Enhance Your Vacation Enjoyment With a Second Home

by Denise Mason 06/07/2020

Generally speaking, taking a family vacation can "recharge your battery," give you a new lease on life, and enable you to get back to work with a renewed sense of purpose. That's the ideal scenario when everything falls into place. However, if you're one of those families that are always looking for a new place to explore every year, then your vacation experiences may become more hit or miss.

While a little research can often go a long way, online brochures and articles tend to put a positive spin on what may or may not be an ideal vacation destination. Even customer reviews can give you a false impression of the desirability of a tourism spot. Just because a couple people had an especially good or bad experience in a particular tourist town, does not mean you're going to encounter similar types of service, weather, prices, crowds, or ambiance.

Online reviews, tourism information, and vacation blogs can provide you with helpful insights into the desirability of a vacation spot, but every time you try a new resort, vacation rental, or tourist attraction, you're gambling on whether or not you and your family will like it.

Since time away from work and vacation budgets are usually limited, it makes sense to do everything possible to increase the odds of planning and having a great vacation! Visiting the places you're considering staying at before you make reservations there is one method of choosing a location you'll probably love. Sometimes recommendations from close friends or relatives can provide you with some solid vacation ideas. While anonymous online reviews and blog posts can lead you down the wrong path, recommendations from a trusted friend or family member have much more credibility.

One method of ensuring a higher level of quality control over your accommodations, amenities, and -- to some degree -- your meals is to buy a vacation home. If you can find an affordable cabin, beach house, or ski chalet in a location you like, then you'll always know what you're getting in terms of living space, ambiance, environment, and local attractions. You can prepare a certain percentage of your meals at your vacation home, which can control your food expenses and make going out to dinner more special.

Another advantage of returning to the same vacation spot (and home), year after year, is that you become familiar with the best places and times to enjoy restaurants, golf courses, beaches, ski slopes, hiking trails, nightclubs, or whatever you enjoy doing on vacation. When you find the ideal "home away from home" to spend weekends, vacations from work, and school breaks, you'll always know exactly what you're getting and will have a higher degree of control over your environment and your overall vacation experience. One final advantage of owning a vacation home is that you can defray your mortgage payments and maintenance costs by generating rental income during the times you're not using the house.

About the Author
Author

Denise Mason

Hi! I'm Denise Mason. WELCOME to my Website! Being a full-time REALTOR® gives me the opportunity to assist in achieving your wants, desires, needs, and priorities in selling or finding a home. My goal is to take care of my real estate clients by providing an exceptional, no drama experience that you not only deserve but should demand in the hectic and competitive marketplace of today. I work closely with you throughout your entire real estate transaction. I work to be your family REALTOR® for life. Success begins and ends with good communication. I love what I do and do what I love! I am positive, enthusiastic and truly enjoy people and the real estate business. My commitment to you, my client extends far beyond a single transaction. My goal is to communicate, educate and exceed expectations! As the daughter, wife, and mother of active duty and retired service members, I've had numerous relocation experiences; renting, buying and selling a home. I grew up in Arlington County, VA and lived there for more than 20 years. Upon my husband's retirement from the Army we could think of no better place to call home than Virginia, the place of our childhood. I have been a Prince William County resident since 1997. We have raised and educated three children in the Prince William County School system. My family is my pride and priority which makes me no different than you or any other individual who wants a safe and comfortable environment for yourself, family and friends. I look forward to helping you achieve your real estate goals. Call me at 703-283-0969 or email me so we can meet over tea or coffee & I can get to work for you!