San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals News

SAN DIEGO—"Have a Blast" in San Diego with the discount card recently introduced by San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals and Mission Beach Magazine. The new discount program provides area visitors with discounts and free services at 17 Mission Beach and Pacific Beach area businesses, San Diego Sunset President Will Holland announced this week.

“The ‘Have A Blast Pass’ program is a cooperative effort to help promote area businesses and to provide added value to San Diego Sunset Vacation Rental guests,” Holland explained. “It’s a win-win proposition. Additional business is generated for partners in the program, and vacationers are provided discounts and/or free services.”

Each guest checking into any of the 50-plus San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals receives a "Have A Blast Pass" along with a list of participating businesses and what they offer. A listing of "Have A Blast" partners and the discounts or free services they offer is also published in Mission Beach Magazine, according to Holland.

The pass offers discounts on surfing lessons, pizza, recreational rentals, beachwear and sandals, jewelry and a long list of other goods or services. For example, Segway of Pacific Beach will honor the "Have A Blast Pass" with a 10 percent discount off any two-hour Segway rental. “Where You Want to Be Tours,” which was recently featured in Mission Beach Magazine, offers $3 off walking or bike tours or $100 off a scavenger hunt.

“If you just want to save some money on dinner, use the pass for $5 off dinner at Guava Beach Bar & Grill,” advises Holland, “or order Pizza at Rosaria Pizza and get a 10 percent discount.”

If what you are really looking for is a beauty treatment, Mission Hair & Nails offers a 10 percent discount off a manicure and pedicure, then cross the street for a 10 percent discount off a pair of sandals. You won’t be done until you head to Mission Beach Cleaners and Tanning for a free tanning session with any fluff and fold service. Top the day off with a jewelry purchase at 10 percent off at nearby Chris’ Jewelry.

“The ‘Have A Blast Pass’ also allows San Diego Sunset guests unlimited free access to the Powerhouse Gym in the Promenade Shopping Center, and free use of San Diego Sunset’s business center, free Wi-Fi, as well as free bike, boogey board and horseshoe rentals,” Holland explained.

“The Pass has been well-received and well-used,” he said. “It’s been a good partnership among a group of area businesses that benefits them and benefits our guests.”

For more information about becoming a “Have A Blast Pass” partner, Holland encourages businesses to contact him at info@sandiegosunset.com. There is no cost to participate in the program, just a commitment to offer great service and a discount or free service to San Diego Sunset guests, he said.

By Suzanne M. Perez

SAN DIEGO—In an effort to provide a resource for Mission Beach and Pacific Beach vacationers, and promote the Mission Beach and Pacific Beach areas as a vacation destination, San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals has begun publication of Mission Beach Magazine, announced San Diego Sunset President Will Holland.

“We wanted to accomplish two goals – draw vacationers to the Mission Beach and Pacific Beach areas, and to offer them a guide of things to do while they are here,” said Holland.

The third issue recently hit the stands, with 10,000 copies being distributed in a variety of ways. Distribution stands are placed throughout the area and partner business also distribute the magazine, according to Holland. “Each guest of San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals gets a copy when they check in,” he added.

The Spring/Summer 06 issue of Mission Beach Magazine includes articles about area golf courses, Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo and Mission Trails Regional Park. Articles also give tourists information on charter fishing trips and a San Diego tour company.

“The map inside each is a great resource for visitors because it shows a detailed map of the Mission Beach and Pacific Beach areas,” Holland said. “The map also shows the popular bike path that takes you around Mission Bay, surf spots, grocery stores and trolley stops.”

The magazine also pictures and describes the 50-plus vacation rentals managed by San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals. “The same information is available on San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals web site, www.SanDiegoSunset.com, but a lot of people like to page through the magazine and read about the rentals, rather than surf the net,” Holland said.

Current and past issues of Mission Beach Magazine can also be viewed online at www.missionbeachmagazine.com. “As we grow as a business, we want to have the magazine grow also,” Holland said. “We really want to highlight the great vacation lifestyles of the area with supreme photography and informative stories.”

Holland encourages anyone who would like a copy of the magazine, or is interested in advertising, to contact him at info@sandiegosunset.com. “We have had a lot of very positive feedback on the magazine from both vacationers and area businesses,” he said.

by Suzanne M. Perez

SAN DIEGO—Have you ever been on vacation and had some immediate business to tend to, only to find out that your hotel charges an exorbitant price to use its business center? It happened to San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals President Will Holland, which is why he has a business center that is free for his guests.

“When people go on vacation, they can’t always leave their work at home,” he said. “They need to be able to log onto the internet, link into a wireless network, and send faxes. They shouldn’t have to pay extra for those simple services.”

As an innovator in the local vacation rental business, Holland saw a need and decided to fill it. “When my wife and I started looking around for a vacation rental company to handle our own vacation rental a few years ago, we weren’t happy with what we found,” he explained. That’s why he and is wife, Ikuko, started their own. “We saw companies that charged both the owners and the guests special fees for one thing or another. They didn’t offer basic needs like a business center and internet access. They didn’t even offer free nursery rentals, much less free bicycle and boogie board rentals.”

Holland had a vision of a vacation rental company that would be full service with the emphasis on the “service.” He is proud to offer his guests free use of a business center, as well as free recreation and nursery rentals. He refuses to charge extra for the services that he says should be included in a vacation rental stay, like cleaning fees, reservation fees and damage waivers. “What’s this about charging to make a reservation?” he mused. “Isn’t that what the company is already getting paid to do? It’s not a good deal if you are getting charged all kinds of special fees and it’s even a worse deal if they can’t provide you with free Wi-Fi and a free space to take care of business.”

A vacation rental can be the most economical way to take a vacation, but watch out for those extra charges, he warns, and make sure you will be provided what you need, like access to computers, the internet, faxing and printing capabilities.

Guests at the 50-plus Mission Beach and Pacific Beach area vacation rentals Holland manages, also get free access to a fitness center. “We want to be the company that provides vacationers more than a rental unit, we want to provide a vacation experience,” Holland said.

by Suzanne M. Perez

Link: http://www.sandiegosunsetvacationrentals.com/html/gym.htm

SAN DIEGO—Free fitness center access has been added to the list of guest services provided by San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals, President Will Holland announced. “When people are traveling, they often want to continue their exercise regimen, or even start a new one, and free daily access to a fitness center is something they really appreciate,” Holland explained.


Guests staying at any of San Diego Sunset’s more than 50 Mission Beach/Pacific Beach area vacation rentals can use the Powerhouse Gym, located at 4150 Mission Blvd, in the Promenade Shopping Center. The gym is centrally located and within walking distance of the areas vacation rentals, Holland noted. The location also provides plenty of free parking for those who prefer to drive to the gym, he said.


San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals is the only area company to offer free gym access to its guests, according to Holland. “Since we opened our doors nearly three years ago, we have strived to be different and better than our competitors,” he said. “This is one more way we set ourselves apart from other vacation rental companies.”


The 14,000 square-foot facility has a complete cardio center, with entertainment. For the weight lifter, there are traditional weight machines, plus a large free weight room. Free group classes, including yoga, Pilates and aerobics are also included in what is available to San Diego Sunset guests, Holland said.


“When I have traveled, I wanted to work out while on the road, the nice hotels I stayed in usually charged an additional per day fee to use the gym,” Holland said. “That really bothered me that I was paying a high price for a hotel room, then had to pay extra to use the gym, and was charged again if I needed to use the business center. What was that huge hotel bill all about?”


Holland took the lessons he learned while traveling for business and set out to build a vacation rental company that would provide what people want, without charging extra for it. “Why should people pay for their accommodations, then have to pay more to work out?”


The Powerhouse Gym is open from 5a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 5 am to 10 p.m. on Friday; and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Seven days a week, the staff is on hand to help vacationers become familiar with the equipment. “The friendly atmosphere eliminates any anxiety over being in an unfamiliar gym,” Holland said. “There is no longer any reason to skip the gym while you are vacationing in Mission Beach.”


by Suzanne M. Perez

SAN DIEGO—A leader in innovation in the local vacation rental industry, San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals has gone green, relying on clean air vehicles for the bulk of its business, President Will Holland announced today.

San Diego Sunset has turned to zero-emission electric vehicles and bicycles to take care of the day-today business of the vacation rental company, he said. A bright yellow electric GEM vehicle with the San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals logos, an electric Segway transporter, and a fleet of bicycles take Holland and his employees up and down the 4-mile stretch of Mission Boulevard, where the company’s 50+ vacation rentals are located.

“It made a lot of sense for a lot of reasons,” Holland said. “We want to keep the ocean air clean and reduce the use of polluting combustible engines as much as possible.” He said that the frequent but short trips required for upkeep of the vacation rentals burned a lot of gas and gave off plenty of pollution. “We probably reduced our fuel usage by about 85 percent,” he said.

The four-seater GEM car will go at speeds up to 25 miles per hour and will travel up to 30 miles on a single charge from a standard 110-volt outlet. “We estimate the cost for electricity is about 15 percent of what we would be paying for gas at today’s prices,” Holland said. “But the reduction in gas emissions is the real pay-off.” The GEM car is limited to streets with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour, so it is perfect for around Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, but it can’t go on freeways or expressways.

Segways are two-wheeled personal mobility vehicles that are also battery powered. Like the GEM vehicle, the Segway plugs into a standard 110-outlet. It can travel up to about 24 miles on a single charge with a maximum speed of about 12 miles per hour. Unlike the GEM, it can cruise along Ocean Front Walk or Bay Walk and park almost anywhere. “It only costs about 10 cents to charge the battery,” Holland said. “We just leave it plugged in so it’s ready to go when we have an errand to run.”

The company’s pledge to increase its use of zero emissions vehicles extends to its contract work crews as well. “We encourage our maintenance and cleaning crews get around on bicycles, rather than cars,” Holland said. “It’s good for the environment, it’s good for the worker’s health and it’s good for our bottom line. There is a huge savings, not only in gas, but in time and energy wasted just trying to find a parking place,” he said. “Parking is at a premium in the area and bicycles can be locked up anywhere.”

The company still has one SUV, but reserves it for trips away from the Pacific Beach and Mission Beach area, where faster speeds are required and when larger cargo area is needed. “There are times when we have to pick up supplies and building materials and the GEM car and Segway won’t do the job because of the limited speeds, limited range and limited carrying capacity,” Holland explained. “But we depend on the SUV less and less and the zero-emission modes of transportation more and more.”

by Suzanne M. Perez