So you've decided to splurge this summer! Good for you! We all need a vacation and sometimes the ?stay-cations? everyone is taking these days just don't cut it when it comes to relaxing and unwinding from the stresses of our everyday lives. Still, let's be reasonable. We may want a vacation away from home, but how many of us can afford a five-star hotel for a week? Or the cost of three meals a day at fancy resort prices? So is there a happy medium? You might be surprised to learn that you can have that get-away-vacation in a resort town like Santa Barbara and eat your cake, too! How? Check out the wide variety of Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals available all year round.



run the gambit from studio apartments for the single traveler, or couple, to multiple-family sized villas exquisitely set on the pristine Santa Barbara coastline ? and everything in between. Whether it's a place from which to take long walks on the beach, or one with full access to Santa Barbara's many offerings in town, you will find what you're looking for in a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental at prices that will take the sting out of the cost of a vacation. Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals are usually privately owned rentals, and for us, home-away-from-home complete with kitchens, room to spread out and often amenities we could only dream of having at five star resorts, like a private Jacuzzi or pool, beach paraphernalia and a place to cook S'mores under the stars.

Once you've decided that these kinds of amenities are what you're looking for, it's time to narrow down the choices. So what should you consider when booking a Here are a few things to think about as you peruse the hundreds of choices.

? Are you a beach comber? Lover of beachy sunsets? Do you have children who would love nothing more than to dig in the sand all day? If so, look for a Santa Barbara vacation rental near the coast. This will save you precious time and money in driving costs daily, and allow you the freedom to come and go instead of having to plan your entire day around one trip to the beach. Parking costs can be steep there, as well, so proximity allows you to avoid the high costs of shuffling your car between parking meters. And if you don't have a car, staying close by the beach will save on public transportation costs.

? While we're on the subject of parking, check to see if your vacation rental includes free on-site parking. This can be a major and expensive hassle if it doesn't. You can save big bucks if your Santa Barbara Vacation Rental is not only close to the places you want to visit, and you can leave your car parked for the week.

? Is shopping your thing? Do you love fine dining? Santa Barbara offers a broad spectrum of wonderful restaurants and shopping from imports and seasonal craft fairs to high end boutiques. Most of these are in town, so if you're a gourmet, shopping aficionado and not a beach comber, consider staying in a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental in town. Not only will you avoid the beach crowd and traffic, you'll be right where the action is. And if you don't have a car, Santa Barbara is a small town, and extremely walkable. But public transportation makes it easy to get from one end of town to the other, should you want it.

? If you're going to be on the beach, check to see if your Santa Barbara Vacation Rental provides any beach equipment. Not only will this come in handy, it will save you from having to drag it along or invest in costly rentals or disposable purchases while you're there. What kinds of things should you look for in your Santa Barbara Vacation Rental? Ask if the owners have Boogey boards, skim boards, or beach chairs and umbrellas. Are there any bicycles you can use? Do they have buckets and shovels for the kids or even coolers to bring along on beach picnics? You might be surprised to learn that many Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals do provide amenities like these. The secret is: Ask!

? Check to see if your Santa Barbara Vacation Rental provides linens for the beds. While most do, some don't, so be sure to ask.

? One of the advantages of staying in a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental is the feeling that you're not just staying there, you're living there. So be sure to ask if there are things like dishwashers, irons, washer and drying on the premises.

? Even if you're close to the beach, a pool can be just the spot to lounge around on hot summer days. It can also be a romantic place for two under the Santa Barbara night sky. So if a pool is on your list of must-haves, be sure to ask if your Santa Barbara Vacation Rental comes complete with one!

This is your vacation. Make the most of it in a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental!