Cabin Mania » Advice

Use Vacation Packages

admin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:26:00 +0000

When preparing for your cabin vacation, you may be wondering how to make your visit that much more unique and special. This is an especially important issue if you happen to be planning a visit, or even a honeymoon or anniversary excursion, with your significant other. Luckily, there is an easy and convenient way to customize your cabin vacation to suit your needs right from the start in the form of vacation packages.

One of the major benefits, then, of getting a vacation package for your mountain cabin trip is stress prevention. Vacations can already be hectic in their own way, and having to search for romantic activities for you and your partner to engage in can only add to the unwanted and unneeded stress of these situations. Vacation packages can nip this issue in the bud from the get-go! Certain vacation packages offer features such as romantic amenities as roses, chocolates, dinner for two, and even an in-cabin massage for two, making them the perfect addition to any couples’ vacation. By letting a vacation package help in arranging your romantic outings, you’ll find ample stress-relief by not having to search for your own appropriate activities.

One other major benefit of purchasing a vacation package for your trip is that they can help you get to know the area for yourself. Many packages offer tickets or passes to local shows and events, and thus visitors can gain insight into local areas of interest. By purchasing such packages you can gain quick experiences into the locale and the areas of interest within you cabin destination.

Vacation packages also come completely customizable, making them even more convenient in the way they suit your particular needs. Thus, whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or just a simple vacation away from home, these packages have you covered!

Family Travel Tips

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:42:34 +0000

Planning your next cabin rental vacation can come with a lot of excitement and anticipation. Sadly, the excitement surrounding the vacation can be overshadowed by the road trip needed to reach your destination. While some children travel exceptionally well, most need extra attention in car rides over 3o minutes. As a parent you will need to have everything planned from snacks to games.

With that said, parents need some extra planning to help ensure the car ride is as pleasant as the vacation itself. While planning road trips is easier said than done, we have listed some vacation road tips below to help turn those car rides into more enjoyable experiences.

Tips For Parents

Expect Mistakes – Unfortunately, some thing might go wrong. This does not have to be the end of the world. Small mishaps are not emergencies if you have a plan. Some things to consider planning for include lost money, minor injuries (cuts or burns), or car trouble.
Rent A Car – For the most part, all cabin destinations have one thing in common. The cabin rentals are located in and around mountains. Renting a car can ease some damage you might receive on your regular vehicle. Having a car with four wheel drive or tire chains something you should consider as well.
Take Short Break – I know making great time is part of the vacation experience, but it is not necessary for having fun. Not only is it not necessary, it can add a lot of stress. Stopping every few hours and stretching your legs can help a lot children and teens.
GPS Device – While GPS devices are not perfect they do help when you are not familiar with certain areas.

Tips For Young Children

Extra Necessities – Make sure to pack extra bottles, wipes, snacks, medicine, and blankets.
Games – This one small idea can entertain kids for several hours. Include games like 20 questions or I Spy.
TV/DVD Player – This can be very helpful for shorter increments if you have younger kids. They might not be able to watch an entire movie, but you can break a two hour movie into several 30 minute segments.
Plan your Departure Time – Planning your departure time around your child’s nap time can be very helpful.

Tips For Teens

Put Them In Charge – Putting a teen in charge (possibly co-piloting for the driver) can help occupy a teen. Let them pick out the rest stops and restaurants.
Portable Electronics - If teens have an mp3 device or portable DVD player they will be able to entertain themselves.
Snacks – Even though they are older your teens will still enjoy some snacks.
Engaging Questions – Take this opportunity to talk to your teen about important issues.

Gatlinburg Cabin Locations

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:17:11 +0000

If you are wanting to rent a cabin in the Gatlinburg area, you will want to be sure you know everything there is to know about the area you want to rent in. With thousands of possibilities, it is important to know the various areas of Gatlinburg and what each can provide.

There are three well known locations that allow you to see The Great Smoky Mountains at their most magnificent angle. So if it’s a mountain view you crave, you will most likely want to land a cabin in one of these areas: Ober Gatlinburg (there not actually cabins located within the park), Chalet Village, or Ski Mountain. Ober Gatlinburg is accessed by the Aerial Tram and takes you soaring to the top where you will find a ski resort, a wildlife exhibit, shopping and an amusement park. Ober Gatlinburg is open year-round, except for a brief period in the spring when they perform scheduled maintenance. Nearby to Ober Gatlinburg is a location called Chalet Village. Chalet Village is a wonderful community complete with Gatlinburg cabins of all sizes, playgrounds and 3 club houses. Ski Mountain will offer some great views along with Chalet Village. The higher up the mountain the better the views will become. 4 wheel drive is highly recommended in winter. These 3 locations can be accessed from traffic light 10 in downtown Gatlinburg TN.

If you are interested in being close to downtown Gatlinburg the Baskins Creek Area comes highly recommended. A lot of cabins are less than one mile from the downtown area. You can even find some that are within walking distance. If you want to be in between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge then you will want to find a cabin in The Spur. Most of these cabins have great views and access to hiking, biking, and horseback riding. So come enjoy the beauty and entertainment of Gatlinburg, TN.

If you are interested in being close to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, you could reserve on the spur. The spur is a five mile strip that connects the towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The advantage of this location is the easy access to town. Some mountain views are available.

If you are interested in outdoor activites, then reserve near the Pittman Center or Roaring Forks. All types of activites can be enjoyed including biking and horseback riding. Most cabins will be on wooded lots without mountain views.

Privacay or seclusion can be obtained in all locations. If you are interested in privacy/seclusion, be sure to mention this to your reservation specialist. Regardless of where you decide to reserve, I am sure that you will have an enjoyable time in Gatlinburg Tennessee.

Golfing in Asheville NC

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:24:36 +0000

Like many other mountain cabin destinations around North America, Asheville NC offers some great golf courses. Please visit the specific golf course’s websites for more information.

Grove Park
(828) 252-2711
Grove Park Golf Course has received many recognition for the design and layout throughout the years. It has seen “facelifts” for many of the holes to make it more challenging and appealing. This beautiful course has plenty of scenery for you to enjoy while playing. Breathe in the fresh air as you putt from hole to hole. It’s an 18 hole, par 70 course that has a combined putting distance of 6720 yards. Golf carts are available for rent and golf lessons are also available for those who are interested.

Country Club of Asheville Inc: Golf Pro Shop
(828) 258-9762
This course was one of the first one hundred golf courses in the US. It was designed by Donald Ross in 1928. Play along the beautiful layout and design of this course that is so well maintained it’s almost hard to believe it’s over 80 years old. It’s open every day each week unless posted otherwise! It’s a great club to go to for a relaxing morning of golf while visiting Asheville, NC.

Reem’s Creek Golf
(828) 645-4393
At the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains is this golf course who claims the title of one of the top golf courses in western North Carolina. This challenging course offers many twists and turns for you to putt through. Plenty of trees and water bodies grace this course and increase the challenge throughout the play. Beginner and expert golfers alike will find this course to be a great way to spend an afternoon.

Golfing in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:46:23 +0000

Despite the fact that there are golf courses all over North America, travelers love to test out new courses while on vacation. Besides a plethora of mountain cabins offered by Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, these two resort towns offer several golf courses for their guests. Mild temperatures and beautiful landscapes make Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge ideal for golfing.

Dandridge Golf & Country Club
(865) 397-2655
Play your way through hills, valleys and along the woods in the golf course designed by Dan Maples. This course features 27 holes and 3 different selections for tee offs. As you play you’ll be greeted with views of the Smoky Mountains and you will also catch a glimpse of Douglas Lake. If golfing interests you but you don’t know how to play you’ll be welcomed here. They have PGA instructors on site available for lessons. This is a public golf course. Membership isn’t necessary to enjoy a day out on the green.

Bays Mountain Golf Course
(865) 577-8172
A public, 18 hole golf course that was constructed in 1964. You’ll play on a hilly course with water hazards and beautiful scenery. The price to play on this course ranges in prices up to $16! If you aren’t familiar with how to golf their golf pro’s can teach you a thing or two. This is a 70 par course. See if you can beat the current high score leader at 87 par.

Bent Creek Golf Course
(865) 436-3947
Opened in 1972 and designed by Gary Player this golf course has you playing through the valleys and in the mountains. Playing at the Bent Creek Golf Course gives you the joy of golfing and seeing the Smoky Mountains while you visit. It was voted as one of the top 50 golf courses in the south by Southern Living Travel Guide. Take advantage of the creek side grill, golf course condominiums, golf shop, PGA staff and many other perks this course offers.

Gatlinburg Golf Course
(865) 453-3912
Located in Pigeon Forge TN, the Gatlinburg Golf Course has been named one of the most beautiful golf courses in America. Not only will you get the enjoyment of golfing through 18 holes but you’ll also be rewarded with views of the Great Smoky Mountains as you play along. It was designed by William Langford and has been renovated twice since it opened, one in 1993 and again in 2007. Whether you’re a pro or a beginner you’ll be challenged by the different holes. One of the hardest holes drops 200 feet over it’s 194 yard tee to green hole. All holes combined expand over 6200 yards. Test your luck at the Gatlinburg Golf Course next time you’re in town.

Eagle’s Landing Golf Club
(865) 429-4223
This golf course was opened in 1994. It is one of the most popular courses in the states and received recognition by GolfDigest. There is a par 72 championship layout and there are five different sets of tees you could choose from. Any golfer of all skill levels will be able to enjoy this course. This course was used for the Tennessee PGA Championship, Tennessee State Open Qualifying, Mid- South Collegiate Championships and many others. Breakfast and lunch are served at Eagle’s Landing Golf Club so if you get hungry after a day of gold you will be able to satisfy your hunger while at the course.

Vacation Guest Reviews

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:57:56 +0000

You are ready to take a mountain cabin vacation and you need to start planning, right? Start first by picking out a place to stay and going online to read reviews from past visitors that have stayed there. A great point to remember before making reservations to stay anywhere is always know everything there is to know about your lodging arrangements. Sure it may seem like a small idea but in the long run it gives you a great idea of what past guests think. More and more travelers are using various travel websites to find out how others have felt about their stay at a specific cabin destination.

It is a good rule of thumb to keep an open mind about reading reviews. One thing to keep in mind is not every traveler is going to want or care about the same thing. Keeping this in mind, it is also important to remember that you should never just take one person’s advice when reading a review. Reading more than three lodging reviews will give you a greater idea about what people are really saying. Keep in the back of your mind that some people just can’t be pleased. Some individuals will spam message boards and blast companies because of small inconveniences or because they did not get a full refund.

Online guest reviews are very important for new travelers. A past customer will give you minor details that you may not find anywhere else. These details, like the location, privacy, and cleanliness of a property, can give you relevant information about what your cabin rental will be like before you even leave your home.

What should you look for when reading reviews? This is simple. You should look for anything that makes you feel more comfortable or more uncomfortable about booking a specific mountain cabin. Again, each person’s vacation and lodging ideas are different so it is always important to look for things, good or bad, that can make or break your family vacation. If location is important make sure you try to find a review that talks about the cabins locations. If you are concerned about amenities, ask questions if the website has an open discussion board. If you find out that the service was poor or reservations were rude to guests allow the company to answer the negative review.

By reading online travel reviews you can decide if this place is going to suit your specific travel needs and wants. When it comes down to start planning the lodging aspect one of the most important parts is checking out guest reviews. It seems as though it sets your mood for the rest of your vacation, and of course you want that to be great. If anything, reading reviews will add peace of mind and maybe save a few headaches

Consider reading travel blogs and visit travel forums for more information. For a comprehensive database of reviews visit Flip Key.

Travel Insurance Advice

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:59:54 +0000

While one of the virtues of renting a vacation cabin is the ability to leave business and other stressful aspects of life behind you, there is always a level of planning involved that needs to be properly addressed. Part of this planning should always be dedicated to travel insurance, as you can never be too prepared for the unexpected, especially during periods when you’re away from situations you’re used to. After all, simple tragedies in life can be stressful in and of themselves, but just imagine how much more stressful they could be when having to be dealt with abroad.

Obviously, policies will differ as far as what is actually covered in your insurance package. However, most will generally allow for at least the basic health and financial needs. For example, what would happen should you or family need to seek medical care during a trip? The expenses involved in these situations are often cause worry, however the benefits provided by a travel insurance plan can cover these costs and leave you free to continue enjoying your vacation. Also, many policies will also help you to pay for the cost of medical assistance, including ambulance rides or any other necessary rescues. Taking into account the unexpected nature of medical emergencies, the assurance provided by a travel insurance policy becomes even more necessary in enjoying a vacation to its fullest.

And what should happen if you miss your flight/boat/bus/etc? Or what would you do should you have any personal belongings lost or stolen during your trip? These are certainly not issues you’ll want to be dwelling over while trying to enjoy yourself, which is just another reason to reap the benefits of a calm mind by protecting yourself with travel insurance. Specialized policies, such as student travel, leisure travel, and plans arranged to encompass high-risk activities, such as skiing or snowboarding, are also available. Temporary policies can usually be purchased when booking a trip, while long-term plans can also be set up at most travel agencies. With the large number of weights that can be lifted off your mind during vacation thanks to traveler’s insurance, why expose yourself to unnecessary worry by not getting some for yourself?

Like stated above, some cabin destinations require more or unique planning than other destinations. For instance, reserving cabins near heavy snow areas like Telluride CO and Mount Rainier can be risky without travel insurance. These areas are a lot more likey to see road and business closures than he North Georgia Mountains.

All travel insurance plans are different, but you should not see a hugh increase in your total payment. I believe some companies like CSA cost around 6-7 % of the nightly charges.

For more accurate quotes and information visit CSA’s or any other travel insurance companies website.

Reserving The Right Cabin

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:53:27 +0000

So, you want to take a vacation in one of the many mountain cabins in the United States…Good luck! Sorry, I don’t mean that. I just know how difficult it can be to find the perfect cabin destination and cabin rental for your families particular needs. There are so many cabin destinations or communities, most have no idea where to start. I mean…what about Gatlinburg TN, maybe Telluride CO, possibly Lake Tahoe in California, or maybe even Mount Rainier in Washington State. And on a more serious note, there are several other great destinations. Don’t give up though, because it is worth it when you find that perfect cabin.

First and fore most, you must decide where you want to go. There are several great cabin destination spots around the county. Some of the most popular are listed on Cabin Rental Mania. Most areas are popular for a few different reasons. Some destinations are popular because of attractions, some offer great skiing, some water sports, others have national parks, and other offer luxury and pampering. There is not such thing as too much research on a particular area. Understanding simple truths about locations can make this easy as well. For instance, Gatlinburg TN does offer a ski resort. It is fun and family friendly, but if you are an avid skier you need to visit Telluride CO.

Once the destination is decided, the cabin search starts. It is very important to decided what is needed at the cabin. If pictures are not fully available (which I think is a must), ask your cabin rental company about the cabin size, the kitchen, other amenities, type of structure and the age of the cabin. The reason I put in type of structure is because some companies call homes cabins because they are in the mountains. While this might not bother some people, it is something that needs to be known. I personally like log cabins with wood walls. Just a preference.

Certain amenities are a must for me when renting a cabin. Things like hot tubs and a fireplace for the winter months, pool access for the summer months, and a few game tables for a little family or friend competition. Having a full usable kitchen is very nice if you do not want to pay for going out-to-eat.

Regardless of the current economic situations, price should always be a factor. Don’t be afraid to ask for a deal. Not always, bur some companies will come off there price by a few percentage points which could save you some money. Be very flexible with your vacation dates. Weeknight rentals are going to be much cheaper than weekend rental.

Remember, questions are your friend. Ask a lot of them!