'Easy to get to, hard to leave'
<p>The Coeur d’Alene Resort’s front entrance borders Lake Coeur d’Alene, offering easy walking access to the lake, downtown and sprawling parks. The Lake City’s downtown district was among the reasons the TripAdvisor website ranked Coeur d’Alene among the “Northwest’s Best: 12 Surprising Vacation Rental Getaways Thriving in 2015.”</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - In a world that is becoming increasingly fond of vacation rentals, Coeur d'Alene is making its mark.
The Lake City placed third on TripAdvisor's list of "Northwest's Best: 12 Surprising Vacation Rental Getaways Thriving in 2015," and scored 4.73 of 5 on an average vacation rental review.
"Surrounded by more than 55 lakes within driving distance including Lake Coeur d'Alene itself, this scenic treasure is getting its due," reads the description on www.tripadvisor.com. "Catch an Idaho sunset from the patio of your rental, or enjoy a moonlit nightcap. The area has a charming downtown scene with over 100 merchants, plus monthly events like the Art Walk, featuring seven different local galleries. Canoe, kayak or jet ski on the water; hike, bike or golf on land. Only 30 minutes from Spokane International Airport, Coeur d'Alene is labeled as a 'destination that is easy to get to but hard to leave.'"
According to the website, a TripAdvisor survey found that 59 percent of travelers planned to stay in vacation rentals in 2015 - 7 percent more than last year. Vacation rentals are furnished houses or apartments where travelers can stay in lieu of chain hotels and motels. Travelers enjoy the amount of living space, the affordability, better amenities and the "at-home" feel of a vacation rental, according to the survey.
The TripAdvisor vacation rentals team analyzed traveler behavior through the past year of more than 1,000 vacation destinations that had increases in vacation rental property from 2014-2015 and found the following locations are climbing in popularity as vacation rental getaways:
1. Portland, Ore.
2. San Juan Islands, Wash.
3. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
4. Manzanita, Ore.
5. Yachats, Ore.
6. Whitefish, Mont.
7. West Yellowstone, Wyo.
8. Pacific City, Ore.
9. Whidbey Island, Wash.
10. Bozeman, Mont.
11. Jackson Hole, Wyo.
12. Red Lodge, Mont.