Archive for the ‘Vacation Planning’ Category

Newer Entries »

Fun and Free Things to do in San Diego

Saturday, April 4th, 2009

Botanical Gardens, Balboa Park

One great thing about San Diego is there are plenty of things to see and do, and you do not have to spend a lot of money to do them! In fact, San Diego has plenty of fun and free activities that are great for the whole family. So if you’re planning to stay in a San Diego vacation rental this summer, make sure to check out these fun and free San Diego activities

• Go to the beach. San Diego is known for it’s beautiful weather, laid back atmosphere and beautiful beaches. If you’re visiting San Diego during the spring or summer (and sometimes in the fall or winter!), one thing you have to do is take a trip to the beach.

• Stroll along Mission Beach Boardwalk. When you go to the beach, you don’t have to stay on the sand! Rollerblade, skateboard or bicycle along the scenic 3-mile boardwalk along picturesque Mission and Pacific Beaches. The area perfectly matches the leisure of the area; you can only speed along at 8MPH or less! :)

• Spend an afternoon at Mission Bay Park. Right alongside the boardwalk is Mission Bay Park. Have a picnic, fly kites, and enjoy the scenery.

• Explore the waters at Point Loma Tide Pools. These pools are host to a myriad of tidal creatures such as octopus, sea anemone, starfish, lobster, abalone, crabs and more! The whole family can view a real living ecosystem up close!

• Window shop at Seaport Village. This quaint seaside village features a variety of unique shops to browse through, as well a perfect view for boat and people watching. Seaport Village also hosts daily music and entertainment throughout the area.

• Visit Balboa Park – Balboa Park is a must-see San Diego attraction. Along with a wide range of events, museums and performances the beautiful gardens, architecture and scenery are a sight to see all by themselves! The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is free on the third Tuesday of each month (the downtown facility is free daily). Other free Balboa Park attracts include: The Botanical Building and Lily Pond, House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, and Timken Museum of Art.

• Enjoy a concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Balboa Park is also home to the impressive Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Every Sunday at 2pm, you can enjoy a free concert.

• Wander free through the Old Town San Diego historic buildings, including the blacksmith shop, Seeley Stables, Stewart House, Estudillo House and the oldest schoolhouse in San Diego. You can also see mariachi bands and folk dancers at the Bazaar del Mundo on Saturdays and Sundays

• Walkabout International offers free guided walking tours every month. Visit www.walkabout-int.org for a complete schedule of walks.

Tags:
Posted in Activities & Events, General, Vacation Planning | 1 Comment »

Find Everything You Wanted to Know about San Diego on the San Diego Wiki Page!

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

Looking for more information on San Diego? DiscoverSD.com has officially launched the San Diego Wiki page. Whether you’ve been living in San Diego for years, or if you’re staying for a week at a San Diego vacation rental, you’ll find a wealth of useful information on everything from history to festivals to transporation. The best part is, since it is a Wiki page, registered users can also submit thier own content or edit what’s already there. Check out this ultimate resource for San Diego living at sandiegowiki.discoversd.com.

Tags:
Posted in General, Travel Deals, Vacation Ideas, Vacation Planning | 1 Comment »

Tips on Booking San Diego Vacation Rentals for Summer

Friday, February 13th, 2009

It may be winter still, but now is the perfect time to start booking your San Diego vacation rental for the summer. Why? The early bed gets the worm. At Penny Realty, we have a wide selection of beautiful vacation rentals to choose from, but if there’s one you’ve had your eye on for a while, chances are someone else has their eye on it too. In fact, some people have already started booking!

Booking your San Diego vacation rental early gives you a much better chance of getting the property and location you want and it helps eliminate all the headaches of last minute rushing. For example, beachfront or beach access properties typically go much quicker.

Thinking about your summer vacation rental early is also a good idea because it gives you time to choose the property that best fits your needs. How many people will be staying? Do you want a pool or a bbq? Are you bringing a pet? Do you want to be close to the beach or downtown?

The Penny Realty website makes it easy to find the perfect San Diego vacation rental. You can browse through our listings for luxury vacation rentals, pet-friendly vacation rentals, group vacation rentals and more.  And if you have any specific questions about renting from Penny Realty, contact us and we’ll be glad to help! To start on your search now, visit our site at www.missionbeach.com.

Tags: ,
Posted in General, Travel Deals, Vacation Planning | No Comments »

San Diego Vacation Rental Offers 5-Star Properties

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

San Diego Pier Cafe in Seaport Village

Take your vacation to the next level with five star San Diego vacation rentals near the beach, or in upscale districts like the Gaslamp Quarter and Seaport Village. These locations offer elegant restaurants, luxury boutique shops and a truly charming atmosphere.

Along with a prime location, you can also enjoy private amenities such as a Jacuzzi or state-of-the-art grill, on-site washer and dryers, a stocked kitchen and bed linens and towels. Browse our listings to view various features of these upscale  rentals.

Our five star San Diego vacation rental properties also offer facilities such as an attached two car garage (for ease in parking and storing) and your choice of spacious indoor dining at a table or bar, or outdoors on the patio and deck tables.  They are beautifully decorated, fully stocked, furnished and well maintained for your comfort and enjoyment.

Take an opportunity to barbecue while relaxing on the open deck of a beautiful downtown residence. High ceilings, beautiful views with broad windows and Dutch entry doors give our high end vacation rental a bright and airy atmosphere, while French doors in the master bedroom enhance the romance of an ocean view.

Imagine being able to reside at an upscale beach home rental near the sounds of crashing waves and warm surf, smell the ocean air and witness the San Diego sunset.  If you’re looking to spice of your evening, many locations are perfectly situated near the action and excitement of Belmont Park and Pacific Beach nightlife.

At Penny Realty, we cater to our client’s comfort and property needs from the moment they walk in through the door. Our sales associates average 15 years of experience each, with forty percent of these professionals being fully licensed real estate brokers. As a professional management company, we are dedicated to improving the performance and return on each owner’s real estate investment.

Tags: ,
Posted in General, Vacation Planning, Vacation Rentals | No Comments »

San Diego’s Beach Fire Pits Saved

Friday, December 19th, 2008

Having a beach campfire is one of the many fun and memorable things to do in San Diego year round. If you are spending time at a San Diego vacation rental, it’s a great way to spice up your trip and enjoy the beach – at night!

Thanks to an anonymous donor, San Diego gets to keep this wonderful activity! The beach fire pits were scheduled to be cut from the city’s budget and the city had begun removal last week. However, a “secret santa” stepped up a donated the needed amount of money to keep them.

San Diegans are pleasantly surprised with the news, and are thankful to the anonymous donor for helping to preserve the quality of life in San Diego. For some families, the beach fire rings are a family tradition.

Community groups and members had previously tried to organize to fight the beach pit removal with efforts including an online petition and a web site, savethefirepits.com.

To read the full article, go here.

Want to have your own beach fire? Browse through our San Diego vacation rentals and you just might find the perfect place. Start planning your trip today!

Tags: ,
Posted in Activities & Events, News & Updates, Vacation Ideas, Vacation Planning | No Comments »

Holiday Events for San Diego Vacation Rentals

Monday, December 1st, 2008

San Diego is a beautiful place to spend a winter getaway. The weather is warm, and the holiday spirit can be seen everywhere you look. From Balboa Park to Seaport Village, something is always going on during the holiday season. If you plan on spending the holidays in a San Diego vacation rental, take advantage of everything the area has to offer – see a parade of lights, go ice skating, see a play or ballet and of course, go shopping! Here is list of a few special holiday events that you can catch during the winter months.

Balboa Park December Nights, December 5 from 5 to 10 p.m. and December 6 from noon to 10 p.m.

This popular holiday event, the largest free community festival in San Diego, includes carolers, live entertainment, dance performances, children’s rides, a re-creation of a traditional Native American, free admission to more than 80 of the Park’s museums and cultural organizations and delicious foods from around the world. This year, December Nights is proud to present Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” live on stage at the Tony Award®-winning Old Globe theater. www.balboapark.org/decembernights

Wild Animal Park 20th Anniversary of the Festival of Lights, 4 to 9 p.m., December 13–23 and 26–30, 2008; and January 2 and 3, 2009.

This year marks the final year of the annual Festival of Lights celebration. For the occasion, new holiday and animal-themed light features have been specially created for the Wild Animal Park, including Snow Hill (open daily, 4–8:30 p.m.), new craft activities, a Light Magic Show in Discovery Station, and a Black Light Puppet Show in Benbough Amphitheater. www.sandiegozoo.org/calendar

Seaport Village Surfing Santa, 879 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA, December 14 at 12 p.m.

Take pictures with surfing Santa! He’ll arrive by watercraft in front of the Pier Café. Sporting his board shorts and flip flops, Surfing Santa will pose for free photos with guests on his life-size surfboard and wave until 4 p.m. Stay for holiday shopping, musical entertainment, face painting, fanciful balloon sculptures and the marvelous Seaport Village Historic Carousel. www.seaportvillage.com/entertainment

37th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, December 13 and 21

More than 100 private boat owners decorate their boats with holiday lights and sail along the waters of San Diego Bay.  Great views are available on dry land from Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Marina Park and Coronado’s Ferry Landing. www.sdparadeoflights.org

Ice Skating at Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, November 22 to January 1

Ice skate with the Pacific Ocean just yards away, or watch the Lambs’ Players perform an “An American Christmas” in the ballroom Dec. 9th-30th, except the 25th (6:30-9:30pm).Performed by 30 artists from the award-winning Lamb’s Players Theatre, the show includes a delicious 5-course meal in the Grand Ballroom. Tickets run between $110-$145 per person, depending on the date.

Holiday of Lights at Del Mar, Del Mar Fairgrounds, November 27 – January 4, 2009

The largest animated drive-through light show on the U.S. West Coast, it includes more than 400 brilliant holiday light displays. www.sdfair.com/holidayoflights

La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival, December 7 in downtown La Jolla

The event includes marching bands, floats, equestrian units, vintage automobiles and Santa Claus himself. www.ljparade.com

To view Penny Realty’s holiday San Diego Vacation rentals visit www.missionbeach.com today!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Activities & Events, Vacation Ideas, Vacation Planning | No Comments »

San Diego Vacation Rentals for the Holidays

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and while other places may be bringing out extra blankets and pulling on mittens, San Diego still has beautiful weather.  With such great weather and scenery, a San Diego vacation rental is the perfect way to enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones.

The holidays are all about family and feeling at home. Penny Realty offers a wide selection of San Diego vacation rentals so you can gather with the family, have plenty of space and still have all the comforts of home. With gourmet kitchens, large patios, decks, and family rooms, a vacation rental is the ideal place to celebrate the holidays and is a great alternative to expensive hotel rooms. If you have never tried a vacation rental, this winter would be a great time to bring something new to the season and create unique holiday memories.

Browse through our listings now to see Winter and Holiday season specials!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Vacation Ideas, Vacation Planning, Vacation Rentals | No Comments »

How to Rent a San Diego Vacation Rental

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

With Penny Realty, finding the perfect San Diego vacation rental is easy and so is the renting process. If you’re curious to know just how the whole process works, here is a quick reference guide for what you can expect.

Choosing a Property

You can view detailed information on each of our Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and San Diego vacation rentals at www.missionbeach.com. For each property, there is a rate calculator feature, which will help you estimate the cost of your vacation. The exact cost will be determined with your vacation agent prior to confirmation of your booking.

When you have found the property you want, you can request a reservation using the provided form. Once you have sent in your request, a Penny Realty agent will contact you to confirm details, finalize your registration and payment and set-up a check-in time.

Checking In / Out

On the day of your arrival, you will need to check in with the Penny Realty office. Check in time is 3:00pm and check out time is 10:00am.  It is necessary to enforce these times as units must be cleaned and minor maintenance done between vacationers.

If you need to check in outside of Penny Realty office hours (5:30pm weekdays and 5:00pm weekends), special arrangements can be made with your agent for obtaining keys.

That’s it! If you have a specific question about our San Diego vacation rentals, please call Penny Realty at (800) 748-6704. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 5:30pm and  Saturday 9:00am until 5:00pm. Sunday hours are 9:00am until 5:00pm June through August and 10:00am until 3:00pm September through May. Our agents would be happy to help you with any vacation rental questions you may have.

Tags:
Posted in General, Vacation Planning | Comments Off

San Diego Vacation Rentals vs. San Diego Hotels

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

San Diego vacation rentals and hotels offer a similar service but vastly different experiences. When planning a trip for your family or friends, it is easy to get into the mode of “airplane + hotel + car rental,” which many booking engines currently offer in order to appear efficient. You may find yourself stuck in that frame of mind and then forget about all the lodging options made available in your favorite destination. An easy way to improve your experience, whether it is business travel or a long vacation getaway, is to improve your living situation. Rentals, like Penny Realty San Diego vacation rentals, offer travelers far more amenities than most major hotels.

  • In San Diego, Mission Beach vacation rentals are locally owned, unlike some corporate-owned hotel conglomerates. These rentals are more comfortable and friendly than most of their upscale hotel counterparts.
  • With a rental house you are given a full kitchen and multiple bedrooms, making your stay spacious, convenient and comfortable. Many hotels are unable to provide these vast facilities and amenities, such as hot tubs, pools, outdoor grill and living area.
  • Location, location, location! A big plus over hotel stays are the great locations that the rental properties offer. A good San Diego vacation rental can offer you your own personal doorway to the beach. Many of these homes are set back from the busy streets and thoroughfares (where hotels dominate) letting you drift off to sleep listening to the ocean waves, not the ice machine.
  • Instead of the cookie cutter hotel room, you have a chance to immerse yourself in the true local culture. In a San Diego vacation rental, it is more likely that you will be able to embrace the culture of the local area. Penny Realty’s properties are often within walking distance to beaches, clubs, farmers markets and other fun activities.
  • If you are traveling with a large group of people, a rental home just might be the best option. The houses are a much better fit than the two bed hotel rooms. Families, friends or couples are much better off in a sizable location and you can better share the homey ambiance of vacation rentals versus the hustle and bustle of a hotel.
  • These rentals are also tailor made for long stays, offering spacious options to the oftentimes claustrophobic hotel room. The prices are comparable with extended stay travelers, so you can have a fun vacation or a long business stay.

Here, Penny Realty’s San Diego vacation rentals are the best option for a fun, relaxing and unique stay. For more information on vacation rentals in Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and other San Diego areas, visit missionbeach.com

Tags: ,
Posted in General, Vacation Planning, Vacation Rentals | No Comments »

Newer Entries »