When Should I Book My Destin Vacation?

Best Time to Book

Posted on 1/13/2017

The quick answer is "As soon as you can" since our many of our popular vacation rental properties book up to one year in advance and highly sought after homes are the first to go! Destin, Miramar Beach and properties down along Scenic 30A in South Walton have become increasingly popular over the years. Ocean Reef Resorts has been representing distinctive vacation rental properties for decades and we have a highly acclaimed history of providing fine accommodations to generations of visiting families. People have discovered that Destin is a great destination year round in recent years. Whereas beforehand visits slowed down drastically after Labor Day and did not pick up again until Spring Break began. Today the height of the season runs from Memorial Day weekend up until about Labor Day, which coincides with peak rental rates due to huge demand. Many families make it a fun annual tradition to visit here during the summer time since schools are out and there's lot to do.

Destin Vacation

Temperatures usually hover in the upper 80s and peak at around 90 degrees whereas in other parts of the country it can hit the upper 90s or even low 100s. There is almost always a nice breeze here since we're like an off shore island nestled in between the open gulf and the expansive waters of Choctawhatchee Bay.  Summer time makes Destin the place to be on a beautiful beach, luxuriating in the glowing gulf or taking a refreshing dip in a pool. During the early evening hours spectacular sunsets occur right over the waters of Choctawhatchee Bay so it is a good time to be drinking and dining at Destin's Harborwalk Village or Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin. Many relish participating in a variety of water sports including jet skis, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and pontoon boats where Ocean Reef Resorts discounts are available through our complimentary Reef Rewards program. Deep sea fishing, dolphin sightseeing tours, snorkeling and sunset boat excursions at Harborwalk Village are quite popular. Crab Island near the Destin Bridge is in full swing since big boats and pontoons converge together for friendly parties on the shallow bay. Restaurants, bars, shopping venues, golf courses and other amusements are packed so it is always best to making all reservations well ahead of time and this certainly applies booking a reservation as one of our vacation homes. Our highest reservation volume starts to occur on New Year's Day and runs throughout the first three months of the year. These reservations are made primarily for Spring Break, Easter, Memorial Day and vacations throughout the summer. Vacation homes are the first to sell out, especially those on the beach and larger homes because multiple bedrooms provide a perfect place to share the cost of a big beach reunion. Condominiums on the beach are also quite popular, however units with fewer bedrooms generally do not book as far in advance as larger properties, probably because there is less need for planning when it is a vacation for two or a small group.

Destin Beach
Lowered fall rental rates run from mid August until late October. In early October humidity becomes almost non-existent with cobalt blue skies accompanied by extraordinarily comfortable daytime temperatures in the mid-seventies while evenings are delightfully crisp with lows in the fifties. This wonderful weather lasts until early December and autumn gulf water temperatures remain warm enough to go swimming until Thanksgiving. Fall bookings start in the early Spring and homes are often completely booked by Memorial Day, however condominiums continue to rent out for Fall during the Summer. There are lots of delightful diversions held during the Autumn months at Sandestin, Harborwalk Village and along Scenic 30A. These include Oktoberfest celebrations, art shows and wine festivals. The famous Destin Fishing Rodeo goes on throughout October with daily weigh-ins down on the Destin docks and cash prize awards at the end of the month. The Destin Seafood Festival occurs at this time of year for three days with tons of fresh seafood, beer, wine and musical entertainment performed on various stages throughout the area. Autumn wine festivals are usually scheduled at Sandestin, Seaside and Rosemary Beach.

Sunset Bird
The winter season starts on October 31st and runs until mid-March. This time coincides with the absolute lowest rental rates available all year. Rental reservations for properties here usually begins right after Labor Day and the holidays fill up fastest so you should make these types of reservations early. The winter season is accompanied by crisp azure blue skies with sparkling sunshine almost every day. Highs usually range in the fifties during the day and the low forties at night but occasionally daytime temperatures can even reach up to high-seventies. The biggest demand for vacation rentals occurs for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years with another uptick for Mardi Gras. There are bountiful buffets, light festivals, holiday music and fabulous firework celebrations. Sensational sunsets occur this time of year right over the gorgeous gulf waters. These sunsets are a magnificent sight from all beachfront properties, restaurants along Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach, at Harborwalk Village in Destin and along Scenic 30A. Many visitors flock to the golf courses during the winter since they are open and have virtually no waiting times. Ocean Reef Resorts provides our guests with one free round of golf at the Bluewater Bay Golf Club in nearby Niceville for each day of your stay, the Santa Rosa Beach Golf Club as well as at the Hombre Golf Club in Panama City Beach. Discounts are provided for golf at Seascape and Emerald Bay in Miramar Beach, and Regatta Bay Golf Club in Destin. Our Reef Rewards program also provides discounts for our guests at the Five Star Rated "Destin Tennis Club" at Seascape. Shopping is a popular pastime and the thriving Silver Sands Discount Designer Outlet in Miramar Beach attracts over 7,000,000 visitors per year where shoppers receive huge savings of up to 75% off regular prices from first class internationally known designer specialty stores. Another popular shopping destination is at Destin Commons. This pedestrian friendly Disneyesque retail complex was voted "Best Shopping in Destin" in recent surveys. It looks like a European village with its corner turrets, an old-fashioned clock tower and interactive fountain plaza.

Explore our brand new user friendly website and plan your family vacation or beach reunion with friends as soon as you can. Full descriptions, multiple images, rental rates and calendar availability makes this very easy to do. The sooner you book the better!

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