Vacation Rentals with EZ Book Vacation Homes-Guest Reviews

Oct 1 -8 2005 Jan and Scott We could not have selected a better place for our first extended family vacation. The pool was a private haven of enjoyment for the kids and adults alike. And the hot weather was just what the Nebraskans wanted! Sure is a beautiful home totally beats a hotel-only had to buy groceries-EVERYTHING else was here. Thanks for your contributions to our wonder family retreat! Janelle, Doug and Owen, Rick Rugh and Ethan, Grandma and Grandpa Seegie

Dear Jan and Scott Our second family vacation in your home during the Thanksgiving holiday. We enjoyed the comfort of a home where our family could spread out. We spent time in the pool, on the beach, bay fishing, deep sea fishing and trying some new restaurants as well as some old favorites. The weather was perfect. A nice break for Northerners. Thanks, we will be back!

I give Vacation Villas of South Padre Island an A+. The hibiscus was amazing. Whenever I go on vacation in Texas, I usually rent a vacation home. They are usually always so dirty and the property manager never helps. Jan prepared my home so it will fit my needs and it was so clean!

Great home great place great trip A run on the beach, a dip in the pool, a pedel around town, lunch on the bay, a dig in the book store, Sand Castle Days Festival -wow, horse back on the beach, coctails in the hot tub, boogie boards on the waves, and outdoor shower! a rest on the deck a read on the patio, snacks during a movie with an incredible sound system ... A GREAT BED! Loved it all, a very comfy, cozy and although quite lavish- a fabulously practical decor even with the kids. What an ultra wonderful get-a-way. We will definately be back. Thanks you so much. The Leeder Family Darcie, Mark Priscilla and Olivia

I loved staying with Vacation Villas of South Padre Island. The beach was amazing in the summer! My family has already booked the next 3 summers with Jan Whittington.

Media: Island Breeze Talk 'Round Town: One-Stop Talk 'Round Town: One-Stop Vacation Property owner makes finding the perfect vacation rental a snap December 31, 2009 6:57 AM A new company on SPI is making vacation planning about as simple as it can get. EZ Book Vacation Homes is a one-stop website where visitors can browse and compare rental properties while booking all their favorite Island activities. The new website is the brain child of local property owner Jan Tucker-Whittington who has been managing her own vacation homes for the past eight years. “It makes booking a vacation home as easy as booking a hotel,” she said. “A large portion of vacation home websites are strictly marketing, so you have to contact each of the property owners individually to check for availability or details about the house. That takes a lot of time and there are a lot of confused shoppers out there.” Whittington’s solution was to simplify the process by creating a website that had everything a renter would need in one easy location. She said the company uses the very latest technology in vacation rental management software, allowing browsers to compare all the properties and possible amenities with just a click of a button. They can also book and pay for their stay right then and there, just like booking a hotel. But that’s not all. Owners who list with ezbookvacationhomes.com can personalize their pages with local attractions and activities. “Renters can book their whole vacation from a home owner’s single page,”Whittington said.“They can book a fishing trip or go jet skiing all from the same page they booked their property. If it’s a champagne weekend, we even have an option for that. Just click the button and its all taken care of without having to do the footwork. And owners who have those added links see an increase in return business.” She said some owners even add a personal touch like automatic deliveries of welcome baskets or flowers for when their renters arrive. Whittington, a licensed home economist, also offers free staging and photography of properties and for the first three months of 2010 there is no start-up fee. Unlike many management companies - which charge a standard 30 percent commission - EZ Book charges only 10 percent and the website is performance based, meaning if no one books an owner’s property, the owner doesn’t pay. The website also takes care of any accounting using Quick Books, even creating a variety of reports for owners. “We started here on SPI because I know the Island and I know the market,”Whittington said.“But we’ll be expanding nation-wide as we find other home owners. We have representatives who will be working the Florida, Colorado and Texas hill country markets. It’s the Internet; you can be anywhere.” She said she’d also like to start a section on the website for long-term rentals because it’s often hard to find those types of rentals in vacation destinations. Interested owners can contact Whittington at (281) 222-0432 or visit www.ezbookvacationhomes.com