TripAdvisor Dives Into America's Best Vacation Rental Pools

From Classy Cabanas to Poolside Putting Greens, TripAdvisor Highlights Rental Homes That Offer Travelers a Wide Range of Splashy Summer Amenities

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TripAdvisor

Jun 15, 2011, 06:00 ET

NEWTON, Mass., June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel site*, today announced its list of the best vacation rental pools, according to TripAdvisor traveler property ratings and editors. From tiki bars and water slides to putting greens and private cabanas, each of these homes features unique poolside amenities that have earned them the praise of TripAdvisor travelers.

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"With summer fast approaching, many travelers are looking for vacation rentals that offer private pools where they can cool off and have a blast," said Hank Hudepohl, director of vacation rentals at TripAdvisor. "This list highlights some of the best rental home pools in America available on TripAdvisor, with fantastic amenities and beautiful views of their natural surroundings. These properties offer guests a taste of paradise right in their backyards, or in some cases right indoors.”

Top 10 Vacation Rental Home Pools:

1. Cooling off at the Cabana: Maui Meadows Guesthouse, Kihei, Hawaii – Summer Rate: $4,543 per week

Located on the island of Maui less than a mile away from the beach, this guesthouse features a sparkling swimming pool area complete with a waterfall, extra large hot tub and an outdoor cabana equipped with a flat screen television, fridge and bar. As one TripAdvisor traveler raved, "We spent a lot of time outside in our own 'private' paradise."

2. Putting by the Pool: Troon North Golf Rental, Scottsdale, Arizona – Summer Rate: $1,000 per week

A great lodging for golf lovers, this rental home in Scottsdale features a spacious outdoor pool and spa area that includes a wrap around three hole professional-style putting green. As one TripAdvisor traveler noted, "The backyard pool area at the home was spectacular."

3. Soaking in the Saltwater: Sailor's Retreat, Cape Coral, Florida – Summer Rate: $800 to $900 per week

Located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the indoor heated saltwater pool at Sailor's Retreat steals the show, offering guests a central gathering place in the home to mingle and soak after a long day. As one TripAdvisor traveler raved, "This home is a terrific vacation get-away!"

4. Backyard Paradise: 16 Mallard, Hilton Head, South Carolina – Summer Rate: $6,790 per week

While 16 Mallard features a number of appealing amenities including a media room, game room and chef's kitchen, the home's large custom pool with attached spa and hot tub in its own private grotto really makes for an amazing rental experience. As one TripAdvisor traveler commented, "Some days we didn't even hit the beach... we preferred to stay at the house [and] play in the pool all day!"

5. Spa-side Entertainment: Calm Waters Desert Oasis Home, Palm Springs, California – Summer Rate: $3,200 to $3,800 per week

Close to downtown Palm Springs, this modern luxury rental property offers guests a private heated pool and spa area where they can unwind, gaze at the stars, or view the home entertainment center's 50-inch plasma TV through the room's glass wall. As one TripAdvisor traveler gushed, "The private black bottom pool and spa were a delight... romantic with the outdoor lighting effects and music."

6. Taking in the Tiki Bar: Skylark Tiki Bar, Merritt Island, Florida – Summer Rate: $1,200 to $1,575 per week

Situated off the Atlantic Coast of Florida near Cape Canaveral, this Merritt Island home boasts a huge swimming pool with a beach-like entrance, as well as a flowing waterfall, Jacuzzi and poolside tiki bar. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "The pool and hot tub are awesome."

7. Wading in the Waterfalls: Red Roof Lodge, Leavenworth, Washington – Summer Rate: $700 to $850 per night

Located just three miles from the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, Red Roof Lodge offers travelers poolside luxury with a stunning infinity pool and spa, waterfalls, a nearby pool house, two fire pits and expansive decks for entertaining. As one TripAdvisor traveler noted, "The house is amazing and comfortable and the outside pool area is unbelievable."

8. Luxury Under the Lanai: Paradise Retreat, Princeville, Hawaii – Summer Rate: $6,650 per week

Situated on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, Paradise Retreat boasts a freeform lava rock pool and six-person hot tub under a covered lanai, all surrounded by a banana grove, fruit trees and lush vegetation. As one TripAdvisor traveler stated, "The palm tree lined, lava rock driveway welcomed us to the start of a wonderful family vacation... Late afternoons on the lanai hot tub while the teens were in the pool were especially relaxing."

9. Beachfront Basking: Seal Beach Beachfront Estate, Seal Beach, California – Summer Rate: $6,900 to $9,900 per week

Right on the doorstep of Seal Beach, this estate gives travelers splashy amenities right in their backyard, including its 90-foot lap pool, relaxing Jacuzzi and outdoor bar and barbecue area. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "It was a great home, pool, grounds, location and we would return."

10. Floating in the Forest: Splashing Bear Lodge, Sevierville, Tennessee –Summer Rate: $565 to $705 per night

Offering fantastic views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains and top-notch amenities like its game room and home theater, this rental cabin also features a private heated indoor swimming pool so guests can enjoy a splash no matter what the weather has in store for them. As one TripAdvisor traveler put it, "[The] pool was wonderful for the kids. We really enjoyed the chalet."

To explore the homes listed above and the more than 125,000 vacation rental listings available worldwide on TripAdvisor, visit www.tripadvisor.com/vacationrentals.

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools.

TripAdvisor® Media Group, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 50 million unique monthly visitors* across 18 popular travel brands**. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 40 million unique monthly visitors***, 20 million members, and over 45 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 29 countries worldwide****, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also operates TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor's millions of monthly visitors. The division includes Business Listings, which allows hoteliers to connect directly to millions of researching travelers, and Vacation Rentals, which helps property managers and individual home owners list their properties and showcase hotel alternatives.

TripAdvisor Media Group websites have been recognized as top travel resources in 2010 by Condé Nast Traveller, Good Housekeeping, TIME magazine and Travel + Leisure.

TripAdvisor Media Group generated $486 million in revenue in 2010. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Group are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Media Group Sites, Worldwide, August 2010

** In addition to TripAdvisor, The TripAdvisor Media Group of websites includes: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.sniqueaway.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com and www.kuxun.cn.