Slay the Vacay

How to make your home a dreamy Dallas vacation rental

Vacation homes are becoming an increasingly popular accommodation option for travelers, especially those traveling with families or a group of friends. It's easy to see why: Vacation homes offer more space, privacy, and unique amenities like a kitchen, fire pit, or private pool. On average, staying at a vacation rental is more affordable than hotels because groups can split the cost several ways.

Homeowners can earn an impressive income from creating a listing and renting their primary or secondary homes to travelers. Contrary to popular belief, owners do not have to rent their homes year-round. With Vrbo, owners are in full control of the availability, pricing, and house rules and can rent their places on their own terms.

Many owners only choose to list their homes during high-traffic travel seasons or during popular local events, like music festivals, holidays, or major sporting events. Homeowners who listed their homes for just three nights during last year's Texas versus Oklahoma football game made on average of $950 in just one weekend. Talk about easy money.

Creating your first vacation rental listing may seem daunting, but it's well worth the potential rental income. Here are four easy steps for making your vacation rental listing stand out and generate bookings.

1. Stage and shoot
Stage your home so guests can visualize using the space. For example, if you have a picnic table on your patio, set the table with nice dinner settings and wine glasses. Add pops of color throughout to make your listing come to life in photos — whether that's with throw pillows or a bowl of fruit in the kitchen.

Beautiful, well-lit photos help travelers imagine what it would be like to stay at your property. Travelers love taking photos while they're on vacation, so make your listing as Instagrammable as possible. Consider investing in a professional photographer who can help you capture the best shots and also assist with lighting, editing, and color correction.

2. Highlight unique amenities
One of the best parts of staying at vacation rentals is that every property is different and comes with distinctive amenities that you wouldn't find at just any hotel. If you own something special or attractive that sets your vacation home apart from others, make sure you highlight it in your listing description and feature it in your photos.

Some examples could be deluxe kitchen appliances (like a Nespresso machine), home theater or game room, outdoor fire pit or hot tub, or bikes that guests can use to explore the neighborhood.

3. Personalize the experience
Go above and beyond in the hospitality department to make sure guests feel welcomed and special when staying at your vacation home. A little bit goes a long way!

Create a guest book with recommendations for local restaurants, bars, retail areas, and attractions. Consider leaving a six-pack of local craft beer or coffee beans from a local coffee shop in the kitchen, and soaps and candles from a local artisan in the bathroom for your guests to try.

And remember that people love traveling with their fur babies, so if you're a pet-friendly home, have a doggie bed or treats ready for guests who bring their pets.

Vacation rentals are often used for group or family trips, and you'll usually learn that guests are celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary, bachelorette party, or family reunion. Consider providing champagne or balloons to help make their memories extra special.

4. Read and respond
Travelers almost always read reviews before booking vacation rentals, so not only is this great feedback for you but it also helps future travelers in their searches and decision making. Read all your reviews — guest feedback may inspire a way to improve your property or listing in the future.

You also have the ability to respond to your guest reviews if they left a complaint. Acknowledging and thanking them for their honest feedback is important.

Considering renting out your home for the first time? Vrbo is offering three-day wristbands to the ACL Music Festival in Austin and access to the Vrbo backstage for owners. Learn more here.

Invest in good pictures — guests rely heavily on them when choosing a vacation rental.

Photo courtesy of Vrbo

Invest in good pictures — guests rely heavily on them when choosing a vacation rental.

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Premium perk

American Airlines upgrades DFW Airport dining with help of Napa chef

Photo courtesy of AA

Wine-and-chocolate pairing created for American Airlines by chef Thomas Keller.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines is giving more premium travelers at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport access to one of its biggest perks: the sit-down dining experience in the Flagship lounge. And the Flagship menu itself is getting a glow-up with help from a famous Napa Valley chef.

Beginning September 15, those flying Flagship Business Plus and Flagship Business on qualifying long-haul international, transcontinental, and Hawaii routes will be able to enjoy restaurant-style dining inside American's Flagship Lounge at DFW, according to a release.

Flagship Lounge dining has previously been limited to passengers traveling in Flagship First. (Those flying Economy are out of luck, so sorry - but hey, new Portillo's!)

The expanded Flagship Dining experience is also available at American's Airport Miami International Airport lounge, with plans to reopen the private dining experience at Los Angeles International Airport in late 2026, the release says.

Menu changes
The expansion comes with a revamped four-course menu developed by American's culinary team. The seasonal menu will feature regional flavors and ingredients, including dishes inspired by the airline's various hubs, they say. Menu highlights include:

Texas pear and burrata salad
Roasted purple cauliflower steak
Flagship burger
Churro bread pudding
Mesquite-grilledbeef filet
California artisan board

AA Texas pear and burrata salad Texas pear and burrata salad.Photo courtesy of AA

Cheffy wine and chocolate
But perhaps the most notable addition is a wine-and-chocolate pairing created with chef Thomas Keller.

Keller, the chef behind California's three-Michelin-starred The French Laundry and co-founder of K+M Extravirgin Chocolate, is also a founding partner in KHK Wines. He curated a pairing for AA featuring KHK Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon with K+M chocolates and hazelnut dragées, which are also served at The French Laundry in Yountville, California.

The KHK Cabernet was made in collaboration with Napa Valley winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, whose résumé includes more than 60 Cabernet Sauvignons that have received 100-point scores, the release notes.

Keller says the wine partnership grew out of longtime friendships between KHK's Jim Keller, a fourth-generation Napa resident with no relation to the chef, and the Hall family of Hall's Chophouse.

"KHK is a vineyard partnership and a tribute to the longtime friendships among Jim Keller, a fourth-generation Napan with no relation to me, and the Hall family, of Hall's Chophouse. My role is to lend a chef's palate and guidance. We all share deep roots in wine, food and memorable experiences, and our vision for the perfect everyday Cabernet has come together," Keller says in the release.

The KHK Cabernet will also be available in all of American's Flagship lounges, as well as The Chelsea Lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

"At American, we're continually looking for ways to elevate the customer experience and create moments that make travel more memorable," says American's SVP of Customer Experience and Design Rhonda Crawford in the release. "By expanding access to Flagship Dining and introducing new menu enhancements, including an exclusive wine and chocolate pairing from KHK Wines and K+M Extravirgin Chocolate curated by Chef Thomas Keller, we're delivering an even more elevated hospitality experience that begins well before customers step on board."

Flagship Dining is available on a space-available basis, they say. Passengers can check with the host team inside the Flagship Lounge when they arrive. If no table is available, they can be placed on an electronic waitlist.

dfw airport chefs wine luxury american airlines