It is no secret that planning a vacation is as tiring as the trip itself. Ms. Virgil booked her trip with Pack Up and Go , a domestic travel company offering budget-friendly, three-day getaways by plane, train or car. The owners are likely to be very proud of their home and only want to rent to people who will appreciate it. This means that if you treat them as you might a hotel or resort reservationist, they might just turn your request down.

We enjoyed the area from the local vineyards and wineries to the beaches of the Sonoma Coast. Being a dog freindly house was also a huge plus, though the numerous scented plug-ins made us wonder what they were trying to cover up. Though we enjoyed our stay, we will probably not return.

You may also want to look for vacation resorts or vacation hotels. Holiday rentals save on living costs, as you can cook some meals at home – a boon in expensive countries like France and Italy. The days of walking into your local travel agent’s office in advance of an epic vacation may be over, but there are still plenty of online travel agencies that can help take the burden of planning a trip off travelers.

Author James Steubing has put together a complete travelers guide created to show travelers how to save a lot of time and money when planning any sort of trip or vacation. Check with you local travel agent or on your favorite travel website for the best Caribbean trip specials from time to time.

But there are some secret Florida vacation spots you might not know about—places with less-crowded beaches, throwback downtowns, and opportunities for some pretty wild animal encounters. Protect yourself by learning how to check for hidden cameras in your vacation rental or hotel room.