Do people ever give discount on rates?

[ckralich]

Ok, thanks for the advice. We booked the unit. It came to a bit less than 350 per night after tax, an administrative fee (I'm still baffled by a $60 administrative fee - isn't that part of a rental agencies job?), cleaning fee.

Since this is our first trip to the area I'm not going to roll the dice, but I might on future trips once we get a better feel for the area.

I love this site. I think I have read almost every post. My wife thinks I'm nuts. Is there any way to block the pictures and smileys? I think my boss is getting suspicious.

 

[Matt J]

Ok, thanks for the advice. We booked the unit. It came to a bit less than 350 per night after tax, an administrative fee (I'm still baffled by a $60 administrative fee - isn't that part of a rental agencies job?), cleaning fee.

Since this is our first trip to the area I'm not going to roll the dice, but I might on future trips once we get a better feel for the area.

I love this site. I think I have read almost every post. My wife thinks I'm nuts. Is there any way to block the pictures and smileys? I think my boss is getting suspicious.

Enjoy, I'm pretty sure you will. Does the unit include the beach club?

Take a half day while you're here and hit the rental companies for brochures and ideas for your next trip. You will be back.

Rivard
Garrett Rentals
Dale E. Peterson
WaterColor/WaterSound
Dune Allen

Those are the largest and most reputable in the area.

I think you can read the threads in "printer friendly" that will block all of the pictures and smileys.

 

[ckralich]

Enjoy, I'm pretty sure you will. Does the unit include the beach club?

Take a half day while you're here and hit the rental companies for brochures and ideas for your next trip. You will be back.

Rivard
Garrett Rentals
Dale E. Peterson
WaterColor/WaterSound
Dune Allen

Those are the largest and most reputable in the area.

I think you can read the threads in "printer friendly" that will block all of the pictures and smileys.

It does include the Beach Club. Printer Friendly is perfect. Thanks.

 

[Minnie]

Sounds like a great deal and what a beautiful place to stay. The Beach Club at Watersound is fabulous.

Be sure to drive down to Rosemary Beach to Wild Olives for some really good food especially the tuna salad.

Enjoy your trip and the planning.

 

[UofL]

We stayed at the same place, same realtor, never received a discount. In fact, when we wanted to change our rental for the 4th year - rent something bigger - we were charged a service fee and this was before January when very few people had begun booking for June. IF they had had that on their website, I would understand, but when I complained, they changed their website the next day. Obviously we have never returned to that rental agency. Disappointing. It was the principal of the thing
Next agency was way too expensive where we did stay, but we did it once. Found other similar places with another agency that were half the price but they went out of business after we booked 2 vacations in the same house.
The lovely people at the current business have honored our 3 weeks worth of vacations planned. I appreciate that.
No one should be cut short whether it is the rental agency, owner, or vacation person - is that a word? I understand that the changing fees are common because alot of people may lose business with people backing out but if they already have their deposit and they back out close to vacation time - we were 9 months out....oh well

Another time we arrived and found our place was next to a huge construction projection. They moved us to a smaller place but it was on the beach - a block closer and we ended up staying there two or three years. When the money runs out, we'll go back there.

We enjoy coming back to the same place each year. I don't think we could afford to buy where we would want to stay so you guys will continue to get our money

Ellen

 

[rapunzel]

One other point on Spring Break discounts -- I understand that our major markets are all having spring break on the same two weeks. I believe the normal 5 or 6 weeks of spring break are happening in two weeks and the rest will be really slow.

The two big weeks --

March 14-21
April 4-11

So, I would think it would be pointless to ask for a discount on either of those weeks, and owners might be smart to think about offering discounts for other weeks when we will not be seeing our traditional crowds.

 

[Matt J]

We stayed at the same place, same realtor, never received a discount. In fact, when we wanted to change our rental for the 4th year - rent something bigger - we were charged a service fee and this was before January when very few people had begun booking for June. IF they had had that on their website, I would understand, but when I complained, they changed their website the next day. Obviously we have never returned to that rental agency. Disappointing. It was the principal of the thing
Next agency was way too expensive where we did stay, but we did it once. Found other similar places with another agency that were half the price but they went out of business after we booked 2 vacations in the same house.
The lovely people at the current business have honored our 3 weeks worth of vacations planned. I appreciate that.
No one should be cut short whether it is the rental agency, owner, or vacation person - is that a word? I understand that the changing fees are common because alot of people may lose business with people backing out but if they already have their deposit and they back out close to vacation time - we were 9 months out....oh well

Another time we arrived and found our place was next to a huge construction projection. They moved us to a smaller place but it was on the beach - a block closer and we ended up staying there two or three years. When the money runs out, we'll go back there.

We enjoy coming back to the same place each year. I don't think we could afford to buy where we would want to stay so you guys will continue to get our money

Ellen

I'm pretty sure I remember this and 9 months is stupid. If you can't re-rent that same time period in 9 months then the rental company is failing it's clients.

One other point on Spring Break discounts -- I understand that our major markets are all having spring break on the same two weeks. I believe the normal 5 or 6 weeks of spring break are happening in two weeks and the rest will be really slow.

The two big weeks --

March 14-21
April 4-11

So, I would think it would be pointless to ask for a discount on either of those weeks, and owners might be smart to think about offering discounts for other weeks when we will not be seeing our traditional crowds.

Brace yourselves, it's gonna be nothing to 90 in a 24 hour time period. Sounds like the perfect storm.

 

[Miss Kitty]

One other point on Spring Break discounts -- I understand that our major markets are all having spring break on the same two weeks. I believe the normal 5 or 6 weeks of spring break are happening in two weeks and the rest will be really slow.

The two big weeks --

March 14-21
April 4-11

So, I would think it would be pointless to ask for a discount on either of those weeks, and owners might be smart to think about offering discounts for other weeks when we will not be seeing our traditional crowds.

See you on the 12th!

 

[Beach Runner]

Enjoy, I'm pretty sure you will. Does the unit include the beach club?

Take a half day while you're here and hit the rental companies for brochures and ideas for your next trip. You will be back.

Rivard
Garrett Rentals
Dale E. Peterson
WaterColor/WaterSound
Dune Allen

Those are the largest and most reputable in the area.

I think you can read the threads in "printer friendly" that will block all of the pictures and smileys.

And Beach Seekers. Beach Seekers ~ South Walton Rentals

 

[Beach Runner]

One other point on Spring Break discounts -- I understand that our major markets are all having spring break on the same two weeks. I believe the normal 5 or 6 weeks of spring break are happening in two weeks and the rest will be really slow.

The two big weeks --

March 14-21
April 4-11

So, I would think it would be pointless to ask for a discount on either of those weeks, and owners might be smart to think about offering discounts for other weeks when we will not be seeing our traditional crowds.

So maybe we just shouldn't rent March 14-21. We'll be there the other week because it's my college spring break. 99% of the incredibly stupid damage at our home happens with spring break rentals. Even when it's families renting it. This is verified by my "spies" (sister, neighbors, etc.) who assure me that the renters are not just Mom's fronting for a house full of teenagers or college kids who aren't chaperoned.

We charge for pool heat because you can't keep renters from keeping the hot tub and pool on 102 degrees 24/7. One renter declined the charge for pool heat and then broke the lock off the pool heater and stole pool heat. I mean, if you are spending $4500 to rent a house, why would you steal pool heat? I guess that they didn't anticipate that we would arrive just after their checkout and discover the damage. This renter got charged $1000 for breaking the pool heater panel and for the gas that was used and not paid for. That was what it cost us.