With Hawaii being the tourist destination that it is, the thought of vacation rental ownership seems like a smart investment.

I also like the idea of using it then selling it while I'm there - but I have these visions of me in a hawaiian shirt and straw hat standing on the corner handing out brochures to tourists the whole time trying to hawk them.

I would be interested in knowing which countries you know of that have more than 8% yield and affordable.As for the location, it is in Jomtien in a tourist attraction area.

@Vian Simpson: Jaco and Tamarindo areas are very popular tourist spots on the beach.  

Think like a tourist to understand the seasonality of it a little better.

They may cash flow right now after HOA and Property Management fees, but all it takes is one little economic hiccup and those tourists go bye-bye.

For the Vacation Rental market, you are in an ideal location to capture year-round guests who attend conventions at the convention center or visit the historical tourist attractions such as the Liberty Bell.

We are in Columbus and didn't think it was a tourist destination at all but we live in the best neighborhood and can walk to many bars and restaurants.

Yes, we're busy with skiers all winter but in the summer we're slammed with tourists visiting Yosemite National Park.

Rural areas and tourist hotspots seem less likely to be affected as these areas bring in a lot of tourist dollars.A STR in a normal neighborhood is asking for trouble.