Another excellent source may not be directly advertised, but is always available. Word of mouth and personal recommendations are excellent ways to find great vacation rentals not only in places like Destin, but all over the world. Sometimes you need to jump in a message board or forum and ask before people will give you recommendations. Remember, people are most vocal when they are dissatisfied, and least vocal when they are pleased. We tend to criticize more than we praise, and that goes for vacation rentals just like it does in our personal relationships.

There are plenty of excellent property management companies that specialize in vacation rentals for different parts of the country, and Destin is no exception. Again, word of mouth is a great resource to find a property management company. Don't limit yourself to the unit that was recommended to you; generally a good property management company will manage all their units to the same level of quality, so you can expect similar service, upkeep, and maintenance across all properties that a management company is under contract to maintain.

When looking for a vacation rental, be sure to be very careful about the location of the property that you rent. Rental property is very similar to purchasing a property in that location is everything. In other words, a rental property that is on the beach with nothing but sand between the deck and the ocean is much different from a property that is across the street from the ocean. When renting something like an apartment or a condominium in a high rise, the part of town that the unit is located in is very important as well. Access to public transportation, restaurants, shopping, and the beach can vary drastically from location to location. In some of the more exotic locations, there are parts of town that you don't want to be caught in, much less stay in for a week.

In conclusion, make sure you get some good recommendations from people who have actually visited the destination you're going to and had experience with either the vacation rental or the management company that you'll be dealing with.