Wisconsin Vacation Rentals

Explore different vacation rentals throughout Wisconsin. We highlight a few properties in different regions of Wisconsin to help assist vacationers as they plan their next getaway.

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Book It Now Button VS Book Direct. We know what renters prefer…

As the vacation rental industry evolves, the divide between booking websites with Book It Now Buttons and other websites that simply let renters Book Directly with the rental owners & managers continues to widen. Our growing collection of state-specific, vacation rental websites are those “other” websites. We believe in giving renters WHAT THEY WANT; a clear path to the rental owners and property managers. How do we know it’s what they want? Our renter-survey confirms it: When given a choice; renters prefer to book directly with rental owners, not through booking websites (30 to 1). That’s no surprise to us – the owners & managers are area experts. Plus. booking directly with owners & managers eliminates double booking drama and you always get the RIGHT answers to your questions.

It’s rare to find vacation rental listing websites that actually help rental owners and managers build their online brand, but that’s exactly what our growing group of websites do. Our low annual fee opens the door to higher rental income because owners/managers keep every booking dollar. The property details pages on our websites introduce rental units AND promote property brand extensions:
• Link to rental owner/manager property website
• Link to rental owner/manager social media channels
• Display up to 3 YouTube videos
• Phone number and address

Renters want many ways to do their due diligence. They are more comfortable when they can easily get to property websites, read Facebook comments and reviews, see LinkedIn profiles, Tweets, etc. While booking website choose to HIDE this information and funnel renters through a book now button; WE GIVE VACATIONERS A BETTER SEARCH AND RENTING EXPERIENCE.

What’s lead to the backlash of the Book It Now Button on 3rd party booking websites?
You might want to sit down.
• 15% commission per booking, and rising. Some booking websites even charge an extra 11% to the renter!
• Renters who call the listing phone number are often redirected to a booking website Call Center.
• Rental owners & managers have less control of their business.

Visit our group of BOOK DIRECT websites and see how we are different (the search tool and interactive maps are awesome).
RentWisconsinCabin.com; RentMinnesotaCabins.com; RentMichiganCabins.com; RentNewYorkCabins.com: RentMontanaCabins.com

Relax. Enjoy Your Search. You’re On Cabin Time!

Joe Mogensen
Founder

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Avoid the high season to miss the high rates in Eagle River

Introducing our newest Eagle River cabin listing: Van’s Knotty Pine Cottage. This spacious and beautiful property is located right on the Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes with a pier and sandy beach located right out the front door. Enjoy the 16′ Alumacraft boat rental for all of your Eagle River fishing needs. This cabin is the destination to your fall color tour this year and part of a great network of snowmobile and cross country trails. This vacation rental books fast so be sure to act quickly. To inquire directly with the owner and view more photos, rates, and availability, please click here to our www.rentwisconsincabins.com listing.

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Wisconsin Dells in the Fall is just as good as summer

Wisconsin Dells is a riot in the summer time. Cars packed to the brim with kids in the backseat flock to this water paradise to experience the “The Waterpark Capital of the World”. But as we say, there is so much more to the Dells that we thought that we should share. Not only is there great hiking, fishing, and rock climbing, there are also festivals throughtout the year. Try this fall festival for example:

The Wo-Zha-Wa Days Fall Festival happening Sept. 18-20th is a wonderful fall festival that highlights many local area attractions and businesses. The weather is a little cooler usually so it is often quite pleasant. Along with the schedule, there is often live entertainment and plenty of shopping deals

Wo-Zha-Wa Schedule of Events September 18-20, 2015

Friday, September 18
All Day Concessions and Carnival Rides
7 am – 5 pm Maxwell Street Days
7 am – 7 pm Antique Flea Market
Noon – 5 pm Arts & Crafts Fair

Saturday, September 19
All Day Concessions and Carnival Rides
7 am – 5 pm Maxwell Street Days
8 am Wo-Zha-Wa Run Visit the website
7 am – 7 pm Antique Flea Market
9am – 5 pm Arts & Crafts Fair

Sunday, September 20
All Day Concessions and Carnival Rides
7 am – 3 pm Maxwell Street Days
7 am – 3 pm Antique Flea Market
9 am – 3 pm Arts & Crafts Fair
1:30 pm 100-unit Parade

Enjoy your Wisconsin Dells vacation with a cabin or vacation rental to help stay on budget and have more room to roam. 

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From Millennials to Baby Boomers: Booking #Vacation #Rentals Directly with Owners/Managers is Preferred

At RentWisconsinCabins.com we understand that renters want a vacation rental website that allows them to compare properties and BOOK DIRECTLY with the owners or managers. In fact, we have rolled out several state-specific, vacation rental websites that provide a clear path to book directly with owners/managers. Wisconsin (2009), Minnesota (2013), Michigan (2013), New York (2014), and earlier this month Montana.

In addition to studying search habits and keeping an eye on vacation rental industry communities; we ASK renters what is important to THEM. After renters send an inquiry to any of our property owners/managers, we ask them to take a short survey. We get several responses each week, going back to early 2012.

Our survey responses continue to show – from Pre-Millennials to Baby Boomers – the ability to connect AND book directly with owners or property managers is a very big deal.

  • Ages 19-26: 100% of survey respondents prefer to book direct
    Ages 26-35: 83% of survey respondents prefer to book direct
    Ages 36-45: 75% of survey respondents prefer to book direct
    Here’s where it gets interesting …these 2 demographic accounts for 75% of our website traffic:
    Ages 46-55: 89% of survey respondents prefer to book direct
    Ages 56+: 100% of survey respondents prefer to book direct

So why do big booking websites ignore what renters want? What future renters want? They need renters to click that Book Now button so they can continually take booking commissions – on rental properties they don’t even own. RENTERS ARE SMART! Tens-of-thousands use booking websites to find rental names just so they can “Google them” in an effort to book direct. For renters to go through such a process speaks volumes about HOW they want to book vacation rentals.

Our book direct philosophy certainly explains why traffic to all of our state-specific, vacation rental websites doubles every year. IT’S A WIN WIN: By helping rental owners grow their online brand, we’ve also made it easy for renters to book direct. Each property listing has THE resort/rental name; address; phone number; link to property website; links to property Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, LinkedIn. Last year we introduced YouTube videos too.

We give renters more options than any other listing website to learn about vacation rentals, plus made it easy to book directly with the best tour guides …the property owners/managers. Vacation memories should never include potentially paying more because of commissions or fees.

Relax. Enjoy your search. You’re on cabin time!

The JM Creative Group
Member RentWisconsinCabins.com
Member RentMinnesotaCabins.com
Member RentMichiganCabins.com
Member RentNewYorkCabins.com
Member RentMontanaCabins.com
Watch us grow…

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Introducing 2 new properties to RentWisconsinCabins.com!

Willow Shores: Birch

Willow Shores in Beaver Dam provide a terrific and comfortable home away from home. This rental sits on a double lot on Beaver Dam Lake to ensure more privacy for your vacation. A fantastic country home perfect for all of your family needs. Enjoy the sleek and modern finishing touches! This vacation rental sleeps 6. No matter what the weather is, you will have something to do for everyone. August and September 2015 availability! To view more information or to inquire/book directly with the owner, please click here: Willow Shores: Birch

Albany House River Cottage

This Pet friendly cottage is located in Albany, Wisconsin. When it’s time to truly relax on vacation, try the spa room, whirlpool, and fireplace. For some recreation fun, enjoy fishing, tubing, or canoeing the Sugar River, which is in the backyard. Hop on a bicycle and bike through the gentle hills to New Glarus to taste some famous Spotted Cow at the New Glarus Brewery or try an artisan cheese at the Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate Haus. Come and enjoy a simpler time. For more information or to inquire/book, please click here: Albany House River Cottage

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The Ultimate #Lighthouse Tour for Wisconsin and Michigan

Lighthouses have been a symbol of safety for navigators and explorers for hundreds of years. Each night, lightkeepers and their families reported lake conditions and guided people back to safety alongside the rocky shores of the Great Lakes.

A photographer’s paradise, Lake Michigan offers beautiful scenery.The transcendent fall colors and welcoming cooler breeze from the lake make the Great Lakes a great tourist location for those that can appreciate the northern charm, art galleries, fantastic restaurants, and museums of the maritime history. The sunrises and sunsets are mesmerizing and provide a romantic backdrop to each unique lighthouse.

In October, The Great Lake lighthouse festival highlights different lighthouses along the coast and bring in over a hundred different vendors for the lighthouse enthusiasts all over the world. There is no other lighthouse festival like it. In 2014, the Eagle Bluff was the highlighted lighthouse. Eagle Bluff sits majestically in Peninsula State Park, a beacon of light to those arrive in the rocky Door County area, navigating through the gale of a storm or through the quiet dark nights. This lighthouse has been restored for visitors on tours and is open to the public May-October.

To view Door County Lodging, head to our home page and select one of the red dots on the map to view pictures, rates and things to do in Door County.

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is at the end of the Leelanau Peninsula, located inside the Leelanau State Park. It’s one of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes. Once inside the lighthouse, you can view exhibits, shipwrecks, foghorns and other lighthouses within the area. Fun events are throughout the year.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Be sure to check out this fantastic lighthouse.For a list of other things to do in Traverse City, Michigan or to explore Traverse City Vacation Rentals while on a lighthouse tour in Michigan, click this link here: Traverse City.  To view more in the area, or to discover Lake Leelanau vacation rentals in Leelanau County, visit this link here: Lake Leelanau.

Another favorite lighthouse on Lake Michigan is the St. Joe’s lighthouse. Located in St. Joseph’s, Michigan, this lighthouse is not shy about bragging about its beauty and that’s ok with us because it is surely a sight you can’t miss! This beautiful lighthouse is near Benton Harbor and even highlights a live webcam on its website. This lighthouse is truly a Great Lakes celebrity with tourists walking the rare catwalk, exploring the almost two centuries old lighthouse and what was once home to the Red Cross.

St. Joe Lake Michigan, Benton Harbor

St. Joe Lakehouse

This backdrop is perfect for photography (maybe a wedding?), fishing, cruising and picnicking. To view more about Benton Harbor, click here: Benton Harbor

Tawas Point Lighthouse is also a sight to see. This lighthouse is located on land jutting out (almost considered a peninsula but didn’t quite make the grade) in the Tawas Point State Park, nicknamed the “Cape Cod of the Midwest”. This particular bay is fantastic for fishermen, bird enthusiasts, and sailors. One of the best parts about this lighthouse is the drive getting there. Highway 23, or better known as, the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway. This highway is unique that in much of northern Lake Huron, it is primarily publicly owned, therefore creating a large backdrop not populated by privately owned properties. To learn more about Tawas City and see vacation rentals too, click here: Tawas City

Presque Isle Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses and tallest lighthouse that you climb on the Great Lakes. This romantic lighthouse has been in business for over 175 years and hosts many events throughout the anniversary weekend such as wagon rides, campfires, etc.

Presque Isle Lighthouse

Presque Isle Lighthouse

It has been considered a haunted lighthouse by its previous owners. Don’t worry, this ghost is a very nice gost. To check out the video: 

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Why video is more than necessary in 2015

By 2017, video will account for 69% of all consumer internet traffic, according to Cisco. Videos are nothing new in this day and age and it seems like every day, another video is going viral. Online video users are expected to double to 1.5 billion in 2016, according to Jeff Hazylett.  This number will only increase due to more ways to record and easier ways to upload and share content.

Screen Capture of our Details page on a Vacation Rental Listing-2015

Screen Capture of our Details page on a Vacation Rental Listing-2015

That is why companies should be embracing this amazing way to create great content marketing. “We have been encouraging vacation rental owners to upload videos of their property or fun things to do in the area. Videos show vacationers how to live like a local,” Joe Mogensen, creator of state-specific vacation, rental websites said. His first state specific website was www.RentWisconsinCabins.com, a website highlighting vacation rentals all over the state. The addition of videos to property details page let’s renters “watch” what there is to do in the area, like snorkeling the lakefor example. Did you know that Cable has some of the coolest snowmobiling in the world? Videos help share with the user, what a simple description could never put into words. Other vacation rental websites such as RentMinnesotaCabins.com, RentNewYorkcabins.com and RentMichiganCabins.com have gained momentum with video capabilities. “New York has some popular wine trails that are great for those that stay a week in the Finger Lakes area.” Videos promote that vacation experience, which helps rental owners bookings.”

“We are brand ambassadors. We want to be a marketing partner first and a listing website second. It is important for vacationers to trust the property and managers.” Mogensen implies. Simply put, photos and descriptions just don’t work for everybody now. Users want more. Videos are easy to share with others and let’s face it, vacationers want to share their experiences and owners want to share what they can offer. Videos are also great social media material. Just recently Facebook surpassed YouTube in desktop traffic, which just solidifies our reasoning  for vacationers to connect with the owners and managers online via social media. Coupled with video, It is a win-win situation.