Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great Family Vacation

Guest: Sandra (Guntersville, AL)
Date of Stay: 05/05/12 Review Submitted: 05/13/12

We enjoyed our family vacation at Sterling Stay immensely. Our group consisted in age from 10 months to 65 years old and everyone had a great time. We cooked at home several nights and they have anything in the kitchen that you would need. The pool was wonderful! We spent more time in the pool than we did going to the beach. We did have the pool heated and it was well worth the money to do so. The beach was a very short walk and beach chairs, rafts and pool toys were also available for use at Sterling Stay. The house is in a wonderful location located near everything you would need, grocery store, mall, movie theatre, Starbucks etc. We experienced one problem when the air conditioner shorted out in the cabana but we called Janet and she was there within 10 minutes. She found the problem and had it repaired within a few hours. I would definitely recommend Sterling Stay and will hopefully be staying there again myself.

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

Totally amazing vacation

Guest: janice h.
Date of Stay: 04/20/12 Review Submitted: 05/07/12

I had 2 weeks of vacation from where I am stationed in Afghanistan. I reviewed a lot of potential rental properties before deciding on this home. I was so thrilled with the assistance Janet gave me from the airport to fly into to her recommendations of places to visit while here. The pictures did not do the property justice, everything was spotless, well maintained and up to date amenities. The beds were very comfortable, the heated pool was delightful for late nigh swims and the beach was so close I could hear the waves while laying in bed. My three children (23, 19 and 13) loved the close walk to the beach which allowed me to sleep while they enjoyed the water. The Commons and upscale mall is about 3 miles away and the huge outlet mall is just down the street. This has been the best vacation ever.

Owner response:Thank you for your appreciative review. We are very glad you enjoyed your vacation at Sterling Stay Beach House. As a member of our armed forces in Afghanistan, you certainly deserved the best vacation ever! Thank you for your service to our country. We hope you will keep Sterling Stay Beach House in mind for a future holiday. Wishing you the best.

Recommended for:

Sterling Stay

Guest: Nanci S.
Date of Stay: 04/07/12 Review Submitted: 05/08/12

We stayed at Sterling Stay and it was an absolutely wonderful vacation. My husband, children, and seven grandchildren enjoyed the spacious home, perfect sized pool, and days at the beach. The fully equiped kitchen was perfect for home cooked meals. The bunk room was a hit with the children. The families each enjoyed their own master bathrooms and bedroom, while my husband and I enjoyed the quiet of the cabana house each evening. Thank you!

Owner response:Thank you for your positive review. We are really pleased that Sterling Stay Beach House offered you the amenities which made your holiday special and fun. We hope you keep Sterling Stay Beach House in mind for future vacation. Thank you!

Recommended for:

Wisconsin Jim

Guest: James K. (Stone Lake, Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 02/01/12 Review Submitted: 03/12/12

This is an excellent property. It is clean, near the beach, and is well maintained. Customer service is excellent.

Owner response:I am pleased that your holiday for the month of February at Sterling Stay Beach House was enjoyable and met your expectations. Thank you for choosing Sterling Stay Beach House again this year.

Recommended for:

Wisconsin Jim

Guest: James K. (Stone Lake, Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 02/01/12 Review Submitted: 03/12/12

This is the second year we have stayed at this property. It is everything exactly as described. We have had several guests each and all have really enjoyed the property. The location near the beach and several of our favorite restaurants makes it great for us.

Owner response:Thank you for choosing Sterling Stay Beach House again this year. We are glad it worked out well for you and your family. Looking forward to seeing you next year.

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

Perfect for a Family or large groups

Guest: Glenda
Date of Stay: 05/28/11 Review Submitted: 06/24/11

My family and I stayed in Sterling Stay May 28 - June 5. It was the perfect place for our large group which consisted of my husband and I, our six children, my sister and brother-in-law, and my mom and dad. We could not have asked for a better lay out of the rooms. My husband and I took the safari suite which was located on the second floor. Also on the second floor was the rack room which had two sets of bunk beds perfect for our four boys and our two girls shared the other king suite with an en suite bath on the same floor. My sister and her husband took the king bedroom with ensuite bath on the first floor and my mom and dad took the pool house which was equipped with its own kitchenette/living area and full bath. The King rooms were all large rooms with private baths. The Safari Suite has an amazing bath with a whirlpool tub and a large separate shower. There is also a third full bath on the second floor and a half bath on the first floor next to the back door. The kitchen was extremely well equipped and had everything we needed for our stay. The third floor is a lookout tower type room. The kids loved it and the adults loved the balconies in the evenings. You can view fireworks from as far away as the Sandestin area. You could not have your meals there very easily, even though it is equipped with a table and chairs it is a long trek from the kitchen if you have your hands full. There is a really cold mini fridge in the tower that was great for chilling drinks. If you are traveling with children this house is great. The pool ranges from about 3 foot to around 5.5 feet. It was large enough that all of the children could play in it without being on top of one another. And for supervision there are plenty of lounge chairs around the pool area so you can relax while keeping an eye on the kiddos. Another bonus to the pool is that it is shaded in the morning and in the late afternoon so you do not worry about frying the kids in the sun.The house comes equipped with a room full of beach and pool toys. The sand castle making toys were plentiful along with boogy boards, beach chairs and beach umbrellas. There is also a cart that collapses which you can use to tote the things to the beach. When reading the description it is easy to wonder how far you actually are from the beach. As I have learned walking distance can mean many things depending on who is doing the walking. With Sterling Stay it truly is walking distance to the beach.

Recommended for:

Spring Break Wonderland

Guest: springbreak2011 (Hayesville, NC, United States)
Date of Stay: 04/09/11 Review Submitted: 04/18/11

We are from the mountains of North Carolina and traveled to Sterling Stay for Spring Break. Your home was MUCH more fabulous than we could have hoped. Everything we needed (kitchen supplies, dishes, towels, wash cloths, soap, shampoo, pool toys, beach toys, cooler, grill, internet access, cable TV, iron, washer/dryer, pool, alarm for the pool, etc.) was readily available. Every square inch was immaculately clean. The beach was within walking distance from the property, in fact, our three and five year old had no trouble at all walking down to the ocean. Even though we thoroughly enjoyed the beach, words cannot describe how thrilled my children were when they got to swim in your pool! Thank you so much for all of your hard work in providing this Spring Break Wonderland. Precious memories at Sterling Stay will never be forgotten.

Owner response:Thank you for choosing Sterling Stay Beach House for your Spring Break. Every effort is made so that our guests have all they need for a comfortable and fun holiday. It is great to hear that our property met you expectations. We hope you will come again next year for another week of fun in the sun in beautiful Destin.

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

Sterling Stay Spring Break 2011

Guest: JT (Grand Rapids, MI)
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 04/15/11

Our stay was pretty good. We found out that the place was a little small for four families, but we made it work. The only other issue we found, was the kids pulling cigarette butts out from the couch in a non smoking facility. We also had a table in the living room that was broken upon arrival. Janet did bring replacement stools immediately, and the table was removed. Overall I thought the stay was a good expierence. I would try to do a better job with the cleanliness of the house. Sun was shining, and the fish were biting. Jason Engstrom

Owner response:Thank you for your review. We have brought your concerns to the housekeepers. Please know that Sterling Stay Beach House offers only the best to our guests. We are glad you enjoyed your holiday and that the fish were biting under Destin's sunny skies!

Recommended for:Families with young children

xx

Guest: xx (Chicago, Ill)
Date of Stay: 12/27/10 Review Submitted: 01/31/11

The property was as advertised. House was well equipped, and nicely decorated. Loved the separate guest facility. My mother-in-law stayed there, and we all had our privacy. The Destin area is very overbuilt, and the amount of buildings and retail was a little overwhelming. However, everything you would want was within easy distance.

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

Sterling Stay 10-10

Guest: potter (United States)
Date of Stay: 10/21/10 Review Submitted: 11/03/10

We had a terrific time at Sterling Stay House October 21-24. We had a houseful of our close family including two young children. The location was perfect, as it was just steps from the beach. Every amenity that we needed was at our fingertips! Wi-fi, kitchen utensils and plenty of beach and pool toys. The artwork was amazing and we loved the general set up of the home. Thank you for allowing to stay at your home. It was a wonderful, relaxing experience!

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

Great House, Everything Was Exactly As Described

Guest: BC (Aurora, IN)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

Our family loved the house. Within walking distance (2 Minutes) to the beach. How is very well equiped. Large kitchen for preparing meals. The pool is wonderful. It could use a larger area in the back for lounge chairs and such around the pool. Very close, convenient to Destin Commons and the local Walmart. I highly recommend the Sterling Stay if you plan on visiting the area!

Owner response:We appreciate your comments and are glad Sterling Stay Beach House was a nice holiday venue for your family. We are in complete agreement with your pool deck observation and have already scheduled a September date for installation of paving stones to extend the pool deck area. Thank you for choosing Sterling Stay Beach House. We hope you will come again.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car.

Late May Family Vacation in Destin

Guest: Jim from South Carolina (Simpsonville, SC)
Date of Stay: 05/22/10 Review Submitted: 05/31/10

Great property! Ideal for families with children, young and old. Ground floor bedroom a blessing for family member who has difficulty with stairs. Amenities were excellent and separate cabana was a neat concept. Less than 2 minute walk and you are in the sand. Lot's of stuff to walk to and infinite choices (both eating and entertainment) within short drive. 1st time visitor to the Florida panhandle. We will be back.

Owner response:Glad you enjoyed your holiday at Sterling Stay Beach House. I wonder what we could have provided or done that would have made your holiday better since yours is the only number 4 we have ever received. All the other 14 guest reviews have given Sterling Stay Beach House a rating of Excellent #5.

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

Awesome!!

Guest: suzieq72 (Crestview, FL)
Date of Stay: 04/16/10 Review Submitted: 04/20/10

Our time here was incredible!! The house is decorated in a modern motif and had everything we could possibly need. The location was a plus as well, just a short walk to the beach. We will defintely stay with you again!!

Owner response:It is always nice to hear that Sterling Stay Beach House was a great holiday venue. We are glad to hear that Sterling Stay Beach House exceeded your expectations and that the house amenities met all your needs. We look forward to having you as guests again.

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

The Perfect Fit

Guest: Texas Visits in 2010 (Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 03/25/10

I just returned from a fabulous week staying at "Sterling Place" in beautiful Destin, Florida. We loved our accomodations!! We had 15 in our party and 10 of them were teenagers so the pool house/cabana was perfect for them to get away but still remain close by for supervision. In terms of equipment, household items, and beach ammenities, the house had everything we needed. Actually, we were a little surprised there was not one thing we ever needed that had not been provided. The house was beautifully furnished, clean and spacious. We never felt confined. I guess my only negative would have been the size of the dining room table. Even though I understand it would be quite impossible to get a table large enough to feed 15, I do think a better arranagement could be made to at least fit 8 comfortably. But if you think about it, that is an easy fix. I would highly recommend staying here. It's a close walk to the beach, they have all the chairs and toys you would ever want, and they have this great cart to haul them in. The pool was nice as well. Have fun!

Owner response:Thank you for the compliments on Sterling Stay Beach House. We are glad the property amenities exceeded your expectations and had all the items/equipment you needed. Thank you for your suggestion regarding the dining room table; we will try another arrangement. We hope you will come again to Sterling Stay Beach House for your next holiday at the beach.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

Paradise experience

Guest: Mibete (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 12/29/09 Review Submitted: 01/06/10

This property is really confortable and very nice. We had a great time in this place. We went with our family, including kids, teenagers, and seniors. Everybody was pleased to be in this property. Very clean, all the beds are confortable, big spaces, nice decoration. Excellent location, very close to HWY 98. Very good customer service. We recomend this property to people that like minimalist, and art. The paintings are beautiful!

Owner response:We are pleased that you enjoyed your holiday at Sterling Stay Beach House. All of the art throughout the main house and guest house, with the exception of two prints, are my husband's original work in acrylics and oils; we are glad you liked it. Thank you for leaving the property exceptionally clean. We appreciate your respect and concern for our family's beach home. We hope you will come again to Sterling Stay Beach House.

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

Destin, Florida Sterling Stay

Guest: OSU Bunch (Ohio)
Date of Stay: 11/21/09 Review Submitted: 12/07/09

Ten of us spent Thanksgiving week in this lovely home. The property was very clean and in excellent condition. Many amenities are provided by the owners including a well-equipped kitchen, beach toys and chairs, comfortable bedding, etc. The owners were very kind and helpful and returned our security deposit quickly. The property is so close to the beach that you really do not notice the half-block walk. The neighborhood and community are wonderful and everything you need as far as groceries, shopping, and restaurants are right there. We had one issue with a clogged bathtub drain and that was fixed within a couple hours. The bunk bedroom is pretty small, but our teens spent most of their time outside of the bedroom so that was not a problem for the stay. Be sure to bring extra toilet paper as we ran out. It would have been nice to enjoy the pool, but the weather was in the 60s and the air temperature didn't make it conducive for swimming. However, we were able to enjoy the pool area. The cabana house is also very nice. We all agree that we would stay here again in a heartbeat!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Picture Perfect

Guest: Atlanta Anna (United States)
Date of Stay: 09/19/09 Review Submitted: 09/27/09

The picture is impressive, but the reality is perfect. The house has a bedroom,bath, powder room, kitchen, and family room on the main floor, along with the laundry closet. Great for those who don't "do" steps. The upstairs has three more bedrooms, with plenty of bathrooms. The pool house is more than accommodating and can be completely self-sufficient. There is wireless internet access, also. The home and property are well maintained. The only disappointment was that the gas grill needed to be cleaned. There was so much built up grease that it torched our food. Be sure to bring all of your own toiletries, since a roll of paper towels, existing toilet paper, and a bar of soap for each bath are all that are provided. Two dishwasher tablets are provided. There is a very short walk to the beach;however, homeowners have access to a MINUTE portion it! So plop down your chairs early! All of the restaurants are close, so finding one that appeals to you is not a problem. I would definitely recommend this property. We thoroughly enjoyed our week at the best beach in the world!

Owner response:Destin's beautiful beaches are exceptionally wide and spacious. However, private beachfront owners have the right to restrict the public beach goers from sitting in front of their residence. ALL of Destin beaches follow this guideline, not just Crystal Beach. ALL of the guests in rental homes in Destin must follow the same guidelines NOT just the guests of Sterling Stay Beach House. Even though the other rental reviews on this site do not contain a reference to this topic, the private beach restrictions DO apply to their guests as well. Beach goers have the option of setting their chairs in the extremely wide opening at the entrance of Shirah St beach entrance or choose to walk a few yards past the private property and use any portion of the beach. Please read the all of the reviews for Sterling Stay Beach House to know that every review is 5 out of 5 and all guests recommend Sterling Stay and would return for another holiday. As owners, we spend several weeks at Sterling Stay every year. The beach restrictions have never been a concern or kept us from having a great vacation at Crystal Beach. We hope you will choose Sterling Stay for your next beach vacation.

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

sterling stay 7-2009

Guest: jacjim (glenwood,ar)
Date of Stay: 07/25/09 Review Submitted: 08/10/09

Our stay @ sterling stay was great-the house was beautiful, the rooms were great, everyone had plenty of room.The pool was wonderful, we used both grills, the cabana was perfect, & the beach closet was great!!!The short walk to the beach was nothing...The only thing I forgot to bring was a blow dryer,but we just let the sea wind dry our hair,no big deal.We highly recommend this property to any family with 10 or more people,you will not be on top of each other,plenty of elbow room,comfy furniture,and comfy beds!!!!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers

Great for family

Guest: Once a year beachniks (Cumming, GA)
Date of Stay: 07/04/09 Review Submitted: 07/19/09

It was a perfect property for a large group. 8 adults and 8 children. Everything was clean, well maintained, air conditioning was great. We really appreciated all the extra pool and beach 'stuff' you made available. Walk to beach was safe and short. Our only issue was with the private beach restrictions. We really did enjoy our week and would consider this property as one at the top of our list in the future. We felt like the owners were personally interested in our staying being perfect. That means a lot.

Owner response:The private beach restrictions apply to the beachfront property owners who do not want people plopping their chairs directly in front of their private property. This is the deeded right to private property owners on ALL of the Destin Beaches, not just Crystal Beach. The Shirah St. beach entrance is large, open and has plenty of room to place your beach belongings for a great day at the beach. If one prefers, you may walk a few yards past the immediate private properties and use any of the beach you desire. Crystal Beach is very wide and open. There is always room to enjoy the beautiful white sands and the emerald waters of the Gulf. Come to Sterling Stay and test the water!

Recommended for:Families with young children

Our Family Vacation

Guest: tater tot (Kingston Springs, Tn)
Date of Stay: 06/20/09 Review Submitted: 06/30/09

We just returned home from spending a wonderful week in this nice and clean house. The layout was especially good for our family, and we enjoyed everything about it.

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

Great stay

Guest: BDMD (Douglasville, GA)
Date of Stay: 05/21/09 Review Submitted: 07/07/09

We had a great time! Beautiful house with every kitchen amenity imaginable and tremendous space! We loved the private pool, especially since it frequently rained the weekend we visited, and it was nice to dip in the pool or lay out right there between showers. Only down side was no ESPN for the guys, and we missed watching NBA playoff series.

Owner response:Sterling Stay Beach House now has EXTENDED CABLE year round for those guests who wish to watch ESPN or any other favorite TV show. Come to Sterling Stay to enjoy the white sands of Crystal Beach and to relax to your favorite cable TV show. Sterling Stay Beach House owners are always open to guest suggestions in order to ensure that our guests have a wonderful holiday experience.

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

A refreshing escape worth every penny

Guest: Will D. (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 03/14/09 Review Submitted: 07/07/09

As this was my first-ever visit to this region of Florida, I had no past experiences upon which to base any expectations. I was, however, quite aware of the hype surrounding the pearl-white sand, crystal-clear waters and unequaled sunsets. To say that my experience lived up to this hype is a gross understatement. Aside from the truly awesome beaches which were literally a five-minute walk from Sterling Stay, the house itself was an equally refreshing change of pace that was well-received by everyone in our group. The house has a certain character that - while unique - is not overbearing. Anyone can feel at home at Sterling Stay. Its amenities, and its proximity to beaches, restaurants, and all types of shopping allowed us to escape the inconveniences of every-day life and enjoy the simple pleasures of great weather and great company. I recommend Sterling Stay to any group seeking a relaxing, care-free environment.

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

great house for group close to the beach

Guest: Carolyn Anne (NY)
Date of Stay: 03/14/09 Review Submitted: 06/25/09

The house is absolutely beautiful and spacious. We arrived to a clean, well maintained house and property. Plenty of beds and different rooms for private and communal space for a group. Not to mention the simple, stylish decor and beautiful, interesting art work throughout the house. The washing machine and dryer were wonderful extras to have. The full kitchen and grill were also very nice. Great for a group of friends or extended family to get away. The pool and guest house are a wonderful addition for extra space and fun. The location of the house is only a 5 minute walk from the beach and in a clean, nice neighborhood. Shopping and restaurants are close by. I highly recommend this house and plan to go back myself.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

Sterling Stay Beach House

Guest: Yorkie Lover (Carmel, IN)
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/10/10

I had the pleasure of staying at Sterling Stay for the month of February 2010 and had a wonderful time. This house is so beautiful, roomy and comfortable. This home is well maintained and the owner is a pleasure to work with. It has everything needed for home away from home. The fenced yard with the pool in back is a nice retreat for relaxing. I loved the Crystal Beach neighborhood because it is so close to everything, and a wonderful area for taking walks. The beach is right down the street and you can get there in no time. Destin beaches are the best. I highly recommend Sterling Stay for a beach vacation getaway.

Owner response:We are pleased that your month at Sterling Stay Beach House was pleasurable. Thank you for your kind compliments regarding the property and neighborhood of Crystal Beach. We, too, think it is a very special place. We hope you can visit again for a winter reprieve or for some summer fun! Thank you for choosing Sterling Stay Beach House.

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/09 Review Submitted: 02/13/09

Lovely beach house and great location. Enjoyed my stay there and highly recommend this property.

Recommended for:

Spring Break Vacation

Guest: ebee (HIawassee, Ga)
Date of Stay: 04/08/08 Review Submitted: 06/24/09

My family and friends had a great time at Sterling Stay. We enjoyed the openess in the house - not cluttered at all - The modern decor and original art was really fun. The heated pool was where were we spent some time and the gas grill was great for preparing dinners. The house is very clean and well kept. The beach is only a stone's throw which makes it really nice for hauling the beach stuff or for gong back to the house for food, etc. YOu can rent bikes and scooters along Scenic Gulf Drive. There's lots to do in Destin so check it out! I highly recommend this property for any one who likes a fun place to vacation. You wont regret it. We are going back to Sterling Stay next year.

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