Beach Rentals...What The F?

[Snaggletiger]

The Family Snags loves us some beach trips.  Snagette and I took some time a few weeks ago and hit the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area.  I posted last year about this time that I visited there for a couple of nights.  Hadn't been there in about 20 years and was very impressed in the short time I was there, and this past trip only reinforced that.  However, we still love the 30A/Destin area and can be there in half the time it takes to drive across the state to Baldwin County. 

We've always tried to book around June 23rd, our anniversary and normally right at the dates for the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic.  Grabbing a couple of too many cold ones and watching weigh-ins is one of my simple pleasures in life.  Well, that and black, transgender midget porn, but I digress.  So, I'm checking out rates and availability for that week.  Looking at my go-to, VRBO, and some Expedias and Trivagos etc.  What in the holy hell has happened?  The rates everywhere have pretty much doubled since this time last year.  Sometimes, even tripled.  I checked one place we stayed in last summer and a basic 2 BR was $5,700.00 for the week.  You gots to be shittin' me!!!

I can only assume that Hurricane Michael wiped out everything east of Panty-Bra City and people are jacking the rates up unmercifully simply because they can.  If that's the case, then GFY!!!  Can't think of anything else that would "justify" that kind of price spike.  I will say this, though.  Booking at this time for peak summer dates, is actually pretty late in the game.  And the one thing I did notice was putting in my criteria popped up over 300 available places just like that. Hopefully, people are having the same sticker shock I am and choosing something else. 

[Kaos]

I live near the beach.  Well, in Baldwin county at least.  

I have an upstairs apartmentish space.  Private bedroom and bath.  Gerbils not included.  Will, however, throw in the 30 Guinness in my spare fridge left over from St Patrick’s.  And you may avail yourself of various bottles of flavored vodka, half a bottle of baileys and a swig or two of Jameson I have lying around.  Will also provide a blow up pool in the backyard.  Must share that with the dogs.  

Yours for $5500 a week. 

[AUTiger1]

$5700 a week! $5700 A WEEK!

Pocket change for someone who cares!

[GH2001]

Supply and demand is a two way street. 

But yes. That’s what it is exactly caring one. I did probably 10x the searching I usually do - back in January to get a week in June. Lot of damage = lot of uncertainly and low vacancy. 

[Snaggletiger]

I would assume as a home/condo owner that you know the demand will be increased in your unaffected area because of the storm.  I can see a price jack but one comunity we've stayed in every summer for years have all doubled their prices.  Modest 2-4 bedroom houses, perfect family beach rentals.  But one look at the prices and I thought I hope the place stays vacant all season.  Again, go have monkey sex with yourself.

[Saniflush]

It's crazy and downright sad what is being charged to people for living accommodations right now in that area.  There is a massive housing/hotel shortage due to the hurricane.  This is causing a massive shortage in hospitality workers in regard to restaurants and the like.  Snags you gonna be paying more for scrimp cocktails.....The cocks will probably cost you the same.

[Snaggletiger]

It's crazy and downright sad what is being charged to people for living accommodations right now in that area.  There is a massive housing/hotel shortage due to the hurricane.  This is causing a massive shortage in hospitality workers in regard to restaurants and the like.  Snags you gonna be paying more for scrimp cocktails.....The cocks will probably cost you the same.

Whoa, thank God for that.

[wesfau2]

It's crazy and downright sad what is being charged to people for living accommodations right now in that area.  There is a massive housing/hotel shortage due to the hurricane.  This is causing a massive shortage in hospitality workers in regard to restaurants and the like.  Snags you gonna be paying more for scrimp cocktails.....The cocks will probably cost you the same.

Yeah, my sympathies lie more with the workin folk than with the beach-vacay crowd.

[Buzz Killington]

I live near the beach.  Well, in Baldwin county at least. 

I have an upstairs apartmentish space.  Private bedroom and bath.  Gerbils not included.  Will, however, throw in the 30 Guinness in my spare fridge left over from St Patrick’s.  And you may avail yourself of various bottles of flavored vodka, half a bottle of baileys and a swig or two of Jameson I have lying around.  Will also provide a blow up pool in the backyard.  Must share that with the dogs. 

Yours for $5500 a week.

[CCTAU]

Headed to PCB week after next. Its about time we go an get started on the hurricane damage. It wasn't horrible. Need a new roof(not currently leaking). Some damage to the screen room and carport. Not too bad. Have a window out. Its boarded up though (can't find a replacement for the odd size). The HVAC unit needs testing to see if it should be replaced (hurricane knocked it around).

All of these things are not super pressing. We decided to give it some time and let folks with more pressing needs have some time. My Dad is going down on the 4th, we'll be there on the 6th. Hopefully the HVAC is good to go. It's still pretty cool in April so we should be fine.

There were several units near ours that took big hits. It will be a while before PCB is all fully recovered. I'm not sure Mexico beach will ever be the same. This may be the cause f a big boom there.

[Snaggletiger]

Headed to PCB week after next. Its about time we go an get started on the hurricane damage. It wasn't horrible. Need a new roof(not currently leaking). Some damage to the screen room and carport. Not too bad. Have a window out. Its boarded up though (can't find a replacement for the odd size). The HVAC unit needs testing to see if it should be replaced (hurricane knocked it around).

All of these things are not super pressing. We decided to give it some time and let folks with more pressing needs have some time. My Dad is going down on the 4th, we'll be there on the 6th. Hopefully the HVAC is good to go. It's still pretty cool in April so we should be fine.

There were several units near ours that took big hits. It will be a while before PCB is all fully recovered. I'm not sure Mexico beach will ever be the same. This may be the cause f a big boom there.

I still haven't been all the way to the coast in that area.  However, last weekend I made a couple of trips to Tallahassee.  The real damage starts right at Marianna where 231 hits I-10.  It's about a 75 mile drive from there to the Hassee' and the wiped out trees go from there to just this side of the city.  That's about 50+ miles inland and I kept thinking, "Just how big was this mofo?"

[CCTAU]

I still haven't been all the way to the coast in that area.  However, last weekend I made a couple of trips to Tallahassee.  The real damage starts right at Marianna where 231 hits I-10.  It's about a 75 mile drive from there to the Hassee' and the wiped out trees go from there to just this side of the city.  That's about 50+ miles inland and I kept thinking, "Just how big was this mofo?"

I have to hit I-10 from I-75 to 231 next week, coming back from Daytona. Everything all good there?

[wesfau2]

I have to hit I-10 from I-75 to 231 next week, coming back from Daytona. Everything all good there?

Yeah, the interstate is wide open (and had been since about a week after the storm).  Snags is talking about the damage you can see along the roadside.

If you want a peek at real destruction, get off I-10 at Marianna (exit 142 ish) and drive South as far as you can.

[Snaggletiger]

Yeah, the interstate is wide open (and had been since about a week after the storm).  Snags is talking about the damage you can see along the roadside.

If you want a peek at real destruction, get off I-10 at Marianna (exit 142 ish) and drive South as far as you can.

Yeppers.  The road crews have obviously worked like hell to get all the debris removed.  Still doing a lot of clearing beside the road.  If you pay attention to the damaged guard rails on the interstate, you get a sense just how many trees were blown down into the roadway.