Meet Melinda, the creative mind behind Ramble Travel Company. She and her husband are building the life of their dreams through hosting and have crafted a unique brand for themselves in just two years.
With properties in Savannah, Georgia, and Lake Placid, New York (and more to come!), Ramble has used Minoan to bring their philosophy of thoughtful and environmentally-friendly amenities to life. Keep reading to learn about their big growth plans, including their passion for electric vehicles, furniture refinishing, and creating stays that stand out with a touch of the local area's history.
Q: How long have you been a short-term rental host?
A: I’ve been a short-term rental host for about six months, but we’ve spent over two years building our first two properties.
Q: What inspired you to get into STR hosting?
A: I have always been interested in hospitality and see STR hosting as a way to express my creativity. My husband has a background in urban planning and real estate development and enjoys identifying investments in unique and growing areas. Plus, we love to travel. Our retirement goal is to have a portfolio of ten STRs throughout the U.S. and spend time traveling from one to another. Our hobbies are a driving force for where he would like to build our homes.
Q: How many short-term rentals do you operate?
A: Our portfolio includes:
- The Indigo House (operational since the Spring of 2023) is in Savannah, Georgia's Upper East River neighborhood.
- The Boreal Basecamp is on the AuSable River outside Lake Placid, New York. It’s a modern Adirondack-style home currently under construction. The NY property will be available in early 2024.
- We plan to build our next properties in the Teton Valley of Idaho, located just west of Jackson Hole, and we will share more details soon.
Q: How have you tried to differentiate your properties from other STRs - how do you make them stand out?
A: Our brand, Ramble Travel Company, emphasizes unique and well-designed stays with subtle references to the local area. For example, Indigo House is a nod to the history of the Georgia and South Carolina Low Country indigo industry, so to incorporate the history, we included feature walls depicting plant and animal scenes indicative of the area.
We made it a point to invest in high-quality furnishings (thanks to the Minoan discount!). We took great care in choosing furniture pieces that were stylish, well-made, and comfortable. We’re also committed to sustainable travel practices.
We are particularly passionate about electric vehicles and provide EV chargers at each of our homes. But that’s not all – we’re taking it a step further by integrating sustainable transportation into the experience. In the future, each booking will have the option to rent an EV suited to the location through partnerships with local Turo operators.
Lastly, we use Minoan and my furniture refinishing skills from my hobby business, Yellow Creek Interiors, to provide our homes with high-quality furnishings and appliances.
Q: What's your favorite thing about being an STR host?
A: I love visiting our STRs, continually making minor improvements, and then hearing from our guests how much they appreciate them.
Q: What is the #1 most important thing for STR hosts to get right, in your opinion?
A: Buying or building a unique property in the right area is obviously important, but I think guests want to stay in a home that goes beyond the everyday interior design. Take some thoughtful risks with wallpaper or statement pieces of furniture. In our experience, guests love something a little different.
Q: What products do your guests love the most?
A: Our Polywood deck furniture and modern blue velvet sofa from CB2 purchased through Minoan. We also get a ton of compliments on our mattresses purchased through Wayfair, which is also a Minoan partner.
Q: What are your favorite Minoan brands?
A: Our Chemex Ottomatic Pour-Over Coffee Maker, purchased through Crate and Barrel via Minoan, has been a big hit! We plan on utilizing Beekman 1802 toiletries for our next property. They’re cruelty-free, and recyclable materials appeal to us and support our philosophy.
Q: How has Minoan helped you with your short-term rentals?
A: Minoan’s centralized ordering was a big help! But without the discounts Minoan makes possible, it would have been impossible to purchase products from some of the best brands available in an affordable way.
Q: What's one thing you know now that you wished you knew when you first started setting up your STRs?
A: If you are building a property, start designing your rooms and ordering furniture and supplies as soon as possible. Even though the lead times are better now than during COVID, it can still take up to two months to receive a sofa or other large pieces of furniture, especially if you custom order.
Q: Any other tips for your fellow hosts?
A: Building a technology stack and developing partnerships is essential for success. Use Minoan for furniture and appliances, and AI guest messaging and automated pricing apps are huge time savers. It takes some time to set everything up, but once it's running, the time and money saved from these apps and partners is incredible.
Would you like to be featured in our host spotlight series?
Email us at host-spotlight@minoanexperience.com
