Wonderful For Family Reunions!

Guest: Mj (Huntsville, AL)
Date of Stay: 07/10/11 Review Submitted: 08/10/11

What a wonderful family reunion we had at the Hemmingway House. Our group of 13 included ages 1 to 93. The short walk to the beach and the pool were great for the little ones. The elevator was perfect for getting Grandma and all our suitcases up and down. Three plus floors and lots of porches provided enough space for the teens to get away and the nappers to rest quietly. We loved walking on the beach to the pristine state park one way and the shallow fresh water lake the other way. The location between Destin and Panama City was ideal for visiting both places yet not having to deal with their traffic on quick trips to the nearby grocery store and awsome fish market. We would highly recommend this delightful duplex with it's comfortable furnishings, second refrigerator, well supplied kitchen, large TV (The Tour De France and Women's US Soccer were going on while we were there) and many other great features.

Owner response:We are so glad you enjoyed your stay with your family! We would love to have you back again next year!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great House! Lots of good space...

Guest: DDH (Bishop,GA)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/04/11

Three families (12 people) stayed for a week. Great house with good location. The pool was nice to have with small children. Needs a little TLC - peeling paint - dirty carpet - kitchen supplies were lacking. Not enough for the size of house. Photos were accuate.

Owner response:Thank you for your review and suggestions. Happy you had a good time with the 3 families vacationing with you. Being that close to the ocean and the salty air causes the outside paint to chip, but we will get it taken care of. On the carpets...they are vacuumed before each guest arrives but unfortunately with back-to-back rentals they begin to get dingy at the end of the season. In a perfect world, tile or hardwoods would be installed and we wouldn't have to worry about it. In the meantime we will do our best to keep them clean for all of our guests. Thanks!

Recommended for:Families with young children, families with teenagers.

Grown Ups Revisited: Incredible Vacation Spot

Guest: AHedrick (Dexter MO)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

This was one of the greatest vacation spots we have ever experienced. A 3 family vacation turned into a 6 family vacation ... all friends ... all big families. And it was PERFECT!!! Worries of distance to the beach - NO PROBLEM. The accommodations and the house was fantastic. Comfortable, convenient ... and could not have asked for any more. In addition, working with Taylor and her folks was simple and easy. The location with Seaside was new to our group but was fantastic. Quiet at times ... but fun and perfect for our week of family and friends. Easy trip to Panama City and Destin ... Just between the two. Activities of the beach, bike riding, walks and great downtown shopping. We would definitely stay here again. We had a blast.

Owner response:Come back and see us next year! Very happy you had everything you needed at the house and enjoyed the location!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Great Family Vacation

Guest: Moose (Suwanee, Ga)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11 Review Submitted: 07/04/11

My famly has been vacationing on 30-A for over 15 years this was the best overall property we have ever had. We had 6 adults & 7 kids from 7 to 16. We were not cramped. We had plenty of TVs. The pool was adequate even when the people from the other side were in the pool.We could hear the Gulf from the decks, which I loved. Probably the best thing was the beach access. My wife had knee replacemant earlier & she had no problem negoiating the mostly flat walk with few steps It was also close enough to take all our "stuff" to & from beach. Because of my wife's knee operation, the elevator was a must. The kitchen could use a better grade of pots & some storeage containers for restaurant leftovers, but no big deal. We would love to stay here again.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers.

great three generation vacation!

Guest: Lisa (Houma, LA)
Date of Stay: 05/28/11 Review Submitted: 06/06/11

Our three generations greatly enjoyed this home! The elevator was used daily by our parents, and it was a godsend for groceries, as well! There was enough parking for all our cars - a problem we have had at other rentals in this area. The beach access was very graduated, so that our mother, who loves the beach, could get there without climbing a set of 25 stairs. The large pool was wonderful when we got tired of the beach, with lots of chairs for lounging. The fridge in the garage held all our cold drinks and ice for the beach. The many balconies were used daily by all of us. The house was very comfortable and clean, and the layout was convenient. Our only drawback was the small kitchen. We are a bunch of South Louisiana people who love to cook, and the kitchen was a little tight - but we managed : )) We are seriously talking about renting both sides for next summer, and including more of our family! Thanks for allowing us the use of this lovely home!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Think twice!

Guest: D. (Milton GA)
Date of Stay: 04/04/11 Review Submitted: 05/09/11

I rented this home with another family April 2011. I spent much time with the rental agent regarding an early arrival, distance to other areas etc. Upon arrival the home had not been cleaned since it was closed up. Not only was it not clean, pics of the pool were incorrect, info sheet was incorrect, ice machine not working, disposal broken, lights out all over the home, dirty ash trays filled with butts on every deck, and a foul odor (dead fish smell) coming from plumbing in Master bath. Paper items that were supposed to be supplied were not there, not enough towels and the towels were in very bad condition, pool not clean and over grown. I spent the entire day plus the next with calls, waiting for repairman, cleaners etc. Considering we were there for only 4 1/2 days.. it cut into my vacation. We fairly asked for our cleaning deposit back and one nights stay for our time and trouble. We did recieve our cleaning fee back, but that was it. Bad business to say the least. By the way, do not believe them when they tell you it is only 2 miles to Seaside! Its over double that! .This unit should be clean and ready for rental.. and owner.. please spend a few dollars on new pans, utensils and towels.. if you expect people to pay the prices your asking! To say the least.. I won't be back.. to bad because it could be a great house.

Owner response:In response to this poor review, I would like to add the fact that they were offered a free night stay or 15% off of their next booking (whichever is greater) as well as given their cleaning fee back. As for the appliances, I had no way of knowing the disposal didn't work or I would have had it fixed prior to their arrival and same with the ice maker. I know it had to be an inconvenience, but I had a repair man there to fix it at 8am the following morning after finding out it was broken. The ice machine was also repaired. My cleaning service was called the minute I got off the phone with the guest and she went to the house to take care of the unsatisfactory cleaning. It was the first rental of the year, so I assume that is why the smell was coming from the pipes in the master bathroom. Needless to say, I apologized for any inconveniences, got broken items fixed, and offered refunds and discounts. The house is in great condition for future rentals and we hope to have you and your friends stay with us.

Recommended for:

Perfect for a Girl's Weekend!

Guest: Kel (DC)
Date of Stay: 08/12/10 Review Submitted: 09/16/10

I went down with a group of my friends from college for a girl's weekend get-together and this house was perfect! It was a large group of us, so we were worried about space, but the house is actually larger than the pictures make it seem. With the private pool and the short walk to the beach you really couldn't ask for a better location! I would definitely recommend this house for large groups/families, you won't be disappointed.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Our family loved it...

Guest: elmatl (Lithia Springs, GA)
Date of Stay: 07/30/10 Review Submitted: 08/25/10

We loved it all, but the location and the easment to the beach. (The boardwalk and a few steps puts you right on the sand!) This was important since we had children in our group and a lot of stuff to carry back and forth. We will stay here again, and next time, we'll bring the extended family and try to fill both sides of the house. Thank you!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Relaxing family get away!

Guest: Jubilant (Cincinnati, OH)
Date of Stay: 05/26/10 Review Submitted: 06/09/10

This was perfect for our family vacation! We love to vacation in the Destin, Florida area, but the traffic has become to overwhelming. This new location is close to Seaside area, which was great for kid activities and entertainment every night for the entire family. The house is on a deadend street so the kids had plenty of room to ride their bikes around. Although, I personally love the beautiful beach and it is less than a minute walking from the house, I think the kids enjoyed playing in the pool the most! We had 8 adults and 4 kids staying in the house and we had plenty of room. We had great views on the large decks from every level (front & back) facing both the ocean and the pool. I think the kids enjoyed the elevator the most inside! But, I may have to agree as it sure did come in handy for the adults as well! It was nice not to have to worry about bringing linens, towels, kitchen supplies (utensils, pots, pans, and even a grill!), as it was all included. The pictures on the site are exactly what the place looks like. The place was clean and orderly when we arrived. The owner was extremely helpful, nice, and easy to reach....I have already talked with my inlaws to rent out the other side of the duplex next year with us! We can't wait to go back!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.