A summer vacation home rental is a great choice for your family vacation. If you book a rental home for more than a week, it can often be much less expensive than a hotel. You’ll also have more room, and many times you can have your own private pool and Jacuzzi in the backyard. It’s simply a more private, more spacious, and more relaxing environment, which is great for you and your family. But despite all these initial advantages, there are even more ways to save on your vacation home rental. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

1. Avoid the early summer

The period between late May and early June is a notoriously bad time of the year for getting a good deal on a vacation rental homes. This is the time when children get out of school, and many families immediately rush out to take a vacation. With many more families competing for the same real estate, vacation home owners have no incentive to lower their prices. In fact, they often raise them a bit during this time. It is much better to take your vacation during the mid to late summer months.

2. Be flexible on your dates

Rather than booking a home based on the dates you want to travel, you might try a different tactic. Instead, plan your travel dates based on when a home is available. Not only does this give you a wider selection to choose from, but it gives you the highest likelihood of securing a discount.

3. Be flexible on the home

Instead of choosing the exact home you’d like to stay in, you might consider asking the realtor which homes are available. If you let them choose, they might be able to get you into an even more luxurious home than you might have originally chosen – at a better price.

4. Last minute deals

This can save you the most money. However, if you’re the type of person who likes to plan everything out months in advance, it may not be the best choice for you.

As Canada’s capital city, Ottawa is home to a variety of historical buildings and landmarks, including Parliament Hill and the famous Rideau Canal (now a UN World Heritage site). When you live in an Ottawa apartment rental, you also find dozens of fantastic national museums and galleries devoted to Canadian arts, nature, science, technology, aerospace, and much more – right in your own backyard! There’s always something to see in Ottawa, a city rich with tradition.

Ottawa is home to numerous world-class national and international festivals and events throughout the year, including the Canadian Tulip Festival, Winterlude, Ottawa BluesFest, and Canada Day celebrations. These spectacular events create memories for a lifetime and attract visitors from all over the world – definitely a great way to spend a few hours (or a few days) in the capital!

Of course, Ottawa isn’t all museums and festivals. As a national capital on the world stage, Ottawa also enjoys first-class fine dining, live entertainment, and vibrant nightlife – just one of the perks of renting an apartment here, especially an apartment in Downtown Ottawa.

Due to its location right on the Ontario-Quebec border, as well its role as the nation’s capital, Ottawa is a very multicultural city. Not only are most city services offered in both English and French, but Ottawa also offers the chance to take in a host of different cultures, languages, and religions from around the globe, reflecting a truly diverse community.

Ottawa is a great place to pursue academic studies. With six major colleges and universities in the National Capital Region, as well numerous technology institutes and professional schools, Ottawa is home to a highly integrated and flexible education system. Plus, the student apartments in Ottawa are all very affordable, comfortable, and convenient!

While the “tech bubble” may have burst, Ottawa is still a hotbed of high-tech research and development. There are currently more than 1,800 advanced technology companies in the region (employing more than 76,000 people), and an amazing 90% of Canada’s telecommunications R&D is conducted in the Ottawa area. Simply put, Ottawa is one smart city!

Ottawa is the perfect place to raise a family. With an abundance of parks and green space, a rich number of sports and educational programs, well as excellent public and private education options, Ottawa provides a clean, safe, and healthy environment in which to raise children. In addition, with all of the attractions mentioned above, renting an apartment in Ottawa allows your children to experience the world’s many cultures and histories through festivals, museums, and the arts.