When Do People Start to Book Their Summer Vacation?

[luvthebeach57]

This will be the first time we've stayed in the area since 1995. I've been looking for a rental for this summer. The first thing that I noticed is that rentals for this summer are WIDE OPEN right now for nearly every condo, townhouse, and home I've looked at. When do most vacationers usually start to book their summer rental? It appears to me that there is an overabundance of rentals available (not that I'm complaining). I've been looking over all the possibilities for about a month and don't feel that I need to rush into making a decision since there is so much available right now.

I wonder if the economy, gas prices, real estate market, etc. may have an adverse affect on how many people are renting this summer?

 

[luvthebeach57]

This will be the first time we've stayed in the area since 1995. I've been looking for a rental for this summer. The first thing that I noticed is that rentals for this summer are WIDE OPEN right now for nearly every condo, townhouse, and home I've looked at. When do most vacationers usually start to book their summer rental? It appears to me that there is an overabundance of rentals available (not that I'm complaining). I've been looking over all the possibilities for about a month and don't feel that I need to rush into making a decision since there is so much available right now.

I wonder if the economy, gas prices, real estate market, etc. may have an adverse affect on how many people are renting this summer?

 

[up4golf]

no it is mostly the surplus of units to rent. call before you come to get the best deal watch the weather for a good week and call then for it.

 

[luvthebeach57]

no it is mostly the surplus of units to rent. call before you come to get the best deal watch the weather for a good week and call then for it.

I suspected that there was a glut of rentals on the market. I've been able to find a number of owners willing to negotiate on their prices for the first week on August. Some of the rental companies drop their prices the first or second week of August. So, it sounds like there really is no reason for me to book our rental so far ahead of time unless we have a particular home or condo that we have our heart set on. Do most condos and homes get completely booked up for the entire summer (June-August)?

 

[TreeFrog]

So, it sounds like there really is no reason for me to book our rental so far ahead of time unless we have a particular home or condo that we have our heart set on. Do most condos and homes get completely booked up for the entire summer (June-August)?

That's exactly it. The popular houses DO book for the entire summer. In my immediate neighborhood near Eastern Lake, this means all of Summer's Edge and Chelsea Loop, fine houses like Lemon Drop, and beachfront houses like Kokomo and Beach Baby at Seagrove.

FWIW, my brother just booked his family trip down for Memorial Day weekend.

Early birds, worms, etc...

 

[luvthebeach57]

We're looking for a smaller home (2 bdm) or 1 bdm condo, so I would think that they are not as popular. I might be wrong though.

 

[RB1]

It depends on the time of summer that you are going stay in the area. If you want to be here around the 4th of July, you better book very soon. I know that more than several of our houses are nearly full for the summer, and many are already at least half-way full. It might be easier to book a condominium at a later , than it would be a house. It also depends on whether you want to be directly on the beach or not - most beach fronts book earlier than later. But I am sure that the rental market is better than you think.

 

[luvthebeach57]

We're looking at the first or second week in August. I've been told by a person who owned a home in Destin for 10 years that rentals really slow down in August. I know that gulf front homes are always the first to fill up, but we're not looking for one on the beach. Thanks for your input. I appreciate it.

 

[grace]

The previous summer

 

[SGB]

Our June and July is almost totally booked (a house with gulf view, near Seaside). August is slower to rent and many people go back to school earlier and earlier, which is what the Summer season dates are based on. You'll definitely have more of a choice in August.