TOP TEN MONEY-SAVING TIPS FOR DESTIN
by Paula Hughes Court
1. RENT A CONDO INSTEAD OF A HOTEL ROOM. Destin
condo prices run slightly higher than hotel rooms, but over a week’s stay
you’ll save big on meal expenses. A family of four can easily save $25 or
more by eating breakfast at the condo and even more at lunch.
2. BRING ALONG ANOTHER FAMILY TO SPLIT THE CONDO
COST. Three and four bedroom town homes can be rented for
approximately the same cost as a nice one-bedroom condo. Bring along
friends or another family to split the accommodation cost.
3. VISIT DESTIN BEFORE MEMORIAL WEEKEND OR
AFTER THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST. May and October are the
absolute best times to visit Destin. During these months the weather is
perfect and the water is crystal clear. Seaweed usually washes in around
the last week in June and appears sporadically throughout the summer.
The ocean temperature is warmer in October than in May making it the
perfect time to visit.
4. CONSIDER RENTING BY OWNER. Many condo owners rent by
owner, meaning you’ll save an average of 25%. This is the normal
percentage charged by rental management companies to “rent”
individual condos. Plus, many management companies are now tacking
on additional cleaning fees, extra deposits, etc. The downside to renting
by owner is that most do not accept credit cards and may not be able to
respond quickly to maintenance issues. There are several reputable
websites listing Destin condos for rent by owner, including www.vrbo.
com and www.greatrentals.com.
5. BRING ALONG BEACH CHAIRS AND AN INEXPENSIVE UMBRELLA.
Umbrella and chairs rentals run $75 and up per week. The sun is
intense and most families do need an umbrella for protection against
the sun. Note: Take the umbrella down every night or you will lose it to
the tide or high winds. The same goes for outdoor tent structures unless
they’re staked down securely.
6. DINE OUT BETWEEN 5 P.M. AND 6 P.M.- Several of Destin’s
gourmet restaurants offer two-for-one specials between this time period.
Check the local paper and the free newspapers for special offers and
coupons.
7. CHECK OUT PRICELINE IF YOU NEED A SHORT-TERM HOTEL ROOM-
The oceanfront Sandestin Hilton is listed on Priceline as well as the
Country Inn and Suites which is located on Highway 98. Be careful when
bidding on Priceline or you might end up in Fort Walton instead. Check
out informational websites like www.betterbidding.com for information
on how to bid.
8. FILL UP WITH GAS BEFORE YOU GET TO FLORIDA-Florida has some
of the highest gas prices in the nation. Fill up in Alabama if you’re driving
in.
9. SHOP FOR BEACH ITEMS AT THE SUPER-WALMART.
From suntan lotion to beach dresses, the Destin Super-Walmart offers
the best prices in town. The Walmart also includes a full-size grocery
store.
10. EAT OUT FOR LUNCH INSTEAD OF DINNER. Most
restaurants offer lunch specials at half the price of their dinners. Also be
aware the wait to get into restaurants at night during the busy season
can be quite long.
by Paula Hughes Court
1. RENT A CONDO INSTEAD OF A HOTEL ROOM. Destin
condo prices run slightly higher than hotel rooms, but over a week’s stay
you’ll save big on meal expenses. A family of four can easily save $25 or
more by eating breakfast at the condo and even more at lunch.
2. BRING ALONG ANOTHER FAMILY TO SPLIT THE CONDO
COST. Three and four bedroom town homes can be rented for
approximately the same cost as a nice one-bedroom condo. Bring along
friends or another family to split the accommodation cost.
3. VISIT DESTIN BEFORE MEMORIAL WEEKEND OR
AFTER THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST. May and October are the
absolute best times to visit Destin. During these months the weather is
perfect and the water is crystal clear. Seaweed usually washes in around
the last week in June and appears sporadically throughout the summer.
The ocean temperature is warmer in October than in May making it the
perfect time to visit.
4. CONSIDER RENTING BY OWNER. Many condo owners rent by
owner, meaning you’ll save an average of 25%. This is the normal
percentage charged by rental management companies to “rent”
individual condos. Plus, many management companies are now tacking
on additional cleaning fees, extra deposits, etc. The downside to renting
by owner is that most do not accept credit cards and may not be able to
respond quickly to maintenance issues. There are several reputable
websites listing Destin condos for rent by owner, including www.vrbo.
com and www.greatrentals.com.
5. BRING ALONG BEACH CHAIRS AND AN INEXPENSIVE UMBRELLA.
Umbrella and chairs rentals run $75 and up per week. The sun is
intense and most families do need an umbrella for protection against
the sun. Note: Take the umbrella down every night or you will lose it to
the tide or high winds. The same goes for outdoor tent structures unless
they’re staked down securely.
6. DINE OUT BETWEEN 5 P.M. AND 6 P.M.- Several of Destin’s
gourmet restaurants offer two-for-one specials between this time period.
Check the local paper and the free newspapers for special offers and
coupons.
7. CHECK OUT PRICELINE IF YOU NEED A SHORT-TERM HOTEL ROOM-
The oceanfront Sandestin Hilton is listed on Priceline as well as the
Country Inn and Suites which is located on Highway 98. Be careful when
bidding on Priceline or you might end up in Fort Walton instead. Check
out informational websites like www.betterbidding.com for information
on how to bid.
8. FILL UP WITH GAS BEFORE YOU GET TO FLORIDA-Florida has some
of the highest gas prices in the nation. Fill up in Alabama if you’re driving
in.
9. SHOP FOR BEACH ITEMS AT THE SUPER-WALMART.
From suntan lotion to beach dresses, the Destin Super-Walmart offers
the best prices in town. The Walmart also includes a full-size grocery
store.
10. EAT OUT FOR LUNCH INSTEAD OF DINNER. Most
restaurants offer lunch specials at half the price of their dinners. Also be
aware the wait to get into restaurants at night during the busy season
can be quite long.
FAMILY TRAVEL FUN
TOP TEN MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR DESTIN
TOP TEN MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR DESTIN
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