The sand is a 2 to 3 minute walk from your front door. Pure DESTINation is Southbay 80, on the south side of the complex - the side closest to the water - and the south pool is closer still. No high rise, no lobby, no elevator. You park, you walk in your own front door, and the beach is right there.
It is a 3 bedroom corner unit, with entry from both the front door and the back patio, and 1200 square feet to spread out in.
Before you read further: the booking guest must be 25 or older and stay with the group, we provide 2 parking passes, and this is a pet free home.
=== THE BEACH ===
* 300 feet of private deeded beach, for Southbay owners and guests only. Low density, so it never gets the towel-to-towel feel of the public access points.
* A 2 to 3 minute walk from your front door to the sand.
* Beach service March through October: 2 chairs and 1 umbrella set up for you daily, included in your stay. Additional setups can be purchased on the beach.
* A beachside gazebo with a Gulf view - shade in the middle of the day, lunch out of the sun, and a good spot for sunset.
* A storage shed off the back patio for beach gear, so the sand stays outside.
=== THE POOLS ===
* Two pool areas. Each one has a large pool and a separate kiddie wading pool.
The south pool (the pool nearest the townhome) is heated seasonally. Pool heat is scheduled and controlled by the Southbay HOA, not by us, and the HOA may turn it off if the weather warms.
* Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year: the HOA typically runs heat around these holidays, but exact dates are set by the HOA and are not always published far ahead. Message us before booking and we will pass along what has been released.
* February and March: heat typically starts in early February, though the exact week varies year to year, and runs through the end of March.
Pool heat cannot be guaranteed.
=== THE GROUNDS ===
* A private 5 acre lake with a bridge and gazebos around it, plus catch and release fishing.
* Recently renovated pickleball and tennis courts.
* A low density townhome complex, so a walk around the grounds is actually scenic.
=== THE TOWNHOME ===
* Two floors. Ground floor entry, all bedrooms upstairs.
* Private patio with a grill and a new electric-blue polywood table and chairs.
* Large living and dining area looking out on the patio.
* Kitchen set up for real cooking, with a drip coffee pot, a Keurig, and a table that seats eight.
* Full size washer and dryer on the main floor, in the closet by the front door.
* 2.5 baths: a half bath on the ground floor, two full baths upstairs.
* High speed wireless internet for gaming, streaming, remote work, or scrolling in peace.
* Sunrise comes in through the master bedroom.
=== WHERE YOU SLEEP ===
* Bedroom 1, master: king bed, ensuite bath. Sleeps 2.
* Bedroom 2: king bed. Sleeps 2.
* Bedroom 3: custom built-in queen over queen bunk, built for adults as well as kids. Sleeps 4.
* Living room: commercial grade sleeper sofa with an 8 inch mattress. Sleeps 2.
* Maximum 10 guests.
=== WHAT WE STOCK ===
BATHROOMS
Each full bath is stocked with a starter supply of toilet paper, travel size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, and hand soap. A hair dryer is in the bottom of the vanity. The half bath has a starter supply of toilet paper and hand soap.
Linens: bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths, and a black makeup cloth.
Beach towels are provided.
KITCHEN
Starter dish soap and sponge, a couple of K-cups, a single coffee packet, and kitchen towels.
LAUNDRY
3 starter laundry detergent pods are provided with each stay.
A NOTE ON SUPPLIES
We provide a thoughtful starter set of essentials so your arrival is hassle-free. These are starter supplies only, not a full stock, and a larger group can go through them quickly. Anything beyond the starter set is up to you to pick up.
=== WHAT IS NEARBY ===
Up the street, on foot:
* The Pancakery, for breakfast
* The Gulf Club Restaurant and Sports Pub
* Sugar Kingdom candy store
* Sunsations, a fun souvenir and beach shop
A short drive:
* Publix at Main Street - 0.3 miles
* Target, with a Starbucks inside - 0.3 miles
* 98 Palms Plaza, directly across Highway 98
* The Back Porch - 1.3 miles
* HarborWalk Village - 2.1 miles
* McGuire's Irish Pub - 2.1 miles
* Destin Commons - 3.8 miles
* Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, VPS - about 21 miles
Feeding a full house: Walmart delivers groceries to the front door. Time the delivery for after you check in - orders are left at the door, not brought inside or put away.
=== A GOOD FIT? ===
This home tends to work well for:
* Two couples traveling with kids
* Groups of adults. Every sleeping space here works for a grown-up, including the bunk room and the sleeper sofa. Nobody draws the short straw.
* Families who want the beach close enough that a nap or a bathroom run is not an expedition
* Small friend groups who would rather grill on the patio than wait in a restaurant line
* Anyone who has waited on a high rise elevator in July with a beach wagon
It is probably not the right home if:
* Anyone in your group cannot manage stairs. Every bedroom is on the second floor.
* You are traveling with a pet. Pet free, no exceptions.
* You need more than 2 parking spots.
* You want a party house. The HOA enforces quiet hours, and so do we.
=== BEFORE YOU BOOK ===
* The booking guest must be 25 or older and must stay with the group for the whole reservation.
* Parking: 2 spots and 2 passes, no more. Unauthorized vehicles are towed by the HOA at the vehicle owner's expense.
* Pet free home. Emotional support animals are not service animals and are not permitted.
* All bedrooms are on the second floor.
* There is no daily housekeeping. The home is professionally cleaned before you arrive.
=== CHECKING OUT ===
* Take out all trash, and clear the fridge and freezer.
* Start the dishwasher with any dishes left in it.
* Close all exterior doors and windows.
Please do not strip the beds, our cleaners handle that. This short list is what lets our housekeeping team fully clean and sanitize the home in a tight turn.
=== HOUSE RULES ===
* Primary guest(s) is responsible for all other guests staying in the home, maximum of 10 guests in the townhome. Southbay HOA reserves the absolute right to remove any individual(s) who display inappropriate behavior, excessive drinking, foul language, fighting, excessive level
of noise/music from the beach and Southbay property.
* NO PETS, NO SMOKING, NO VAPING in the townhome, no parties
* HOA association quiet hours 10pm-10am
* Pool hours 9am-10pm
* Check-in at 4pm, Check-out at 10am
* Failure to follow any rules as listed in the reservation agreement will lead to eviction with no refund!
**This is a pet free townhome/ Emotional support animals(ESA) are not required by ADA laws to be allowed in vacation rentals.**
* We are located in a townhome building complex - we are not responsible for noise from other guests or construction, any closed amenities due to maintenance or any other building issues. Guests must adhere to HOA/building rules and quiet hours.
* Guest agrees to abide by all rules and regulations posted on the premises related to the Rental Property
* Guests agree not to use the premises for any commercial activities or purpose that violates any criminal law or governmental regulation
* In no event shall Guests assign or sublet the Rental Property in whole or in part
* Failure to follow the townhome complex and/or HOA building rules can result in eviction with loss of all rents and deposits. Townhome/Building rules are posted inside the unit.
* No refunds will be provided due to inoperable appliances, pools, condo amenities, etc. The Owner will make every reasonable effort to assure that such appliances will be and remain in good working order. No refunds will be given due to power blackouts, water shortage, flooding, snow, construction at adjacent properties, or other potentially dangerous situations arising from acts of god or nature.
* Guest is responsible for all shipping costs for any Lost and Found items that Owner is requested to return to Guest. Items found and not claimed within 30 days will be disposed of at the discretion of Owner.
* In the event Owner is unable to make Rental Property available for any reason other than described above or a reasonable substitute as determined by Owner, Guest agrees that Owner's sole liability as a result of this unavailability is to provide a full refund of all monies paid under this Agreement and Guest expressly acknowledges that in no event shall Owner be held liable for any special or consequential damages which result from this unavailability. Guest also agrees to indemnify Owner from and against liability for injury to Guest or any other person occupying Rental Property resulting from any cause whatsoever including, but not limited to, injury sustained as a result of use of the phone, spa, hot tub, sauna, whirlpool tub, pool, exercise equipment, elevator, pickleball/tennis court, gazebo, bridge over lake, fishing, etc. except only such a personal injury caused by the gross negligence or intentional acts of the Owner.
To finalize your reservation you will electronically sign our rental agreement, which covers all of the reservation details and the building rules.