Myrtle Beach Message Board

I just saw a unit like the one I am getting at Sand Dunes, 3BR/2BA for about 600 less. They say the price includes 11% tax and cleaning. It's the lowest price I've seen. This year they are almost available for the week I need, except I need Mon to Sun and the unit is only open Sat to Fri, so I'd waste Sunday night and lose Friday night.

I'm thinking about checking it out for next year. I am thinking of emailing the owner and asking if I can see it this time when we are down. What are the pros and cons of VBRO?

I'm afraid to pay my money in advance to a stranger. Do you get maid service each day? Clean towels? What if the washer breaks, or the a/c breaks, or the toilet or tub are clogged? Does the hotel staff help, or are you on the hook to the owner who might be hundreds of miles away?

My price that is $600 more includes buffet breakfast for 6 for 6 days. That's $9 each plus tax per day, so 36 breakfasts is worth about $360. If I deduct that from my total (after taxes and fees) I'd still save $250 w/ VBRO, and I might not even use all the breakfasts. BUT I like having my bed made, floor vacuumed, tub cleaned and fresh towels daily. I'm on vacation! So, do most VBRO units have maid service?

If we were golfers and not beach people the maid would be less important, but with all that sand.....

I have not rented from VRBO, but from what I understand daily maid service is generally NOT included. In some cases, you may be able to pay extra for it. Generally just a departure clean is included.

As far as any needed repairs - definitely email and ask that of the owner. Some have a management company that you would contact. Very important question to have hammered out before you would sign a contract!

We have rented thru VRBO for many years.. we never had a problem.. the unit that you see pictured.. is the unit you get..

I always get a contract.. read it carefully before signing..we do not get maid service...we as a family keep the condo neat .. as we would our own home..

If anybody is interested, we just reserved a room at the Sands Ocean Club thru VRBO. June 30-July 10. Cost for 10 nights was 945.00 total. Rate was 105.00 per night, if you stay at least 6 nights get 1 night free. Now it is ocean front, efficiency unit with washer/dryer. Sleeps 4 people. A studio room which is fine for just us 2. If anyone needs more info, email me. I thought this was a great rate. Cathy

I have been looking at several units listed on VRBO. I've never rented this way before and I'm rather nervous about trying it. I found a unit at Coral Beach that would only cost $800 for our 8 nights. It looks OK in the photos but I have read that the resort is great if you are a beer drinkin' partier....we are not, we are a quiet family of 4. Anyone have any insite on this resort? I would really love to book it and save myself about $400 over the hotel that I booked.

Also, when renting through VRBO do you pay a deposit upfront or the whole thing? How does this usually work?

Thanks....

A general search on this message board using the words Coral Beach should provide all my trip reports. Although I am now doing a quarterly summer house rental, I am still very fond of Coral Beach (12+ years) and would not trade it for any other resort. It's just my preference, and while I do not appreciate the drunks at 1am singing their hearts out at the beach bar, I remind myself that these folks are on their vacation too. Eventually they all pass out and the mornings are so quiet you can hear a pin drop. I love it, I love it. If you decide on Coral Beach, I STRONGLY encourage you to book directly through the hotel, not through VRBO. Their privately held units work a little bit differently than those at other hotels. For your 1st stay, book directly through the hotel.

If you're worried about renting through VRBO or any of the HomeAway network of rental sites, click on the rental guarantee at the top of each ad. They will guarantee any stay up to $10,000, at any of their rental sites for a fee (rental insurance). The original poster's fee would have been $21 for the insurance.

http://guarantee.homeaway.com/tac

We've gone through both VRBO and Rental agents for years. Some years we've done both depending on how many of us end up coming on vacation.

Anyway I'd have to say we've never had a bad experience other than the one time we stayed at Myrtle Beach Resort and our condo was really dirty when we checked in. We've not been back for years and typically stay at the Surfmaster now through Garden City Realty. The bonus for VRBO is that you often save a lot of the associated fees and you can bargain with the owners over the cost to some degree. I think the best advice is ask a lot of questions and try to rent places on VRBO that have had positive reviews.

Just my two cents!

Is it Labor Day Yet???? I need my vacation!

We have used VRBO in the past and never had a problem. If you check with the owner, depending on what type of unit you are renting, daily maid service may be included in the price. I would highly recommend using it because as you have already pointed out, you can save a small fortune by dealing straight with the owner. For instance, a condo that we stayed at last year for a week would have wound up costing us almost twice what we paid for the same type unit through vrbo, if we would have booked through the resort directly (either online or on the phone). There are plenty of deals on vrbo if you catch them early enough, the only thing you will run into is that most owners will usually have their calendar full early in the year for the summer months.

We are actually getting ready to book a two week stay in MB beach for next summer, and again, for about half of what we would pay if we were to go through the hotels online booking.