Gulf coast beach front vacation - need ideas and suggestions (1 Viewer)

[Brennan77]

My wife is finishing grad school the 3rd week of May. After a 3.5 year program, we're both due for a quick, but relaxing vacation. I'm thinking something that's easy, relatively cheap, and very relaxing. So a gulf beach 4-5 day weekend it is.

I'm basically looking for recommendations and experiences. We've never taken a north gulf coast vacation on our own dime. We've met people at expensive beach houses, but I think that's likely out of our price range, though it'd be awesome. It doesn't have to be cheap, but we're not rich. We need something with a kitchen and direct access to the beach. We probably won't eat out much, favoring the option of decanting a nice wine while we cook dinner. All we want is to enjoy the water and sun while reading a book during the day.

Thoughts, ideas, and suggestions are all much appreciated.

 

[antipop]

we go to Pensacola a few times every year....mainly because my wife has family there

the beaches are pretty nice....it's not very expensive and it's only 3 hours away from Metry

Navarre and Destin are not too much further away and are just as nice

you might look into one of those smaller beach houses that are still around....i don't think they would be too expensive

 

[dtc]

Weekly rentals on Pensacola Bch range from about 800 to 5k. For two people, you should be able to find a nice condo within a few hundred feet of the beach at the lower end of that range. Most everything has been remodeled within the past 5 or 6 years due to hurricanes.

I have a bigger place than you need, but know a few private folks who rent theirs and some of them are ones I've built. I also know some realtors who handle weekly rentals. Send me a pm if you like with what you need and I'd be happy to see if I can help.

BTW, that time of year is nice and it's between spring break and summer so you should have the run of the place with good rates and manageable crowds. Also, this ain't NOLA so you're probably better off cooking anyway and saving the money for good wine!

 

[workhorse]

Congrats to your wife on her graduation.

Treat yourself and go down the coast a bit to Sanibel or Captiva Island near Fort Myers. Went two years ago and stayed at the South Seas resort at the north end of Captiva, but there are numerous resorts, large and small, all across the two islands. Wonderful experience. Our condo at South Seas was perfect, very clean. The shelling is some of the best in the world. Uncrowded beaches, mellow atmostphere, cool art shops, awesome fishing. I caught Snook right off a dock! Restaurants was my one complaint on Captiva. Bland, except for the pizza joint at the resort. I know there are better choices on Sanibel Island, if you decide to eat out.

http://www.southseas.com/index.cfm

http://www.go-florida-vacation.com/Sanibel-And-Captiva-Islands/

http://www.go-florida-vacation.com/Sanibel-And-Captiva-Islands/

 

[Redfish]

Congrats to your wife on her graduation.

Treat yourself and go down the coast a bit to Sanibel or Captiva Island near Fort Myers. Went two years ago and stayed at the South Seas resort at the north end of Captiva, but there are numerous resorts, large and small, all across the two islands. Wonderful experience. Our condo at South Seas was perfect, very clean. The shelling is some of the best in the world. Uncrowded beaches, mellow atmostphere, cool art shops, awesome fishing. I caught Snook right off a dock! Restaurants was my one complaint on Captiva. Bland, ecept for the pizza joint at the resort. I know there are better choices on Sanibel Island, if you decide to eat out.

http://www.southseas.com/index.cfm

http://www.go-florida-vacation.com/Sanibel-And-Captiva-Islands/

http://www.go-florida-vacation.com/Sanibel-And-Captiva-Islands/

I would much favor this option! Yes its a further drive but not near as crowded and as much of a tourist trap (as in overpriced) that the panhandle of NW Florida has become.

 

[taygolf]

go to orange beach in alabama or some where in florida. Orange beach has everything you want and the condo rentals will be less there than in florida

T

 

[where yat brah]

http://marinercondo.com/

Unit 415.

 

[deltadawg]

I usually go through jmevacations.com when we go to Pensacola Beach. The Baywatch condos are the cheapest we've found there and only a few 100yrds from the beach. I've been very pleased!

 

[4saintspirit]

There are some nice new condos in Biloxi that are not that steep of a price --with the Casinos the nightlife is farily good -- most of the better food is in the casinos though -- besides Mary Mahoneys and a few small places on the beach there is not much other than chains besides the casinos -- bama has some nice beaches and the prices there are actually quite reasonable --

 

[kevin from buffalo]

i am pensacola and will post something here in a bit. don;t get the wrong idea..it isnt loud and i think it would be great for the two of you. store just next door/tom thumb..beach access walking over the street ot take your car down to ft.pickens..about 1/4 mile for great privacy.its a loft above peg leg petes..call early if you want it..may even be booked already.

p.s.-the guy that owns it is a native of erie,pa..he also owns sidelines on the beach.

 

[kevin from buffalo]

here brenn..the place is new and spotless. put in after they had a fire. be good for two of you and look at that view for the morning..wake up too that.http://www.vrbo.com/181740

 

[Brennan77]

http://marinercondo.com/

Unit 415.

Note to self...avoid unit 415. Already soiled.

Seriously, thanks to all the suggestions. I'm still in the brainstorming process here. This trip may or may not change in concept. My wife invited her brother and his wife....with his two children. Either way, we want a quiet beach. It'd be awesome if we could get a single unit place directly on the beach. I'd prefer to stay on the northern coast. It's just closer and makes the trip more viable. I don't think I'll have enough time off with the new job to get a full 5 works days in a row.

Again, thanks...and keep the suggestions coming...

 

[authentic]

if you head to pensacola go to perdido key. there will be a gas station there. get the chinese food. thank me later.

 

[Brennan77]

i am pensacola and will post something here in a bit. don;t get the wrong idea..it isnt loud and i think it would be great for the two of you. store just next door/tom thumb..beach access walking over the street ot take your car down to ft.pickens..about 1/4 mile for great privacy.its a loft above peg leg petes..call early if you want it..may even be booked already.

p.s.-the guy that owns it is a native of erie,pa..he also owns sidelines on the beach.

That was my first thought....is it loud? Does it actually feel private?

 

[bozoka45]

hangout fest