Lake Havasu - the opposite of Las Vegas
If you're looking for a star-gazing vacation, consider our Lake Havasu City Vacation homes.  Lake Havasu is a small town, 20 miles from the nearest Interstate highway.  Only the main streets have street lights, so the night skies are spectacular from the in-ground spa or pool.  Constellations hang close, the moon blazes.  Traffic dwindles after sunset, especially in the winter/spring/fall months, when the boaters are back in California. 

In the winter, sunsets ignite over the Lake and burn out behind the Needles in California.  Rocks project asymetric silhouettes against vermillion clouds.  Quiet.  Still.  Easy.

Lake View at Sunset                                                               Sun and Water

One of the questions I get most often about our homes in Lake Havasu is whether the pools are heated.  Well, here's the answer.  Sun and Water has an active solar heated pool.  When the daytimes are sunny and over 85 degrees, the solar heater works great!  I can't imagine the cost of heating a pool with natural gas, with utility prices what they are these days! 

Our pool at Lake View at Sunset isn't heated at all.  But it's shallower than the pool at Sun and Water and therefore heats up quicker than a deep pool.  Using the bubble cover at night to retain heat gained in the day time helps increase the water temperature. 

In the winter, days are warm and sunny, but  the nights are cool (Arizona is a desert, not the tropics).  We use the in-ground spas at our homes when we visit in the winter, but not the pools. 

In the summer, with temperatures over 100 degrees every day, you don't need to worry about heating the pool.  It's the perfect temperature (78 to 85 degrees) to cool you off!

What a way to vacation!  Your own private pool and in-ground spa in your own private back yard!  And for less than a decent hotel with a public pool! 

How deposits work at our Lake Havasu City vacation homes

When you reserve either Lake View at Sunset or Sun and Water, we request you provide a reservation deposit.  The deposit reserves the dates you select until you arrive.  Some homeowners cash the reservation check (or credit card), some don't.  We're among those who cash the check.  One of the differences between staying at a hotel and someone's home is that if you cancel a hotel reservation, someone else will probably come along and rent the room you canceled.  But if you've reserved our vacation home and cancel less than 30 days before your stay, we probably will not be able to re-rent your dates.  So the deposit is really a commitment to keep the dates you select.  And it's our commitment not to cancel your reservation in favor of someone who will pay more or wants to stay longer.

Once you arrive the reservation deposit turns into a damage deposit.  We're so thankful that we've never had any significant damage to either of our two vacation homes in Lake Havasu City. We have GREAT guests!   So we've never had to keep much of anyone's deposit to cover damages.  The damage deposit also covers excessive utility use (running the spa propane tank out -- usually a mistake, but very costly).   Our policy is to refund your deposit within 15 days of your departure.  Our maid service checks our home carefully when they clean, so you won't be held responsible for someone else's problem.  As soon as we hear from the maid service and pool service we cheerfully mail your deposit refund check.

If you're in Lake Havasu City, and you like authentic Mexican food, take time to find Casa Fernandez.   It's located on Industrial Boulevard, and like the address suggests, it's not on the main drag.  It isn't a "chain" restaurant; it's not fancy.  In fact the outside doesn't impress.  But I grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, and I'm spoiled.  I like REAL Mexican food.  I invented the "plastic plant index" for finding good Mexican food.  My theory goes something like this:  The more plastic (or artificial) plants, the better the Mexican food.  What I mean is that small, family owned, self-decorated restaurants tend to have the most authentic food. 

Have any of you eaten at Casa Fernandez?  What did you think? 

The Best Beds
When I look for a vacation home to rent, I want a comfortable bed!  How about you?  If I'm going to be spending a one- or two- week vacation at the best place in the world, the whole vacation can be ruined by an uncomfortable bed.

Some vacation home owners skimp on furniture, shopping garage sales, used furniture and low priced furniture stores. That might be okay for a kitchen table, but when it comes to a good ... << MORE >>

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How do you search for vacation rentals?

I'm curious.  How do you search for vacation rentals?  When I'm looking for a vacation rental I usually use google.  My search words includes the place I want to go and what kind of property I'm looking for.  For example:  "vacation home in Lake Havasu".  Do you look for the type of climate you want for your vacation--like warm winter vacation home?  Or do you plug in amenities you want like "vacation home with private pool"?  Do you look specifically for properties managed by owner?  Do you have certain things you look at when you view pictures?  Decor?  Furnishings?  Comfortable beds?  I'd love to see some discussion from people who stay at vacation homes when they travel.  Do you use search sites like www.VRBO.com or www.VacationRentals.com?  Other vacation home search sites?  I think I know some of the answers, but I'd love to hear from you!

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