Daily Archives: February 1, 2011

I was skiing in New Hampshire last weekend, and as the weather got colder, my friends and I began reminiscing about our most recent trips to Hawaii. The turquoise water and warm sand of Waikiki started to sound like a great alternative to arctic winds and rumors of yet another snowstorm. The great part of winter weather in the Northeast is that after a day outside, you can’t beat a warm fire and hearty home-cooked chili in your ski cabin. Still, I went to sleep dreaming of luaus, big waves, and blue skies. Maybe the weather on the mainland has something to do with the fact that Hawaii has been all over the vacation rental news this week…

• A new tax law will require vacation rental owners to submit 1099 forms starting in 2011. The forms will need to be submitted for all vendors who are paid over $600, so make sure you track your payments to service providers such as housekeepers and repair companies.
• For those looking to invest in a warm getaway (and turn it into a vacation rental), Kahala Associates reports that Oahu luxury real estate is a stable investment in 2011.
• Peyton Manning and his family, along with other NFL athletes playing in this year’s Pro Bowl checked into vacation rentals in Hawaii. If you want to vacation like a baller, check out Kailua beach rentals on FlipKey.

As long as we’re on the subject of pro athletes and winter weather, check out the Boston Globe’s Shaq-o-meter, which shows this season’s snowfall compared to this season’s newest addition to the Boston Celtics.