Vacation Rentals by Owner

great place to spend the week

Guest: the electronics guy (Illinois)
Date of Stay: 04/07/12 Review Submitted: 04/17/12

Colleen is exactly how everyone else describes. Very helpful and honest. Our first trip to Destin, the condo was exactly how the pictures look. None of those fluffed pictures to make you think it is nice and really isn't. If anything the pictures fall short. She has clearly put a lot of care in outfitting the condo. The view of the beach is fantastic, multiple days we would get up to see dolphins swimming by the beach. The beach attendants were great, beach service is a must and Colleen includes it. The tile floor helps with keeping up with the unavoidable sand, but the furniture was cozy and comfortable. Would recommend to anyone, and we plan to come back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great time!

Guest: sc (Omaha Ne)
Date of Stay: 01/01/12 Review Submitted: 02/09/12

Hi Colleen, Just wanted to say we had a Great time. The Condo was very nice and the weather was good for January. I had a couple of things I thought I might bring up. You could use a larger skillet. Also if you could put a descent knife and a sharpening stone in the kitchen. Just a couple thoughts. Thanks Scott

Owner response:Thanks, Scott.

Recommended for:Families with young children, romantic getaway.

Perfect Condo and Perfect Location!

Guest: Sheila and Craig (Tifton, Georgia)
Date of Stay: 10/22/11 Review Submitted: 10/28/11

Colleen's condo was spacious, comfortable, and in a great location near Henderson Beach State Park. We relaxed and enjoyed watching the fishing boats come in at A.J.'s in Harborwalk. We were lucky and got to see a board fisherman catch a 16 lb. shark with our binoculars from our balcony. Met him on the beach as he paddled in and then went to A.J.'s to see his catch weighed in for the fishing rodeo--so far, he's the winner in the paddle board category! There are so many great restaurants in Destin. Our "fancy" night out is always at the Marina Cafe. Food, atmosphere and service are always top notch. This year we discovered you can get one entree free if you eat between 5-6 PM. That saved us $29! Excellent food at Cuvee Bistro! Had french onion soup, flat bread pizza, special fried green tomatoes as 1/2 price appetizers there during Happy Hour which lasts from 4:30-9:00 PM! The Bonefish Grill was also very good and it's located just across Hwy. 98, take Hutchinson Rd (the toll bridge road) and it's in the shopping center on the left. We loved the privacy the 2nd floor location provides and really liked being on the west end because we had the best view of sunsets! The king size bed is very comfortable with good support and the new kitchen applicances were very nice. Excellent ice maker in the fridge. Loved the split bathrooms as this worked well for us--husband could get ready at his lavatory while I made-up at mine. We hope that this condo will be available the next time we plan a getaway to Destin. Thanks, Colleen! Sheila and Craig Tifton, GA October 22-27, 2011

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Condo with Beautiful Beach

Guest: Dave (Lawrenceville Il)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 11/19/11

My wife and I have been renting this condo since Colleen purchased the unit. She makes the Condo nicer every year and this year was no exception, with new appliances and new bed. The new bed sleeps very well. Colleen is very accommodating and makes you feel right at home. We hope to rent this condo for years to come and would highly recommend the condo to anyone. Location is excellent. Thanks Dave

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Vacation Destination

Guest: Brian & Elaine (Springfield, MO)
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/25/11

This property has it all! Not only do you get beach front views and beach access, but the location is amazing - right in the middle of all the best Destin dining and shopping. The Crystal Villas is probably the smallest complex that we have visited, but the units are well sized (we have stayed in smaller), and with the pool on site, you can still have a swim, regardless of weather or sea conditions. This unit is updated and attractively decorated. The new appliances (they must be new!) made the kitchen comfortable and a pleasure to be there. We had a couple of special requests due to the odd timing of our visit, and Collen was fantastic to work with, very accomodating. Thanks so much for everything.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

Great stay!

Guest: Clay (Birmingham, AL)
Date of Stay: 12/29/10 Review Submitted: 01/04/11

My wife and I had a wonderful getaway at this condo. The view is perfect, especially since we were there in late December and wanted to see the beach without getting too cold. The condo is also quite spacious and nicely decorated. We did have a minor issue in that the condo had not been cleaned upon our arrival, but Colleen quickly went to work to address the problem and more than made up for this small inconvenience in the end. I would recommend this property to anyone looking for a comfortable, reasonably-priced place right on the beach, and thanks again, Colleen!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Thanks, Colleen!

Guest: Emilee (Newbern, TN)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/09/10

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in your condo. Destin has become our favorite vacation spot. Your condo is very nice and we loved having the balcony. You were great to work with. We hope we can stay in your unit again next year!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

All in one stop!

Guest: Jacy N (Loganville, GA)
Date of Stay: 05/31/10 Review Submitted: 06/06/10

Just got back a couple of days ago from Destin, and it was very relaxing. We took the kids (Ages 5, 8, and 12) and they enjoyed this place too. The place had enough room to sleep, play games, cook, and enjoy the GREAT views of the beach! We couldn't have asked for anything more. Days consisted of cooking breakfast, going to the beach (where the kids enjoyed the beach water and met friends to play with and build sand castles), and having an early dinner. The views of the beach were awesome throughout the whole day! The kids rented kayaks and surf boards, while the adults soaked up the sun by the complimentary umbrella and chairs. At night we would walk along the beach in our barefeet and enjoy the breeze coming off the ocean. Had a wonderful time with the kids and not having to meet schedules was a joy! We didn't go out much... just enjoyed the peacefullness and relaxing of the beach. Thanks Colleen for a GREAT place to make our memories this year at DESTIN...

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Love It!!!

Guest: Beth Beth (Memphis, TN)
Date of Stay: 05/21/10 Review Submitted: 06/07/10

I highly recommend this Crystal Villas unit. It is a well decorated and well equipped unit. Colleen is great to work with. I enjoyed a perfect stay mid-May. JD and Richie take great care of you on the beach each day.

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Relaxation at it's best!!

Guest: Roll with the Tide (Pineville, LA)
Date of Stay: 05/14/10 Review Submitted: 05/17/10

I took a quick 2 day beach excursion to Destin May 14 & 15, 2010. If you are looking for quiet neighbors, beautiful beach, quick access to any grocery store, shopping, restaurant, book store....you have to rent this condo. Colleen is the easiest most fun person to work with. I appreciate her hospitatility. Thanks again, Colleen! We will definitely come back to Destin...in fact, i'm checking the calendar in July 2010.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Gary & Anna Collier (Paris, IL)
Date of Stay: 01/10/10 Review Submitted: 01/10/10

We stayed in this wonderful place October 11 thru October 16, 2009. The space was wonderful and very comfortable. The views were magnificent and we saw dolphin. Colleen was great to rent from. We hope to stay here again.

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Guest: David and Martha1 (Peachtree city, Ga.)
Date of Stay: 11/29/09 Review Submitted: 11/29/09

What a great condo right on the beach and very well decorated. Had a great time and highly recommend this unit to rent.thanks colleen. Mr and Mrs. Gardner

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/17/09 Review Submitted: 11/17/09

My husband and I stayed at the condo the first week in November. The weather was absolutely beautiful! We enjoyed sitting on the balcony watching the most spectacular sunsets and listening to the waves crashing onto the shore. It was soooo relaxing. The condo is very spacious, comfortable and adequately supplied. It is perfect for a family with children , with the bunk beds and many board games. It was a wonderful vacation for us.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/17/09 Review Submitted: 07/17/09

This condo was very clean and had everything we needed. Our kids loved the bunk beds. The indoor pool was great when the kids needed to get out of the sun. There were even some flashlights available for night walks on the beach. Colleen was easy to communicate with and quick to respond. Thanks again Colleen!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/17/09 Review Submitted: 06/17/09

This was such a great place to stay in Destin...a perfect location and very comfortable. The beach was so beautiful and I KNOW I will come back again. Colleen was so easy to work with and my security deposit was returned very quickly.

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Guest: P V
Date of Stay: 06/08/09 Review Submitted: 06/07/09

My guest wrote me: "We really enjoyed everything about our stay here in this comfortable condo on the beach. Stepping just outside on the balcony listening to ocean waves crashing on the shore and seagulls calling to each other has the most therapeutic effect of any activity I have ever encountered. The corner balcony allows a view for miles down the beach. We saw crabs at night when we went searching with flashlights. We rented water "toys" from the guys who set up our beach service each morning. The private beach is wonderful. If you get too much sun, you can just relax under the umbrella or sit out on the balcony! Walking down the beach looking for seashells was another favorite thing for me. The rooms are very comfortable, and the two half baths with vanities connected by the shower/washer/dryer room offer plenty of privacy. We had one minor problem with water pressure one morning, and Fred the maintenance man was already fixing it by the time I called him on the phone. It was fixed within 15 minutes. Great place, great service, great fun! I would love to stay here again!"

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/18/09 Review Submitted: 05/18/09

My husband and I stayed in this condo from 5-10 through 5-13-09 and had a magnificent time. I had never been to Destin before and was so happy to find such a gorgeous, serene, clean beach right in the panhandle! The condo was great- spacious and clean. Loved the nice large balcony right on the beach, and we really did see dolphins frolicking everyday, just as Colleen, the owner, said we would! We never had problems obtaining two chairs and an umbrella, and this particular stretch of beach was nice and quiet and away from all the high rises. I would return to this condo in a heartbeat. Colleen was great, too, and very communicative. My deposit was returned promptly. P.S. The king bed was REALLY comfy, but we would bring our own pillows next time as these were a bit stiff for us. Other than that tiny detail, though, everything was perfect! Thanks Colleen! We'd love to return!

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Guest: Lorray (Omaha, NE)
Date of Stay: 04/20/09 Review Submitted: 04/20/09

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Love your condo decorating -- but nothing can beat your incredible view: white-powder beach, blue-green surf, and even dolphins swimming by! We had a fabulous time... walking the beach, playing in the surf, reading, shopping, and eating our way through Destin! Your condo is SO much better than one in a huge highrise... with the surf at eye-level -- and the white powder beach just a few steps away! We couldn't have imagined a prettier place.

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Guest: Scott & Merry (San Antonio, TX)
Date of Stay: 04/20/09 Review Submitted: 04/20/09

We just completed a week long stay in unit A8 of Crystal Villas and were very happy with this condo. The unit looked as it did in the VRBO website photos and was clean and well stocked. We really enjoyed the proximity to the beach and were very pleased with the reduced traffic and congestion of the area. The owner of the unit was very helpful and called on our first day to make sure that there were no problems with the unit. We would definitely stay in this unit again.

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Guest: Lucille Mickells (Omaha, Ne)
Date of Stay: 01/06/09 Review Submitted: 01/06/09

We recently stayed at the condo and fell in love with it. It is an end unit, and the view is spectacular. The decor was lovely with designer touches everywhere. The king sized bed was awsome and it had everything we needed. The outlet mall was the greatest one I've ever been to. We spent the entire day there and still didn't get it all in. (incredible prices) If your looking for a condo, look no farther.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/03/08

Beautiful location complete with picture-perfect sunsets. Condo was great with all the comforts of home. Owner was super easy to work with and answered all questions/communciations quickly. I live locally and rented this condo when friends visited. It suited our needs wonderfully--I hope to stay here again.

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Guest: Anne and Jim R
Date of Stay: 04/14/08 Review Submitted: 04/13/08

This is a letter I received after my renters returned home: "Thank you again for the use of your lovely condo. Everyting was perfect and proximity to the beach was awesome".

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Guest: Karen S.
Date of Stay: 01/27/08 Review Submitted: 01/26/08

This is a letter I, the owner, received from a renter. Your condo is lovely and we had a great time. The beach is fantastic and we had the best weather/water that we've had in years - clean and calm. Thanks, Signed Karen S.

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Guest: M Delashaw
Date of Stay: 10/31/07 Review Submitted: 10/31/07

We put the keys in the mail on October 7 at the post office using the owner provided envelope. Over three weeks later we have heard nothing and have still not recieved the refund of our deposit. I have attempted to contact the owner by email and at both phone numbers with no response. Right now I am out $200.00 that should have already been returned to me.

Owner response:Unfortunately, Mr. Delashaw's deposit return simply fell through the cracks. When Mr. Delashaw phoned and emailed me October 29, I had already left for an overseas choral tour and didn't get his email until I returned November 18. I mailed his deposit refund November 19. My records indicate the entire refund was paid to Mr. Delashaw by my bank December 4.

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Guest: Laurie3 (Memphis, TN)
Date of Stay: 08/24/07 Review Submitted: 08/24/07

Fantastic condo, nicely decorated, super clean, very comfortable. Perfect location on old Hwy 98, beautiful beachfront view. This is the perfect Destin vacation people - and it's away from the big resort properties! Wonderful owner - we really appreciated her hospitality and her concern that our stay was perfect. (She even called us during our stay to ask if there was anything else we needed!) We'll be back!

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Guest: Jim18 (Fort Worth, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/23/07 Review Submitted: 08/23/07

The condo was wonderful. It is in a perfect location right on the PERFECT beach, and the view from the spacious balcony was fantastic. The room was very clean, it had everything we needed, and the sleeping arrangements were quite comfortable. The umbrella service on the beach was awesome, as was the pool. We loved being far from the big resorts too. We will definetely be back!

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Guest: Mary & Joe Cabral (-)
Date of Stay: 04/14/07 Review Submitted: 04/14/07

We just visited during the last week in March for a friend's wedding. The unit is so much bigger than most we've seen. It was wonderful, relaxing and comfortable. The view from the balcony (2nd floor) is just high enough off the beach to allow views up and down the beach and spot the dolphins in the morning. We are DEFINITELY coming back!

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