Vacation Rental Home in the Desert Offers Affordable Luxury

The desert area of Rancho Mirage offers peace and relaxation as well as plenty of activities and opportunities for adventure. But unless traveling to the area in the ghastly heat of summer, hotel lodging is pricey. A more affordable option is to rent a vacation home.

One suggestion is the Giesen’s vacation rental in the Rancho Las Palmas Country Club. The home is luxuriously furnished yet quite comfortable. The guest room has a Native American design and is perfect for two children. The master bedroom has a lovely Asian themed décor and an enormous bathroom with a spacious stall shower.

Vacation in Style with the Conveniences of Home

The house also has a private garage and courtyard, a flat screen television, roomy kitchen with breakfast bar, and a comfortable patio area overlooking the golf course and mesmerizing peaks of the San Jacinto Mountains.

Going to the market while on vacation may seem like work. But given the savings of at least 50% in eating in instead of out, it could be worth it. Preparing meals can also be part of the fun, since it is a more intimate experience than eating in a restaurant.

This is just one of many such homes available for rent in the desert, and shopping and restaurants are all just minutes away.

So Many Things to Do

The idea of floating all day in the pool, just steps away, has appeal, but there are many other things to do:

• The River is a large and lovely outdoor mall on a waterway
• El Paseo, the Rodeo Drive of the desert, has upscale shopping
• There are hundreds of great restaurants to choose from
• For large delicious servings of Italian food, try Mario’s
• For Mexican food with California flair, go to Las Casuelas Nuevas
• See authentic desert animal and plant habitat at The Living Desert
• Historic WWI and WWII planes are on display at the Palm Springs Air Museum
• Hiking and exploring at Indian Canyon is an oasis of nature
• High speed excitement goes up to the mountaintop on the Palm Springs Aerial Tram

How it Works

Using one of the online resources such as VRBO.com, travelers scan the Internet for a house that is the right size and price. From there, links give the owners’ contact information. Once the dates are arranged, renters send a deposit to hold the date. Usually the full amount is required within a few weeks or months of the rental date.

Using one of the listing services helps ensure that the rental is in good shape and has not been misrepresented on the Internet. All the homeowners must meet standards in order to be included in the listings, and feedback from the renters helps keep the owners honest.

After they receive the funds, the homeowner will send keys and directions to the home. All that is left is to get there, open it up and settle in.

One drawback to renting privately is that in some cases, the owners are not there to help with maintenance problems, should they arise. At the Giesen’s home in Rancho Mirage, this is not the case, as they live around the corner and are readily available to help with any questions or concerns. But even when the owner is not local, everything is handled with great care, since homeowners have a vested interest in their properties.

The wide open spaces of the desert beckon with an array of activities. Renting a private home lends an added closeness for families or groups who want to economize on a vacation while creating meaningful memories together.