We are very passionate about vacation rentals and the interior design, or lack thereof, of the enormous offerings available on the market via VRBO, Airbnb and many others.  We are excited about consulting on this subject and having an impact for owners, management companies and the general public.

In Episode #45 of our Podcast "Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole" we talk about some luxury, unique and interesting vacation rentals along with some tips from renters and what they look for.

Here we go.........

A. Luxury Rentals

Santorini, Greece – luxuryretreats- Nafsika Estate- $5,800 to $10,000 per night

 Perched above the cliffs

 Includes airport transfer (or you can use the villa’s helipad to arrive) and welcome basket

Pool, lounging areas, built in barbequeMaid service twice daily2 fully equipped kitchensTransportation to the beach

 California – Redondo Beach/Los Angeles –Luxury Retreats Redondo Beach$3,900 per night

 7,800 square feet.7 bedrooms, 6 bathsBeachfront – sitting on a hillsideWaterfall featuresSwimming Pool – pool heating charge of $200 if going in winter monthsTheaterFully equipped kitchenFire Pit, basketball court, 10 miles to LA airport

 Unique Rentals:

Secluded in-town Tree HouseDowntown Atlanta – $375/night

 329 5 Star Reviews

 #1 Most Wished-For Listing WorldwideFeatured on The Today Show, Architectural Digest, Travel and Leisure and many othersRetreat is for 2 people3 separate rooms – connected by rope bridgesMind, Body and Spirit

Mind: Sitting Room, antique furnishings and artifacts including 80 year old windows of pressed butterfly wings, a plaster cast of Siberian Tiger Paw, fossils and has a balcony overlooking an acre of lush woods

Body: Bedroom: World’s best bedding – Parachute, check out parachutehome.com, 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton and pure linen. Bed is equipped with wheels that can either be inside or rolled out.

Spirit – Hammock deck – open to the elements and immersed in thick greenery, the deck surrounds a 165 year old Southern Short-Leaf Pine tree the largest of the 7 trees that support the tree house suite.

 Old Smock Mill– England  $175 to $380 Euro – An old windmill built in the 1800s.

 A romantic place for 2 guests,Large heavy beams and high ceilings.Nearby castles and gardensTrain station with a fast link to London in under an hour.The owners welcome you with fresh flowers picked from their amazing garden and a basket filled with a selection of produce in season, including fresh brown eggs from their friendly organic chickens. 

 The Ark on Lake Lanier Georgia - A family owned business and ministry. $4,000 to $5,000/night – $31,000 per week. Read herefor the interesting story of the Ark.

Great for large groups14 bedrooms, 12 bathsSleeps 45 guests in the main house and 3 cabinsHot TubPool and separate pool houseLarge fire pitFull size lighted volleyball courtBasketball, Billiards, Ping Pong16 seat home theaterLarge chef’s kitchen3 Full size refrigerator/freezersThey partner with several ministries throughout Atlanta. I was happy to see they also support orphan prevention in Guatemala.

 What we’ve noticed about vacation rentals:

 The Good

Responsiveness – Customer ServiceGood ReviewsQuality (professional) and honesty of photos – lots of themCleanlinessComfort (beds/furnishings)Large TVsSecurityAn “experience”Local KnowledgeLocationInternet/WiFiPet FriendlyParkingAirbnb Plus – (higher end tier of Airbnb). It lists homes that have been evaluated by in person inspectors according to a 100 point checklist.

The Bad

Photography – should be professionalDated furnitureBad paint colorsLumpy furnitureBedrooms seem like they are “forgotten” and not given as much attention as the main spaces

 What is Lacking?

 Wellness spaces, Exercise Rooms, Saunas, Massage Tables

Experiential Amenities – things a rental company can help organize and make available:

Cooking classesWine tastingYoga classes

What do people look for besides location, price and excellent reviews ? – We asked this question on Facebook and here are some responses we got:

Proximity to restaurantsQuality of kitchenCleanliness SecurityPrivacyUber availabilityNewly RenovatedNice Décor

The vacation rental industry is growing fast!  - Read this article from buildupbookings.com for some very interesting facts.  One amazing statistic:  Millennials are predicted to spend $1.4 trillion on travel each year by 2020 (VRMA).

You can listen to this episode #45"Secret's to a Successful Vacation Rental" via itunes or search Kandrac & Kole on Spotify, iheartradio, googlepodcasts and Stitcher.

We would love for you to leave us a comment if you have stayed in a vacation rental.  Tell us about your experience!

Joann