http://www.kewltravel.com Travel the Kewl Way! Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:22:03 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Organizing a villa vacation is a challenge — and a lot of fun! Thorough pre-trip research can make the difference between a good trip and a truly great adventure. As you begin to think about villas, here are some points to consider.   Step 1: Budget Do you want luxurious amenities, or are you looking for something ... http://www.kewltravel.com/so-you-want-a-villa-now-what-2/ Have you decided to rent a villa? Congratulations!  Now comes the next step: choosing a rental agency. Obviously I’m biased towards RentVillas.com, but no matter who you choose it’s important to make sure they’re legitimate. (Note: I don’t recommend renting direct-from-owner. With so much invested in one property, the “downsides” often get ... http://www.kewltravel.com/choosing-the-right-rental-agency-2/ The economic slump has created a once-in-a-decade opportunity for travelers: fantastic deals on accommodations and airfare are everywhere. But if you’re like me, that’s only half the challenge. The other half is all the money you’re going to spend when you get there! Food, shopping, transportation… it can add up quickly if ... http://www.kewltravel.com/save-money-while-traveling-2/ If the reduced-price villas under the “specials” tab aren’t enough for you… We just added a new category to our Featured Properties on RentVillas.com. It’s called “Great Value Villas and Apartments.”  It’s easy to pull up the cheapest properties in any region on RentVillas.com (simply search by price). The villas in the Great ... http://www.kewltravel.com/great-value-villas-2/ …At least, according to Josh Bernoff of Forrester Research! Just before Christmas, he posted an article on his blog entitled “Rentvillas.com shows how to be a human.” He writes:  “I am a Rentvillas customer. Traveling to another country where everything is different — the power outlets, the language, the time ... http://www.kewltravel.com/were-human-2/ Do you have a blog? Want a free copy of Living Like a Local in Italy? No problem! Blog about RentVillas.com before January 1, then email me a link to your post. In return, I’ll send you the PDF of Living Like a Local! My email address is nikki@rentvillas.com. ... http://www.kewltravel.com/blogger-promotion-2/ Looking for a way to explore authentic Italy? Check out The Insider’s Guide to Living Like a Local in Italy on Amazon.com!  Written by RentVillas.com founder Suzanne Pidduck, this little guidebook brings together over two decades of experience renting and traveling in Italy. Learn how to prepare for your trip, where ... http://www.kewltravel.com/italy-guidebook-living-like-a-local-2/ If you’re traveling with kids or just want to expand your horizons beyond the typical tourist destinations, theme parks are a great way to add depth to your European experience. And I’m not just talking about “Euro Disney!” Think aquariums, botanical gardens, zoos, and water parks! Most travelers might not think ... http://www.kewltravel.com/theme-parks-in-europe-2/ I’ve gotten several phenomenal recommendations recently for Daniella Hunt, a guide operating in Rome. A native North Carolinian, Daniella has an extensive background in Roman archaeology and ancient history. Here’s what Mary, one of RentVillas.com’s clients, had to say about her: We “found” Daniella Hunt years ago and refer everyone to ... http://www.kewltravel.com/daniella-hunt-rome-guide-2/ If your mental image of Tuscany is all golden sunshine and vines heavy with overripe grapes… you’ve never seen Florence when it rains. Showers come quickly – once, standing in a sunny piazza, I turned to see a wall of rain sweeping from one end to the other. I had ... http://www.kewltravel.com/christmas-in-tuscany-2/