December 1-31, 2010 — Holiday Gingerbread House: Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery
Over at Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery, Baker Bent Olsen has once again created an unbelievable 8′x11′x10′ tall gingerbread house. Made with 250 pounds of gingerbread dough, 150 pounds of powdered sugar, and three gallons of egg whites, this holiday abode has to be seen to be believed! While you’re basking in the rich scents of the Danish-Scandinavian bakery, try one of their famous kringles or buy a loaf of their 100th anniversary whole grain pumpernickel bread at 1529 Mission Drive in Solvang. Olsen’s is open 7:00-6:00 on weekdays and 7:00-7:00 on weekends.
Phone: (805) 688.6314

December 1-31, 2010 — Ty Lounge Presents: 12 Days of Christmas Cocktails
The master mixologists at Ty Lounge have concocted “Twelve Days of Cocktails,” and will be serving up the menu of 12 holiday-inspired specialty cocktails during the month of December. Guests can enjoy a combination of modern creations, such as a white chocolate peppermint martini, as well as traditional wintry favorites such as a hot toddy or eggnog. Ty Lounge is located within The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara and is open from 12:00 noon to 11:00 pm on Sunday, 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm Monday to Thursday, and from 4:00 pm to 1:00 am on Friday and Saturday. It is located at 1260 Channel Drive in Santa Barbara.
Phone: (805) 565-2261

December 11, 2010 — Kids Cookie Workshop with Mrs. Claus
From 2:00 to 4:00 pm., The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara is offering a fun and creative cookie baking and decorating workshop with Mrs. Claus. Children ages 4-12 and their parents can join one of the resort’s talented pastry chefs in the kitchen, where they will participate in an engaging afternoon of supervised cutting and decorating freshly baked holiday sugar cookies with a variety of colorful icings and garnishes. Cost is $15 per child, reservations are required. The hotel is located at 1260 Channel Drive in Santa Barbara.
Phone: 805-565-8291

Once you’ve stuffed yourself with holiday yummies, before you return to put up your feet in your Santa Barbara vacation rental, you’ll want to work off some of those calories with a holiday shopping marathon.

No stay at a Santa Barbara vacation rental is complete without a visit to the Santa Barbara Arts Collective. The Arts Collective is offering a gift that keeps on giving. Like a wine-of-the-month club (also a great present idea), the SBAC is offering a different print, from a different artist every month for 12 months. They are $50 each and come in a limited edition of 25 prints, so you need to act fast if you want to enjoy art every month.

Every Sunday many Santa Barbara vacation rental guests enjoy an artsy stroll along the free Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show. The show happens every Sunday (contingent upon weather) and on some holidays from 10:00 a.m. until dusk. 300 Santa Barbara artists display their own drawings, paintings, graphics, sculpture, crafts and photography in Chase Palm Park. For more information, please call (805) 897-1982.

If you get to your Santa Barbara vacation rental on the first Thursday of the month, downtown Santa Barbara galleries keep their doors open late from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. so the public can enjoy local art in a fun atmosphere. Music, demonstrations and refreshments are also offered, not far from Anacapa Villas. For more information, please call (805) 962-2098.

On Saturdays, Santa Barbara vacation rental guests of all ages will enjoy visiting Art From Scrap at 302 East Cota Street. Art From Scrap holds a family fun workshop every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for all ages. Children under age five must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $6. For more information, please call (805) 884-0459.

If you want to turn your Santa Barbara vacation rental into an artist’s retreat, you’ll need supplies and inspiration. Crimson Holiday, a new local arts and crafts store, celebrated its opening at La Cumbre Plaza with art crafted by 25 Santa Barbara artists. The store has holiday fare plus many perennial pieces. There are plenty of paintings and prints, novelty paintings, three-dimensional art, hats, scarves, handbags, necklaces, earrings, bead weaves, glass and ceramic vases, dishes, plates, tables and chairs, soaps, lotions and scented candles. Children have their own corner with blankets, stuffed animals and doll dresses. Crimson Holiday is open Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Special extended hours during holidays. Call (805) 682-6666 for more information.

Just down the road from your Santa Barbara vacation rental, the Camino Real ArtWalk in Goleta attracts local and visiting artisans with their handmade arts and crafts, and very often live music. It is located in The Marketplace just 10 miles west of Santa Barbara. Their regular season runs from January through November, with special 2010 holiday dates of November 27 & 28, December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

You can bring your treasures back to your Santa Barbara vacation rental and enjoy them for the rest of your stay. When it’s time to go home again, simply ask the Santa Barbara Luxury Rental concierge to pack and ship them for you so you can bask in the afterglow of your vacation until you return to our lovely, arty community again.

There’s much to be thankful for this time of year as we gather with friends and family for the holidays. We want to take the opportunity to enumerate some of the things we’re most grateful for in Santa Barbara, an extraordinary and unique place that we’re grateful to call home, which we hope you’ll consider your home-away-from-home.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #1: The Goldilocks climate.
I mean, seriously people, does it get any better than this? The Santa Ynez Mountains, our warm southern California sunshine and coastal breezes ensure a temperate, year-round routine of warmer winters and cooler summers that have earned us the nickname “The American Riviera.” No matter where you’re from, the weather is better at your Santa Barbara vacation rental.

We know that for a growing number of travelers, going home for the holidays means celebrating with loved ones at a sunny and exotic home away from home. While snowbirds have always enjoyed heading south for the winter, more travelers than ever are choosing a Santa Barbara vacation rental to get away and enjoy sun-filled beach vacations during the holiday season.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #2: Exceptional value.
There are a lot of opportunities to stretch your vacation dollar in Santa Barbara. Vacation rentals in Santa Barbara offer great value and flexibility to better fit various travel lifestyles, needs and budgets. For less than the cost of a hotel room vacationers can rent a whole home while enjoying countless benefits like avoiding the unnecessary expenses of a hotel stay with laundry, internet fees, tips and room service.

Santa Barbara vacation rentals offer a great way to enjoy the winter sun on a budget. At the five-bedroom Vista Riviera, guests can take in views of the ocean and city and enjoy soaking in the private pool or relaxing in the sauna. They can also take advantage of all the amenities of a luxury hotel including pre-arrival grocery stocking, in-room spa treatments and other concierge services.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #3: Welcoming smiles.
Santa Barbara is, at heart, a small city with fewer than 100,000 residents within the city limits. People know each other and bump into acquaintances and neighbors all the time with warm smiles and happy greetings.

Tourists are just as likely to be greeted like old friends. If you’re staying in a Santa Barbara vacation rental, you’re probably going to be in town long enough to engage in healthy habits like walking to the same café every morning, shopping at a preferred vendor stand in the farmers market, etc. It’s all part of the warm, friendly Santa Barbara culture.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #4: Mother Nature.
There are very few destinations that offer as much in the way of stunning nature. You can laze on the deck of your Santa Barbara beach rental watching porpoises play or the winter gray whale migration. You can work up a sweat hiking the Campbell Trail and then enjoy a soak in Gaviota Hot Spring. You can even dress in camouflage and take your binoculars to the Andree Clark Bird Refuge.

There are meadows, mountains, creeks, beaches, parks, hiking trails, a 65-acre botanic garden designed by noted landscape architect Beatrix Ferrand…. In short, whatever your inner Smokey the Bear desires, you will find it in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #5: The architecture.
A 1925 earthquake pretty much leveled downtown Santa Barbara, and we have been grateful ever since. The city fathers and mothers took the opportunity to rebuild with stricter structural standards and in relative Spanish/Moorish uniformity, and the result is Santa Barbara’s stunning red-roof district. As you walk through the downtown area you gain a heightened appreciation for the idea of a planned city. Most burgs are a mishmash of wildly divergent architectural qualities and styles, but Santa Barbara’s downtown area almost feels like a movie set, it is so charming and idealistic.

A lot of the residences, including many of the Santa Barbara vacation rentals, in the area also cleave to the California bungalow style (with a few Victorians thrown in) and the result is a charming walk through California history.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #6: Festivals.
If you, like Frank Costanza on Seinfeld, are in search of a “festivus for the rest of us,” you should book your Santa Barbara vacation rental immediately. Our annual festival calendar boasts something new almost every month: Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Orchid Show, Earth Day celebration, Santa Barbara Fair & Expo, Cinco de Mayo festival, Summer Solstice Parade, wine festivals, Fourth of July, French Festival, Greek Festival, Old Spanish Days Fiesta, Santa Barbara Sandcastle Festival, California Lemon Festival, Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival, New Noise Music Conference & Festival.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #7: Unexpected outdoor delights.
No matter how much time you spend in your Santa Barbara vacation rental home, there are still many delights to discover. Many people who pass the corner of State and Victoria every day never notice the lovely statue of Sacajawea that is set back from the street. Sacajawea was a Shoshone woman who guided the Lewis & Clark exploration through the western part of the American continent in the earliest years of the 19th century. She was very brave and diplomatic and is credited by many historians as the primary reason for the mission’s success.

Santa Barbara visitors in the early spring are often pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous profusion of flowering trees in the area. Both leaves and blossoms create a stunning, delicious-smelling canopy wherever you turn.

There are many beautiful fountains in town. There are notable examples in the dolphin fountain at Stearns Wharf, the mission fountain and the fountain at La Arcada shopping mall. How many more can you find?

You can tell a city that really loves its artists because they proudly display so much art in public places. There are lovely bronze sculptures tucked away in some unexpected corners like the La Arcada shopping mall and downtown area. As you step from your Santa Barbara vacation rental, keep your eyes open. You never know what treasures you might come across.

And last but not least, I am personally grateful for all the wonderful Santa Barbara vacation rental guests I get to meet year after year. Once you enjoy all that our fair city has to offer, you’ll be grateful that you will always have a second home away from home.

There are a lot of delicious options for the fun-loving gourmet. I love grocery shopping in vacation destinations, there’s always something new to try, and being on vacation is a great excuse to chuck the calorie-counter. If you want to do your own shopping near your Santa Barbara vacation rental you can go to a tried-and-true grocery store like Vons aka Safeway, Ralphs or Albertsons. If you’re looking for something a little more high-end or out of the ordinary, check out Lazy Acres Market. It’s not too far from Le Petit Chateau and Ocean Oasis. There’s also Trader Joe’s or Gelson’s, a southern California favorite. Santa Barbara is home to many gourmet specialty shops, too.

If you’d rather not spend time searching in vain for fresh fennel you can visit the Santa Barbara Luxury Rental concierge site before your visit and fill out a shopping list. Your groceries will be waiting for you when you arrive at your Santa Barbara vacation rental. Just don’t forget your favorite recipes at home. We can’t guarantee that one of our staff members will have a copy of your great-grandma’s secret noodle stuffing recipe (although many of them could whip up a recipe should you need one).

There are many more dining options for the I-refuse-to-cook-until-I-have-a-migraine-this-holiday Santa Barbara vacation rental visitors. One of our concierges would be happy to help you find the perfect personal chef or caterer to make a memorable meal for you.

Not so much a gourmet, as a gourmand? There are a ton of delicious options. If you’re a homebody or if someone in your party cones down with a bug (like I did one infamous Thanksgiving), you can order your holiday feast in to your Santa Barbara vacation rental from a variety of restaurants and grocery stores.

Want to dive into a plate of peeled shrimp instead of turkey? There are dozens of fine restaurants in Santa Barbara that will gladly cater to your culinary whims. Many of them are on or around State Street, particularly handy if you’re staying at a Santa Barbara vacation rental like Anacapa Villas, one block away.

If no one in your group wants to be the designated driver, there is a list of restaurants we love that are near some of our Santa Barbara vacation rental properties. Brophy Brothers (in photo) is close to Juniper Cottage, Wine Cask is near Anacapa Villas. Your Santa Barbara Luxury Rental concierge can give you more precise recommendations based on your preferences.

If you do walk to dinner from your Santa Barbara vacation rental, don’t forget a light jacket and umbrella. We can’t promise it won’t sprinkle, but we can promise you won’t need chains or snow tires.

November 21-December 31, 2010 — Winterfest Celebration in Solvang
The quaint town of Solvang hosts a month of events, pageantry, and millions of lights in their traditional Danish Christmas Village. Call for information. Phone: (805) 688-6144

November 28-December 19, 2010 — Trinity Episcopal Church Advent Organ Series
The church is offering Sunday concerts for the four weeks of Advent from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Phone: (805) 965-7419

December 1, 4, 11, 2010 — 16th Annual La Arcada Court Christmas Walk
Listen to strolling carolers and live, local music. Eat fresh popped popcorn and lots of holiday goodies. Get your picture taken with Santa on Dec. 1st from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and December 4th and 11th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Bring the whole family for holiday fun and merriment. Phone: (805) 966-6634

December 3, 2010 — 58th Annual Holiday Parade – Miracle on State Street
Beginning at 6:30 p.m., spectators line downtown Santa Barbara to cheer high-stepping marching bands, fabulous holiday floats, spectacular performance groups, local personalities, and of course, Santa Clause. The holiday prince and fairy officially light up the night with the lighting of the large Christmas tree at State & Victoria streets. Phone: (805) 962-2098 ext. 23

December 4, 2010 — Rudolph ballet
Rudolph is the story of a young reindeer with a blinking red nose. This children’s ballet is performed by the students of Gustafson Dance, featuring dancers from the State Street Ballet Young Dancers, the apprentice company to State Street Ballet. It is taking place at the Lobero Theatre at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Phone: (805) 963-0761

December 5, 2010 — Brinkerhoff Holiday Block Party
Come celebrate holiday cheer in traditional Victorian fashion at this “block party” in the historic Landmark District of Brinkerhoff Avenue between Cota and Haley streets 1:00-4:00 p.m. Tour Victorian homes and get an inside view of what Santa Barbara was like 150 years ago. Phone: (805) 966-3979

December 5, 2010 — Snow Leopard Festival and Sledding at the Zoo
It’s a winter wonderland beneath palm trees overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Sledding at the Zoo & Snow Leopard Festival. More than 75 tons of snow are imported to create sledding runs and a children’s play area, and are placed in exhibits for snow leopards, elephants, gorillas, lions, otters and other animals – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 500 Niños Drive. Phone: (805) 962-5339

December 9, 2010 — A Very Mariachi Divas Christmas Show
Visit the Chumash Casino Resort to see a very special Christmas show of the Mariachi Divas, a unique cultural ensemble that have created an exciting, original style of music called “ranchengue,” a fusion of ranchera and meringue. Phone: (800) 585-3737

December 10, 2010 — Art From Scrap Holiday Open House and Celebration
Join us for an evening of merriment and ornament making. Enjoy mulled wine and appetizers. Shop at our Reuse Store for holiday gifts. Take a last look at the Retro Muse exhibition and meet the artists at Art From Scrap 5:00-7:00 p.m.  Phone: (805) 884-0459

December 10-12, 2010 — Santa Barbara High School A Capella Choir and Madrigals Holiday Concerts
The Santa Barbara High School Madrigals and A Capella Choir, will be performing beautiful, traditional Christmas/holiday music from around the world daily at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Anthony’s Chapel on the grounds of San Roque School. Phone: (805) 868-9101

December 10-23, 2010 — Trolley of Lights Tour
A 90-minute trip in a trolley around Santa Barbara shows off the best of the area’s holiday lights. Tours leave from Wheel Fun Rentals at 22 State Street, nightly at 6:30 pm. Reservations are required. Phone: (805) 965-0353

December 11-12, 2010 — Miracle on 34th Street, the Musical
Based on the 1947 Academy Award winning film, now re-imagined as a musical, this delightful, family-friendly production restores our belief in the spirit of the season and features traditional holiday songs we all know and love at the Granada Theatre. Phone: (805) 899-2222

December 12, 2010 — Annual Parade of Lights
Beginning at 3:00 p.m. with a Santa’s village event at the City Pier, then a visit from Santa with holiday music and 10 tons of snow for kids to play in. Judges, along with thousands of spectators, will cheer on 30-50 boats decorated to the theme of “Silver Bells & Winter Swells.” A fireworks display will follow the boat parade. Phone: (805) 963-0611.

December 12, 2010 — Una Noche de las Posadas
Las Posadas (The Inns) is the time-honored reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter in Bethlehem. Join in this rich cultural tradition, experiencing first-hand the way in which Santa Barbara’s earliest Spanish and Mexican residents celebrated Christmas with song and food. Takes place at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park & Casa de la Guerra at 7:00 p.m. Phone: (805) 965-0093

December 12-13, 2010 — The Nutcracker at the Arlington
Santa Barbara Festival Ballet brings you the Nutcracker, supported by a live, full symphony orchestra. The performances feature all the surprises of the traditional Nutcracker with giant mice doing battle with toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes and waltzing flowers. Phone: (805) 963-4408

December 17, 2010 — Community Christmas Carol Sing-along & Wassail Party
Celebrate the season at Trinity Episcopal Church by joining voices in singing favorites and new carols interspersed with the poetry of Diane Wyman at the Community Christmas Carol sing-along & Wassail Party. A holiday favorite for twenty-seven years. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Phone: (805) 965-7419

December 18, 2010 — All Wrapped Up: The Art of Giving (Holiday Gift Workshop)
This one-day workshop at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. offers a unique art experience for children to gain inspiration from three original works of art in the museum’s collection and create hand-made cards, prints, ornaments, and more. Students will draw, paint, print, collage and sculpt artful gifts to share with friends and family. Phone: (805) 884-6441

December 18, 2010 — California Christmas Bird Counts, Santa Barbara County
Birders all over the country are tromping into the wilds to help with the annual National Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology Christmas bird count. Participants are assigned to teams based on their bird identification skill level and endurance. Compilers and participants can sign up to be an Audubon California Volunteer. Phone: Rob Denholtz at (805) 684-4060

December 18-19, 2010 — The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice
Santa Barbara Revels annual theatrical holiday production celebrates the Winter Solstice, featuring the music, dance, stories and traditions of Victorian England. At the Lobero Theatre – Saturday 3:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., Sunday 3:00 p.m. Phone: (805) 963-0761

December 18-19, 2010 — West Coast Ballet Presents “Nutcracker”
This eternal Christmas story will come to life complete with falling snow, dancing sweets, magical dolls, waltzing flowers, fighting mice and, of course, the Sugar Plum Fairy. The intimate setting of the Center Stage Theater provides the perfect opportunity to fully appreciate the lavish costumes and special effects for which West Coast Ballet is known, making this production a “Gem” of a Nutcracker. Phone: (805) 963-0408

December 18-19, 2010 — La Pastorela
La Pastorela is Santa Barbara’s oldest and most beautiful Christmas tradition. Dramatizing the epic battle between good and evil, the play invokes elements of spectacle, comedy and fantasy. This version of the Pastorela is conducted in Spanish. Phone: (805) 965-0093

December 19, 2010 — The Nutcracker – State St. Ballet
Share the holiday magic of adventure, fantasy, romance, and the triumph of good over evil. Set to music by Tchaikovsky and performed in the opulent setting of The Granada, the Nutcracker’s story enchants as never before. Join us for this traditional holiday favorite featuring State Street Ballet with the students of Gustafson Dance. Phone: (805) 899-2222

December 31, 2010 — New Year’s Pops Concert – Santa Barbara Symphony
Richard Kaufman, Pop’s Concert Conductor Extraordinaire, returns to Santa Barbara to conduct the Santa Barbara Symphony’s New Year’s Eve Pops Concert, “Night on the Red Carpet.” It’s the movies, it’s the music, it’s the greatest movie music ever on The Granada stage. Phone: (805) 899-2222

There are many, many other exciting holiday events occurring in the area. What are some of your favorites? Don’t see anything here tempting enough to lure you out of your Santa Barbara vacation rental? Check back soon. Next month we’ll be covering mouthwatering holiday food and drink events.

Truth is, as travelers look ahead to 2011 and a slowly rebounding economy, many travelers are truly grateful that they can afford to travel at all.

If you know where to look, there are a lot of opportunities for travelers to stretch their vacation dollar in Santa Barbara. As the economy is recovering, vacationers continue to take advantage of vacation rentals in Santa Barbara that offer great value and flexibility to better fit various travel lifestyles, needs and budgets.

Enjoy a vacation home (like Mykonos, pictured here) away from home in Santa Barbara

For less than the cost of a hotel room, vacationers can rent a whole Santa Barbara vacation home while enjoying countless benefits – like avoiding the unnecessary expenses of a hotel stay like laundry, internet fees, tips, and room service.

Enjoy your stay at Santa Barbara with a luxury rental such as Ocean Oasis - right on the beach!

In addition to exceptional value, Santa Barbara vacation rental guests have much to be thankful for including temperate climate year-round, as well as the area’s stunning nature and architecture plus world-class events and festivals that are held locally.

My family and I feel so privileged to live in such an extraordinary and unique destination, and in the spirit of the holidays, we wanted to take the opportunity to share some of the things we’re most grateful for in Santa Barbara.

We also hope that once travelers experience all that our fair city has to offer, they’ll be grateful too that they will always have a second home away from home when they visit Santa Barbara.

To read more about the top things to be thankful for, visit the Santa Barbara vacation rentals blog at http://blog.sbluxuryrentals.com/

About Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals
Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals is your one stop source for high-end, fully-furnished vacation homes in Santa Barbara including private beach houses, California holiday villas, and large luxurious vacation homes. Our luxury rental properties are ideal for romantic vacations, family gatherings and reunions, or wedding parties and wedding accommodations. We also offer pet-friendly vacation rentals on select properties. Our full-service staff and concierge services are available to assist you with all your Santa Barbara vacation rental needs. We strive to create a memorable vacation experience of the highest quality, giving all our guests the utmost consideration and quality service. To view our properties, visit http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com/

The increasing popularity of Santa Barbara vacation rentals has led to an abundance of online resources. Nowadays, a traveler’s best bet is to do due diligence and compare rates, amenities, reputations, views, and conditions on a site like FlipKey.com before entering into a rental agreement, especially when reserving a property sight unseen.

Stay at Le Petit Chateau and enjoy a long walk on Hendry's beach, where beachcomber and surfers alike delight in leisurely strolls on the sand, picnic tables and surf

While there are a lot of ways to check up on a prospective property rental company, like visiting the Better Business Bureau, a trusted vacation rental site such as FlipKey.com can provide additional resources such as verified user reviews to ensure consumers find the ideal vacation rental home.

FlipKey’s inventory of Santa Barbara vacation rental properties, extensive verification processes, and easy-to-use site make it simple and safe to find the perfect Santa Barbara vacation rental home, like the Le Petit Chateau (pictured here). Most of our Santa Barbara vacation rental guests are blown away by the value and amenities they get for their money and we’re thrilled to have the user comments and outstanding consumer ratings on FlipKey.com to reflect that.

Experience a taste of Provence in Le Petit Chateau! Nestled between Hope Ranch and the Mesa, on a quiet lane just 2 blocks from the beach, you can experience a lovely holiday getaway in this beautiful Santa Barbara vacation rental.

On FlipKey.com, travelers can find comments that discuss everything from a vacation rental’s beauty, cleanliness, amenities, and views to its access to different Santa Barbara landmarks and the staff’s attention to service.

In a review of the Santa Barbara vacation rental property Le Petit Chateau, a guest from Summit, NJ., states: “The team at Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals was extremely thoughtful in helping me select the right property and very responsive to all of my questions. The property itself was lovely – it lived up to the nice pictures on the website. Everything was in excellent condition, and all details had been considered for an ideal stay.”

About Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals
Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals is your one stop source for high-end, fully-furnished vacation homes in Santa Barbara including private beach houses, California holiday villas, and large luxurious vacation homes. Our luxury rental properties are ideal for romantic vacations, family gatherings and reunions, or wedding parties and wedding accommodations. We also offer pet-friendly vacation rentals on select properties. Our full-service staff and concierge services are available to assist you with all your Santa Barbara vacation rental needs. We strive to create a memorable vacation experience of the highest quality, giving all our guests the utmost consideration and quality service. To view our properties, visit http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com/.

Many people who book a Santa Barbara vacation rental love the look, sound and smell of the ocean, but they don’t necessarily want to get in the water. Fortunately, there are several ways visitors can enjoy the shore without actually getting their toes wet.

Santa Barbara Water Taxi is a company that runs a cute little yellow boat named Lil’ Toot between the harbor and Stearns Wharf (a brisk 1.5 mile walk from Santa Barbara beach house rental Santa Barbara Oceanview) for the bargain price of $4 for adults and $1 for kids. During the 15-minute boat ride, Captain Fred and his crew toot the boat’s distinctive whistle and point out items of interest such as wildlife, harbor history and which celebrities have parked their yachts nearby. In the evening, before heading back to their Santa Barbara vacation rental, couples can snuggle under the stars that glint off the water as they enjoy hour-long sunset, starlight and full-moon cruises to the soothing sound of the prow cutting through the lapping waves. Kids’ cruises, birthday cruises, private charters and memorial cruises are also available.

Boston isn’t the only destination with an amphibious tourist vehicle. Beantown’s Duck Tours can step aside, the Land Shark has taken over Santa Barbara! Able to transition flawlessly from traveling 70-mph on land to seven knots at sea, the Land & Sea Tours craft can pick your group up at your Santa Barbara vacation rental and seat 49 passengers at a time. Each 90-minute ocean-sprayed scheduled tour leaves from Stearns Wharf (within blocks of Santa Barbara beach house rentals Juniper Cottage and Mykonos Villa) and seeks adventures with harbor seals, dolphins, whales, the area’s fascinating past and dynamic present. There are two to three (depending on the season) tours scheduled every day, and the prices are a steal at $25 for adults and $10 for kids. Intrepid Santa Barbara vacation rental visitors can also charter their own special trip.

Even though your Santa Barbara vacation rental is heaven on earth, you’ll probably want to get out and see some of the sites while you’re here. If you like to smell the ocean and hear the sea lions bark, but don’t want to get close enough to the water to need flippers, we have a perfect alternative for you. Segway of Santa Barbara offers all the equipment and training you need to enjoy one of the three tours they offer. The Butterfly Beach Tour (passes within two blocks of Villa del Mar), the Old Santa Barbara Tour (a stone’s throw from the Ancapa Villas) and the Mission Tour offer different routes and attractions. Each trip is unique and offers visitors a different glimpse of our favorite city. Tours last between two to three hours and prices range from $65-$99.

There are so many fun and exciting things to do in Santa Barbara, and so many beautiful Santa Barbara vacation rental properties to choose from. If you’re interested in learning more about the Santa Barbara area, or viewing our Santa Barbara vacation rental properties, please visit http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com/ or give us a call at 800-715-8766. We’d be delighted to assist you.

Anacapa Penthouse

Graham Farrar, our very own vacation rentals expert, points out that many travelers still find the vacation home rental market to be a little chaotic – at least in comparison to more traditional accommodations like hotels/motels. Therefore it is important for travelers to be able to book a Santa Barbara vacation rental with confidence, especially since they are usually reserving the property sight unseen.

Santa Barbara vacation rentals are growing in popularity as a value-packed alternative to traditional hotel accommodations, though it can be difficult for consumers to know how to book a property that best fits their budget as well as travel needs and desires. There are many things consumers can do to protect themselves from scams or disappointment – including working with a professional management company whose goal is to ensure your vacation rental experience meets and exceeds your expectations.

Farrar recommends that renters visit the Better Business Bureau or a vacation rental site such as FlipKey.com for candid reviews. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for travelers to end up in vacation rentals that do not deliver on what is promised. A recent guest even shared the nightmare experience that preceded her Santa Barbara vacation rental stay. Rory B. from New York, NY shares her story:

Anacapa Villa

“After flying across the country to LA, we arrived at a home we had rented in Malibu to find it totally misrepresented and truly un-stayable. We considered flying back to New York and then decided to look into Santa Barbara instead. We contacted Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals and they were able to offer us the Anacapa Villa at a very reasonable price for same day arrival. The condominium was beautiful, every detail was thought through, it was immaculate and comfortable and the next best thing to home.”

About Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals
Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals is your one stop source for high-end, fully-furnished vacation homes in Santa Barbara including private beach houses, California holiday villas, and large luxurious vacation homes. Our luxury rental properties are ideal for romantic vacations, family gatherings and reunions, or wedding parties and wedding accommodations. We also offer pet-friendly vacation rentals on select properties. Our full-service staff and concierge services are available to assist you with all your Santa Barbara vacation rental needs. We strive to create a memorable vacation experience of the highest quality, giving all our guests the utmost consideration and quality service. To view our properties, visit http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com/

Make the most of your summer vacation for a fraction of the cost. Avoid the traditional and costly hotel accommodations this year. Rent a luxurious Santa Barbara beach house with ocean views and countless amenities to maximize your fun in the sun this summer!

California is famous for its legendary beach lifestyle, but surprisingly only a small fraction of its 40 million residents live near the coast. When visitors flock to the popular destination for summer vacation, they look for Santa Barbara beach house rentals with amenities like ocean views, backyards, decks, fire pits, porches and Jacuzzis for that ultimate summer getaway experience.

Vacationers who book a Santa Barbara beach house rental enjoy great value and greater overall living space for less than the cost of a stay in a 400-sqft hotel room. Santa Barbara beach house rentals help guests save time, stress and money by offering conveniences and amenities like BBQ grills, spas, outdoor showers, beach bicycles, towels and lounge chairs.

Beach access is probably what most people are concerned about. At Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals, guests enjoy being an easy walk from popular spots like Butterfly Beach and West Beach. Santa Barbara is really paradise for both nature lovers and sun goddesses, and Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals’s beach houses are designed to help guests make the most of their summer vacation.

Ocean Oasis is one of the most in demand Santa Barbara beach rentals with its oceanfront location where there is nothing but bluff between guests and the unspoiled and un-crowded beaches. A hot tub is perched on the deck with gorgeous views of the water where guests can watch birds and dolphins frolic from the backyard of their Santa Barbara beach house rental.

“[Ocean Oasis] is truly just that, with the most jaw-dropping views of the Pacific that I have ever seen,” said David H., a recent guest from from Seoul, South Korea. “The hot tub, perched on the very edge of a 90-foot cliff, is well positioned to take advantage of the great views and gorgeous sunsets. It was unforgettable.”

About Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals

Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals is your one stop source for high-end, fully-furnished vacation homes in Santa Barbara including private beach houses, California holiday villas, and large luxurious vacation homes. Our luxury rental properties are ideal for romantic vacations, family gatherings and reunions, or wedding parties and wedding accommodations. We also offer pet-friendly vacation rentals on select properties. Our full-service staff and concierge services are available to assist you with all your Santa Barbara vacation rental needs. We strive to create a memorable vacation experience of the highest quality, giving all our guests the utmost consideration and quality service. To view our properties, visit http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com/