June 8, 2009 - In today's WSJ Suzanne Barlyn writes a useful article for vacation homeowners seeking ways to better afford or profit from their properties. She goes beyond the obvious solution of acting as a landlord and discusses options such as donating use of the house as a charitable contribution. Read the article here.

As a point of naked self interest I quote this paragraph from the article to make a comparison:

Jack Russell of Lexington, Ky., who bought a five-bedroom vacation home in Kiawah Island, S.C., in 2004, has chosen the do-it-yourself route. For $249, he advertised his home on a Web site called Vacation Rentals By Owner, or VRBO.com. A Facebook group he started at no charge directs users to that ad. He also advertised on Google, which produced hundreds of clicks, for about $200 during a three-month period, he says.

The comparison I want to make of course is with advertising on MoreBeach.com. At MoreBeach.com a typical vacation property receives 10+ clicks per day, 300+ clicks per month and thousands of clicks per year for a mere $95. See how our vacation advertising works by checking out our section on Cape Cod Vacations.

May 28, 2009 - From Cape Cod to the Outer Banks more beach vacation houses are being rented at the last minute, for less money, than in years past. Listed discounts of 20% and more are not uncommon. And people are negotiating listed prices down even further. Here's the story from the NYTimes.

May 7, 2009 - More than 35,000 people from around the world found the job description irresistable: spend six months swimming, exploring and relaxing on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef. Write a blog. Live for free in a three-bedroom oceanfront villa with a private pool and sweeping views of nearby islands. Get paid $110,000.

34 year old Ben Southall, a charity worker from England, has been chosen as Tourism Queensland's newest employee. He recently completed a trek around Africa that raised money for disabled ex-servicemen and African farmers. During the trek he ran five marathons and climbed five of the continent’s highest mountains. His video application showed him riding an ostrich and snorkelling in the Thames.

Here's more from the UK Times Online.

April 9, 2009 - Expedia is offering great deals for travel to beach resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico with air fare plus 4 nights starting at prices under $450. Book by May 5, travel by July 15th. See details here: Expedia Beach Vacations.