If you're on the Washington or Oregon Coast - please check advisories

With the horrible Japan earthquake last night, warning are in place for the Washington and Oregon Coast today. Please keep watch for advisories and stay away from the Coast beaches as advised by law enforcement. A good link for the latest information can be found here:

West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov

If you want to help those in Japan, the Red Cross is organizing efforts.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday

Finally the big game is here! Anyone traveling to watch it with friends?

We're growing!

It's been almost 4 years since VacationHouse Destinations came to be the the little company that could. We've stayed true to our business model of finding top notch properties, providing exceptional customer service and helping our members get great value at destinations they want to go to.

For 2010, we're looking to significantly expand our property choices, while maintaining our focus on quality properties by keeping with our commitment to inspect each property before we make it available for rent.

With more requests for properties in the NW, we've found two great Territory Managers to help us build out the property portfolio and assist members with questions about NW destinations.

These Territory Managers know the top locations in Oregon, Idaho and Eastern Washington; do you want to know what the best beach is for shell collecting on the Oregon Coast - they know the answer to that. Do you want to know what a good location is to experience the wine country -they can answer that too! If we don't know, we'll find out so you don't have to spend your time researching.

We're happy to introduce Tricia McCracken and Pamela Morgan -Oregon and Eastern Washington/Idaho Territory Managers.

Pamela Morgan: Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho Territory Manager pmorgan@VacationHouseDestinations.com

Pamela wants to help members find the "just right" vacation home for people who want to visit the North Idaho and Eastern Washington area. Living in Kellogg Idaho with her family, Pamela realized she had a passion for travel and photography that she incorporates into finding great vacation experiences for members. "I'm excited to combine my skills of design and marketing with my passion for photography and genuine care of other people." Pamela is happy to help you find the perfect vacation getaway - just send her a note or give us a call!

Tricia McCracken: Oregon Territory Manager tmccracken@VacationHouseDestinations.com

Tricia loves Oregon for its beauty and its people. Living near Portland, Tricia is very familiar with the state. She knows the best locations from the Coast to the mountains -having lifelong memories of her family's mountain cabin. Tricia brings a wealth of advertising and marketing experience, as well as a love for travel and family to the mix. Having owned her own vacation home, she knows what it's like both from a renters perspective, as well as the homeowners. Tricia will help ensure that both the property owners and members have a seamless rental experience. Give Tricia a call or send her an e-mail so she can help you plan your next Oregon vacation.

We're so thrilled to have both Tricia and Pamela working to help bring you the best vacation rental experience!

Fun celebrity travel gossip

I thought this article was a fun read - there's some outrageous celebrity guest requests that get made at some hotel hotspots -everything from milking cows for fresh raw milk -to shipping 21 deer for a birthday present. Lucky for us, our guests are amazing! We're more than happy to help our guests with things they need, but I think we would draw the line at shipping 21 deer! :)

Happy Thursday!

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-31269780

The Great Fruitcake Toss!

15th Annual Great Fruitcake Toss – Manitou Springs, Colorado

Let it Hurl!!
You may have recycled the tree, put away the presents, and eaten the leftovers but have you dealt with the dreaded fruitcake from your Aunt Polly? If not, this is your opportunity. Head to Manitou Springs, January 9th and have fun disposing of the fruity, nutty "gift."

Manitou is immediately West of Colorado Springs and knows how to have fun and take a lighthearted look at life.

How better to cap off the holiday festivities that to join in the hurling and launching at the 15th Annual Great Fruitcake Toss? Competitors and spectators will gather at the Manitou Springs High School Track for a final holiday “send off”. Bring your own cake in one-, two-, or four-pound sizes or "rent" one for $1.00. Fruitcakes must contain glaceed fruits, nuts and flour – they cannot contain anything inedible. Don’t wrap in foil, duct tape, etc., all fruitcakes must be visible to the "Fruitcake Toss Tech Inspectors."

Just imagine how happy the squirrels are to clean up after the event. :)

Have you seen our Twitter page?

If you haven't seen our Twitter page yet, take a peek now at www.twitter.com/vhdest

In addition to this blog, we're utilizing that to give you heads up on special promotions, the latest travel news and rants and raves about traveling that we think you might be interested in. Check us out and as always, let us know if you have any suggestions!

Happy 2010!!

We want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and thank you for your business! We look forward to providing you with exciting new properties, incredible deals, and as always - personalized service to make sure your next vacation is memorable.

www.vacationhousedestinations.com

New Guidelines for Air Travel

Late last week, the TSA issued new guidelines for passengers following the Dec 25th events. The full statement from the TSA can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/yj4cbxr



TSA has worked with airline and law enforcement authorities, as well as federal, state, local, and international partners to put additional security measures in place to ensure aviation security remains strong. Passengers traveling domestically and internationally to U.S. destinations may notice additional screening measures.

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Q: What additional security measures is TSA taking domestically?
A: TSA has a layered approach to security that allows us to surge resources as needed on a daily basis. We have the ability to quickly implement additional screening measures including explosive detection canine teams, law enforcement officers, gate screening, behavior detection and other measures both seen and unseen. Passengers should not expect to see the same thing at every airport.

Q: What additional security measures are being taken for international flights to U.S. destinations?
A: TSA issued a directive for additional security measures to be implemented for last point of departure international flights to the United States. Passengers flying into the United States from abroad can expect to see additional security measures at international airports such as increased gate screening including pat-downs and bag searches. During flight, passengers may be asked to follow flight crew instructions, such as stowing personal items, turning off electronic equipment and remaining seated during certain portions of the flight.

Q: Do passengers need to do anything differently to prepare for checkpoint security procedures? Has anything changed in terms of what passengers can bring in their carry-on or checked bags?
A: At this time, security checkpoint requirements for passengers departing U.S. airports remain the same. Passengers do not need to do anything differently, but they may notice additional security measures at the airport.

Q: Should passengers plan to arrive at airports earlier than normal?
A: Passengers traveling within the United States should give themselves extra time to check in and proceed through the security checkpoint before their flight, especially during the busy holiday travel season. TSA advises that passengers traveling on international flights to U.S. destinations allow extra time for security and arrive an additional hour earlier.

Q. How long will these measures remain in place?
A: TSA will continuously review these measures to ensure the highest levels of security.

Tips on how to conquer jet-lag during the holiday rush

The holidays are tough enough on our bodies, so why can’t we get to where we need to go and not worry about having our body-clocks catch up to the new timezone?? Unfortunately jet-lag is unavoidable, but you can try a few simple tips to make it less of a lag on your trip:

1) A couple of days before you travel, try going to bed earlier if you are traveling East and later if you are traveling West.
2) Avoid eating a big meal before traveling. The lower air pressure in the cabin can mean you get bloated more easily. Avoid typically “gassy” foods for the same reason. Fellow passengers will thank you! :)
3) Drink lots of water during the flight. The dry air inside an aircraft causes dehydration.
4) Try to adjust your mealtimes and bedtime to the local clock immediately on arrival – even if you want pancakes when the chicken is being served.

Safe travels!

There's heavy snow in the Cascades this weekend!

The Washington state Department of Transportation has temporarily shut down two highways in the Cascade Mountains due to heavy snow from a fall storm and plans to close a third.


The Washington state Department of Transportation has temporarily shut down two highways in the Cascade Mountains due to heavy snow from a fall storm and plans to close a third.
Transportation officials closed State Route 410 over Chinook Pass and State Route 123 over Cayuse Pass Saturday morning. The North Cascades Highway on State Route 20 closed around 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
All three roads typically close during the winter due to heavy snow, but transportation officials say none of these are permanent closures. It is being assessed when all the roads can be reopened

Leavenworth Fall Festivals in Full Swing!

Fall is here and that means the little town of Leavenworth will be gearing up for their famous Fall festivals. The mountain trees start to show off their glorious red, orange and yellow colors against the bright green evergreens. There's still room at our beautiful Leavenworth home!

Swine Flu and travel insurance QA

I found a really good article about Swine flu and travel insurance...we don't offer travel insurance at this time for our homes but it's something we might consider in the future.


Is swine flu covered by travel insurance?

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-10-01-swine-flu-travel-

When CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta came down with H1N1, or swine flu, in Afghanistan last month, he blogged about being "the sickest I've ever been." And with the federal Centers for Disease Control reporting that a second wave of the flu is spreading widely across the nation, USA TODAY's Laura Bly answers questions on whether travel insurance covers H1N1.

Q: What is a typical travel insurance policy cost, and what are the major coverage areas?
A: Most travel insurance packages cost 4% to 8% of a journey's total value and encompass trip cancellation/interruption refunds plus medical care and evacuation.

Q: I'm not sick now, but I'm worried about getting the flu at my destination. If I have insurance, can I cancel before I leave and get my money back?
A: Not unless you've purchased "cancel for any reason" coverage, which is sold as an add-on to existing policies or as a stand-alone waiver by cruise lines and other travel companies. A "cancel for any reason" upgrade is more expensive (40%-50% higher than a basic policy), typically covers 70%-100% of prepaid trip costs (all of which must be insured), and requires trip cancellation at least two days before departure, says Peter Evans of the insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip.com.

Q: Does the World Health Organization's June declaration of H1N1 as an official pandemic void the terms of my travel insurance policy?
A: In most cases, no. But a few companies do have pandemic exclusions that would keep you from collecting if you get the flu before you leave or during your trip, says Chris Harvey of Squaremouth.com, another travel insurance comparison site.

Q: Assuming pandemics aren't excluded, will I be covered if I'm quarantined at my destination and have to skip part or all of my itinerary?
A: Generally, yes. But you'll have to study the fine print. Some carriers, including Travel Guard and Access America, will reimburse costs associated with a quarantine — but only if you are sick, not if you are a part of a larger group detained because of possible exposure to an infected traveler.

Q: If I catch the flu and can't travel, will insurance cover the cost of medical care, additional hotel nights and airline penalties?
A: In many cases, yes. Access America, for example, covers emergency medical costs, "reasonable" lodging and other out-of-pocket expenses, and transportation costs associated with getting you back home. But you'll need a doctor's verification of your illness, and no policies will cover you for lost work days if you're forced to extend your stay because of illness.

Q: So, do I really need insurance if my main concern is catching swine flu?
A: Perhaps not. Gupta's high-profile example notwithstanding, most cases of H1N1 flu have been mild and a vaccine is expected to be widely available by the end of the year, though it takes up to two weeks to become fully effective. Some airlines will waive change fees for passengers with a doctor's documentation that they are unable to fly.

Razor clam digs are planned for the Washington Coast

If you're a fan of digging for Razor clams - get your boots and your shovel ready!

Five razor clam digs have been planned: Oct 16-19, Nov 4-7, Nov 14-17, Dec 2-5, Dec 31-Jan 3. They are all evening digs. Our Pacific Beach and Ocean Shores house is close to the action!

You can get all the details here:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/razorclm/season.htm

Happy digging!

Leavenworth gets Amtrack service!

Amtrak has just announced train service from Seattle to Leavenworth beginning Friday September 25th. That means you can experience the fun of train travel and the charm of Leavenworth's Bavarian Village, without having to drive through the snow.

Leavenworth's new Icicle Train station just outside town won't be done by September 25th, but the train will stop and the trolley will take you into the heart of the village. There you'll find unique shops, wineries, activities, authentic restaurants and year-round festivals.

VacationHouse Destinations beautiful vacation home in Leavenworth awaits your arrival.

Why settle for a standard hotel room?

Comfortable pillows, homemade meals and bedrooms big enough to walk across without tripping over furniture. If you thought these were pleasures you had to give up when you decided to do take a vacation, guess again!

Sleeping away from home doesn't have to mean enduring uncomfortable nights in drab, cramped hotel quarters. Chances are you'll find the services and amenities you're looking for at VacationHouse Destinations properties. And you’ll pay a lot less than you would at a standard hotel.

A few of the perks:
· Comfortable rooms with individual character
· A pleasant atmosphere for relaxing, working or being active
· Locations in quiet neighborhoods, not busy commercial zones

Try staying at a vacation home – you won’t want to go back to a hotel room again. VacationHouse Destinations can help – contact us before you book your next reservation.

Summer in Mazama is in full swing!!

The arrival of the very first Winthrop Artisan's Market has kicked off what promises to be a great summer in the Methow Valley filled with fun events and festivals and lots of sunshine!

Here's a quick sample of what's coming up:

•40th Anniversary of Woodstock Concert (August 21-22)

•Methow Valley Rodeo (September 5 - 6)

•Winthrop Auto Rallye (September 11-12)

For a more complete list of local events, be sure to checkout the local Events Calendar and the Arts Calendar.

Tips for Exchanging US Dollars for Canadian Dollars

There's a great article in the Seattle Times Today - thought I would highhlight a few of they key tips when you head to Canada and need to exchange money.


Credit/debit-card purchases

Using a credit or debit card for most purchases makes the most sense. This is because Visa and MasterCard process the charges at the most favorable daily exchange rate, the interbank rate that's at or very close to the rate listed in newspapers.

The catch: You'll want to make sure you're not only getting the best exchange rate, but also avoiding high foreign-transaction fees.

Keep in mind a new wrinkle: As of June 1, most banks began applying these fees to purchases to any transaction made in U.S. dollars if it was made or processed outside the U.S.

Examples would be something bought online through a store in Canada, or an Olympics hotel/ticket package paid for in U.S. dollars, but processed through a Canadian vendor.

Foreign-transaction fees are twofold: Visa and MasterCard levy a standard 1 percent fee on the purchase amount after it's converted to U.S. dollars. Some banks then tack on extra fees for a total of 2-3 percent.

This means that if you spent Cdn. $200 on a hotel room and the charge came in at $184when converted to U.S. dollars, you'd pay a conversion fee of $1.84 at 1 percent and $5.52 at 3 percent. Best advice: Use a card that carries a maximum conversion fee of 1 percent or less.

Virginia-based Capital One (www.capitalone.com) offers the best deal for travelers. It waives all foreign transaction fees, including the 1 percent Visa and MasterCard charge.

Next best are smaller local and regional banks and credit unions which pass on only the 1 percent fee. Most national banks now charge 3 percent, but that could go higher in the future as banks look for new ways to raise credit-card revenue.

Tip: Avoid offers by merchants to convert your credit-card purchases to U.S. dollars. Called "dynamic currency conversion," this is sold as a convenience to consumers, but it's also a profit-making opportunity for retailers who tack a surcharge onto the base exchange rate as a fee. The main offenders: rental-car companies and shops that cater to tourists.

ATM withdrawals

Withdrawing money from a cash machine in Canada can be the easiest and least costly way to get Canadian dollars, but there are a few caveats:

• As with credit cards, watch the fees. Aim for an ATM/debit card with a maximum fee of 1 percent of the amount after conversion to U.S. dollars. Again, smaller banks and credit unions are your best bets.

• Avoid additional withdrawal fees. Bank of America, for instance, charges $5 per foreign ATM withdrawal plus a 1 percent fee on the amount, but waives all charges if you use an ATM at a Global Alliance affiliate bank — Scotiabank (www.scotiabank.ca) in Canada.

• Some Canadian banks might also charge ATM fees. Minimize these by asking your bank or credit union to raise the amount you can withdraw each time.

• Avoid non-bank cash machines such as those found in some grocery stores or gas stations. Withdrawal fees are high.

• Don't use a credit card to withdraw cash. You'll pay cash-advance fees and paying interest right away.

Tip:

Tell your bank or credit union that you'll be traveling and using your ATM and credit cards in Canada. Otherwise, they may suspect fraud and put a temporary hold on your accounts until they hear from you. Take along your bank's phone number in case of a problem.

Changing money in Canada

Exchanging U.S. dollars or travelers checks for Canadian currency in Canada is a more costly way to go, but easy to do at banks, or private "change" businesses in tourist areas and at the airport, train station, etc.

The trade-off for convenience is a worse exchange rate than you get by using a credit card or ATM and/or a service fee that reduces the amount you receive.

Hotels will sometimes exchange small amounts of cash for guests at fair rates and no commission. The Westin Hotel Resort and Spa in Whistler lets guests change up to $100a day in either cash or travelers checks at a favorable rate with no extra service charge.

Buying Canadian dollars here

There's little reason to buy Canadian dollars here before you go. AAA and banks offer this as a convenience for customers, but poor exchange rates — 3 to 5 cents below the base rate — and other fees make this an expensive way to go.

Paying in U.S. dollars in Canada

It's often possible to pay with U.S. dollars in Canada. Exchange rates vary. Some merchants offer a rate close to the daily bank rate; others offer only "par," a straight one-for-one exchange.

All shops, restaurants, ski lifts, etc., run by Whistler-Blackcomb accept U.S. dollars at a rate that's within a few cents of the official bank rate.

Tip: While many businesses will take U.S. dollars, you'll get your change in Canadian currency.

Cleanliness is a top priority for our homes

I came across an article this morning written by a housekeeper who worked in Yellowstone National Park in one of the upscale resorts in the park. http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-25303242

Honestly, reading it disgusted me that what I've assumed staying in some hotels is true - no crumbs on the floor don't necessarily mean it's a clean room. While I'm not saying that all hotel rooms are dirty, there is a lot of pressure on the cleaning crew of these establishments to clean as many rooms as possible in the shortest amount of time so they can get rooms ready before the next stampede of guests arrive at check-in time.

At VacationHouse Destinations, all of our homes have top-notch cleaning teams dedicated to making sure that when you arrive, there is no question in your mind if the rooms have been vacuumed or dishes cleaned. On average, our cleaning teams take 5 hours to clean a home - sometimes longer - depending on the size of the house. Cutting cleaning corners is simply not acceptable to the cleaning team, our guests and us. Cleanliness is a top priority for our homes and I'm happy to say that we haven't received a single complaint about the cleanliness of any of the homes - which is a testament to the hard work of the cleaning teams.

Do you have any experiences good/bad that you'd like to share? Just leave us a comment!

Important note: Gondola tower collapses at Whister!

Gondola tower collapses at Whistler, B.C., resort
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6600ap_canada_whistler_gondola_tower.html


WHISTLER, British Columbia -- More than 50 people were evacuated from about 30 ski gondolas after a tower supporting the cables partially collapsed Tuesday at Canada's Whistler resort.

Police said there were no serious injuries at the resort, which is to host the alpine events of the 2010 winter Olympic games. But health officials said five people had been taken to a hospital after the mid-afternoon accident.

While a crane was brought in to support the leaning tower, fire crews worked quickly to evacuate three cars that were most in danger.

One of the gondola cars hit a bus shelter, while two more were left dangling before the broken tower. In all, it took more than three hours for fire crews and the mountain's ski patrol to evacuate 53 people, Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort said. The gondola section involved is about 30 feet above the ground.

Doug Forseth, resort senior vice president, cited structural failure on a tower on Blackcomb Mountain's Excalibur gondola. An investigation into the cause of the accident will begin Wednesday, he said. "We have representatives of Dopelmayr, the lift manufacturer, coming tomorrow," Forseth said. "We will start to look at this failure in daylight and start to look at the possibilities of what might have caused this."

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt. Steve Wright said the passengers who were rescued were in good spirits and were met by emergency health services. Wright said frigid temperatures were not a concern because the people were wearing protective ski clothing and were in a sheltered environment.

Amber Turnau, a spokeswoman for Whistler Blackcomb, said the tower that collapsed is on the lower half of the lift. She said Tower 4, the one that went down, is not far from the gondola's start. Graeme Bell said his gondola car hit the ground."It was pretty freaky. We heard the noise of the tower collapsing and then the cabin started shaking and down it went," Bell told CTV television. "It hit the ground. It busted one of the windows and we jumped out."
Bell said those around him were complaining of sore backs and one man had a bloody head.

All of the Olympic Games events will take place on Whistler mountain, not Blackcomb where the accident occurred. It's not the first ski lift accident at the resort.
A Dec. 23, 1995, accident on the Quicksilver ski lift killed two men and injured nine other people.
The high-speed lift was ferrying skiers to the top of a run when one chair slipped on a cable and slammed into another, setting off a cascade that sent four chairs crashing into the bush and rocks below.

www.vacationhousedestinations.com

We're excited to welcome our new Park City, Utah home!

We're excited to announce our latest property in the portfolio, Park City Utah http://www.vacationhousedestinations.com/dtlMbrPropPUB.cfm?propID=2020. It's a stunning townhouse in the center of it all -and only 36 miles from the Salt Lake City International Airport- there's so much to do and see you'll have to experience it for yourself!

A few of the many adventures you can have include:

Park City adventures:
Amazing shopping, luxury spas and world-class skiing/snowboarding - it's a wonderful family destination.

Dining and Nightlife:
If you're looking for an evening out, you'll find nothing but a diverse dining scene -with more than 100 restaurants and more chefs per capita, than Paris!! Come hungry!!

Leisure:
Besides world-class skiing/snowboarding, you can enjoy snowshoeing, hot-air ballooning, tubing and snowmobiling. Of course, there's always the option of relaxing in your custom designed townhouse and relaxing in the hot tub, cooking a great meal or just grabbing a book to unwind by the fireplace.

Events:
The Sundance Film Festival - of course one of the greatest gathering of celebrities, movie icons and directors - the townhouse is still available, but it won't be for long. There's also tons of music acts, theater productions, galleries and lively performances. There's plenty to fill your visual senses, if the natural landscape wasn't inviting enough.

We welcome you to come visit Park City, Utah soon!!

www.vacationhousedestinations.com