The Film Festival is a great time to take advantage of vacation rentals in Santa Barbara that offer great value and flexibility to better fit various travel lifestyles, needs and budgets. What many people are realizing is that for less than the cost of a hotel room, they can rent a whole Santa Barbara vacation home while enjoying exceptional amenities during their stay.

“Santa Barbara is a wonderful winter getaway and we look forward to returning in the future,” said Diane W., who recently spent a week in a vacation rental located in downtown Santa Barbara. “It was fun to be here during the film festival – a great event.”

It’s no surprise that Santa Barbara vacation rental guests are often curious about film locations, so I have put together a visitor’s guide to famous filming locations in and around the Santa Barbara area. From popular films like Sideways to It’s Complicated, there are a lot of Santa Barbara locations that crop up in popular movies and TV shows. Last June, the cast and crew of a new film called No Strings Attached set up shop at All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church and The Biltmore Four Seasons Resort. Billed as a romantic comedy, the film stars Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher and is scheduled for release on January 21, 2011.

To read more about famous filming locations, 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/

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.

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/

Santa Barbara is home to countless clubs, theaters and other places for music appreciators of all stripes to explore. Regardless of where your Santa Barbara vacation rental is located, chances are, there’s a world-class musical venue right nearby. Here are some of our favorites.

If you love fine food and music, then SOhO is the place to be. Gourmet food and a New York ambiance set this jazz club apart from the competition.

The walls in the intimate Velvet Jones are all black and white images of artists. It’s generally viewed as one of the best up-close-and-personal music venues in Santa Barbara. This place is so classic they even have a Pacman machine upstairs.

Whiskey Richards is a sexy-grungy, cozy club with some of the best drink-mixers in southern California. Pool tables and dart boards make it especially appealing to the post-college but not-quite-yuppies crowd.

A favorite among locals, funky Muddy Waters is known for an indie vibe, comfy couches and stellar talent roster. Cash only, and the nearest ATM is a block away.

If your tastes run a little more to the conventional, then the 2,000+ seat Arlington Theatre must be at the top of your list of music places to check out. Featuring everything from opera simulcasts to The Black Crowes live and in person, the Arlington offers a constant variety of fresh and traditional spoken and sung entertainment.

Nothing compares to an evening at the Santa Barbara Bowl where you can sit back sway to the tunes of everyone from Bob Dylan to Alicia Keyes. Concerts happen rain or shine and poking your neighbor with an umbrella is discouraged so dress appropriately for your al fresco music event.

Recently reopened after a multi-year, $60 million renovation, The Granada Theatre is an elegant space where you’re likely to find Disney’s Beauty and the Beast hanging out with Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, Taiko drum artists rubbing shoulders with ballerinas, and cellists who are perplexed by Mummenschanz.

Your stay in a Santa Barbara vacation rental won’t be complete until you’ve experienced the Santa Barbara music scene. Book your trip now, before all the other music lovers get the best deals.

(Mention The New Noise Santa Barbara Music Conference & Festival November 4th-6th, 2010 for a deep discount on your Santa Barbara vacation rental.)

Local Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals is offering a 20% discount on a variety of high-end vacation rentals in Santa Barbara for visitors who mention “New Noise” when booking.

Last year’s New Noise festival drew guests to our Santa Barbara vacation rentals who were excited about the educational focus of the conference as well as the world-class lineup of both local and international artists. Our Graham Farrar moderated a panel at last year’s New Noise conference: “As a music fan myself, I’m happy to help spread the word about this amazing cause, as well as welcome music lovers to Santa Barbara’s burgeoning music scene.”

This year’s conference is part of the newly established New Noise Music Foundation, a non-profit whose primary goal is to advance the artistic growth of local musicians and increase the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of music and its ability to enrich the County of Santa Barbara.

According to New Noise Executive Director, Jeff Theimer, who co-founded the festival as the West Coast’s answer to Austin’s South By Southwest, “New Noise 2010 will build on the great success of our inaugural event and deliver an even more memorable weekend of music.”

New Noise Santa Barbara will take place on November 4-6 at the Canary Hotel and will feature performances by Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, and Fitz & The Tantrums and more. For the full lineup and panel schedule, visit www.newnoisesb.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/

So before you check into your Santa Barbara vacation rental property, review our tips below. Avoiding these common blunders that travelers make can help you make the most of your vacation.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid #1: Over packing when you can travel light.
We can’t say this often enough, check the Santa Barbara weather forecast before you start packing. Our climate is thought by many to be ideal — temperate and mild. But while some visitors will feel comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt, others will prefer long pants and a sweater. Your best bet is to layer. Bring a handful of neutral pieces that you can mix and match. If you do need to add something, there are plenty of places to shop.

Many Santa Barbara vacation rental properties offer free amenities to those traveling with young ones – including portable playpens and high chairs. Some even feature a variety of outdoor supplies including beach gear and sports equipment. Let your concierge or rental agent know ahead of time, what you’ll need. Knowing you don’t have to haul everything from home will help you travel lighter.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid #2: Succumbing to tourist traps.
You will never catch a New Yorker in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, nor will you ever find an Angeleno having their picture taken outside of Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Likewise there are touristy places in Santa Barbara that the locals avoid. Go there if you like. They can be fun. But if you want to see the real Santa Barbara, the places that only the natives know about and patronize, ask your Santa Barbara vacation rental concierge to help you. He or she will point you toward the best food for the fairest prices, the freshest fish, the most original art, the latest in regional cuisine. Santa Barbara vacation rental concierges are worth their weight in gold. They’ve got the inside scoop – from the best happy hours in town to unique ways to enjoy the local art scene – and are ready and waiting to craft a perfect personalized Santa Barbara vacation for you.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid #3: Not doing your research.
There’s nothing worse than coming home from vacation and having someone ask, “But of course you did/saw the XYZ.” What? No one told you! You would love to have done/seen that. If only you’d known about it ahead of time.

There are many special things that are unique to the Santa Barbara area – and your Santa Barbara vacation rental concierge will be happy to point you to a local area guide with insider travel tips.

Before you leave for your Santa Barbara vacation rental, you will also want to know what’s available and if it’s seasonal. If you want to watch the baby gray whales migrate north in the summer, you’ll be disappointed (they start heading north in February). Make it a priority to plan at least two hours of serious online destination research (those piano-playing cats on YouTube will still be there when you get home).

Some good sites to get started are Santa Barbara vacation rental sites like www.santa-barbara-vacation-rental.com, the Santa Barbara city web site at SantaBarbaraCA.gov, the Santa Barbara Convention and Visitors Bureau at SantaBarbaraCA.com and finally the Santa Barbara Visitors Guide at SantaBarbara.com.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid #4: Missing out on local events and unique community offerings.
Sometimes feeling footloose and fancy-free is part of being on vacation in a Santa Barbara vacation rental. But if you’re a fromage-phile, you don’t want to arrive at your destination and discover that you just missed the international cheese festival.

Always check a couple of different community calendars to discover what special (or regular) events are scheduled. If you love the arts, check an arts calendar. If you’re bringing the kids, check out a kid-oriented calendar. If you’re looking for the latest in family friendly goings-on check out Santa Barbara Family’s Calendar of Events or Santa Barbara Parent.

All three of the official city sites mentioned above in Tip #3 also have good event calendars.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid #5: Getting Caught Without a “Plan B.”
As the Yiddish proverb says, “Man plans, God laughs.” Not everything always goes according to schedule. An al fresco market might get rained out, or a concert might have sold all their tickets.

If you’re spending the day away from your Santa Barbara vacation rental, make sure you have a list of alternate activities. If the Santa Barbara Mission is closed for repairs, then maybe the family historian might enjoy poking around an old cemetery or the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. If the children’s puppet show has been rescheduled, check out Kids World, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History or know the location of the movie theater nearest to your Santa Barbara vacation rental and if they’re showing any kid-friendly films.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid Tip #6: Missing spectacular sunsets.
Santa Barbara has spectacular sunsets, but bear in mind that because of our funky geography, a lot of our beaches face south. One of the best places to watch the sun go down is Butterfly Beach. On the other hand, you may prefer the private deck of your Santa Barbara vacation rental.

Before you check into your Santa Barbara vacation rental property, you can do a little prep work to avoid common blunders that travelers make. A little planning can go a long way in helping you create and enjoy a memorable vacation. Anything is possible in Santa Barbara. Welcome!

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.

Here are some tips for booking your Santa Barbara vacation rental to ensure that you are getting the most bang for your buck, while protecting yourself from scams or disappointment.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #1: Check out niche listers that focus on specific destinations.

Whether you’ve rented a Santa Barbara vacation rental before or not, you’ll want to work with a local company and representatives that know their stuff.

For example, if you’re interested in a Santa Barbara beach house rental, a qualified representative will earn their stripes by walking you through the suitable available properties based on your unique needs and desires. For instance, if you’re bringing your three Bernese mountain dogs along with you, they’ll recommend Santa Barbara beach rental locations that are both dog-friendly and bric-a-brac-free.

Additionally, once you arrive, you’ll want to enjoy concierge services to help you get reservations at that trendy new restaurant, or simply recommend a hike that overlooks the ocean. An anonymous operator three states away won’t be able to deliver that level of local service.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #2: Use a credit card to protect yourself and minimize risks.

You want and expect every detail of your vacation to be perfect. But unfortunately that won’t always be the case. So you need to protect yourself.

Renting with your credit card through a Santa Barbara vacation rental management company offers you that protection. If for some reason the property doesn’t meet your expectations, and the management won’t do anything to fix it, you can keep a record of the problem and dispute the charge with your credit card company. 

Property owners who rent person-to-person usually insist on a cashier’s check for 50 percent of the Santa Barbara vacation rental to reserve it, and then the other 50 percent in cash upon your arrival. If you later discover roaches scuttling through the kitchen of your Santa Barbara vacation rental or other elements of the property that were grossly misrepresented, you will have no leverage because you will have already paid in full in cash.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #3: Get the most bang for your buck.

Dollar for dollar, a Santa Barbara vacation rental gives you so much more than a luxury hotel. You get exponentially more space (both indoors and outdoors). You get a host of amenities from luxurious pools to high end kitchens to top flight entertainment systems, all for your exclusive use. Unlike an anonymous hotel room off a crowded corridor, you have a serene private home away from home to call your own.

But there are a host of priceless intangible benefits you get when you book your Santa Barbara vacation rental through a professional management company. Working with a premier Santa Barbara vacation rental management company to find your ideal Santa Barbara vacation home rental gives you a whole new level of service. A Santa Barbara vacation rental company has skin in the game. They are working to establish a good reputation and a list of return clientele, rather than just trying to make fast money.

In the-best-surprise-is-no-surprise category, unlike an absentee owner off Craigslist, with a professional Santa Barbara vacation rental company, you have someone who is troubleshooting issues 24/7, working hard to keep both the renters and the owners happy.

The most underused amenity is the professional Santa Barbara vacation rental staff. Once you arrive at your vacation rental in Santa Barbara, the staff is at your beck and call. Concierge and housekeeping services are a mere button-touch away.  The staff’s local Santa Barbara knowledge and connections can turn an average vacation into something amazing. There is no extra cost, and the return is priceless.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #4: Book with confidence.

There’s a HUGE difference between someone who just wants to sell you a room, and a professional Santa Barbara vacation rental company that wants to make sure that you enjoy your ultimate Santa Barbara vacation so much that you return again and again. The key to that difference is delivering on what is promised.

Many vacation rental agencies are just big clearing-houses that list properties, sometimes all over the world. They do not usually specialize in a region and offer no other services, aside from rental matchmaking. They can’t make guarantees about the Santa Barbara beach house rental you’ve booked because their representatives have never visited them, inspected them for health and safety concerns, or even met the owners. They cannot vouch for the actual condition of the Santa Barbara vacation rental property, the advantages/disadvantages of the location, etc.

Some agencies just want to book the Santa Barbara beach rental and collect their fee. They may not care too much about what happens during your stay.

If you’ve never visited the Santa Barbara beach rental house you’re considering, or gotten a firsthand report from a trusted friend, you have no idea whether the photos you’ve seen on the web site are an accurate representation. They might be outdated, retouched, or from an entirely different place. (It goes without saying that you should never rent a Santa Barbara vacation rental that doesn’t at least offer photos!) Beware of any site that only offers view or exterior shots. If they’re not willing to show you what the Santa Barbara vacation house rental looks like inside, you don’t want to stay there.

With a professional Santa Barbara vacation rental company, you can be assured that the quality you see is the quality you will get.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #5: Go with the highest standards of quality.

Professional Santa Barbara vacation rental agencies are held to higher standards than private owners. Even if an owner fervently believes that their Santa Barbara vacation rental is clean and up-to-date, their standards might not match your own. One person’s no-visible-dust-bunnies and hi-fi-system are another person’s filthy and anachronistic. A professionally managed Santa Barbara vacation house rental will also be a professionally cleaned and maintained Santa Barbara vacation house rental.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #6: Understand the risks of booking through free listing sites like Craigslist.

Listing on a free site is, well, free. No crime in that (who doesn’t love free?), but that might point toward a general laissez-faire attitude the owner has toward his property and tenants.

The owners who are willing to pay a fee to keep their vacation houses booked and in first-class condition have already demonstrated their care and commitment to a working relationship that is beneficial to all parties. The management companies they work with are companies you can rent from worry-free.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #7: Don’t be afraid to negotiate.

The more often these Santa Barbara vacation rentals are occupied, the happier the owners are, so if you are planning a last-minute or a long-term stay or if you are a frequent visitor, there is often room to negotiate on the price of your Santa Barbara vacation rental. Sometimes the discount might be as much as 30 percent.

Booking a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tip #8: Do your research and compare rates, amenities, and conditions before entering into a rental agreement.

When you’re trying to narrow down your choice of a Santa Barbara vacation rental, be sure you’re comparing apples to apples. A smaller house on the beach will likely cost more than a larger one in the hills. Know what you’re getting from each property, and from each management company. Follow your gut and go with the company that will cheerfully show up in the middle of the night to snake the sink.

Another benefit to working with a Santa Barbara vacation rental professional management company is that it’s so easy to do a background check on them. Call or visit the Better Business Bureau or a vacation rental site like FlipKey.com. Has the firm had any reasonable complaints against them? How were they resolved? Type the name of the Santa Barbara vacation rental firm and its owner into Google and you’ll get a wealth of informative opinions.

The increasing popularity of Santa Barbara vacation rentals has led to an abundance of online resources. Your best best bet is to do due diligence and compare rates, amenities, reputations, views, and conditions before entering into a rental agreement. It’s your vacation and booking the right accommodations will help you ensure that your holiday will meet and exceed your expectations.

Santa Barbara vacation rental guests come in all different stripes. Some are families who have scrimped and saved all year for one big blowout vacation. Others are visitors to whom leisure is a way of life. But regardless of the guests’ circumstances, we knock ourselves out to provide a premium Santa Barbara vacation rental experience for everyone who walks through our doors.

One of the comments we hear over and over again is how Santa Barbara vacation rentals consistently deliver more of…everything! Our Santa Barbara vacation rental homes have more space, more amenities, more luxury, more breathtaking views, more access to beaches, more knowledgeable concierges, more responsive property managers, more information and more access to whatever important to you.

Our Santa Barbara vacation rental properties are beautifully decorated and equipped. They have high-end amenities and every comfort you could ask for. Many of our Santa Barbara vacation rental homes even have outdoor entertaining areas and outdoor sports equipment.

Every day we strive to exceed our clients’ Santa Barbara vacation rental expectations. We find that it’s the thoughtful little touches that can really turn a nice vacation into the experience of a lifetime. Whether it’s a lit fireplace and a bottle of Cabernet left open to breathe and await your arrival, your favorite model rental car ready at your door or help arranging the adventure of a lifetime, we are here to honor any request.

We were amused and delighted when we saw this YouTube video, posted by a Santa Barbara vacation rental guest Chris Brogan, president of New Marketing Labs, a social media agency. Listen to how he and his friend were knocked out by everything about the Santa Barbara vacation rental they stayed in. It’s a pretty typical response. Hopefully, some day it will be yours, too.