: Combining seamless instant booking with personalized 24-hour customer support (with actual human beings) will become the standard for professional VR managers. Stay Alfred’s take: It’s certainly true that 24/7 customer support is one of the key differentiating factors in our success (once again, all in-house).
“The Year that Prices Stopped Mattering,” Yvonne Finlay, VP of Operations at Homestay.com: As techology continues to improve the ability of travelers to evaluate an expanding array of options, price considerations will take a back seat to value considerations. Stay Alfred’s take: This shows the importance of guest reviews. People don’t mind paying a little more if they know it’s going to be worth it.
“The Year of Airbnb…That’s It,” Joshua Dorkin, Founder & CEO of Bigger Pockets: These guys have taken over the industry. Game over. Stay Alfred’s take: Isn’t that what they said about Napster?
“The Year of Legal Headwinds,” Mike Sullivan, Co-Chair, Hospitality Practice Group at Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Expect pressure on three fronts: local zoning law compliance, enforcement of applicable tax laws, and pushback from the hotel industry due to decreasing market share. Stay Alfred’s take: Unlike many private owners, we’ve made sure to position ourselves on the right side of the law from the very beginning. Bring ‘em on.
“The Year of Analytics,” Amber Mayer, Chief Marketing Officer of The St. Joe Company: Business intelligence and data mining software are becoming more affordable for small to medium size companies, and the savvy VR manager will be quick to adopt these powerful tools. Stay Alfred’s take: If you’re running a small operation, start with Google Analytics before you go spending spending money on fancy software.

“The Year of Differentiation,” Matt Landau, founder of the Vacation Rental Marketing Blog: Right now, the industry is a big glob. To take advantage of untapped niches, VR owners and managers will splinter off and form their own unique specialty rentals. Stay Alfred’s take: We couldn’t say it better ourselves. There is a perfect market for every rental, what’s yours?

Stay Alfred Opens Vacation Rentals in San Antonio

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

Vistana San Antonio Vacation Rentals by Stay Alfred

The first nationwide urban vacation rental and corporate housing firm headquartered in Spokane, Wash., Stay Alfred, today announced the opening of several new San Antonio vacation rental units in the iconic Vistana highrise building abutting Milam Square.

The properties in The River City boast all the amenities Stay Alfred guests have come to expect, including modern furnishings, equipped kitchens, wi-fi, cable, DVD players, linens, laundry and ironing facilities, air conditioning, secure parking, balconies, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Guests will also benefit from the industry-leading customer service for which Stay Alfred has been honored with the “Top Rental Manager” award by Travel + Leisure’s Top Vacation Rental Site, FlipKey.

These units are perfectly located right at the center of Alamo City attractions like the world famous River Walk, the iconic Tower of the Americas, and the Alamodome.

The expansion to San Antonio represents Stay Alfred’s eighth major metropolitan vacation rental market. Stay Alfred manages short term rental inventory in Boston, Mass., Bellevue, Wash., Denver, Colo., Nashville, Tenn., New Orleans, La., Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash.

“San Antonio is a natural fit for our model,” said Jordan Allen, president. “It’s the perfect place for centrally-located, professionally managed vacation rentals.”

The two-bedroom units can be viewed online and even booked with Stay Alfred’s convenient, industry-leading one-click booking feature at www.StayAlfred.com. Reservationists can be reached at 866-232-3864.

What to Expect in a Stay Alfred Rental

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — 1 Comment ↓

One of our great New Orleans vacation rentals

We recently published an article about which items a guest should bring to their vacation rental. Many of you appreciated our thorough list, but one of the comments we kept hearing was that our guests wanted to know what was included in their rental unit. Great idea! We know that one of the reasons you chose Stay Alfred is for the consistently great experience and because you don’t want any unpleasant surprises during your stay. With that in mind, we put together a list of the items and amenities that you can expect to find in each and every one of our great vacation rentals.

Kitchen: Our guests love having a full-size kitchen and being able to enjoy meals with their families.

Large appliances: stove, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher.
Small appliances: coffee machine, toaster, microwave, blender
Dishes: plates, bowls, glasses, silverware (enough of each for the maximum occupancy of the unit)
Cookware: medium frying pan, medium sauce pan, large pot, baking sheet
Miscellaneous: corkscrew, measuring cup, cooking utensils, dish soap, paper towels

Living Room: Feel free to kick back and relax!

Furniture: sofa, easy chair, coffee table, entertainment stand
Electronics: Flat screen TV, DVD player, Wi-Fi router, cable box

Bathroom: We want to be comfortable from the moment you arrive.

Enough bath towels for the maximum occupancy (although you might want to bring extra if you plan on using the pool)
Hand towels and washcloths
Small size soap and shampoo, exactly like you’d find in a hotel
Several rolls of toilet paper
Hair dryer

Bedroom: There’s nothing worse than not being able to get a good night’s sleep while traveling.

Pillows and linens for all beds and the pull-out sofa
Walk-in closet with hangers
Dresser for additional storage space
Alarm clock

Laundry: Being able to do your own laundry can be a real time saver, plus it cuts down how much you need to pack

Washer and dryer in nearly all of our units
Laundry soap and dryer sheets
Ironing board and clothes iron

If there is any particular item that is not on this list that you are wondering if we provide, feel free to check with us any time.

Are you planning an upcoming vacation? Click here to view all of our vacation rentals.

Next Stop: San Antonio!

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

At Stay Alfred we are always on the lookout for our next big city, and there’s a certain Texas metropolis that just keeps popping up at the top of our list (and no, it’s not Austin). Although larger than its weird neighbor to the north, San Antonio doesn’t seem to get as much love. So what is it about this big city with a small town vibe that gets us so excited? In a word: charm. A lot of cities have riverfront parks, but few can beat the beauty of the River Walk’s 15 miles of cypress-lined walkways. Plenty of destinations can claim to be family-friendly, but how many have a Six Flags and Seaworld? Only San Antonio. You can find historical attractions almost anywhere, but what about the Alamo? Forget about it. San Antonio is far more than just a one-trick pony tourist trap, it is a vibrant community that celebrates its unique blend of Spanish, German, Mexican, and even French heritages.

Why do we believe that our guests would love to stay in one of our San Antonio vacation rentals? It’s not just because we’re Spurs fans. There are many things that draw us to this wonderful city. First, we absolutely adore the downtown area. Rarely do you find so many key attractions in the heart of the city. There’s the aforementioned Alamo and River Walk, of course, but don’t forget the Tower of the Americas, San Fernando Cathedral, La Villita Historic Arts Village, and San Antonio Museum of Art. There is also a wide variety of children’s activities, making the city a great destination for family vacations. Kids will love riding the train at Brackenridge Park, home of the San Antonio Zoo and Japanese Tea Gardens. If you’re looking to beat the heat, be sure to check out the Children’s Museum or Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

One of the main reasons our guests choose to stay in a vacation rental instead of a hotel is the opportunity to truly immerse oneself in a city’s culture. And if it’s culture you’re looking for, San Antonio’s got it in spades. The city owes much of its character to the immigrants that followed in the wake of the Spanish missionaries. The original missions still survive today as part of the National Historic Park and are popular attractions for visitors traveling along the Mission Trail. If there is one event that best exemplifies San Antonio, it’s Fiesta (with a capital F). This 10-day spring festival is held in honor of the battles of The Alamo and San Jacinto. Over three million people take part in more than 100 events across the city, the highlight of which are the 3 major parades through downtown (with one actually floating down the San Antonio River).

Of course, not everyone travels just to party. Many of our guests choose to stay with us while they are in town on business or because they are transitioning from one home to the next. This is a big part of our clientele and one of the main reasons we’re excited to add San Antonio vacation rentals to our expanding inventory. The city is growing in a big way. The energy industry in booming, not only from oil and gas development in the Eagle Ford Shale but in the green sector as well. San Antonio recently ranked 6th in the nation for solar power and has set the goal of generating 20% of it energy from renewable resources by 2020. Tech companies are also springing up, with Geekdom fostering over 200 new startups. All of this new innovation and job creation means that people will be flocking to San Antonio for years to come and we plan on being there offering great places to stay while they work and play!

Click here to see all of our San Antonio vacation rentals

5 Reasons NOT to Choose Stay Alfred

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

Vacation Rentals are not for everyone. We get it. Change is scary. Why try something new when the same old thing works out pretty well (usually)? It’s understandable that some travelers don’t want to take the risk and would prefer the typical hotel experience. After all, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it, right? Take a look at the list below to see if you’re the type of person who should just skip the vacation rental option:

You like room service: If you’re someone who does not want to cook your own meals while traveling and instead prefers to enjoy your food in the comfort of your own bed, you should stay in a hotel. Stay Alfred does not offer room service (although you can always order a pizza and there’s several grocery delivery services we’re happy to recommend).

You require daily housekeeping: We find that our guest generally like having the added privacy of not having a stranger poke around their living space when they’re not around. But if you like having new towels dropped off every day and need someone to make the bed for you, a hotel is probably the right move.

Don’t be afraid of technology

You’re scared of heights and/or elevators: Most of our vacation rentals are on the upper levels of high rise buildings, with lots of windows, expansive views, and even balconies. Not a good choice for acrophobes.

You hate downtown: All of our properties are located in the heart of downtown. If you don’t enjoy the hustle and bustle of a major metropolitan area, then Stay Alfred might not be for you.

You don’t trust technology: If you’re reading this blog post, it’s probably reasonable to assume you’re not a complete Luddite, but many people still prefer to do things the old fashioned way. Stay Alfred does all of our business online, accepts payment by credit card, and we even send you our free smartphone app with your arrival instructions. We might actually be robots ( ok, not really).

Stay Alfred Doubles New Orleans Vacation Rental Inventory

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

The living room of a Stay Alfred vacation rental at The Maritime Building

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - The nationwide vacation rental and corporate housing firm headquartered in Spokane, Wash., Stay Alfred, has doubled the number of New Orleans vacation rentals it manages.

The vacation rentals in The Big Easy boast all the amenities Stay Alfred guests have come to expect, including modern furnishings, equipped kitchens, wi-fi, cable, DVD players, linens, laundry and ironing facilities, air conditioning, secure parking, balconies, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Guests also benefit from the industry-leading customer service for which Stay Alfred has been honored with the “Top Rental Manager” award by Travel + Leisure’s Top Vacation Rental Site, FlipKey.

These units are located at the center of the action in the Crescent City-Bourbon Street and Canal Street are 3 blocks away and the Superdome, House of Blues, and Audubon Aquarium of the Americas are all within three-quarters of a mile.

This expansion of Stay Alfred’s already sizable New Orleans presence was a natural step for the nationwide vacation rental company.

“Stay Alfred is one of the top vacation rental brands in the markets we already occupy,” said Jordan Allen, president. “With this move, we manage more vacation rentals in New Orleans than we do in Nashville-which had been our second largest market, behind our Seattle vacation rentals.”

Stay Alfred manages vacation rentals and corporate housing in Bellevue, Wash., Denver, Colo., Nashville, Tenn., New Orleans, La., Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash.

The New Orleans vacation rentals can be viewed online and even booked with Stay Alfred’s convenient, industry-leading one-click booking feature at StayAlfred.com. Reservationists can be reached at 866-232-3864.

What Makes a Stay Alfred Vacation Rental Different From a Hotel?

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

The secret is officially out: more and more people are choosing to stay in vacation rentals instead of the boring, cookie-cutter hotels that travelers have been accustomed to. Whether you’re looking for more space to stretch your legs or an amazing location in the heart of downtown, vacation rentals are proving themselves to be the first choice for discerning guests. In an ever more crowded marketplace, we’re taking the vacation rental industry to the next level. Here are five differences between a Stay Alfred Vacation Rental and the typical hotel:

5. Space: The average hotel room in the U.S. is 325 square feet. Now consider that that most Stay Alfred rentals are over 1000 square feet. With over three times the space, you’re guaranteed to have plenty of room for everyone to be comfortable.

4. Privacy: Our rentals always have separate bedrooms, making Stay Alfred the perfect choice for families, groups of friends, and even complete strangers. We also have our units professionally cleaned between guests so you never have to worry about some housekeeper barging in on you.

3. Independence: Stay Alfred’s unique system puts the check-in process in your hands. You can come and go as you please without having to wait in line or pay extra for someone to park your car or carry your bags. All of our rentals also have a full kitchen so no more bland continental breakfasts or expensive room service.

2. Location: We scout out the best downtown locations in every city which means as a Stay Alfred guest you know you’ll be in the middle of the action, not stuck out by the airport or surrounded by tourist traps. Being right downtown lets you walk to local restaurants, markets, and much more without the hassle of driving in an unfamiliar city. There is no better way to have an authentic travel experience!

1. Value: The number one reason for choosing a vacation rental over a hotel is the unbelievable value you’ll receive. When you combine everything we’ve just mentioned with the fact that our rentals are usually in the same price range as a typical hotel room, it’s clear that Stay Alfred offers the best way to make the most of your vacation dollar.

For more information and tips on how to stay smart and stay together, visit the Stay Alfred website or download the Stay Alfred mobile app. We’ve also put together this handy packing list specifically for vacation rentals. Stay Alfred is the first nationwide urban vacation rental company offering the space, privacy and value of vacation rental with the convenience of online booking.

Celebrate Halloween Like a Local in 6 Stay Alfred Cities

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

Halloween with Stay Alfred

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s that time of year again: Jack-o-lanterns, fake spiderwebs, plastic bats hanging from the trees (along with the occasional roll of toilet paper). We’re all familiar with the trappings of Halloween but if you happen to be from out of town, it can be confusing when you want to party like a local. Luckily, we have the inside scoop when it comes to best celebrations and events, no matter which city you’re going to be in on All Hallow’s Eve!

New Orleans
There is no city that celebrates Halloween as enthusiastically as New Orleans. With its famous cemeteries, voodoo rituals, and long history of ghosts and spirits, the city practically oozes scary. It should be no surprise that its residents embrace New Orleans’ intrinsic spookiness and party with a gusto usually reserved for their other favorite holiday: Mardi Gras. Crowds will flock to Bourbon and Frenchmen for street parties and parades, so don your best costume and join in the festivities. Cate Root from The Times-Picayune has a great breakdown of all the major happenings.

Nashville
Nashville loves to party no matter what the occasion and Halloween is no exception. Any club you hit is almost guaranteed to be having a costume party or themed event of some kind. To see the cream of the crop, head to Play Nashville for their Freak Show contest with $5000 in prizes. Next door, Tribe Nashville is having a tribute to Alfred Hitchcock that’s sure to be a scream. Looking for some real excitement? You will definitely want to try the Demons on Demonbreun Hill, a combination pub crawl and zombie paintball shoot.

Boston
Costume contests, pub crawls, haunted mansions, and graveyard tours are just a few of the exciting Halloween events you can find in Boston. Before you head out for the night’s festivities be sure to stop at Dorothy’s Boutique in Back Bay, the biggest adult costume shop in Boston, to pick up some cool accessories. If you happen to have a bike (and more importantly a costume you can ride in), the Halloween Bike Ride draws hundreds of participants for a casual 10-12 mile ride through the city, starting at Copley Square.

Denver
Besides the typically nightclub craziness, Denver also has a lot of great family-friendly Halloween attractions. The Denver Zoo puts on their annual Boo at the Zoo event with over 25 trick-or-treat stations and other kid-centric activities, all free with normal zoo admission. The Haunted Field of Screams in Thornton is Colorado’s largest Halloween attraction with over 35 acres of “haunted” cornfields. For more grown up activities, ColoWeen at the City Hall Event Center is the most anticipated costume party of the year.

Seattle
Halloween in Seattle usually means one thing: putting on your sexiest costume and dancing until the break of dawn. FreakNight is the main event with big-name DJs, but if you don’t feel like spending a couple hundred dollars for the 2-day pass, there are plenty of other dance parties where you’ll have just as much fun like Pulse at the EMP Museum. Dancing not your thing? Try the Crawl-O-Ween pub crawl and see some of downtown’s hottest bars. Or if you’re feeling extra adventurous, Citizen Zero is a zombie-themed urban hide and seek game on a massive scale.

Portland
Nothing cool ever happens in Portland. You might as well just stay inside and hand out candy to the trick-or treaters. Ok just kidding, you can find the usual mix of costume contests, dance parties, pub crawls, and zombie-themed everything. Jamie Hale of the Oregonian has already put together his procrastinator’s guide to Halloween in Portland, so we’ll just skip reinventing the wheel on this one.

Is That Vacation Rental a Scam?

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

Is that vacation rental a scam?

As the vacation rental industry moves online, scam artists are targeting both travelers and hosts with a variety of frauds. Cyber-criminals are experts at exploiting communities that rely on trust and a personal connection, and they are finding that vacation rentals are currently a great target for several reasons:

the standard practice in the vacation rental industry is for travelers to pay large amounts of money for vacation rentals, long before the stay and sight unseen;
not everyone understands or uses safe and secure payment methods;
many people conduct their business in email accounts from email providers that have been repeatedly compromised.

There are many ways that these scammers disguise their frauds, but they are basically after two things: your money and your online identity (which they can use to steal your or someone else’s money). Scams targeting travelers are usually fairly straightforward. A scam artist will create a fake vacation rental listing-usually on Craigslist or another unverified platform-and attempt to trick a potential guest into sending payment for a rental they don’t actually own. Many times these fake ads will steal pictures and information from a legitimate listing without the owner’s knowledge, making the scam difficult to detect at first glance. Victims of this scam may end up on the doorstep of the property only to find their reservation never existed, turning the dream vacation into a nightmare.

Scam artists also frequently target property-owners themselves in an attempt to gain access to their email account (from which to set up a fake listing) or with the common “over-payment” scheme. This scheme is nothing new (remember the Nigerian princes?) and involves the scammer sending a fake check far over the amount of the rental with a request that the excess money be wired back, usually to a 3rd party.

In responding to inquiries there are several red flags that rental owners should be vigilant in identifying:

Poor grammar and punctuation
Originating from an international location
Discrepancies between the actual property and what they are inquiring about.
Unspecified dates

A major tactic of scammers is to create a sense of urgency in which their target makes a poor decision with good intentions. For travelers this can mean claiming that the desired property has many interested parties and you need to act now to reserve your stay! When targeting owners with the over-payment scam, the criminals often claim to need the money right away and may even become aggressive and threaten legal action.

Here are some useful tips to avoid becoming a victim of one of these scams:

Use a secure form of payment: be wary of anyone that requests payment by money order or cashier’s check and never send money by wire transfer. Paying by credit card offers the best protection against fraud. Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals only accepts payment by credit card.
Use a trusted website: companies like VRBO, HomeAway, FlipKey, and TripAdvisor go through great effort to verify their listings and they offer credit card payment as well as additional rental protection. Always be wary when using Craigslist and avoid unverified sites completely.
Be vigilant: never hesitate to ask questions or request further verification if you have doubts about someone’s legitimacy. Any reputable property owner will be happy to make the extra effort to earn your trust and scammers rarely continue their ruse when challenged.
Use common sense: remember the adage “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” Beware of properties listed far below the price of comparable rentals or that show photos and amenities that just seem fake. Common sense may be your best tool in avoiding a potential scam.

Stay Alfred Opens Vacation Rentals in Boston

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — 2 Comments ↓

One of Stay Alfred’s Boston Vacation Rental Units

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - The nationwide vacation rental and corporate housing firm headquartered in Spokane, Wash., Stay Alfred, today announced the opening of several new units at the intersection of Washington Street and Lagrange Street between Boston’s Chinatown and Theater Districts.

The properties in The Hub of the Universe boast all the amenities Stay Alfred guests have come to expect, including modern furnishings, equipped kitchens, wi-fi, cable, DVD players, linens, laundry and ironing facilities, air conditioning, secure parking, balconies, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Guests will also benefit from the industry-leading customer service for which Stay Alfred has been honored with the “Top Rental Manager” award by Travel + Leisure’s Top Vacation Rental Site, FlipKey.

These units are cunningly located to be right at the center of Bean Town attractions like the Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, TD Garden, Faneuil Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts, the New England Aquarium, John F. Kennedy Library, the USS Constitution, Boston Harbor, Old North Church, Paul Revere House, and Bunker Hill Monument.

This expansion to America’s Walking City represents Stay Alfred’s seventh major metropolitan market. Stay Alfred manages short term rental inventory in Bellevue, Wash., Denver, Colo., Nashville, Tenn., New Orleans, La., Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash.

“Expanding to Boston has been a part of our long-term strategy from the beginning,” said Jordan Allen, president. “As the first nationwide urban vacation rental company, it’s been important to us to have a presence on the East Coast.”

The vacation rentals can be viewed online and even booked with Stay Alfred’s convenient, industry-leading one-click booking feature at StayAlfred.com. Reservationists can be reached at 866-232-3864.

Expedia: More Travelers Choosing Vacation Rentals

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals — No Comments ↓

Although hotels and resorts remain popular selections for Indian travellers planning their future holidays, many are finding other options for accommodation, especially when taking a trip with the family. Those in groups often look to have access to plenty of place and convenient amenities, some of which may not be found in small hotel rooms or in massive resort complexes. Vacation rental homes are a viable alternative for those who may want to have more flexible check in and out times, the ability to cook their own meals, or come and go as they please on private property they have reserved for their holiday.

According to MSNBC, many travellers prefer the idea of renting a vacation home when they are on holiday with small children or in larger groups. Many find that reserving an apartment or home is better than two or more hotel rooms, as the family can be together during the trip but still have their own space. When children head to bed, parents can still spend time in the common rooms without waking little ones, as they may in a communal hotel room. Splitting the cost of a home may be cheaper as well, especially when it comes to meals.

“Staying in a rented apartment or even just a guest room is very new, not many people think of it,” said Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst, as told to the news source. “These companies need to raise consumer awareness that this may even be an option.”

The idea of renting vacation homes can be utilised throughout the world, whether Indian travellers wish to take short breaks or try out a long luxury travel experience. For instance, house and apartment rentals for holidays in Hawaii, especially on the island of Maui, are keeping the local economy afloat and allows guests a new and authentic way to explore the area. According to The Maui News, locals are asking the government to allow more of these properties to be available to visitors, as it improves the quality of life and helps promote the island as a viable option for holidays. Hawaii hotels are still going strong, but more individuals hope that tourists will consider renting condos as well while enjoy their stay in Maui.

As the idea of these rental properties gains in popularity, some traditional hotel groups are looking into investing in the industry as well to expand their portfolios and offerings. Wyndham, for instance, may be best known for their international hotels, but they also have a vacation rentals department that offers private homes to travellers across the globe. This April, Bob Mine, president of Wyndham vacation rentals North American division, will be speaking at the Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS) in California about this booming industry. He hopes to share his expertise on holiday rentals as well as his perspective on things like daily travel deals and more.

“I’ve been attending MTS for many years and it has always been a valuable resource for building relationships and keeping up to speed on new trends and ideas affecting the travel industry,” he said.

Indian travellers who like to stay at hotels or resorts but would like to try something new on their upcoming holiday can consider checking out the vacation homes in the destination they plan on visiting. This may be a great way to cook meals with local ingredients, enjoy a large space with the whole family and save with a tight budget that allows travellers to check out more attractions while on their getaway.

(view source)