| Baby Boomers set their first travel trend in the | | | | friends the money you'll save by renting a |
| 60's when they strapped on backpacks and | | | | vacation home will be significant. Luxury vacation |
| explored the world. Travel was an intoxicating, | | | | rentals range between $3,500 and $7,000 per |
| powerful drug. It was an ever changing high from | | | | week for 3-7 bedrooms. You'll save even more |
| the Gringo Trail in South America to the beaches | | | | money when you aren't forced to entertain out |
| of Costa Rica. Boomers were hooked. | | | | every night. Most luxury rentals come equipped |
| Travel as a primary essence of living defines the | | | | with DVD players and libraries, games, private |
| 78 million-strong Baby Boomer generation as | | | | swimming pools and hot tubs with no "closed" |
| much as feeling "forever young" and being born | | | | hours. You'll also have the benefit of being able to |
| between 1946 and 1964. Now that Boomers have | | | | eat as many meals at home as you want to and |
| more ka-ching they reminisce fondly about their | | | | the kitchen is open all night. |
| tattered backpack days but their taste in travel | | | | Sweet Home, Costa Rica |
| has evolved. They feel they've earned the right | | | | Baby Boomers love the intimacy a home |
| to be pampered a little. Boomers have traded | | | | provides, especially when they travel with family. |
| their sleeping bags for luxury vacation rental | | | | There are no austere hotel lobbies or generic |
| homes. | | | | rooms. A vacation rental feels more like a |
| Heather Blanchard is the owner of Manuel Antonio | | | | home-away-from-home. There are pots and pans |
| Vacation Rentals in Costa Rica and represents | | | | in the kitchen and private gardens to enjoy. |
| some of the finest luxury homes in this beach | | | | D'Arcy Rudnay from Philadelphia, PA recently |
| community. She says, "In the last 3 years our | | | | spent a week with her family including grown |
| number of Baby Boomer clients has sky-rocketed. | | | | children in a beachfront luxury villa in Manuel |
| They began as a trickle in 2007, now they | | | | Antonio. She says, "Staying in a vacation home |
| dominate our guest list." | | | | allowed us to reconnect as a family since we now |
| Read on and decide if Baby Boomers are onto | | | | live in different parts of the U.S. We all got to |
| something here. | | | | enjoy each other." |
| They Work Hard for the Money | | | | Taking Care of Business |
| Putting everyone up in luxury hotels rooms just | | | | Like many of us, Boomers feel time-deprived. |
| doesn't make economic sense anymore, especially | | | | When they travel they like a little help with the |
| for Boomers traveling with multi-generational | | | | details. They've stumbled upon a great luxury |
| families. A party of 6 paying for 3 rooms can add | | | | vacation home rental perk - most of them in |
| up to $8400 or more for 7 nights. Tally up 18 | | | | Costa Rica include concierge service or offer it as |
| meals a day, tours, activities, entertainment, tips | | | | an option. A concierge saves precious vacation |
| and incidentals and costs could top | | | | time by presenting the best options for tours and |
| $15,000-$20,000 for one week. | | | | activities. Booking services are free. |
| If you plan to travel to Costa Rica with family or | | | | |