Book Direct
What to Pack for a Vacation Rental: Beach, Desert and Mountain
Our packing lists for a beach house on the Outer Banks, a pool home in the Coachella Valley and a Big Bear cabin, plus what we already stock for kids and dogs.
Explore More.
Stay Better.
Insider tips, property highlights, and travel inspiration from Rather Be Properties.
Indio
Christmas and New Year in the Coachella Valley
Christmas in the Coachella Valley, honestly: warm days, genuinely cold nights, pool heating, and which of our desert homes suits a holiday week.
Book Direct
Every Rather Be Home, Sorted by What You Want to Do
All 32 Rather Be Properties vacation rentals, grouped by destination and by what you want to do – Outer Banks, Coachella Valley, San Diego and more.
Owners
How to Read Your Vacation Rental Owner Statement
A line-by-line guide to your vacation rental owner statement: gross vs. net, which fees you pay, what your commission is really calculated on.
Book Direct
What Happens If Something Breaks During Your Stay
What happens if something breaks in a vacation rental? Here is how we handle it, how fast, and how you reach a real human when you book direct with us.
OBX
Why Your Outer Banks Rental Sat Empty in the Shoulder Season
Why Outer Banks shoulder season bookings vanish: one flat summer rate, a locked seven-night Saturday minimum, and a calendar that closes after Labor Day.
Book Direct
Booking a Vacation Rental for a Remote Work Week
Choosing a vacation rental for remote work? Here are the seven questions to ask before you book — speed figures, desks, doors and backup plans.
OBX
The Real Outer Banks vs. the One on TV
The real Outer Banks isn’t one town – it’s a chain of barrier islands on one road. What the show gets wrong, and why October beats July.
Indio
Buying a Coachella Valley Vacation Rental: What to Check Before You Close
Buying a Coachella Valley vacation rental? Check permit caps, HOA rules, the pool and the real comp set before you close. A desert STR due diligence list.
OBX
Things to Do in Duck, NC
Things to do in Duck NC from a host who manages a home there: the sound boardwalk, kayaking, walkable dinners, plus the traffic and beach-access truth.
OBX
What a Good Property Manager Does in the Off-Season
What a vacation rental property manager off-season actually does: rate mapping, maintenance, photo refresh and storm prep before the January booking rush.
OBX
Outer Banks Vacation Rentals With a Hot Tub
Looking for an Outer Banks vacation rental with a hot tub? Here are the seven OBX homes we can confirm have one, and what to ask before you book.