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Welcome to Our Little Retreats! If you landed here, you are likely staying with us at our top-rated condos on 30A. On this page, you will find additional information and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
This is all on top of the curated recommendations that I have sent you or will be sending you soon. In addition, the House Manual in your Airbnb booking has a lot of other important information such as beach rules, chair + umbrella rentals, laundry options, everything in our condos, etc. So, please make sure to read though that before our trip!
Our Little Retreats on 30A
If you haven’t yet booked, you can read all about our four condos here. That page has links to each of our Airbnb listings so that you can check rates and availability. We do exclusively book on Airbnb and do not do direct bookings.
Please read our entire listing and scroll through the listing photos to see which space would be best for you! Each can accommodate 2 adults and up to 2 kids. And, I would love to host you!
Our Little Retreats: Tips + FAQ
While I provide an in-depth house manual and detailed recommendations for each of my guests, specific for your stay and your group, I know that there are endless questions that arise. In this section, I hope to answer all of them and point you in the right direction so that you can have the best stay possible!
These are all questions that I get asked from time to time. My answers are specific to our condos at The Village of South Walton in Seacrest Beach. However, many still apply regardless of where you are staying on 30A.
I am also including links to some of my other posts that have a lot more information on each topic! Feel free to browse my website for a lot of great 30A and family travel information, as well as Airbnb hosting guides.
Should I rent a car?
This is 100% up to you, but my favorite thing about where we are located is the walkability. You can walk to dozens of shops and restaurants, and we never use our car when we are there.
However, if it’s your first visit and you want to explore more of 30A, you will likely want a car as it’s 26 miles long. That said, if it is peak season, parking is very limited in most parts of 30A that you’ll be trying to explore. So, you would need to go very early. Uber and Lyft rideshare is fairly sparse on 30A.
Also, our parking lot at the Village of South Walton is a first come, first serve for owners, guests, and customers of the commercial businesses. So, during peak season, it can be very busy during the day with people coming and going. We prefer to leave our car parked vs. coming and going during summer and school breaks.
If you are visiting during off-peak months, a car is a great idea. You won’t run into parking issues, and during colder months, you’ll want to be out exploring more than at the beach and pool.
Car Rental Reccomendations: Hertz | National | RentalCars.com | Turo
Can we rent a golf cart?
Since this question typically follows the last one, the answer is no. Golf Carts are not permitted in the communities on the east end of 30A, including Seacrest Beach, Rosemary Beach, and Alys Beach. They are also not allowed to be driven in or parked in our parking lot at the Village of South Walton.
How do I get to and from the airport?
If you aren’t renting a car, you will have no issues arranging transportation to and from the airport. Northwest Florida Beaches Airport in Panama City Beach (ECP) is the closest airport, roughly 30 minutes away. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) is about an hour away without traffic.
Generally, you won’t have issues getting an Uber or Lyft from the airport to our place in Seacrest Beach. However, it can be more difficult on the return trip, especially if you are trying to go to VPS or leaving at irregular times.
For that reason, I recommend pre-arranging your transportation back to the airport. Each airport’s website has a list of ground transportation companies that you can use. Many also offer car seats!
Resources: ECP Ground Transporation | VPS Ground Transportation
Should I order grocery delivery?
Yes! I do ask that you make sure your delivery is set for after you have arrived, as we do not allow 3rd parties access earlier in the day.
What we do, and my recommendation for you, is to first arrive and get a lay of the land. There are so many great restaurants nearby, and that is the main draw of this area. Then, place an order for Target same-day delivery to arrive either that night or first thing the next morning.
I like the Target option because you can order sunscreen, toiletries, groceries, beer/wine, etc, all from the same place, and they generally have a lot of delivery availability. Make sure to choose DELIVERY and not shipping. There is a $9.99 fee if you don’t have Target Circle Delivery, and make sure to tip your shopper!
Walmart also just opened a Walmart Neighborhood Market not too far from us on Highway 98 that offers grocery pickup or delivery. The selection isn’t as big as the regular Walmart, but this is a great free option if you have Walmart+.
We do have a small grocer on site, Seacrest Sundries. They have food, drink, and all of the essentials needed for a short stay. And there are Publix grocery stores within 10 minutes off of Highway 98 in both directions.
Other grocery delivery options: Whole Foods | Instacart | Shipt
Can I have something shipped to our rental?
No. The condos are not set up to receive USPS mail, and there is no front desk or central area to receive it. Sometimes, UPS and FedEx will deliver, but I would not risk it. If you must have something shipped, reach out to the UPS Store in Inlet Beach and see if you can have it shipped there.
Where can I rent baby gear?
Our one-bedroom condos are baby-friendly, and I include some baby gear such as a mini crib (upon request), booster, sound machine, blackout shades, dinnerware, sand toys, bottle drying rack, puddle jumper, etc.
If you want to rent additional baby and children’s items or are staying in our studio condos, I recommend BabyQuip. They have a great selection of everything from sand toys to slumberpods. Again, please coordinate delivery after you arrive and pickup before you depart. For your safety, I do not give door codes to third parties.
What are some other things to do?
The 30A area is known for easygoing days spent at the beach, pool, riding bikes, eating out, and listening to live music. And, we are located in the perfect location for all of that. In addition, the local communities put on great family-friendly programming in season.
There are also a lot of fun things to do in nearby Panama City Beach and a few other fun activities located directly on 30A. My favorite day trip is renting a pontoon boat and going to Shell Island! The link below has information on all of those activities, as well as links to local event calendars.
May I check in early?
Maybe! I always send you the door code and allow you to check in as soon as I hear from my cleaners that our place is ready for you. It’s never later than 4 PM, sometimes earlier. I just can’t make any promises, as it depends on when they are in my area, how busy they are that particular day, when our prior guests check out, and the condition they leave it in.
You are welcome to let me know what time you plan to arrive. I always do my best to get people in as early as possible. On the other hand, if you are arriving late in the evening, let me that as well. That allows me to better prioritize some of the early check-in requests.
Are the beaches private or public?
Great question! 30A is unique in that most of the beaches are private (or deeded) for specific communities or neighborhoods. In our case, you have access to Seacrest Beach when staying at the Village of South Walton. I hate using the word private as it’s shared with everyone else staying in Seacrest Beach and can get busy during peak season. So, I prefer the word deeded. The same goes for the beaches in Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach. Those are only accessible to guests staying in those communities.
We also have the largest Regional Public Beach (Inlet Beach) access in Walton County, just a mile to the east. This is a great option if you want more room to spread out or need a handicap-accessible ramp.
You may have heard a lot about the public vs. private beaches on 30A. The east end of 30A has not changed; these beaches have always been private to neighborhoods. Most of the new issues occur in central or western 30A, where small public beach accesses are neighbored by private homes on both sides.
What should we pack?
Resist the urge to overpack! Our condos are small, and you don’t need much for a beach trip. I actually have an entire blog post dedicated to packing for your 30A trip, so check that out!
Will you share your bedding links?
The top questions that I get asked from guests are where they can buy our mattresses, bedding, portable blackout shades, backpack sand toys, sound machines, and more!
I have most of the exact items you see in our condos organized in an Amazon list called Shop Our Airbnbs!
The gel memory foam pillows that everyone loves are from Target.
Should we buy a vacation rental, too?
A good majority of our guests fall in love with this area and tell me that they want to buy a place, too! Should you? Maybe!
I always recommend that you buy your first vacation rental in a place you are very familiar with and can get to in 2 hours or less. This helps you be the best possible host! In this blog post, I share everything you need to consider when deciding where to buy a short-term rental.
In addition to being an Airbnb host, I help others become the best possible hosts. My blog has so many great resources for you to browse!
Start here: 5-Star Airbnb Hosting Guide
Where should we travel next?
Well, I sure hope that you come back and stay with us again at Our Little Retreats. I have numerous guests who come back year after year, and I love it when they send me updated photos of their babies! It’s such a special place to make memories as a family.
However, the world is large, and there is so much to see! My kids are teenagers now, and we love to travel. If you browse the travel section of my blog, you will find so much travel inspiration.
We travel quite a bit in warm weather destinations and have a lot of Florida travel content. You can also follow us as we explore Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and beyond! The best place to keep up with our travels is on my Our Little Lifestyle social media accounts. I will link those below!
Happy travels!
