Vacation Rentals by Owner

I Wish There Were 6 Stars!

Guest: Kara (Lake Forest, IL)
Date of Stay: 03/24/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

Just returned home from my family's BEST vacation yet. Destin West, and most especially this unit, is in large part the reason for our wonderful experience. Bill was so easy to work with, book with confidence. Now for the specifics, the unit itself is far more spacious and updated than the pictures depict. My children loved trading off the top bunk each night. The bunk mattresses were very plush and comfortable. I am a self confessed "bed snob," the master bed was super comfy and luxurious. Perfect for relaxing with morning coffee. Honestly, we never even opened the balcony off the bedroom, never really needed to, but it was nice to have the option. We are also "foodies" and went to great lengths to plan our meals. The kitchen was very well equipped and had everything we needed to prepare some great dishes. For a family of 4, the 2nd bathroom was a god-send. The Living Room was the perfect place for those few "winding down" moments. By far the most used space for my family was the Balcony, with its easy access to the Lazy River and pool. The property itself offers every typical Florida experience... pools, bay, beach, walk to Boardwalk. Once we had groceries, never really needed to drive until we left. I hope your family enjoys this unit as much as we did. I have already contacted the owners about booking again.

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

very nice place!

Guest: Florina M (Tallahassee, FL)
Date of Stay: 11/10/11 Review Submitted: 11/27/11

We stayed at this place for one week in November. Beautiful spacious condo, beautiful view from the living room. The weather was awesome, the beach was very clean. Everything is according to the pictures and description. Very very pleased on working/communicating with Bill. We found very helpful all the additional info provided. Will come back for sure. Already recommended to some friends. Thanks again for a perfect stay! Florina M

Owner response:Dear Florina...am so glad that you had the "perfect stay". That's what we love to hear! Thank you for referring us to your friends and we look forward to having you back. It was great working with you as well. Bill

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

We loved our "Beach House"

Guest: Ellie F. (Austin, Texas, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/08/11 Review Submitted: 12/08/11

My husband and twin two year olds loved our stay at the condo in October. It was super cute and had a great view of the lazy river. We loved being on the first floor so we could walk right out. The owner was really responsive and great to work with. The building was fabulous and you can't beat having several pools, a lazy river, a splash pad and of course a GORGEOUS beach to choose from! We would highly recommend staying here, although next time we might get the owner's other condo because the bunk bed room has a door. This trip the kids slept in cribs in the master bedroom that the owner provided (which was great!) but I could see how in the future it would be nice for them to have their own space with a door. My kids love talking about their "beach house" and we can't wait to go back and stay at this condo or another one owned by the same family.

Owner response:Dear Ellie, We are so pleased that you and your family had such a wonderful time especially that the girls think of it as "their beach house" now. We look forward to your return. It was great working with you as well. Bill

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

Wonderful place!!!

Guest: GAfamily (Newnan,GA/USA)
Date of Stay: 09/11/11 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

Our family of 5 stayed there the week of 9/11-9/17 and can absolutely say that it was terriffic! The condo was very clean and up-to-date, and fit it's pictures and description perfectly. The entire resort grounds were clean and well maintained. The lazy river pool area was a big hit for our 3 kids. The beach was immaculate, and the beach service was a plus! We only wished we could have stayed longer. I have already recommended this condo to our friends and family. We enjoyed the Gulfarium and the pier for sight-seeing and fishing. If you are looking for VERY close-by seafood dining, the Crab Trap was delicious and so was Anglers Restaurant (at the pier).

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

Great Time!

Guest: John
Date of Stay: 09/03/11 Review Submitted: 09/16/11

THE FAMILY HAD A GREAT TIME AT THE CONDO (INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ). WE HAD EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO MAKE OUR STAY JUST GREAT.T-STORM LEE DIDN'T STOP US FROM HAVING A GOOD TIME. WE ARE LOOKING TO COMING BACK FOR A LONGER STAY. THANKS JOHN

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Perfect Family Vacation

Guest: Aeargirl (Arkansas)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/16/11

We stayed in this unit the week of July 4th. It was very spacious and was better than we expected. The master bedroom was very large. The king size bed very comfortable. The kitchen was very "cook friendly" and was better appointed than any condo we've previously visited. The living area was plenty of room with ample eating and lounging space. We used the washer and dryer every day which allowed us to pack so much less. My sister and her two kids joined us for the last three days of our visit so we even utilized the sleeper sofa and bunk area. The girls loved the bunks as did our 3 year old. The bathroom attached to the bunk area gives you two full baths which was great! So, even with 6 of us we had plenty of space. It felt like home we were so comfortable. The best part though has to be the porch and patio area. We spent over 50% of our time out there. The view of the lazy river, pools, and bay were very beautiful - especially at night. The access to all the amenities from this unit was awesome. Just walk out the gate of the patio and you're wet! The beach is a walk but we viewed that as fun and good exercise, and well worth the trip. I used our beach chairs in the afternoon while my husband and son napped. The sprinkler play area was my son's favorite. There is absolutely nothing negative we can say about this unit and our experience (except the kid upstairs that thought it was cool to throw trash down to our area). This is a place we would definitely stay again and have already recommended to friends. Thanks Bill!

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

Great Condo!

Guest: Brian (Lafayette, IN)
Date of Stay: 03/26/11 Review Submitted: 04/12/11

Very nice condo! Perfect for our family of four. The kids loved the bunk beds and the master is very nice. Perfect location with so much to do around the resort. The walk to the beach wasn't too far and beach service was nice during our stay. The pools and lazy river were a huge hit as well. We loved the decor along with the cleanliness of the condo. We can't wait to visit again. Thanks Bill!

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

This Place Is Great!!!

Guest: Marc (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/15/11 Review Submitted: 03/17/11

This condo is fantastic. It completely lived up to the pictures on VRBO and the owners' description. The first floor location provides a LOT of extra space that works really well with the lazy river/pool area. My wife and I could sit on the balcony and relax while watching the kids circle in the lazy river, which is just a few steps outside the back gate. It's a quick walk over to the beach, and the beaches at Destin West don't get nearly as crowded as some of the other places near here. The owners are super responsive and very helpful. The kids have already asked to come back to this unit next year, and we're already planning the trip. Thanks, Bill and Shelley, for a great time.

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

Guest: Marlene
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 03/16/11

Hi bill Thank you so much that we were able to work everything out with the condo.you were really great to work with. My family really enjoyed it. It had everything we needed. We had a great time. It was an awesome location. It was like a home away from home".we would definitely like to be back. I'll call when we decide. Marlene

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OUR FAVORITE out of our 6 years at DESTIN WEST!!

Guest: Michelle (Eufaula, Alabama)
Date of Stay: 05/08/10 Review Submitted: 12/31/10

2011 will be our 7th vacation to DESTIN WEST. The last three years we have rented from Mrs. Shelley with ease. We have rented all three of her one bedroom condos and THIS IS OUR FAVORITE!! They are all very beautifully decorated and well maintained but this one is an end unit with windows on the side that bring in that Florida sunshine and has FREE BEACH SERVICE. The private balcony off the master bedroom is great for morning coffee to start the day. This condo is just steps away from the pools and lazy river making it easy with our little ones. DESTIN WEST is the only beach vacation spot that our 4 year old and 3 year old know and now our new little one will enjoy. We could not imagine spending our vacation and making all our family memories anywhere else! We LOVE it here and look forward to many more years to come! Thanks Shelley for working so hard on making our vacation where we don't have to worry about anything because your condo provides all that we need. Talk to ya soon and I hope you enjoyed your first christmas with your little one! :)

Owner response:We LOVE having you Michelle! Thanks for being such a pleasure to work with and for treating our condos as you would your own. We can't wait to have you vacation at one of our condos again!!! Happy New Year!!

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

Guest: Tim and Bea
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 03/27/10

Hi Shelley, Thank You So Much for allowing us to stay in one of your condos! Despite the weather (cold, windy and cold), we had a wonderful and relaxing time. The water was too cold to enter the lazy river or beach; but the heated pool was enjoyed by all. You were a pleasure to talk to and deal with; making the rental process easy and accommodating to first-timers. Your condo's will be highly recommended to all our friends! Tim and Bea

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Wonderful Vacation! Super Nice!

Guest: Stephanie
Date of Stay: 06/18/09 Review Submitted: 01/13/10

We had a wonderful vacation at this condo! It was all that we needed for a perfect trip. Our 4 year old LOVED the bunk beds, and she was very safe sleeping up top. Our 21month old had a hard time adjusting to not having a door on the bunk area to shut out the noise and light, but we were able to work around that (that would be my only complaint). The king bed was very comfortable! The kitchen was nicely stocked with everything you'd need to cook with, which we did several nights. We loved the location of the condo being adjacent to the lazy river. The view with all of the landscaping is breath taking. The patio and lanai area was very nice, as it gave us room to play outside. The walkover to the beach was actually quite fun, but we did end up spending more time at the lazy river (SUPER NICE!). Ms. Shelley is SO nice to deal with. Oh, and the work out facility STATE OF THE ART!!! We'd love to visit again sometime! THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL STAY.

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Guest: Stephanie81 (Millington, Tn)
Date of Stay: 06/18/09 Review Submitted: 06/18/09

We had a wonderful vacation at this condo! It was all that we needed for a perfect trip. Our 4 year old LOVED the bunk beds, and she was very safe sleeping up top. Our 21month old had a hard time adjusting to not having a door on the bunk area to shut out the noise and light, but we were able to work around that (that would be my only complaint). The king bed was very comfortable! The kitchen was nicely stocked with everything you'd need to cook with, which we did several nights. We loved the location of the condo being adjacent to the lazy river. The view with all of the landscaping is breath taking. The patio and lanai area was very nice, as it gave us room to play outside. The walkover to the beach was actually quite fun, but we did end up spending more time at the lazy river (SUPER NICE!). Ms. Shelley is SO nice to deal with. Oh, and the work out facility STATE OF THE ART!!! We'd love to visit again sometime! THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL STAY.

Owner response:I am SO glad you had a wonderful vacation Stephanie! Next year, you will have to try our Pelican L-02 or Pelican L-08. They DO have a door to the bunk area and they are the same floor plan and price as the Pelican L-01 you stayed in. Thank you so much for your kind comment. We appreciate you taking good care of our condos and we look forward to having you back again in the future! Thank you for being equally nice to deal with. That makes my job easy! Sincerely, Shelley

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/12/08

FANTASTIC, WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL...Gosh, these words aren't even enough to describe our stay at your lovely condo! The lazy river and pool are absolutely perfect for our three small children (1, 4, and 7), and the free beach service was priceless. We had plenty of room to carry all the "necessities" (i.e. sand toys) since we didn't have to worry about hauling chairs and an umbrella to the beach! Thanks so much for sharing your "home away from home" with us. This was our second time at this resort, and we're already thinking about NEXT year! Thank you VERY much...I will definitely recommend it to others. P.S. Shelley, you are awesome...hope to speak to you again soon! Thanks for making a "by owner" rental so easy and pleasant.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/05/08

Great Condo!!! The location is the best. We loved being right there on the lazy river. Our girls (5 & 3) loved having meals on the Lanai. Clean and in great condition. We plan on going again and again!

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