Choose the perfect condo
Take our advice to rent the last place to stay on your next vacation.
Our friends Travis and Patricia, Lake Charles, Louisiana, return each summer to a beautiful rental apartment in Orange Beach, Alabama. My wife and I are not so lucky. We spend half our lives searching for the perfect vacation rental. It’s like looking for the Holy Grail, but harder.
Google “condo” and you’ll get over 70 million results. There are some gems outside so the trick is to find them. Here are some helpful tips I’ve learned along the way.
* Ask a friend. “There’s no better word-of-mouth recommendation,” says Sharon Michie, owner of Cabins to Castles, a Florida Sanibel and Captiva Islands rental service (1-800-472-5385). Get tips from other readers in the Southern Living bulletin board travel community.
* Search for hiring local suppliers. Start with the Chamber of Commerce or Convention and Tourism Office for free lodging guides and links to rental agencies. ResortQuest, one of the largest, deals with properties in more than 50 destinations
* Do not trust the photographs. Full of large villas-view from the air. Interior photos help, but be sure to ask how long ago they were taken. “If they say it’s renewed, find out when,” Sharon advises. “After three years, you may need it again.”
* Try out of season. This can add up to big savings, especially in South Florida during the summer. On Sanibel and Captiva, summer rates for two-bedroom condos range from $950 to $1,500 per week, about half the cost of peak season.
Rates drop in winter in Northwest Florida. The luxurious Majestic Beach Towers in Panama City Beach are offering as low as $106 per night last February (toll free at 1-866-494-3364 or http://www.majesticbeachresort.com).
* Where is the elevator? She was happy to be asked if she has enough luggage to fill a moving track and also wants to know more about pools and proximity to grocery stores, restaurants, and parking lots.
* Compare amenities. New properties to keep thinking of new ways to pamper guests. Majestic Beach Towers has its own private cinema. Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Golf and spa vacation packages on the beach.
* Book in advance. This is especially important during peak vacation seasons, when vacationers often make reservations up to a year in advance.
* Scouts everywhere. When I’m on the road, I often check out places I’d like to stay next time. There’s nothing like seeing it first hand. I found one of my favorites, Kiva Dunes in Orange Beach, Alabama, just to finish. A large two-bedroom apartment ($250 per day) had a large balcony overlooking the golf course and dunes (toll free 1-866-540-7100 or www.Kivadunes.com).
* The devil is in the details. Cleaning fees, high deposits, and other hidden charges can really affect your profile. Ask about other rates before signing on the dotted line. Know the cancellation policy. Sharon also recommends adding hurricane insurance. In some properties, even if you cancel because of a storm, she is still in her crib.
* Bring some friends. If you don’t need the extra space for the kids, sharing a condo can cut costs. I have my eyes on Sandhurst Farm, MTV’s summer beach house, which sleeps 20. The most expensive rental property on Captiva Island, starting at US$21,500 per week. It will drop to $10,500 in the summer.