Vacation Rentals by Owner

Perfect

Guest: Kathy S. (New Castle, Indiana)
Date of Stay: 03/26/12 Review Submitted: 04/11/12

I loved this place so much, I called the owner the very first evening to book a full week in August. The best location in the area, there is a sunny deck with lounge chairs and cushions facing the Gulf and a shady deck with comfy chairs and a full view of Mobile Bay in front. If you want night life, lots of eateries and shopping within walking distance look elsewhere. If you like peace and quiet and no high rises, no condos and a practically private beach, this is the place! The house is beautifully furnished and wonderfully equipped with lots of dishes, utensils, pans, etc. There are beach chairs, umbrellas, skim boards and sand toys available - no need to lug it all from home or pay a fortune at the tourist trap shop. We used the wifi, which worked great. The bottom line is bring your clothes, beach towels, some food and drink, then prepare to kick back and do as little as possible - just the way a vacation should be!

Recommended for:

MIKE FROM OXFORD AL

Guest: Kellie J.
Date of Stay: 03/24/12 Review Submitted: 05/18/12

My family needed a place to stay at Ft Morgan for a few days on March 24,2012 for my niece's wedding on the beach. I got very lucky finding Windward! It turned out that it was only a few blocks from where my niece's family was staying and where the wedding was to take place. The house could not have been any better or our stay any nicer. The house is decorated very colorful and you will not need a thing. Everything is there. Don and Cindy Ward have thought of everything you will need for your stay. It is like your own house just waiting for you. There are chairs, bikes and toys for the kids. Just bring a few groceries and you are at home but "at the beach". Everything is very neat and clean. Mr. Ward called after we got there to check on us and make sure everything was ok. He even supplied us with coffee packets which was very good! We were only a very short walk from the beach and if we wanted to go eat out it did'nt take long to get to LuLu's and the Oyster House. I would recommend anyone to stay here and hopefully we will be back to stay longer. I also want to check out the Ward's cabins in Wears Valley, TN. My family also love the mountains. The Ward's treated us with alot of care. It was very personable unlike most places you book with. Thanks to the Ward's for a wonderful stay. We will be back! Mike

Recommended for:

What a wonderful place...

Guest: Crystal B.
Date of Stay: 03/17/12 Review Submitted: 03/27/12

We just got back home from a very relaxing week at the beach and let me tell you this house is perfect!! The house had everything we needed and was perfect for our party of 7, 3 adults and 4 children ages 12, 10, 9 and 2. The kids had a blast and were so happy to see we had Disney and Nickelodeon for them to watch while we were at the house. The kitchen is laid out perfect and had everything I needed to prepare our meals. Everything about this house is wonderful and the pictures don't do it justice. The beach at this house is breath taking, very secluded, not like the beach down in Gulf Shores with all the houses and condos. We were there during spring break and it was still like having the beach to ourselves. The locals that live there were very nice. We took the kids crabbing at the beach durning the night and they must've caught at least 40+ each time, we let them go but they really enjoyed catching them. We left you our 5 boogie boards down with your beach toys for your future guest to use didnt want to lug them back to oklahoma were we would have no use for them, lol... Oh and thank you for having vinagar on hand for the jellyfish stings cause we did have to use it once and was so thankful we didn't have to run to the store to get some. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home with us... We are looking forward to coming back again!!

Recommended for:

*****

Guest: Lyn D.
Date of Stay: 11/14/11 Review Submitted: 12/02/11

***** We loved Windward. It had everything we needed, especially as we prepared our meals. The sharp knives and tupperware were great and all the pots. The home is in wonderful condition and the beds were comfy. We enjoyed the short walk to the beach and loved the views from both porches. We spent lots of time on the sea-side porch reading, bird-watching, and listening to music. The beach was clean except for the one day that the winds from offshore inundated us with jellyfish. But the next couple of days they were all swept offshore again. We enjoyed the changing weather and sea. We took lots of long walks along the shore. One of us loved bikeriding and even found a bike to ride in the garage. Having Don just a phone call away was so nice and he was so gracious, even about little things. We were three women and we loved Windward.

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Relaxing Vacation

Guest: Lynn S.
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 09/27/11

The Windward was just what we needed. September is a beautiful time to visit the beach, and the house was spacious and comfortable. We enjoyed the rare uncrowded beach, and it was nice to leave the chairs and toys out there all week. I will definitely recommend this house to friends and family wanting to relax. It's away from the crowds, anything you could want to watch on TV, and the owner was always nice and helpful. We had a great time and can't wait to visit again.

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

happyjack

Guest: Hal G.
Date of Stay: 08/06/11 Review Submitted: 08/18/11

We stayed at Windward from 06-12-Aug-2011. On Saturday, after a day of deep sea fishing, we took the ferry from Daulphin Island to Fort Morgan where we found our beachhouse waiting. We were pleasantly surprised to find the A/C on; such a welcome relief after a day in the sun. The home is very open and spacious; it just invites you in. Everything was clean and fully furnished. There were plenty of towels and washcloths; for us that was wonderful. Shortly after arriving, Don called to wish us well on our vacation. He told us that if we had any problems, just contact him and he would take care of it. He reminded us that the book on the coffee table had all the instructions for operating the TV, Direct TV, Net Flix and high speed internet. There were five adults on this vacation and the home was not crowded at all. The beach views from the rear of the house were awesome and, totally unobstructed. The bay views from the front were very nice. We were able to sit on the front porch and watch the Pelicans diving for lunch. The beach was clean, no trash just a little seaweed. Folks there were always nice and the beach was never crowded. We left the beach chairs and umbrella on the beach all week long and no one bothered them; amazing! It was truly a very relaxing vacation and we will definitely consider going back next year.

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

Excellant

Guest: Mary
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/02/11

My family stayed at Windward and we had a great vacation. The beachhouse was spacious and very clean. Sometimes I would wonder if what you see on the internet will work out as planned, and this house and location were just what we wanted. The kids loved having their own rooms and having a house with netflex and direct tv was a big hit with them. It was nice to leave the beach chairs, umbrella, and beach toys on the beach for the week. There were no big hotels or condos in the area, just other beach houses, and the beach wasn't crowded. I did a lot of searching on the internet for a place that didn't have condos in the area, because we wanted a place that wasn't crowded. There were some nice local resturants in the area, so we rarely went into town. Fort Morgan was only 4 miles away, and the kids really enjoyed exploring the fort. One day we saw a group of dolphins swimming past the beach. The owner called the night we arrived to see if we needed anything. The owner was very helpful with sending e-mail messages before we arrived. I would highly recommend this house to my family and friends. I would hope to visit again.

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

Family fun on the fourth of July at Windward

Guest: george b.
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

We stayed at Windward the week of the fourth of July. My wife and I along with my 15 year old son and two of his friends and my 19 year old son and one of his friends had a blast. Windward was perfect for our needs. Don and Cindy have Windward furnished nicely. The funiture is not cheap stuff found in alot of rental homes. The wi-fi was great to lookup directions to attractions and resturants and such on the laptop.The kitchen was stocked fine for our needs.There was penty of room for everybody. The two outside showers were great for washing off after the beach. My 15 year old and his friends actually took all their showers outside. It was a short walk to the beach . We took a big rubbermaid container with all our beach stuff and left it at "our" spot all week with no problems. We went deep sea fishing and had good luck with some big red snapper. We rented a pontoon boat at Gulf Shores Marina just 2 miles away and went tubing in the bay. We had a school of dolphins swim right beside us while tubing. We shot fireworks off on the beach. We went to Lambert's and got stuffed and had some laughs. We did so much in such a short week, I wish we could have stayed another! We will definitely go back to Windward and you should too.Thanks for the great memories!

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

We had a wonderful time!!

Guest: Jennifer S.
Date of Stay: 06/18/11 Review Submitted: 09/03/11

We had a great time at Windward! The house was as presented on the site. The walk to the beach was a little farther than we thought it would be, but it was nice to leave the umbrellas and chairs there each day. Some of us did get stung by jellyfish. We brought vinegar with us each day, and that helped. The candlelight tours at Fort Morgan were great!! We also enjoyed The Track and going dolphin sightseeing. The guys went fishing with Island Time Charters and caught 47 fish. They had a blast!! Netflix was nice for quiet evenings at the house. The area was beautiful with great restaurants and activities....we would recommend this house!

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

WINWARD

Guest: James (Fort Payne, AL)
Date of Stay: 06/11/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

Our stay was great! The house was very cozy. We especially enjoyed the large back porch. we stayed from June 11th - June 18th. the owner called the day of check-in to make sure everyhitng was ok (of course it was). the beach is very private, there were days when we were the only ones out there. We highly recommend Winward to anyone.

Recommended for:Families with young children

Wonderful start to the summer!

Guest: nellydallas (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

Windward was a perfect place for our summer vacation. We can't say enough about the views. The front door looks out upon the Bay. Wonderful way to start the day by watching the seagulls fly from the bayside to the gulf side as the sun rises. And the back deck overlooks the beautiful Gulf. The walk to the beach was minimal and perfect way to walk off the Hope's Cheesecake we bought in Gulf Shores (a must for any cheesecake connoisseur). The homeowners were gracious and called upon our arrival to make sure everything was as it should be. Windward was comfortable and had every amenity you could possibly want for your beach vacation. My boys were especially happy with the large screen tv to view the Dallas Mavericks championship basketball series. And next to the views, my favorite amenity...the hot and cold enclosed showers we used after returning from the beach below deck! What a luxury to rinse off in warm water before heading in the house. Windward is a gem.

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

Great Beach House!

Guest: EdnLesia (Grand Bay, AL)
Date of Stay: 05/19/11 Review Submitted: 05/26/11

Thank you so much for sharing your beach house with us. Our family enjoyed our stay. Having everything there, the grills, dishes, and linens was so nice. It was great to have the chairs and umbrellas there so we didn't have to haul all that with us. The beach was great! After having all the sun we wanted, the time in the chairs under the umbrellas was so relaxing. Then, to be able to walk back up to the house and grill our dinner was wonderful. The decks were so nice as well. We loved sitting out on the back deck at night under the stars! The T.V. and sitting room was cozy. The kitchen was well supplied and having the washer and dryer to keep all the wet stuff washed up was great! Very nice place! Thank you so much! Definitely a home away from home. The price was great and thank you for sending back our deposit so fast! We had it in our hand only three days after we got home! We would defintely stay with yall again! From Grand Bay, AL, the Jones'.

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

Rest and Relaxation

Guest: n/a (Fenton, Missouri)
Date of Stay: 04/24/11 Review Submitted: 05/12/11

We spent a wonderful two weeks at the beach the way it should be spent, relaxing. This home has everything you need to enjoy your stay. There are the benefits of both the Gulf and the Bay. It is away from the crowds with the beach almost to yourselves. The laundry facilities are nice, no need to over pack. The covered porch is nice as a spot out of the sun while the deck is nice for the sun. The owner called to make sure we were settled in and happy. We were and do recommend this as an ideal home for a vacation. We will return.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

We can't wait to come here again

Guest: Maggiedog (Nebraska)
Date of Stay: 04/20/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11

This was a terrific way for our family to enjoy a trip to the beach. We had a wonderful time and found the privacy as well as the amenities quite appealing. Everything thing was comfortable and homey and very clean. The kids big and small had a riot and mom especially enjoyed the views of the beach from both approaches to the house. We had really friendly contact and rapid access with any questions we had of the owners. The instructions and directions for finding the house and using the equipment were very helpful. We are hoping to return again, want to bring along grandpa and grandma for the next trip:)

Recommended for:Families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Windward

Guest: JJ (Eupora, MS)
Date of Stay: 04/15/11 Review Submitted: 05/09/11

We had a great time at this beachhouse.. It was very clean and nice, also very close to the beach too. We'll be coming back for sure.

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

Awesome Stay

Guest: Teri (Fishers, IN)
Date of Stay: 03/20/11 Review Submitted: 03/30/11

My husband and I spent a wonderful week here enjoying the beautiful beach, hiking in Bon Secours, biking in the state park and out to Fort Morgan. Windward had everything we could want. It was very clean and welcoming. No high rises and crowds here. Owners are very organized and caring. We will, no doubt, be returning.

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Secluded Area - Nice House - Pretty decent dark sky at night.

Guest: Starry Nights (Chelsea, AL)
Date of Stay: 12/02/10 Review Submitted: 12/20/10

My wife and I rented the house for a few nights in December 2010. House is in great shape, much nicer than some of the rundown accomodations we have experienced on previous visits to Gulf Shores. Nice and dark (with very few nearby lights) at night, perfect for my telescope viewing. The water looked very clear and clean (also cold!). the beach was very clean also. Looks like Gulf Shores will be back in full swing when it warms up. We would definitely stay here again.

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

What a wonderful place!

Guest: amyj913 (amyj913)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/12/10

We stayed at Winward from July 3 to July 10, 2010. It was even better than the listing described. This was such a peaceful place. It was quiet and private. I cannot emphasize enough how nice it was to have three private beach lots with plenty of room to spread out. We did not have to fight for a postage stamp sized square of beach or edge our way through crowds. The beach is an easy walk from the beach house. The house itself was clean, cheerful, and equipped with everything we needed. Everything was in good working order, and there were very clear instructions on how to use everything. We had plenty of room for our party of six adults and two children. We enjoyed grilling out on the patio, and the outdoor showers were so nice in helping keep the sand out of the house. I cannot say enough about how helpful and accomodating the owners were. Mr. Ward communicated with us weekly to keep us updated on the beach conditions with the oil spill and hurricanes, and we felt him to be honest in all dealings. He was quick to respond to all questions and even called to check on us when we arrived and sent us updates on activities around town during our visit. The books in the beach house were very helpful in helping us find restaurants and things to do. I woud recommend this property without any hesitation. Some of our favorite non-beach things were Waterville USA, DeSoto's restaurant, and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. We did not love Lulu's; for us the food was just not worth the price and the hour and a half wait.

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

Celebrating our children's graduation-May 2010

Guest: Black Berries (Ironton, MO)
Date of Stay: 05/07/10 Review Submitted: 06/26/10

The young's and the Myers took a mini vacation to the beach, May 2010. Our children were graduating high school and we wanted to celebrate. We had a wonderful and seen dolphins every day. The beach was very close and the small road you had to cross was only traveled by the daily ice cream truck, a treat for us. We for fortunate to meet the neighbor and he allowed us to pick his black berries. We enjoyed a home made black berry pie and fresh grilled shrimp one evening, certainly the highlight of the week. The best part of the trip was the freedom to enjoy the beach or rest in the home at our connivence. This was the best vacation ever and the home was equipped with everything we needed, including very comfortable beds. The only regret was going out to eat at the local seafood restaurant. It was expensive and we could have prepared and cooked a better meal at the house, with fresh sea food. We will return to our home away from home.

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

Great stay!

Guest: ash3 (IN)
Date of Stay: 05/06/10 Review Submitted: 06/12/10

Your house was great. I loved the decks and the swing below so much. It was nice to just be able to sit outside and enjoy such a beautiful place. The kitchen was wonderful too and just seemed to have everything we needed. Thanks so much!

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Great house and location!

Guest: M Purvis (Madison, MS)
Date of Stay: 04/22/10 Review Submitted: 05/12/10

We enjoyed staying at Windward. The house was great; love the open kitchen and living area. The flat-screen televisions, Netflix movie options and internet accress were a treat and much appreciated as the weather was terrible for our entire stay. I personally slept like a rock - very comfortable bed!! The views are wonderful and we really enjoyed the covered front porch and BBQ grill - a screen would be the only improvement I could recommend for this vacation home; beware the no-seeums! We enjoyed Tacky Jack's 2 being so close. I would love to return to Windward during the summer and hope for better weather! Thank you to a VERY hospitable Don Ward for allowing us to stay in your home! BTW - the lobster pot was handy too! :)

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

Guest: Julia G.
Date of Stay: 09/24/09 Review Submitted: 09/23/09

"Shhh!!!" "I am seriously tempted to give a terrible review to protect my SECRET! This place is perfect!!! I just keep looking at my vacation photos and pining for a return trip. On this trip we traveled the coast from Dauphin Island to Pensacola and I couldn't figure out why anyone would stay anywhere but Ft. Morgan - beautiful view, NO highrises!!! We walked the beach and drove about to see if there would be a house that would better suit us in the future and could not find even one. This place has the best location of them all! No one else had the bay/coast view that was totally unobstructed. We were practically alone on the beach. Had a wonderful time sight-seeing (ferry ride, Ft. Morgan, Dauphin Island sights, Ntnl Museum of Naval Aviation - where we saw the Blue Angels practice, etc...). And, most importantly, had a much needed week of bliss spending a lot of memorable time enjoying the front porch and back deck views. We brought 6 of our children ages 11 - 3 and we all had the greatest time!!! I just can't say enough. Oh...and the weather was PERFECT, the waves were PERFECT, the sand was PERFECT, the house was PERFECT... Thank you Don! I can't wait to get back!!!" Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

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Shhh!!!

Guest: Zoo Crew (Germantown, TN)
Date of Stay: 09/07/09 Review Submitted: 09/24/09

I am seriously tempted to give a terrible review to protect my SECRET! This place is perfect!!! I just keep looking at my vacation photos and pining for a return trip. On this trip we traveled the coast from Dauphin Island to Pensacola and I couldn't figure out why anyone would stay anywhere but Ft. Morgan - beautiful view, NO highrises!!! We walked the beach and drove about to see if there would be a house that would better suit us in the future and could not find even one. This place has the best location of them all! No one else had the bay/coast view that was totally unobstructed. We were practically alone on the beach. Had a wonderful time sight-seeing (ferry ride, Ft. Morgan, Dauphin Island sights, Ntnl Museum of Naval Aviation - where we saw the Blue Angels practice, etc...). And, most importantly, had a much needed week of bliss spending a lot of memorable time enjoying the front porch and back deck views. We brought 6 of our children ages 11 - 3 and we all had the greatest time!!! I just can't say enough. Oh...and the weather was PERFECT, the waves were PERFECT, the sand was PERFECT, the house was PERFECT... Thank you Don! I can't wait to get back!!!

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

Guest: Charlene J.
Date of Stay: 08/14/09 Review Submitted: 08/13/09

"Wonderful Summmer Fun Family Vacation" "Our family enjoyed our summer vacation at Windward. The house is wonderful and the beach is just perfect for families with children. The boys love the night time crab hunting and the great fun in the sand. Windward is just the place for peaceful summer fun. The owners are great! They ensure that all needs and expectations are met; they even exceed them. Windward will always be our summer family get-a- way place. The kids really enjoy getting this week in the summer as part of their Christmas. Thank you once again for sharing your beach home with us! Can't wait until next July! " Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

Great August Vacation

Guest: Susan and gang (Brazil, IN )
Date of Stay: 08/08/09 Review Submitted: 10/25/09

My daughters, sister, friend and I had a great time at this house. There was enough room for everyone, and the weather was great. I now know what a no-see-em is. I could have lived a long time without knowing that! I think the description of this property is pretty accurate, I wish it was right on the beach, but just a short walk away was not a real issue. Helped us work off all the great food we ate! The mexican restaurant up the road was good, the fresh seafood we had was good and we spent an evening at the Hide Out in Gulf Shores which was a fun place. We have staying in Fort Morgan before, love that it is a distance from town.

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

Guest: Jenny and William G.
Date of Stay: 08/04/09 Review Submitted: 08/03/09

"Couldn't Be Happier!" "We were fortunate to stay at Windward for a week in July 2009. The accommodations could not have been more convenient and comfortable. The accommodations were well suited for our party of 7 which included 3 children, and the proximity to the beach was outstanding. The kids (and the adults) had such a great time that we were all sad to see the week come to a close. Thanks so much and we look forward to staying here again." Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

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Couldn't Be Happier!

Guest: Jenny G (Florence, MS)
Date of Stay: 07/18/09 Review Submitted: 08/01/09

We were fortunate to stay at Windward for a week in July 2009. The accommodations could not have been more convenient and comfortable. The accommodations were well suited for our party of 7 which included 3 children, and the proximity to the beach was outstanding. The kids (and the adults) had such a great time that we were all sad to see the week come to a close. Thanks so much and we look forward to staying here again.

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

Guest: William P.
Date of Stay: 07/16/09 Review Submitted: 07/15/09

"first beach house rental" "stayed at windward the last week of june, 2009. this was my first beach house rental vacation and what a wonderful idea. the views off of the front and back porch were amazing, and the beach is only a short walk away. our 3 kids (10 yrs,10 yrs, and 15 yrs) thoroughly enjoyed themselves and gulf shores is only 15 min. drive away, so you get all the privacy and personal space on the beach and can still grab a burger for lunch if you like, we personally put the charcoal grill to work quite often. we couldnt have been happier even though we drove 11 hrs one way to get there. all the neighbors were as friendly as could be and the neighborhood was very peaceful. my cousin was staying in gulf shores the same week we were in fort morgan and he barely had room to set up an umbrella on the beach behind his condo on the beach. we had 30 yards of room on either side of our 3 umbrellas that are provided by the owners of this beautiful house. they have a lot of things, rafts, innertubes and chairs umbrellas and beach going stuff. so if you are thinking about renting on the beach, stay away from gulf shores and have space inside the house and on the beach you could never get at any condo. enjoy!!! and if you do venture into town for dinner i recommend the hangout, fun for kids of all ages" Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

Guest: athmpsn (Olive Branch, MS)
Date of Stay: 07/12/09 Review Submitted: 07/12/09

We chose to stay at Windward for our Family Vacation and did not regret it one bit. My husband owns his own Computer business and had to have wireless internet available, that was a big plus!! We are a family of 5 with 3 small children under the age of 8. Our kids loved it and we were all very comfortable! The pictures do not do it justice, we arrived and things actually looked better than the pictures! We loved the beach and just relaxing in the house watching the big screen T.V. My kids loved also being able to watch T.V. in one of the bedrooms if they wanted to watch something different. We ate in during the day and everything we needed was provided. Would we stay again? Of Course! It was worth our money!! When we arrived home, my two year old starting crying that he wanted to go back to the Beach House, can't wait to do it again!

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Wonderful Summmer Fun Family Vacation

Guest: Charlene J. (Vance, AL)
Date of Stay: 07/11/09 Review Submitted: 08/13/09

Our family enjoyed our summer vacation at Windward. The house is wonderful and the beach is just perfect for families with children. The boys love the night time crab hunting and the great fun in the sand. Windward is just the place for peaceful summer fun. The owners are great! They ensure that all needs and expectations are met; they even exceed them. Windward will always be our summer family get-a- way place. The kids really enjoy getting this week in the summer as part of their Christmas. Thank you once again for sharing your beach home with us! Can't wait until next July!

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

Guest: Jared S.
Date of Stay: 07/08/09 Review Submitted: 07/07/09

"Great Vacation Home" "The house was great and location was fantastic. Both decks had great views and got a lot of use. Front deck with cover during the day and back deck at night. I will definitely recommend this place to family and friends. The only thing you need to bring are swimsuits, food and a canopy for the beach. If you want a great beach house for a reasonable rate this is the place. Thanks Jared and family" Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

Guest: William and Kimberly
Date of Stay: 07/07/09 Review Submitted: 07/06/09

"Wonderful Home" "Our stay at the Windward was wonderful! We really enjoyed the privacy of Fort Morgan compared to busy Gulf Shores. The house is located in a great location with the bay in front of the home and the beach behind it. Our children started each day on the front porch with their grandparents looking at the bay. The owner called two times to see how we were doing. He also told us helpful information on local events. He was very friendly and we enjoyed working with him. The only other comment would be that if you have a child 12 months or younger, the walk to the beach was a little long. The walk was fine if you didn't have to carry anyone! We would stay at the Windward again!" Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

first beach house rental

Guest: billmason (jackson, mo)
Date of Stay: 06/27/09 Review Submitted: 07/14/09

stayed at windward the last week of june, 2009. this was my first beach house rental vacation and what a wonderful idea. the views off of the front and back porch were amazing, and the beach is only a short walk away. our 3 kids (10 yrs,10 yrs, and 15 yrs) thoroughly enjoyed themselves and gulf shores is only 15 min. drive away, so you get all the privacy and personal space on the beach and can still grab a burger for lunch if you like, we personally put the charcoal grill to work quite often. we couldnt have been happier even though we drove 11 hrs one way to get there. all the neighbors were as friendly as could be and the neighborhood was very peaceful. my cousin was staying in gulf shores the same week we were in fort morgan and he barely had room to set up an umbrella on the beach behind his condo on the beach. we had 30 yards of room on either side of our 3 umbrellas that are provided by the owners of this beautiful house. they have a lot of things, rafts, innertubes and chairs umbrellas and beach going stuff. so if you are thinking about renting on the beach, stay away from gulf shores and have space inside the house and on the beach you could never get at any condo. enjoy!!! and if you do venture into town for dinner i recommend the hangout, fun for kids of all ages

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

Great Vacation Home

Guest: jsjs (Huntsville, AL)
Date of Stay: 06/20/09 Review Submitted: 07/06/09

The house was great and location was fantastic. Both decks had great views and got a lot of use. Front deck with cover during the day and back deck at night. I will definitely recommend this place to family and friends. The only thing you need to bring are swimsuits, food and a canopy for the beach. If you want a great beach house for a reasonable rate this is the place. Thanks Jared and family

Recommended for:Families with young children

Wonderful Home

Guest: Illinois Family of 7 (Eureka, Il)
Date of Stay: 06/13/09 Review Submitted: 07/04/09

Our stay at the Windward was wonderful! We really enjoyed the privacy of Fort Morgan compared to busy Gulf Shores. The house is located in a great location with the bay in front of the home and the beach behind it. Our children started each day on the front porch with their grandparents looking at the bay. The owner called two times to see how we were doing. He also told us helpful information on local events. He was very friendly and we enjoyed working with him. The only other comment would be that if you have a child 12 months or younger, the walk to the beach was a little long. The walk was fine if you didn't have to carry anyone! We would stay at the Windward again!

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

Guest: Darcy and James C.
Date of Stay: 06/12/09 Review Submitted: 06/11/09

"convenience" "This home was very clean and had every convenience you could ask for. All we needed to bring was food, clothes, and toiletries. Everything you want to take to the beach is already provided, including toys and a skim board for the kids. The kitchen is very well stocked and all the beds were very comfortable. We had a very nice stay. "Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

convenience

Guest: Myree (Vicksburg, MS)
Date of Stay: 05/30/09 Review Submitted: 06/11/09

This home was very clean and had every convenience you could ask for. All we needed to bring was food, clothes, and toiletries. Everything you want to take to the beach is already provided, including toys and a skim board for the kids. The kitchen is very well stocked and all the beds were very comfortable. We had a very nice stay.

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

Guest: Don and Ellen B.
Date of Stay: 05/18/09 Review Submitted: 05/17/09

"THE BEST - BY FAR" "We rented this beautiful beach house during the first week of May 2009. What impressed us the most is just how comfortable the house feels. Any renter will find that the Ward family takes great pride in their home and the comfort of those who stay there. What we needed was a break from our regular hectic lives, and this gorgeous and comfortable beach house is just what the doctor ordered! There is nothing in the description of this terrific beach house that is misleading or not 100 percent true. The owners were wonderfully kind and very responsive; especially in returning our security/cleaning deposit so quickly. The beach was very clean and on any given day, we had at least a foot-length of beach to ourselves. Great fishing, too. If I were you, I'd book it immediately! " Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

THE BEST - BY FAR

Guest: Definitely Will Return!! (Arab, AL)
Date of Stay: 05/02/09 Review Submitted: 05/15/09

We rented this beautiful beach house during the first week of May 2009. What impressed us the most is just how comfortable the house feels. Any renter will find that the Ward family takes great pride in their home and the comfort of those who stay there. What we needed was a break from our regular hectic lives, and this gorgeous and comfortable beach house is just what the doctor ordered! There is nothing in the description of this terrific beach house that is misleading or not 100 percent true. The owners were wonderfully kind and very responsive; especially in returning our security/cleaning deposit so quickly. The beach was very clean and on any given day, we had at least a foot-length of beach to ourselves. Great fishing, too. If I were you, I'd book it immediately!

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

Guest: Randy and Tonya H.
Date of Stay: 04/02/09 Review Submitted: 04/01/09

"Restfull Getaway" "Got back to Nashville TN and am ready to plan our return. I will stay here again. I liked the location away from the the crowds (spring break week) and the pillow top beds. My wife liked the open kitchen, the views, and the washer/dryer in the house. When we got home we were able to unpacked clean clothes and put them away back in the drawers or closet. She did not have the dreaded laundry day after we returned. The kids enjoyed the beach and TV. The owner called during our stay to make sure we had everything we needed. Everything was found to be clean and well-maintained, just as the pictures had shown. Something here for everyone and a good time was had by all. " Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

Guest: Darin and Shiela F.
Date of Stay: 03/31/09 Review Submitted: 03/30/09

"Spring Break Vacation" "Our family of 6 had a great time at Windward. We reserved this place at the last minute and were a little leary of what we would find. The website described what sounded like a great place for a very reasonable charge. We were not disappointed. The house was very spacious and nicely decorated. The kitchen had everything needed to prepare meals- we were able to buy groceries and eat at "our beach house." We traveled into Gulf Shores a couple of times to eat which is a little drive, but there are things to see on the way. The weather was a little chilly for swimming, but that didn't stop the kids from having a blast in the waves and building sand castles with the toys that were provided. The owner checked on us a couple of times by phone to make sure we found everything and all was good. The washer/dryer, dish washer, and vacuum also was a blessing. It helped a mom have more time to enjoy the family! Our kids really enjoyed this vacation. In fact, our 3 yr old daughter didn't want to leave. She was going to stay even when we had to head back to reality. Our other kids (all boys) 5, 7, and 13 had plenty of things to keep them occupied. -the beach, hermit crabs at the bay, huge TV, movies, books- In other words- this is a great house on the beach. " Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

Spring Break Vacation

Guest: Darin and Shiela (Clinton, AR)
Date of Stay: 03/21/09 Review Submitted: 03/28/09

Our family of 6 had a great time at Windward. We reserved this place at the last minute and were a little leary of what we would find. The website described what sounded like a great place for a very reasonable charge. We were not disappointed. The house was very spacious and nicely decorated. The kitchen had everything needed to prepare meals- we were able to buy groceries and eat at "our beach house." We traveled into Gulf Shores a couple of times to eat which is a little drive, but there are things to see on the way. The weather was a little chilly for swimming, but that didn't stop the kids from having a blast in the waves and building sand castles with the toys that were provided. The owner checked on us a couple of times by phone to make sure we found everything and all was good. The washer/dryer, dish washer, and vacuum also was a blessing. It helped a mom have more time to enjoy the family! Our kids really enjoyed this vacation. In fact, our 3 yr old daughter didn't want to leave. She was going to stay even when we had to head back to reality. Our other kids (all boys) 5, 7, and 13 had plenty of things to keep them occupied. -the beach, hermit crabs at the bay, huge TV, movies, books- In other words- this is a great house on the beach.

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

Guest: Bridget Anne L.
Date of Stay: 03/19/09 Review Submitted: 03/18/09

"Loved it!!" "My five girl friends and I loved this house for our time together. The house suited our needs perfectly. The beds were very comfortable after long days on the beach. The beach was terrific! The comparative seclusion of the location was wonderful for a calm vacation. We had superb weather. We have all agreed that we would rent this house again." Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

Restfull Getaway

Guest: Ragman (Nashville, TN )
Date of Stay: 03/15/09 Review Submitted: 03/25/09

Got back to Nashville TN and am ready to plan our return. I will stay here again. I liked the location away from the the crowds (spring break week) and the pillow top beds. My wife liked the open kitchen, the views, and the washer/dryer in the house. When we got home we were able to unpacked clean clothes and put them away back in the drawers or closet. She did not have the dreaded laundry day after we returned. The kids enjoyed the beach and TV. The owner called during our stay to make sure we had everything we needed. Everything was found to be clean and well-maintained, just as the pictures had shown. Something here for everyone and a good time was had by all.

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

Loved it!!

Guest: Bridget Anne (Dallas)
Date of Stay: 03/07/09 Review Submitted: 03/18/09

My five girl friends and I loved this house for our time together. The house suited our needs perfectly. The beds were very comfortable after long days on the beach. The beach was terrific! The comparative seclusion of the location was wonderful for a calm vacation. We had superb weather. We have all agreed that we would rent this house again.

Recommended for:Girls getaway

Guest: Deborah G.
Date of Stay: 03/03/09 Review Submitted: 03/02/09

"Winter is great at the beach!" "What a great time we had at this truly beautiful beach house! The beds were super comfortable, the TV was a big hit in the evenings, and there were enough nice dishes in the kitchen to accommodate an army! There were a few glitches with delivery of our payments, but the owner was a true gentleman throughout. Thanks, Don!" Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

Winter is great at the beach!

Guest: Deborah the Canadian (Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/16/09 Review Submitted: 02/26/09

What a great time we had at this truly beautiful beach house! The beds were super comfortable, the TV was a big hit in the evenings, and there were enough nice dishes in the kitchen to accommodate an army! There were a few glitches with delivery of our payments, but the owner was a true gentleman throughout. Thanks, Don!

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

Guest: James G.
Date of Stay: 01/26/09 Review Submitted: 01/25/09

"No better place anywhere" "I have spent six weeks here. Mere words can not describe the beautiful gulf view from the deck or the bay view from the porch. The beach is very close and I had it to myself much of the time. The house is very well maintained with everything I needed. The furniture is very inviting. This is my fourth time staying at Windward. I like it so much I have reserved it for a longer time next winter. My young grand daughters even refer to it as "grandpa's beach house." Sure beats Missouri winter." Go to Homeaway, property 178244, click "Read Reviews", to verify this owner comment from our guest.

Recommended for:

No better place anywhere

Guest: Missouri Snowbird (Marshfield,MO )
Date of Stay: 12/22/08 Review Submitted: 01/22/09

I have spent six weeks here. Mere words can not describe the beautiful gulf view from the deck or the bay view from the porch. The beach is very close and I had it to myself much of the time. The house is very well maintained with everything I needed. The furniture is very inviting. This is my fourth time staying at Windward. I like it so much I have reserved it for a longer time next winter. My young grand daughters even refer to it as "grandpa's beach house." Sure beats Missouri winter.

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

Prone To Flooding

Guest: Underwater (Birmingham, AL)
Date of Stay: 09/05/08 Review Submitted: 09/19/08

When we arrived at the property, the driveway was already underwater. We arrived at night and were very wary of driving our car through it. It was over the tailpipe, but we made it under the house to the 'high ground'. For the next 4 days we only took my father-in-law's truck in and out, since it was high enough to make it without worry. However, every time we drove it we had to wash out from under it thoroughly, the smell of salt water that has been sitting in the sun for days is terrible. The house was very nice, and was fully stocked with everything but food. If the property were built up to the level of the surrounding properties it would be the perfect place to stay. As it is, this property is the lowest property on the strip, so any time it rains heavy (or if the area floods) the driveway is completely submerged (1 foot+ of water) underwater. The entire area flooded the morning of 9/11/08, but at this property we were stuck in the house while others were evacuating (because the driveway was impassible for our cars). At 3:00 that morning, Mobile Bay was flooding into the driveway and starting to pool up under the house. By the time the tide came in, the Gulf of Mexico itself was pouring under the house! The saltwater was rushing around our car, but we couldn't get it to higher ground. The sand from the seawater was forming a sandbar around our car! The owner of the property told us before we came that there were "inches" of water in the driveway, and also called the day of the flooding, about 6 hours after we were stranded, to tell us it "might flood". By the time he told us about the driveway, we were already on our way to the house and had nowhere else to stay. And by the time he warned us about the flooding, not even the local wreckers (or AAA) would come get us out because the road was closed. In a dry season, this property would make for the perfect vacation spot. But I warn you not to stay anywhere on Fort Morgan Road during the rainy season, and if you do I urge you not to stay at this property unless you have a raised up vehicle. My wife's 2006 Mazda 6 has just been totalled by our insurance company due to saltwater damage, so needless to say we are a bit unhappy. The owner agreed to give us a partial discount for the inconvenience and the days we could not stay due to flooding, but flat our refused to even pay the deductible for our car being totalled, oh and the owner only has insurance on the house, nothing more.

Owner response:This review was not posted by the contract holder, Mary. She has not contacted me concerning her stay. Her son-in-law, Lee posted this review. His car was damaged by storm surge caused by Hurricane Ike which flooded beaches from Destin, FL to the Texas coast. Lee called me and told me that he was going to leave a negative review if I didn't pay his $500 insurance deductible. I declined to pay him the $500 and he posted the review. I offered Mary a full refund 2 days before her check-in date or a discount if she wanted to park at a neighbors house due to water in my driveway from storm surge by Hurricane Gustav. She decided to keep her reservation. I also offered her a full refund when she arrived at 2:30PM on her check-in day. She again decided to stay. Our property is the same elevation as the surrounding property that have houses on them. Our driveway is located between 2 vacant lots that I don't own which were built up by sand that washed in from Hurricane Ivan more than 6 years after we built our house. The entire coastal area was flooded by the storm surge from Hurricane Ike. Water was in the lobby of condos in Gulf Shores and the last 5 miles of Fort Morgan road was closed due water as deep as 3 feet in some places that was flooding the road during the storm surge. Highway 98 in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL was also closed due to flooding. I am very sorry that his car was damaged by the storm surge but I couldn't prevent the storm surge from this hurricane nor predict when it would occur.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car.