Sunday in Paris: Where do I eat?

I've long assumed that renting a vacation home meant rounding up eight people for a week-long getaway. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s common to book a rental for merely a long weekend. A case-in-point: The average booking for a home, cabin, or condo is just four nights on Zonder.com, a site that lists private, professionally managed rentals in the U.S., Caribbean, and Central America. The average group size is only four to five people, which is also smaller than I expected. Bob Barnes, the CEO of the rental site Zonder, recently chatted with me about how to find the best deals. Here’s a key part of the interview. Q: How is the economic downturn changing the way vacation rentals are being handled? A: Because of the recession, many management companies are loosening their booking restrictions, and we are taking advantage of that. Negotiate by asking these questions. • Is there any flexibility with the minimum stay? Though one-night stays aren’t common, sometimes you can get a three-day rental for a long weekend. • A Saturday-to Saturday stay is especially popular in ski destinations. See if that requirement can be waived. • Can the lead time be shortened? Some management companies require you to book at least seven days in advance but that causes them to miss last-minute reservations. Q: Other than thinking you need to rent for a week, what are other common misconceptions that people have about vacation rentals? A: Don’t assume popular destinations have limited inventory. Just outside of Orlando, for example, you could recently book a five-bedroom home with a pool for less than $200 per night, versus a 12-by-12-square-foot hotel room for the same price. Even in Hawaii, we have condos for under $200 per night, such as this recent deal. Q: Any other tips? A: Go in off-season. Stay away from bank and school holidays, like spring break. Even going one week before or after the peak season can save you money. Consider visiting mountain destinations in the summer. For example, a two-bedroom Park City townhouse recently went for $479 per night during peak season. An off-peak rental would cost just $234 per night, or about 50 percent less. If you aren't finding what you need online, call 866/613-3166. Our booking agents are available 24/7 and are good at finding properties. MORE RENTAL WEBSITES Budget Travel's Vacation Rental Handbook

Did you know that Jan. 23 is National Pie Day? We didn't either, but thank goodness the Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine, are on top of these things. To celebrate, four coastal inns are hosting Pies on Parade this Sunday. Each inn will be receiving ticketed guests between 1 and 4 p.m., with tours of common areas and some guests rooms. Taste various pies, from traditionals like cherry and apple to more modern variations like Key Limerock Pie, Seafood with Lobster Pie, Kiwi Berry Tart, and a Goat Cheese Breakfast Pie. Then take home a recipe collection so you can bake your own. The four inns (the Berry Manor Inn, the Lindsey House Inn, the LimeRock Inn, and the Old Granite Inn) are within walking distance of each other. But a trolley will make the rounds. Some of Rockland's local businesses are also offering samples, including a Chocolate Decadence Pie at the Pastry Garden and Lemon Curd Pie with Ginger Crust at Lily Bistro. (Cue the drooling). All proceeds go to the local Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry. And you can rest assured that the decadence won't hurt the environment: All of the pie will be served with biodegradable, "compostable" plates and silverware-made of sugar cane. There are still some accommodations left at the inns, if you want to make a weekend of it; packages start at $160. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children 10 and under, and can be purchased by calling 877/762-4667. Rockland is about 90 minutes north of Portland, Maine.

It's taken sculptor David Adickes six years to carve 18-to-20-foot busts of all the U.S. presidents. They're destined for the new Presidential Park and Gardens at WaterLights, just south of Houston, and were inspired by a visit Adickes made to Mount Rushmore—it left him wishing to get closer to the imposing figures. The park, which includes interactive features on American history, has room to accommodate each successive president through the next century. It doesn't officially open until September 2009 ($1, free for kids under 12), but six presidential busts—chosen by voters in an online poll—are already on display: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Houston native George H.W. Bush. Drivers on Highway 288 South get a good view. Crowd-pleaser Barack Obama will soon join their ranks, both as president and park attraction. Adickes is putting the final touches on the Obama statue to be unveiled on February 16, President's Day, naturally. See footage of the initial park installation below in the YouTube video "March of the President Heads": RELATED Texas: Travel Is Booming 15 Places Every Kid Should See Before 15 Where 50 Important Americans Grew Up

For way too many years, it's been nearly impossible to find a hotel room in NY for less than $300 per night. No longer. Back in November, we told you about The Jane, a hotel with incredible rates. And now we've got another one for you: The Gem Hotel, with locations in Midtown West, Soho, and Chelsea. We included a package deal at The Gem's Chelsea location in today's Real Deal from $159 per room per night, noting that rates at this (Chelsea) location will jump by about $100 in February. With rates as low as $139 at most of its locations, the chain could get away with offering minimal amenities, but it actually does just the opposite. Instead of charging guests for things like bottled water, high-speed Internet, and shoe shines (yes, shoe shines!), Gem gives them away for free. And it doesn't skimp on quality, either. The pillows are down, the in-room coffee is Wolfgang Puck, and the bath products are Gilchrist & Soames (a fancy British brand). Another fun detail: One of the goals of The Gem Hotel is to become a part of the community, so it offers deals that feature local establishments. For example, the Soho location has a Katz's Delicatessen Pastrami Package (1 room, 2 pastrami sandwiches from Katz's) and a Sunshine Movie Theater Package (1 room, 2 passes to Sunshine Movie Theater). And rumor has it the staff is looking into volunteering with local organizations—another cool way of supporting the community. MORE HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS New York at a Price That's Right