OhanaDestin
- May 12, 2023
- 3 min read

Destin Vacation Rental Tips

Congrats! You’ve officially booked your beach vacation rental for Florida’s gorgeous Emerald Coast, one of the best beach destinations in the United States, hands down! As experienced vacation rental hosts for this area, we tend to get many of the same questions on a weekly basis. For that reason, we’ve put together some helpful tips and information to prep you for your upcoming stay!

What To Do After Booking Your Vacation Rental

If you booked a vacation stay online, you’ll want to check your confirmation messages to ensure you have all of the important details needed to access your rental.

Most hosts send an email sharing the following information after booking:

Complete address + Keyless entry codes (if self check-in)
Check-in/out times
Where to safely park
House rules and checkout instructions

When you book your rental months in advance, you may not get this information until closer to your stay. It's always a good idea to reach out to your host beforehand to prevent any surprises. Why not send a quick message to double-check that you have everything you need?

Special Requests and Add Ons

If you didn’t already specify any extra needs in your original booking, make sure to communicate with the host to let them know right away, so they have time to accommodate your requests.

Things to communicate with your host:

If you will be traveling with pets.
If you’ll need a crib or high chair.
If you’ll want the private pool heated for your stay. (Depending on the property)

Travel Insurance

Now that your travel dates are set and your vacation rental is booked, consider purchasing travel insurance for any unforeseen circumstances. Here’s a great post comparing the top US travel insurance companies: Best Travel Insurance 2022

Rentals and Excursions

Now for the fun part! Book activities for your vacation! If there’s one thing Destin isn’t short of, it’s entertainment. Enjoy a Sunset Dolphin Cruise, check out Crab Island, or if you’re brave enough, go parasailing!

If you’re traveling with kids, check out our blog post on Top Things To Do With Kids in the Miramar Beach/Destin area. You can also read our posts on fishing, golfing, bike riding, and trails & parks for additional recommendations.

OhanaDestin Guests

If you’ve booked your vacation rental on our direct site: OhanaDestin, or on Airbnb, know that you’re in good hands! We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service to our guests and we know you’ll have a fantastic stay on the Emerald Coast.

All of our Vacation Rentals in Miramar Beach and Destin, Florida offer:

Swimming pools (private or shared access- please contact us ahead of time for heating options)
Blazing fast wifi for work or pleasure
Workspace
Smart TVs with Roku for all of your streaming needs
Walkable distance to the beach
Beach cart, umbrella, and 2 beach chairs
Barbecue Grills and Utensils
Free onsite parking
The majority of our units are also dog-friendly (for an additional fee)

Additional Items to Pack For Your Beach Vacation

Extra beach towels
Large beach blanket
Beach bag
Water shoes (for excursions & hot sand!)
Sunblock
After-sun cream
SPF lip balm
Cooler
Beach toys & inflatables
Waterproof phone case/containers
Portable speaker
Snorkel Gear
Refillable water bottles

If you happen to forget any important items, there are numerous grocery stores and shopping options in the Destin and Miramar Beach areas. However, it's important to keep in mind that prices tend to be higher in beach towns. Therefore, arriving prepared can help you save money.