These are especially popular in the state of Florida. Florida has dozens of attractions for vacation goers, from the world famous Disney land to beaches renowned for surfing. There are also underwater caves and military shipwrecks for scuba divers, coral reefs for snorkelers, and the entire state is teeming with wildlife preserves for nature lovers, especially the unique and loveable sea cows. Then of course there's the military city of Pensacola, which will draw military enthusiasts. The list goes on and on...

Because of the huge number of sights to see, vacation homes have come into vogue in the state. Hotel rental rates are okay, but some vacation goers take long duration tours down in Florida that last weeks and even months, and paying for hotel booking for this long a stay can be detrimental to your finances. House rentals are definitely the way to go for these long, well deserved breaks.

Now, when canvassing for a house rental in Florida, you have to keep several things in mind to keep your expenses down while still getting the most out of your money. One of the first considerations is the location of the house. Know which parts of the state you'll be visiting most often, and find a suitably located house to rent in the vicinity. Also keep in mind that the closer a house is to a tourist "hotspot" like Disneyland, the higher the rental rates will go.

So, if you can't swing a cheap place near your destinations, then the next step is to break out a map of the area and look for major thoroughfares that will allow you to get to those places with minimum traffic and distance covered. Remember that you'll probably be driving to most of these places, so keep an eye on your gasoline budget too.

Once you've located a moderately good place to stay, start looking for rental houses in the vicinity. The best places to look are the Internet and classified ads. While travel agencies may also be able to help you book a good house, remember that these agencies operate like any other business, and will most likely be taking their own percentage for "referring" you. To avoid this extra nick on your wallet, do your own scouting.

Compare the prices for the places you'll be considering. When you call those people, remember that some rental groups and individual house owners may be willing to cut you a smaller daily rate if you plan on staying longer. These small percentages can go a long way towards easing your mind if you're planning to stay long on vacation with your family anyhow.

Check out the security and living conditions of the neighborhood the house is located in, too. A call to the local town management offices will give you an idea of how tight security is in that neighborhood. This is an important factor to consider. After all, it might save you money to get a cheaper house rental, but if the neighbors wind up running off with your hubcaps, well, you get the picture.

Also look into the furnishings of the house; sometimes, there are "added" charges for some features that the house has, like a swimming pool or a game room. IF you think your budget can handle these luxuries, go ahead and enjoy the fruit of your labors! But if you know that you'll be spending most of the time soaking in the jaccuzzi worrying about how you'll be paying for these extra amenities, then try to find a place without them.

Overall, it just becomes a matter of perspective. Finding a good rental house is definitely much cheaper for long stays than getting a hotel room, but the best ones with the nicest amenities will still be quite pricey. Even then, remember that the main point of taking a vacation is to spend time with your family and for you all to enjoy yourselves. Without having to pawn a leg or sell off a kidney...