Amanda Pivovaroff Amanda Pivovaroff

Top Vacation Rental Locations in 2023

Being that it is already mid-February (how??!!) it’s probably too late to make goals for 2023, but in any case, we still have em’! My goal this year is to add another property (2 would be nice) to the Piva Casa collection, whether that means purchasing our own or managing a short term rental on behalf of someone else (if you are looking to hire us to manage your short term rental, be sure to check out our services page).

I’ve been researching different cities and states for about a year now, trying to gather as much information as I can as to where the perfect spot for another family friendly short term rental could be. Through my search, I found an article from AirDNA titled, Best Places to Invest in U.S. Vacation Rentals in 2023. Below is a list of the cities they pointed out based on rental demand (how often rentals are booked), revenue growth, investability (expected income relative to the cost of buying it) and regulation (likelihood of increased regulation in the future ie cities limiting or removing STRs). I have to say, I was a little surprised with this list (maybe it was due to the fact that I have been to 0 cities on the list, ha)!

Have you been to any of these US cities or would you ever be interested in visiting any of them? Who knows, your responses may help us narrow down our next location! Feel free to respond in the comment section below or via our Instagram post…

  1. Fairbanks, Alaska

  2. Evansville, Indiana

  3. Rockford, Illinois

  4. Springfield, Illinois

  5. Burdett, New York

  6. Williamstown, Kentucky

  7. New Haven, Connecticut

  8. Ellsworth, Maine

  9. Cheboygan, Michigan

  10. North Woodstock, New Hampshire

  11. Montgomery, Alabama

  12. Two Harbors, Minnesota

  13. Gainesville, Florida

  14. Saint Ignace, Michigan

  15. Bardstown, Kentucky

  16. South Bend, Indiana

  17. Kalamazoo, Michigan

  18. North Charleston, South Carolina

  19. Logan, Ohio

  20. Augusta, Georgia

  21. Akron, Ohio

  22. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

  23. Cleveland, Ohio

  24. Waco, Texas

  25. Indiatlantic, Florida

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Amanda Pivovaroff Amanda Pivovaroff

Affordable and Stylish Furnishings for our Short Term Rental in Texas

A look into all the affordable and stylish furnishings we used for Sea-Vista, our short term rental in Texas.

After styling three of our short term rentals, we know a thing or two about what type of furniture to include, what guests appreciate and those items that are worth or not worth the splurge. Read below for a full rundown as we talk about and share our sources used for our latest rental in Port Isabel, Texas - Sea Vista.

First a little background on Sea-Vista. After having so much success with Sea-Esta, our other short term rental in Port Isabel, Texas, the owners decided to purchase the lot right next door and build a brand new short term rental, Sea-Vista. Rather than sell Sea-Esta, they decided to keep both homes with the hopes that both would be rented out by large, traveling families who wanted to experience the ultimate beach vacation!

Sea-Vista is a double story, 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom beach house located right on the water. With sweeping, breathtaking views of the Gulf, it’s probably easy to see where it’s name came from :) when furnishing Sea-Vista, we wanted to keep the ocean as the focal point, while making the interior of the home bright and airy, with a touch of boho flair. We also wanted to keep in mind “budget friendly furniture” and that many of our guests would be traveling with small children, so in the event that accidents happen (as they tend to do with small children), we wouldn’t be having to replace such expensive items. That being said, I think we nailed it on providing our short term rental guests stylish furnishings, while checking the affordable box on our end!

Our sources are listed as links below each image:

Bunk Beds: Bedding

Balcony: Bistro Set

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Amanda Pivovaroff Amanda Pivovaroff

Planning a Summer Vacation in Texas

I’m sure by now everyone has their summer vacation plans booked. Many people head to warm destinations, like Florida and California, which are wonderful, but can become overcrowded due to their popularity. After searching for other summer hot spots, we came across an article in Forbes titled The 22 Best Places to Travel in the United States in 2022 where we found Texas had made the list, specifically Houston!

“As one of the most diverse cities in the United States, Houston boasts an exciting mix of cultures, food, art, sport and green space to explore”, said Mariana Cano is a bilingual lifestyle, travel and parenting blogger at yomariana.com. “The city’s harmonizing diversity is what makes ‘H-town’ truly unique.”

After submersing yourself in the hustle and bustle of the Houston city life, you will most definitely need a place to unwind and relax, somewhere calming, preferably with an ocean view and cool breeze ;) Ladies and gentlemen…may we introduce you to…drumroll please…Sea-Esta! A quick 1hr flight from Houston to Brownsville where paradise awaits! Our kid-friendly beachfront bungalow boasts 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a fully stocked kitchen, an outdoor al fresco dining experience and all the amenities included in the HOA gated community, like a pool and spa, basketball court, picnic area and swing set for the kids. Our kid friendly bungalow makes it easy to travel with little ones, what more could you ask for when planning a summer vacation in Texas?!

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Amanda Pivovaroff Amanda Pivovaroff

Turn Your Beach Vacation into a once in a Lifetime Experience

So you booked a stay at Sea-Esta and now you want to head to the local beach. Thinking about riding some waves, basking in the sun, grabbing some lunch, but I bet “seeing a rocket launch into space” wouldn’t be on your list ;) well, it just so happens that you can do all of the above from the same location!

Introducing Boca Chica, a beach on the southernmost tip of Texas and a sudden tourist attraction shortly after Elon Musk built a launch complex to test massive rockets that will carry his explorers on their journey to space.

The chance to witness a rocket close-up is drawing tourists from around the world to this remote stretch of the Texas coast. For test launches, which SpaceX has been conducting around once a month since late 2020, hundreds of sightseers can also be seen at Isla Blanca Park, which offers some of the best views.

Unfortunately, not all rocket chasers get to see a launch. SpaceX is notoriously secretive, releasing little advance information. One trick is to track the so-called Temporary Flight Restrictions issued by the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure airplanes don’t fly above the rocket. Social media is also key for monitoring highway closures and any warnings SpaceX issues to Boca Chica residents.

Here’s to hoping you’ll be one of the lucky ones who get to turn your beach vacation into a once in a lifetime experience!

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