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I've made our family's vacation reservations for several years now. I don't know how I would have done it without the Internet! If you have multiple needs, i.e. child friendly, non-smoking, pet friendly, beach front, etc. it's much easier to whittle down the hundreds of listing to a manageable number. Searching for a rental on the internet saves a lot of time, frustration and phone calls.

1. Start early. We have a family reunion (8 to 10 people) in March and love Florida. The best places are filled early in Florida. Some state parks give actual dates in January for this and the places are filled quickly. The internet is he best way to try to rent these spaces. They do offer phone numbers, but get ready to hear a lot of busy signals and elevator music. Many other states have these early registrations for their cottages or rental homes as well. I rented our townhouse for this March 2008 in mid 2007.

2. Make a list of your needs. For instance we have four adults, 4 children and 2 Golden Retrievers. We prefer a place on the beach and with a pool nearby, a playground, family atmosphere, non-smoking accommodations and we're working on a budget. So, I have a lot to consider when doing a 'search'. Our most difficult criteria is the 'pet friendly' part, but if you do a search for 'pet friendly vacation rentals in Florida' you'll be amazed at your choices!

3. The internet rental sites often offer multiple photos of the outside and inside of the rental. This really eliminates the possibilities for disappointment. You can also do an aerial satellite search and actually see the property from above, which means you can see if your rental is in the middle of a crowded touristy area or more remote. You'll be able to judge the beach access or restaurant and shopping areas.

You can also email the owner and ask specific questions - even at 2 a.m.! They've all responded to my emails within 12 hours and often call me if I request or give me a phone number as well.

4. It's easy to find the attractions nearby, so you can plan your time and this helps make for a more relaxed vacation. We stayed near Destin, Florida and wanted to go to the Gulfarium (highly recommended). Using the internet and their maps we knew that it would take us about an hour to drive there. So, we could plan on when to have breakfast, when to leave, where to have dinner, etc. This makes the question 'are we there yet?' a lot easier to answer, even after the tenth time.

Part of the fun and relaxation of a vacation is being fairly certain about where you're going, how to get there and what to expect once you arrive. I hope this article is helpful for you. I highly recommend you make your vacation plans on te internet!

Learn more about this author, Pat Merewether.
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