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Your Vacation Rental Is Costing You More Than You Think

There's nothing quite as deflating as finding the perfect rental for your next trip, only to watch the price skyrocket at checkout with fees you never saw coming. Turns out that frustration is nearly universal. A recent survey found 61 percent of travelers named hidden fees their top booking complaint.

Here's advice from a pro who's spent three decades in the vacation-rental business on how to book smarter, not just cheaper.

T R A V E L

72 Hours, 4 Spas, 135 Miles: The Ultimate Phoenix Spa Road Trip

Photo: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

The best way to hit the best spas in Phoenix is a wellness road trip through the Sonoran desert. You can do it in a long weekend, though a full week leaves more time for the thermal waters, massages, and desert quiet.

D E A L S

Fly to Asia for as low as $799

Photo: STARLUX Airlines Co.

STARLUX currently has round-trip economy fares to Asia starting at $799, flying out of LAX, San Francisco, Seattle, or Phoenix to spots like Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Macau.

You've got until August 18 to book, so don't wait.

F O O D & D R I N K

7 Local Foods You Need to Try in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Photo: Eber Beristain/Shutterstock

Puerto Vallarta is best known for its beaches and all-inclusive resorts, but its street food is the real draw. From seafood pulled straight from the Bay of Banderas to birria tacos and the bold flavors Jalisco is famous for, these are the local dishes worth skipping the resort buffet for.

S T A Y S

This Baja Sur Resort Sits Between Mountains and Sea on the Edge of a National Marine Park

Photo: Kate Orlando

Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto sits at a rare meeting point in Baja California Sur, mountains at its back, the Sea of Cortez out front, and a nearly 800-square-mile marine park just offshore.

This resort works for just about everyone, with a five-part turtle-shaped pool, snorkeling with sea turtles, a desert golf course, and an aloe bath that turned a sunburn into a highlight.

G I V E A W A Y

Win a Luxury Escape to Los Cabos

Enter for a chance to win a 3-night all-inclusive escape for two at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, an adults-only resort on a secluded Los Cabos beach. The prize includes a deluxe ocean view room, a 50-minute massage at the Armonia Spa, and access to a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course on the Pacific.

Travel Well

The Matador Editorial Team

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