My Vacation Destination

The benefits of renting a beach house are numerous. Much like a hotel, the condos or beach homes are fully furnished. But unlike hotels, they come with full kitchens and usually have multiple bathrooms. Now these amenities may sound somewhat simple or irrelevant, but unless you are lucky enough to stay at an all-inclusive resort, the cost of food, drinks and snacks will be enormous. The access to a kitchen means that all of your friends can chip in for groceries and kitchen supplies, saving you a ton of money. There are several ways to save money on your rental – I’ll share them with you now:

1. Book early: No matter where you are going, making your reservations early is always the best way to go. In this case, the earlier you book – the better choices you’ll have. Rental units tend to fill up fast, you don’t want to get stuck with the left-overs. Get better value for your money with an early booking.

2. Do you really need an ocean view?: A room with a view is bound to cost more money. This goes for hotels and beach condos as well. People will pay top dollar for what they consider “prime” real estate. If you’re short on cash, ask for a rental that’s not directly on the beach, but within walking distance.

3. Don’t be afraid to negotiate: There are many reasons for increased rates during the Spring Break holiday, with the top reason being the unruliness and property damage risk that is usually associated with drunk college kids. Reach out to the property manager or home owner and see if there isn’t something that you do to negotiate a lower price in exchange for a higher deposit amount (assuming that your deposit is fully refundable) or a discount on the deposit altogether.

You will need to remember that renting a vacation home is still a big responsibility. You want to have fun, but you still need to be mindful of how you treat another persons property. As always, stay safe – be aware and enjoy yourself!