50th Wedding anniversary and renewal of vows

Guest: Cindy (Gallatin, TN 37066)
Date of Stay: 10/05/11 Review Submitted: 10/20/11

My family and I (17) total just spent an amazing week at the Pink Palace. The accomodations were just what we needed, very comfortable and very nice views. The house was well equipted and proved to be the perfect backdrop for the reception following the sunset vows. A total of 30 plus people attended and we filled it full of music, love and laughter.....Everyone decided your home would be our home away from home. Thank you for sharing the Pink Palace with us. CIndy Martin Butler

Recommended for:Pet owners, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

The Best Place to stay on the Gulf!

Guest: Jaybird (California)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

I meet my twin brother twice a year in different places, once we discovered the "Pink Palace" it's now the only place we go. There is no better view of the emerald coast, have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine (our routine) then the chairs at the front windows or on the balcony. Always clean, comfortable, user friendly and enjoyable no matter how many people come with us. The sand is right out your door to the dunes and beach to enjoy the day or see the stars at night. My little nephew was in heaven and so was the dog. You'll fall in love with this one of a kind house too. When I'm back in California I can't wait to return to this home away from home and let the world disappear and enjoy the simple life. Book it - you'll love it. And the agent that helps with the property is amazing!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great place!

Guest: Linda (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 01/26/11

The only thing wrong with this place is it's name: The Pink Palace. If you're expecting 'palace' accommodations, then you will likely be disappointed. If you are expecting a really great beach house with an incredible beach and great views, then you will be happy as clams. We went with our entire family - 12 of us, 3 generations. Plenty of room, house was comfortable, PRIVATE beach just out the back door. We just had a great time. The only thing you need to know if you are going with kids, is that the 2 levels are not connected with an indoor staircase. That's a plus as far as keeping toddlers from trying to go up or down the stairs during the day, but a bit of a negative if you have a child sleeping downstairs while the rest of the family is upstairs in the evening. We would definitely rent this property again!

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

Perfect for Family vacation!

Guest: Jenny S. (SPRING, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 01/25/11

We rented the pink palace last summer and LOVED it! With 3 young children and 9 adults, there was plenty of room for us to spread out and sleep comfortably. We cooked all our meals there and the kitchen had everything we needed. The best part about this place is it is RIGHT on the beach! It's a beautiful, quiet, clean, very private beach. There is an outdoor shower too which is very convenient. The only thing to know about this place is the upstairs and downstairs are only connected by an outdoor staircase...it's not a big deal, just something to be aware of ahead of time. Also, one of the rooms downstairs was a little bit on the warm side, but we brought a fan and it was fine. Overall, this place is awesome!! I don't think you'll find a better house that's this large and right on the beach! We hope to go again!

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

Amazing Setting; Perfect for a Wedding or Family Gathering

Guest: Sbandja (Crestview, Florida)
Date of Stay: 01/14/11 Review Submitted: 01/25/11

First - as noted in previous reviews, this is not a luxury property. If you're expecting granite counters, Brazilian cherry floors, Jacuzzi tubs and steam showers, you'll be disappointed. However, if you want a spectacular location, amazing Gulf view and a comfortable place to spend your vacation, you'll love it. Seriously - the view and location can't be beat and will take your breath away every time you walk in the door. The house is well-stocked and well-equipped, with plenty of room for everyone to hang out and feel at home. The split design noted is great for large groups - we put the teenagers in the lower level and everyone was happy! Especially since the lower level had three TV's! The upper level is somewhat dated, but everything worked just fine. Upon check-in, the house was clean and smelled great, with everything we'd asked for in place. We had a few minor issues which were handled quickly by the on-call maintenance man. I'd love to return to the Pink Palace during warmer months (our stay was in January - chilly but still spectacularly beautiful) to truly enjoy the proximity to the beach and Gulf. My only serious hesitation in staying here again is the fact that there is no door on the master bathroom. The toilet sits behind a glass-block wall, but can be seen from the bed. Otherwise, the Pink Palace gets a thumbs up from us! Thanks Anita, Lee and Marty!

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

Perfect Family Reunion

Guest: Happy family (Greensboro, NC)
Date of Stay: 11/24/10 Review Submitted: 12/04/10

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving family reunion here and wish we could do this every year! Sixteen of us and three generations had plenty of gathering space but also lots of space to get away when needed. The living space was comfortable and easy to live in. The bedroom-bathroom layout was perfect and allowed convenient family groupings. We loved having two kitchens and both were very well stocked. House was clean and everything worked perfectly. Absolutely gorgeous setting and easy beach access. We could not have asked for anything more.

Owner response:Thank you!

Recommended for:Pet owners, girls getaway, families with teenagers.

Location, location, location!

Guest: BKCooks (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 10/03/10 Review Submitted: 11/02/10

We have stayed at the pink house for the past three years and love it. It is by far the prettiest beach and best location in the panhandle. Minutes from shopping and kids activities if it rains or you want a break from the beach. What you see in the pictures is what you get. Yes, the home is older, and we love it that way. No tip toeing around with kids and parties. The wide views are spectacular. It's comfortable, lived-in and clean. We love putting the kids in the downstairs section of the house and having the upstairs to the adults. If you are looking for a fancy new place with 1000 thread count sheets, this is not the place for you. We once had an issue with the ice maker and the owner sent over someone to fix it the next day. We plan to book again for next summer/fall.

Owner response:Thank you....

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

Just returned from vacation

Guest: JJ (Florida)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 08/28/10

I would TOTALLY agree with the review from August 18th and July 26th. Views are tremendous and proximity to the beach can't be beat. However, during our stay many appliances did not work - downstairs air conditioning didn't work well, stove didn't heat, no can opener and due to two days of rain the window leaked so badly we were filling buckets and then plaster started falling off the ceiling. Again, location is wonderful but this house needs immediate attention. Also, they advertise two grills and there was only one very small grill upstairs. with 16 of us there the downstairs stove not working and only one grill made it hard for cooking meals.

Owner response:All these issues have been addressed and corrected

Recommended for:

Misleading

Guest: Beach Goer (Carbondale, IL)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

If you desire a view of the Gulf that will take your breath away, a private beach and a great location in beautiful Destin then this is the house for you. However, if you are expecting true luxurious living then you will be VERY disappointed. When you first arrive your heart will sink when you notice how rundown the house is. The pictures in this ad must have been taken some time ago. When we entered the home we were greeted with wet sheets and towels in the washer and in general the house was not clean. At night HUGE cockroaches (3-4 inches in length) would appear inside the house and if you want to sit on one of the two small decks and enjoy the breathtaking ocean view don’t be surprised if you get attacked by ants nipping at your ankles. The biggest down fall to this house is that the downstairs and upstairs are totally separate. There is no way to get from one floor to the other without going outside. This is very inconvenient. The décor in the house is cheap and well-worn and the kitchens are not well stocked. One day it rained and one of the windows leaked like a sieve. The upstairs master bedroom has a tremendous view of the Gulf with wrap around windows. But like most things in this house you won’t be able to enjoy it since all of the blinds are broken and there is no way to raise them. If you have a large group and all’s you want to do is party on the beach and crash at night then this is the place for you. If you want true luxury and feel pampered in a million dollar mansion then you should definitely pass on this house.

Owner response:First off, there are no hidden secrets and this guest did know the house arrangements. This guest insisted on checking in early and house keeping was not finished, that is why there was laundry still going on etc. This is an older traditional beach house which is well maintained! This is the first I've heard of any roaches or ants, I have never seen any nor have any other guests. The house is fully stocked and well maintained and I have guest rave about the house.

Recommended for:

Great Location but not a Palace

Guest: Traveler (Dallas, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 07/26/10

This house is perfectly situated on the beautiful beaches of Holiday Isle. It has great access to the beach and lots of privacy. If location is your main concern, you will be happy with this house. However, this is a three bedroom house with sleeping quarters downstairs. The downstairs area is not accessible to the main upstairs house except by an outside staircase which makes it less than convenient for families with small children.. We had small children and they could not be left alone down below after being put to bed which made it very inconvenient. The downstairs bedrooms and living areas are extremely small. We rented a crib and we were not able to fit it in three of the four bedrooms downstairs. We ended up setting it up in one of the bathrooms. One of the bedrooms downstairs had no closet and one had no chest to put your clothes in for a lengthy stay. The pictures of the downstairs area are very misleading. There is no bar, no area rugs, inadequate kitchen supplies and an air conditioner that cannot adequately cool the space. We were greeted with a dryer full of wet linens downstairs that we had to fold and find a place for downstairs. Overall the downstairs area was VERY disappointing and misrepresented in the pictures.. We went to Wal-Mart and purchased plastic serving bowls, trays and two fans to make our stay more enjoyable. The house in general was not clean. The washer in the downstairs area leaked water. The appliaces were dirty and we had no blender, no can opener and no hand mixer downstairs. The one grill on the upstairs patio/deck had no propane in it and we had to purchase that as well. The upstairs was a much better set up and aside from the house not being as clean as one would like, it was comfortable. The view from the upstairs main room was awesome and the rooms upstairs were large and comfortable. This is a tired house with lots of repairs needed. The outside shower was an added bonus. Again, if location is your focus and you have no real need for the downstairs area except to sleep you may enjoy your stay. However if amenties are important to you, pass on this one.

Owner response:These issues have all been addressed and corrected

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with teenagers.