Category: Traveler Tips

Now that Spring Break is over, many families are turning their attention back towards work and school until Memorial Day.  This means that most families will also wait until late May or June to book their summer vacation at one of our Orange Beach vacation rentals.  Many vacationers believe that better deals can be had by waiting and booking a reservation at the last minute.  While that may be true for hotels, travelers looking to stay in a vacation rental are better off booking their trips further in advance.

There are More Orange Beach Vacation Rentals to Choose From

Privately owned condos and beach houses are usually decorated to the owner’s taste. Even within the same building, the quality and comfort of our Orange Beach vacation rentals can vary widely. Savvy travelers know that the most desirable vacation rentals book earlier in the year when there is more inventory to choose from. By waiting until the last minute to book your summer vacation, you will be limiting your available options and reducing the chances of finding the perfect Orange Beach vacation rental.

Rental Rates are Lower

Summer rates are typically lower the earlier you book.  That’s because management companies offer lower starting rates early in the year to encourage more guests to book in advance.  As inventory fills up and the demand for summer reservations increases, rental rates increase as well.  You can take advantage of lower starting rates by booking your vacation earlier and locking in a lower rate.

Cancellation Penalties are Small if you Cancel Far Enough in Advance

Most management companies have a 30-day cancellation policy.  That means that you will forfeit anywhere from 50% to even 100% of the reservation cost if you cancel within 30 days of your arrival date.  If you’re making your reservation within 30 days of your planned arrival, then you are locking yourself into your selected dates and rental unit the moment you book.  By booking further in advance though, you allow yourself more time to plan and adjust your reservation if need be.  Some rental companies even allow travelers that book more than 30 days in advance the ability to reserve a room risk-free with no money down and no cancellation fee if the reservation is canceled more than 30 days in advance.  The rental companies that do require a deposit at the time of booking will typically still refund your deposit less a $50 cancellation fee if you cancel 30 days in advance.

The bottom line is that it doesn’t pay to procrastinate when making your summer vacation plans.  Booking your summer vacation in advance means that you will get the best room at the best price without the risk of a last minute vacation.  What do you have to lose?

For most of us the beach, sand and waves are our happy place. For those who do not frequent the beach often, here are a few tips that beach goers should know.

Jellyfish and wildlife. Anyone who goes to the beach notices the beach flag warning system, but a lot of people don’t know what the flags mean. When you see a purple flag flying, there are potential dangerous marine life in the area. Now, this does not necessarily mean sharks, this means jellyfish and other creatures that can sting too. If you do swim, make sure you bring with you some meat tenderizer or vinegar. Sounds weird right? Well, the acid in the vinegar calms the affected area after a sting and the meat tenderizer breaks down the affected skin and removed toxins. You don’t have to have both, you can use one or the other, just make sure you scrape the sting with a credit card before applying these remedies or they will make it worse.

Sand. It’s the beach, sand is everywhere and you cannot get rid of all of it even if you wash off. Try bringing with you baby powder and a large bristled paint brush. The baby powder will get the sand off feet easily and the paint brush for the rest of the body. A lot of public beaches do not have wash stations when you come off the beach so this helps keep the sand where it belongs, on the beach and not in the car.

Beach toys. If you have kids these are essential for a day at the beach. Instead of bringing them in a beach bag, try a mesh laundry hamper. Put everything in and turn it sideways, the sand falls through the mesh and not in your bag or car.

Coolers. It’s not a beach day without a cold drink in hand. Whether its waters and drinks for the kids or something stronger for adults, it’s always difficult to carry a cooler to the beach. Don’t bring a wheeled cooler, you may think “oh, it’ll roll in sand,” no, it will not. If anything this will make it much harder. Try a small over the shoulder cooler if you can and if it is completely full of food or drinks and pretty heavy there’s a fix for that too. Use a boogie board and put your heavier items, i.e. your cooler, on the board and use it as a make shift sled. It’s a lot easier to carry and the kids can help pull.

There are a ton of tips for beach days, but the only one you really need is have fun and enjoy the day, after all you are there to #createhappymemories.

We all have those days where you go to the beach or pool and you apply sunscreen in the beginning, but you were there for three hours without reapplying. Things happen, you forget, you run out or you can’t keep the kids out of the water long enough for the sunscreen to set in. Then, you get sunburned. Here are a few ways to take the sting out and help you sleep better at night.

Mild sunburn. This will typically heal in about two days, usually they don’t hurt, but you are radiating some heat. Put some Aloe Vera in the fridge and apply to the affected areas. This will cool, sooth and prevent it from peeling later on.

Medium sunburn. You are red, and the shower hurt. You’ve definitely got a sunburn. Cold Aloe Vera always helps so apply liberally and use any lotion with Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Vitamin E or Aloe. Use lotion as often as possible to prevent peeling for at least a week or two. If it hurts, dab white vinegar on the sunburn because this will take the sting out. Usually this will take about a week or two to heal depending on your skin type.

Severe Sunburn. You can’t move, it hurts a lot and only your softest clothes will not irritate it. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do, but Aloe, lotion, and vinegar may help. Take a luke warm bath with oatmeal in it and relax as much as you can. Sometimes the sheets will irritate your burn, so put some baby powder between your sheets to help you sleep. Apply Aloe and lotion liberally and continue for at least a month. Most likely you will peel, do not try to peel any part that is not easy, this is how you get scars. You should go to the doctor and get their recommendations and hang in there.

Sunburns are inevitable for most skin types, the best way to prevent is to always use the proper SPF and reapply every hour. If you are playing in water, always use sunscreen that says water/ sweat resistant on the label and always read the directions.

Settings, time of day and weather are a huge part of creating some of the best beach pictures. Always keep this in mind whether it’s a family portrait, couples pictures, or getting beach shots of the kids.

Settings. The water is always a great setting or backdrop. If you have kids make sure you let them play and wear something you don’t mind getting wet. Don’t be afraid to get in the water if the waves are calm, we don’t want any cameras to get wet! The best pictures come from them not paying attention to the camera and them just being themselves.

Any time you can find a little fence or a large piece of drift wood, do a sitting family portrait. It’ll make it easier to get everyone where they need to be and a little sand never hurt anyone. If you have a tripod, bring it. You can always do the 10 second setting and run into the picture, sometimes those create the best smiles from laughing.

Time of day. Time of day is very important for what you want to do. Depending on where the sun is and how hot it is will determine people’s mood and their willingness to cooperate, especially children. Hot and fussy do not make good pictures. Early morning or sunset will be the best times of day to get people to cooperate. It’s not too hot and the sun is not in their eyes. Make sure that when you are taking pictures if you are facing the sun tell people to close their eyes, count to three and open. That way they won’t be squinting in the pictures. Or make sure that the sun is behind your people, but adjust your light setting accordingly or your people will be dark.

Weather. Okay, okay we all know not to take our cameras out in the pouring rain, but did you know that the best time to take pictures is when it’s overcast and not sunny? When the sun is bright, you sweat, you can’t see and everything comes out way too white. When it is overcast, it is even light, you tend to be a little cooler and you aren’t squinting in pictures.

Don’t be afraid to zoom in on hand holding or having people look away, sometimes those are the best pictures and remember always let them be themselves, candids capture personality and soul and #createhappymemories.