On Our Radar: Vacation Rental Homes

Maybe it's those wacky antics of Snooki and the Situation, but we're entertaining the idea of renting a beach house for a girls' getaway this summer. It's fun to stay under one roof, vacation rental homes are often more economical than a hotel--especially for a large group, and there are some pretty sweet vacation rentals to be had out there. While Seaside Heights, NJ is definitely off the list, here are a few spots we're considering:

Vacation Rental Home #1: Seaside Place in Key West. It has its own pool, is right by the beach, has 5 bedrooms, and starts at $600 a night.

Vacation Rental Home #2: Carpinteria, California. This 4-bedroom home near Santa Barbara has ocean views and rents for $5,000 a week. 

Vacation Rental Home #3: Bridgehampton, New York. Ok, so this 7-bedroom stunner isn't exactly a bargain at $35,000 per week, but it was built in '08 and we can see ourselves hosting the party of the season on that deck.  

Vacation Rental Home #4: Bravos by the Sea, in Vieques, Puerto Rico. While we're waiting for the W to open, we could happily call this 7-bedroom stunner home. It starts at $5,500 per week.

Not sure where to start your search for a vacation rental home? We like HomeAway and Discover Vacation Homes. HomeAway tends to be a little swankier, has more listings and offers European rentals. You may find better bargains on Discover Vacation Homes.