How To Compare Vacation Homes in Tahoe Keys
Safari-Theme Home

Here is a list of questions you may wish to ask yourself when selecting a Tahoe Keys property to rent:

Q. Does it have upstairs living?
A. Upstairs living in a modern Tahoe Keys vacation home has the great room and kitchen on the second floor. This means raised or vaulted ceilings which provides an open, airy living area with lots of light. It isn't cramped and dark like some older properties.

Q. Does the back yard face south?
A. When a home's back garden faces south, you're assured of a lot of light throughout the day. This is especially important in the mountains where it can get cool in the shade. Also, homes that face north tend to have a lot of mosquitoes...

Q. Will I get a good night's sleep on the beds?
A. Some vacation homes have old mattresses and lumpy pillows that were no longer wanted in the owner's own home. Sleeping on them won't give you a good nights sleep. At this home, the mattresses are Serta Posturepedic - a quality, premium hotel type of mattress typically found at Marriott or Hilton.

Q. What quality are the home furnishings?
A. Some vacation homes have all the second hand furnishings from the owner's main property. At this home all the furnishings have been purchased new - just for the rental. In addition, you should check the quality of the furnishings including:

• are the TVs new or 10 years old?
• does each TV have a cable connection?
• does the home have multiple DVDs (Blockbuster is just down the road for rentals)?
• does the home have a ProLogic surround sound system?

Q. Does the home have a hot tub large enough for you?
A. There are hot tubs and there are hot tubs:

• does your vacation home have a large 6 to 8 person hot tub?
• does it have two soothing Eurojets?
• can you reach the hot tub in the winter without shoveling snow?

Q. Does the home allow wood burning fires?
A.Nothing beats having a wood burning fire in the winter. Gas is great but the crackle of the fire, and soothing glow of the embers adds magic to any evening.

Q. Can the BBQ actually be used to cook food?
A. Make sure the home has a gas BBQ that is big enough to cook for everyone in your group. A double level, 45k BTU BBQ with a side burner really is the bare minimum.

Q. Is there any balcony and lawn furniture?
A. Believe it or not, some homes don't even have any deck chairs! I recommend that there should be:

• a balcony table for morning coffee and a minimum of four chairs
• four or more lawn reclining chaise-longues
• a bench by the lagoon to watch the geese and odd yacht putter by

Q. Is the balcony big enough?
A. Some balconies are only 4ft wide by 12 ft long. There's no room for balcony furniture and a BBQ, especially if someone wants to walk past. Make sure the home you are looking for has a balcony that is at least 8 ft by 15ft

Q. Can the kids play somewhere other than the great room?

A. This home has both a great room and a family room on two separate floors each with a kitchen. The kid's play area has a fridge, freezer, stove, sink, microwave, color TV, CD, VCR, DVD and air hockey.

Q. Can more than two cars be parked at the property during the winter?
A. During the snow season, cars can not be parked on the road as they will be ticketed and towed due to the snow clearing. This home has room for two cars in the garage, and two further vehicles on the driveway that are far enough away from the road not to be eaten or buried by the plow.

Q. Does the home have any 'energy' or is it dull and lifeless?
A. Many older vacation homes have been 'abandoned' by their owners to property management firms. The interiors can become worn and somewhat 'tired'. Mt. SWILD has been decorated with a pretty wild safari theme throughout. Every bedroom has a theme as does the great room—ideal for fun weekend getaways or weeklong vacations.

Q. Are the vacation home web sites well laid out and detailed?
A. Hopefully you'll find this web site helpful. May I suggest that the breadth of the web site reflects the quality of the vacation you'll get when you rent the vacation home.

I hope you'll consider Mt. SWILD for your vacation of vacations. It may not be the cheapest place (it's not the most expensive), but I think you'll have a great time and hopefully will reserve it again for next year.

Paul Falworth
Owner