Snowbird Lifestyle, Cuisine, Entertainment and Travel
How to Pack Your Vehicle Strategic Organization for a Successful Snowbird Road Trip The first season we became snowbirds, I made a huge mistake. I did not get involved in packing the vehicle, only the stuff that goes in the vehicle. I was naively happy …
For nine years and counting, my sister has resided near world-famous Waikiki Beach on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii. Known as "The Gathering Place," the island is a mecca for domestic and international tourism. Home to nearly a million residents, it also hosts the largest number of annual tourists of any of the Hawaiian islands.
"Nothing bad ever happens at the beach" is a frequent topic of phone conversation between my sister and I. Of course it's absolutely not true. We usually bring it up after something has gone horribly wrong that we want to share. It's painful to know many of the accidents are entirely preventable and yet bad judgment prevails in the name of a thrilling new adventure, over-estimating one's abilities or attempting to get that amazing photo to document the unbelievable scenery.
Accidents of all kinds happen everywhere at any given time. The perception of many tourists and snowbirds is that because they are enjoying time away -- at the beach, in the mountains or at their winter home -- bad things won't happen. Yet it does. Just because it isn't plastered all over the news doesn't mean visitors don't get lost on remote trails with no cell service, hit by cars, fall into hot springs, crash on a helicopter tour or get swept out to sea by a rogue wave while standing on lava rocks.
My northern neighbor's brother was fatally injured by a falling rock while standing under a Maui waterfall. His group had entered a restricted area and it cost his life. I have family members who hiked a narrow, treacherous trail on their Kauai honeymoon and nearly slipped down a steep incline on the wet rocks. It absolutely caused an otherwise blissful vacation to become very stressful.
The opinion of my sister is the local media purposefully does not emphasize these types of reports. That would be bad for the tourism business, which is the prime industry for the State of Hawaii. Therefore it is imperative to think ahead, know your limits and make solid, non-emotional decisions based on your own individual abilities.
The topic of this post had already been planned when historic Hurricane Ian catastrophically devastated many areas in the State of Florida and coastal areas of South Carolina. Our hearts break for everyone affected including the humans, pets and wildlife. There are no words.
I'm not a first responder by any means and typically have rarely had to call for emergency services. That changed when my husband and I became snowbirds. Every season we personally witness accidents that require an emergency call and there are plenty of examples of other horrible situations that do make the local news in our snowbird community in Northwest Florida.
The main objective is to not only learn from your own experiences, but those of others. Be cautious instead of later regretting your decisions. It isn't just seniors who get in over their heads, it's all ages as well as pets.
Following are recollections of the most memorable events I have witnessed during my years as a snowbird. A lot has happened and it involves so many aspects of everyday life. May these painful situations help someone else as a form of pay it forward by knowledge.
Our first year in our snowbird community we witnessed a vehicle with a dog riding in the front passenger seat. The window was open all the way. I think you know where I'm going with this. Something caused the dog to leap from the moving vehicle. It landed hard on the pavement and rolled multiple times, screaming in pain. My husband and I were horrified. We hoped the dog would be ok, but unfortunately will never know.
The same year for a Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras celebration, we dined at a restaurant with amazing views of Destin's harbor. AJ's had live entertainment and a packed house of patrons enjoying the music. After the show was done, we were some of the last guests to leave and walked down the boardwalk to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Whoa. I looked back at AJ's and the thatched roof was on fire! My husband sprinted back to AJ's to try to assist while I and others called for emergency help. Thankfully the place was safely evacuated and the main damage was to the roof, but it was a scary situation that would have been much worse had the show not ended before the fire broke out. Be aware of your surroundings. Always note the exits when in a public space. Things happen when you least expect it.
Several years ago, we finished lunch and just happened to be near the front door of our sizeable condo. We heard shrill screams as if an animal was being attacked. Another neighbor and my husband and I ran out to the hallway and discovered a young child with two female family members and a baby in a stroller. They were exiting the elevator on our floor. The young girl's right hand became pinched inside the very narrow space of the elevator door when she suddenly threw her arms out and pushed the closing doors open. We didn't have a phone with us so I pressed the red button of the elevator to talk to emergency responders. It was not going to be quick for them to arrive. So my husband and our beloved neighbor, Tom were able to use every ounce of strength to pry the elevator door open so the girl could get her hand out. She was scared, but thankfully no broken bones.
Children and pets are not typically accustomed to riding on elevators and need extra supervision. Never allow children to play on an elevator and instruct them to stand still with their arms at their sides. Pets and children should be swiftly moved on and off the elevator.
There's a green space and a very nice wide paved sidewalk next to the busy road that spans our stretch of the beach. The area is very popular for pedestrians of all ages. Some have dogs on a leash, others have dogs or children in strollers, yet others are on skateboards or roller blades. There are also cyclists on traditional and electric bikes. As you can imagine, with all of this activity comes plenty of opportunities for collisions. I've witnessed the aftermath of a bike accident that resulted in a bloody mess, but the worst one that locals still talk about is a woman who merely was crossing a driveway to get to the beach. She was broadsided by a cyclist who was flying way too fast for the area and never slowed down for the many driveways along the road. Rumor is that the woman suffered irreparable brain damage from the accident. She will never be the same through no fault of her own except being at the wrong place at the wrong time. We've often commented you need to have your head on a swivel when out for a walk.
No one, including me, wants to ever again wake up before dawn to see the many flashlights of searchers up and down the beach near the water line. Not only were there searchers on the shore, there was also planes with search lights flying low over the water. It was disturbing because it's obvious something is terribly wrong. We learned they were looking for the remains of a man and woman whose single engine plane crashed into the gulf. It's another haunting memory from our first year and a sobering reminder that planes and helicopters are at risk of crashes. In many cases, it's a much higher risk than commercial planes.
Know the Beach Conditions
Learn what the flags mean. It could save your life to know a purple flag indicates dangerous marine life in the area; a red flag means dangerous conditions due to wind, undertow or rip tides and a double red means absolutely no one is permitted in the water. Yet we repeatedly see surfers, the occasional kite surfer and swimmers in the water on reds and double reds taking crazy chances in the dangerous surf. If there are no flags in the area where you are, stay out of the water. Just because the water looks calm doesn't mean undertow currents aren't there.
Recognize Your Limitations
If you aren't in great shape and/or are not a strong swimmer, don't take chances. Stay in the shallow water or on the shore. Despite the cliches about the gulf being the mild side of Florida's beaches (as well as other coastal states: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas), it can be angry, fierce and unrelenting. Remember, whether you are near or in an ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, the body of water is stronger than you are. You have to respect the power of the ocean and the gulf.
Rip Tides
I admit, I didn't fully understand what a rip tide, also known as a rip current, formation involves until not that long ago. I've seen the diagrams and know to "swim parallel to the shore." What I didn't know is that it is possible from the shore to identify a rip tide by the way the water is flowing. It occurs in certain areas of a beach and it is influenced by the shape of the beach. If you haven't already, take time to learn the features of a rip tide. Watch videos for examples of rip currents and feeder rips. If the water looks "angry" and you aren't an avid swimmer, don't get in the water or stay in the shallow water close to the shore.
Dangerous Marine Life
One season we splurged on a 30 minute helicopter tour of the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico. It was a gorgeous day with stunning views of the emerald green water and everything in it. It was easy to spot the sharks from above and there are plenty. Just because you are blissfully unaware stingrays and sharks are swimming nearby doesn't mean they aren't there. Sharks or not, there's plenty of jellyfish, man-o-wars or other wildlife that are protecting their babies and have no qualms about attacking anyone who gets too close.
Fishing
Shore fishing is popular along our beach. Stay far away from the lines, especially when the lines are being cast. Why would anyone take a chance of getting a hook lodged into their skin. Don't forget to watch where you walk. Never assume sharp objects such as hooks are not in the sand.
Holes
Many visitors to the beach enjoy digging holes in the sand. Fine, just fill them in before leaving and never leave a hole overnight. Beach walkers, pets and wild animals do not need to risk injury from stepping in a hole.
Boats, Kayaks, Canoes, Pontoons
Every year we hear reports of tragic drownings. No matter your vessel of choice, if you aren't adequately skilled, don't do it. The professionals know where to go based on the weather conditions and when to stay ashore. If you can hire a pro, it's worth it for the peace of mind.
Mid-morning on an unusually chilly day a driver careened around a corner from the main beach drive into a suburban neighborhood of expensive homes where the vehicle crashed into the divided median, knocked into a couple of palms, then came to rest on it's side. Had it not been so cold, the sidewalks in this area would have been populated with people and their pets. Although due to privacy, we only have pure speculation, it seems the driver may have had a medical event that caused the crash. It didn't appear to be from the weather conditions. We watched as the rescue crews attempted to get the driver out. First by less invasive methods and ultimately having to cut the vehicles roof open. The man was taken by ambulance with a visible head wound. It could have been much worse had pedestrians been around. Never assume vehicles will remain on the road or can see you or your child or pet.
Our first year at the beach was full of accidents, including a senior woman who was with her friends on a rainy morning. They decided to cross the road and descend the multiple flights of wooden stairs to access the beach. The stairs have narrow treads and they were wet, which means very slippery. You guessed it, she slipped and fell on the steep stairs. She hit her head, resulting in bleeding. My husband saw the accident happen from our balcony and rushed over with clean towels for her head while I (once again) called for emergency services. Because the woman had signs of a concussion and head trauma, first responders took her to the local hospital for an overnight stay out of an abundance of caution.
Remember, wood and other types of flooring is extremely slippery when wet. Always use hand rails. Make sure your shoes are laced, have adequate treads and so forth. Stairs are high risk for falls for anyone under the best circumstances.
Two weeks ago our 72 year old neighbor across the street was pushing a heavy box down his sloped driveway. It was the last day of moving their belongings before the new owner moved in. I watched Dave from our window and was stunned when he lost his balance, fell onto the concrete and rolled down the drive multiple times. He laid there, not moving. My husband and other witnesses were quick on the scene. Dave initially did not want an ambulance, then agreed he needed help. While the EMT's were loading him on the stretcher, his wife was overcome with emotion and fell to the grassy ground next to me. She fainted and I did my best to keep her head from smacking the Earth. It was a lot to take in, that morning they had both been just fine only 20 minutes earlier. We later learned Dave broke his hip and had surgery the following day. It was one of those situations where he overestimated his abilities. Although expensive, professional movers would have been far less painful or expensive than a broken hip.
Ziplining, rock climbing, parasailing, sky diving, hot air balloon rides, bungee jumping, etc. all require waivers to participate. When you have to sign a waiver, you also need to ask yourself if it's worth it? For me, ziplining in the mountains of Tennessee was a "one and done." I was lucky to sustain only moderate damage to my arm ligaments and I've since realized that not every state has authorities that oversee ziplines or perhaps other activities of a similar nature. No one wants to try out a thrilling sport only to be injured or worse. Personally, I realized I'm fine with activities that don't require a waiver. If you like thrill-seeking sports, that's terrific, just be prepared for whatever that might mean, good or bad.
Crosswalks are there for a reason. Stay within the crosswalk, put down your phone and pay attention to the traffic. It could save your life. If you are the driver, watch for pedestrians. There are many, even in the winter season.
Don't lull yourself into letting your guard down, stay in well lit areas after dark. Be smart about where you walk at night.
Keep your head on a swivel when necessary.
Respect restricted areas. It may not be immediately obvious why the area is restricted -- until it is too late.
Know the location of where you are at any given time. In the event of an accident, you'll need to provide a street address to the first responders.
If a victim is conscious, ask them if they would like for someone to call for an ambulance. Some have refused, it is their choice to make.
Stay calm. Becoming hysterical will upset everyone that much more.
Finally, always remember Fred Rogers' famous advice to look for the helpers. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news,” Rogers said to his television neighbors, “My mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping. '”
-- Proverb
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An example of a gulf front private home in Miramar Beach, NW Florida with full unobstructed views and two reserved off-street parking spaces Top Terminology for Snowbird Rentals 100 Terms to Know Before Renting a Vacation or Snowbird Residence As a long term member, and …
Snowbirds know a problem with your home while away is very stressful. Not only can you not personally see what is going on, you also cannot simply uproot yourself and quickly return to take care of it without a lot of upheaval, travel, logistics and more. That means you'll be relying on your home team who may or may not be able to do much.
Consider the effects of a winter power outage. Most extended outages that are more than flickering lights are due to ice storms and other severe weather conditions that adversely affect not just your home, but your surrounding neighbors for possibly days or weeks at a time. Freezing pipes, food spoilage, inoperable sump pumps and a lack of functioning security systems are just a few of the issues due to a lack of electrical power.
A whole home standby generator system is an expensive, yet solid investment to protect your primary home in the event of a power outage whether you are home or away. I won't be covering the features and specifics of installing whole home standby generator systems, nor gas vs. electric generators, travel generators or portable generators. There are many brands, types, product costs, installation costs as well as safety considerations. Instead I will discuss the significance of a whole home standby generator system as it relates to snowbirds who need to protect their home while away for extended periods of time.
A standby or back-up generator is permanently installed onto the exterior of your home, similar to a central air conditioning unit. The generator is professionally connected to a power source, such as natural gas or LP fuel and delivers power directly to your home's electrical system. Best of all, it will start automatically in the event of an electrical outage.
There are many variables such as how much wattage you need for the size of your home for the functions that will need power. You may decide to choose a system to power your entire home or only essential items. The costs increase based on the amount of power that you need for the size of your home. A mid-range back-up generator can start around $5,000+ with installation of $2,000 and up. However, it is an asset that can potentially save your home from the expense of floods due to freezing pipes and/or inoperable sump pumps as well as spoiled food. If you ever sell your home, a back-up generator is an asset that will appeal to your buyer.
Burst pipes for any reason are expensive to repair -- not only the pipes, but the water damage. Years ago, even with a house sitter we still had a burst pipe due to an exterior wall that was pounded with sub-zero winter winds while our house sitter was out for the day. The stress of being home and dealing with a significant flood is bad enough and with us being away while dealing with the aftermath and remediation of our badly flooded basement was too much. Even after we returned, it was weeks before the drywall could be repaired and our basement was fully functional again.
Many snowbirds shut the main water line off for the season. However, if anyone is taking care of your houseplants or checking on your home, they will not have access to running water unless it is turned back on again.
Investing in a whole home back-up generator eliminates the need to turn the water off or send someone over to trickle water through the faucets in the event of sub-zero temps.
A torrential rain storm or rapidly melting snow can result in a lot of water. Inoperable sump pumps can cause expensive water damage in the event of no power.
Even with a battery powered back-up sump pump, eventually the battery will stop operating. As a general guideline, a sump pump with a fully charged battery will run continuously for 5 to 7 hours or intermittently for one to three days, depending on the frequency of how often it runs. Alarm systems installed on sump pumps may not operate with no power. Even if the alarm alerts you, if you're at home or not, it doesn't take long for a sump pit to overflow.
Investing in a whole home back-up generator provides peace of mind that the sump pump will continue operating during the worst winter weather.
It doesn't take long for interior home temps to drop during very frigid weather conditions. Prior to being snowbirds, during a multi-day winter power outage we used our gas fireplace as a heat source. However, that isn't possible if you do not have a gas fireplace or are not home to turn it on.
Using a fireplace as a heat source is not ideal because it is expensive. Nor is it practical because it does not provide much heat beyond a ten foot radius of the fireplace, which puts your pipes at risk of freezing and bursting.
An unheated home is not comfortable to inhabit. We piled on layers of clothes and blankets and spent nights sleeping next to the fireplace with our dog in a very cold home. Not fun. It also is not fun to be away if your primary home is subject to no heat from a power outage because there isn't much anyone can do. A whole home generator would be a game changer.
Spoiled food due to no power is expensive and it is also a gross mess to clean up and dispose. Your spoiled meats and food will be creating a special odor in your trash bin until garbage collection day.
Although it hasn't happened to me, I know of a snowbird who lost power while away for an extended time. When they returned to deal with the spoiled food, the stench had permeated the plastic interior of their refrigerator to the point of having to start over with a new refrigerator.
As much as we try to pare down the contents of our refrigerators and freezers, it's nearly impossible to eat everything before departing for our warm weather destination. If you realize power has been lost and are able to send someone to retrieve the food, that person may or may not have enough storage space for it at their own place.
If your neighbors do not have power either, there's not much they can do to help. They have their own home and family to look after. It's too much to ask neighbors/friends/family to come over and run/monitor your portable gas generator for days at a time because you want to save your expensive food.
No one wants to be away with reduced security due to no power. Cameras and alarms are key layers to your security system. Not only that, but your overhead garage door may be unsecure, leaving your home at increased risk of break-ins.
[Ten Layers of Snowbird Security]
During the off-season even when residing at your primary home, an extended power outage adversely affects you and your home due to the same reasons as in the winter. Flooding from inoperable sump pumps, spoilage, lack of air conditioning/overheating and security remain core issues. Snowbirds who rely on medical devices such as CPAP sleep apnea machines, oxygen concentrators, nebulizers, stair lifts, chair lifts and power wheel chairs can have serious consequences from a lack of power.
Extended power outages that utility crews cannot repair in an hour or two are typically due to significant weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes or derechos combined with torrential rain storms and flash flooding.
A couple weeks ago, a severe June derecho storm brought 98 mile-per-hour straight line winds that toppled massive trees as well as major power lines in my neighborhood. A major five lane artery street was closed for a week due to downed power lines. Side streets were also affected by large trees and power lines that fell. The storm brought national and international attention to our city because of the excessively high winds and a heat dome with 97 degree temps.
Our primary home was without power for 48+ hours. It was hot and miserable for us and our dog. Despite drawing the curtains 24/7 to keep the sun out, the interior temps reached 89 degrees in just one day. We unplugged all of our electronic devices such as computers and tv's in the event of a power surge when the outage was remedied.
Several of our neighbors own or borrowed portable gas generators during the recent derecho storm. How can you tell if someone has a gas generator? For safety reasons, they are located outdoors because they emit carbon dioxide and they are very loud when operating.
Many portable gas generators are very heavy. Although portable generators have wheels, it's not easy to move them from one place to another if you are buying or borrowing one. You'll need the strength to lift it and space to transport it in a large SUV or pick-up truck. Once home, you'll need to place it away from doors and windows, such as in the driveway.
Due to safety, never place a gas generator on a wood or composite deck or on unlevel surfaces, etc. Always read the safety warnings no matter what kind of power source you are using.
Don't forget to buy very long extension cords. Our sump pump is quite a distance from the garage and a long cord is the only way to plug it into the generator. If your generator has four outlets, you'll need four extension cords plus surge protectors.
New gas generators are scarce during power outages. Retail stores sell out fast. Portable gas generators range in price from about $700 to $2,400 depending on many variables.
A decade ago, just ahead of a monster storm I had purchased a portable gas generator for about $850 and thankfully it still works. We used it to power both refrigerators, a small chest freezer, one cell phone charger, one lamp, a crock pot, coffee maker and two small fans.
We felt we had to stay with our property to run the generator during the day and preserve our food investment. Gas runs to fill our small fuel tanks to keep the generator going were much more involved due to closed roads from toppled trees/power lines and needing to drive much further to reach a gas station with power. Along the way, I saw neighbors in the hot, sunny 97 degree weather having to cut down and move fallen trunks and limbs and deal with property damage to their homes and fences.
In the morning, my husband plugged in his coffee maker. Then we swapped it for the crock pot to prepare sloppy joes. In the evening, we grilled a meal of burgers and peppers, but truly it was too hot for that.
At night, we stored our portable generator in the garage to ensure it wouldn't be stolen from our driveway, which meant no lights, refrigeration or fans for eight+ hours during the night. We used the manual lock to ensure no one opened the overhead garage door. We slept on our basement floor because the interior main floor temps reached a sweltering 89 degrees and it was too much for our Golden Retriever as well as ourselves.
Thankfully we had running water and took very short lukewarm showers to preserve the hot water in the tank. A family member suggested we soak our dog with a hose to cool him off. It's a consideration, but Golden Retrievers and other breeds are susceptible to hot spots. Not worth the health risk. Instead, I followed our dog from spot to spot and kept the two small fans pointed in his direction. It was the only way he could stay cool enough to take a nap. We spent time in our basement to escape the much higher temps on the main and upper floors.
Thankfully we had portable fuel containers stored in our garage and we used $65 of fuel in two days via three gas runs. It isn't exactly cheap, but it's less expensive than the consequences and we were grateful to have any power at all. We joked about glamping, but we know there are many people who do not have air conditioning and we are fortunate for all of the days we do have AC. Our portable gas generator got us through the derecho outage for what we hope will be the last time until we can purchase a whole home standby generator.
To date, we have been fortunate not to have lost power for an extended time while wintering in our southern home. However, the latest derecho storm made us realize how much we rely on electrical power, whether at home and especially while away. We recognize what a disaster it would be if we were not able to stay with our property during an extended winter power outage. We are not willing to take more chances and will be researching the various options for a back-up generator. We still have plenty of time to hire it professionally installed prior to the next snowbird season.
Now, during the off-season is the time to do your research on whether a whole home standby generator makes sense for your personal situation. Hopefully, you'll never or rarely need to use it. The peace of mind as well as major benefits are appealing to snowbirds who need to protect their home from damage while away for the winter season. If you are unwilling to pay for the system up front, many prominent manufacturers offer payment plans. Investing in your systems is a wise choice for not just you, but your home team who will have far less to deal with in the event of an extended power outage.
-- Brian Logue
BE THE SNOWBIRD WHO IS WELCOME BACK How to Be Irresistible to Your Hosts Snowbirds who rent their winter residences are plentiful and there is typically not a shortage of guests who want to stay in a great property, which means it is important to …
Map of The Emerald Coast, Southern Alabama and Northwest Florida LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Peak vs. Off Peak Affects the Cost of Housing As snowbirds return home to begin the off-season, much reflection goes into what can be done differently for the next season. Life changes …
Travel and snowbirds are synonymous. Snowbirds by definition seasonally migrate to a warm climate and for many that means selecting a place to stay with very basic information such as online photos, reviews and a description of the property. From personal experience, before ever selecting our snowbird community in Northwest Florida, I looked at hundreds of properties online via specialized travel sites. The photos that got my attention were taken by professionals, had great lighting and flattering angles.
I consider myself to be rather astute evaluating a property from afar, whether hotel or other type of rental; however, every once in awhile there are blunders. My sister and I spent time in Saugatuck Michigan and selected a specific, beautifully decorated ground floor suite of an expensive boutique hotel based on photos, reviews and web site. Prior to arrival we envisioned ourselves walking from the porch of our suite across the expanse of lawn and reading books while seated next to the lovely lake. Wrong. Upon checking in, we discovered the enclosed porch does not have an exterior door, a road separates the lake from the hotel and the expanse of lawn is actually not part of the hotel's property. Worse, a new residence was under construction directly across the street from our hotel. Not only was it noisy, the new home completely blocked 50% of our view of the lake. We loved the hotel and had a great weekend regardless, but finding out about a blocked view from online photos that had not been updated was not fun.
I've compiled 11 categories below to assist with selecting a rental, whether during snowbird season or the off season. As always, careful research can result in the best success.
Once you've narrowed down your top options, look at an online map and compare the distance of the property address with the online photos. Look at both 360 degree street view and the overhead bird's view. Is it physically impossible to see a great view from inside the unit, such as the water or mountains? Many times a rental listing will show supporting photos that are not actually views from the rental unit itself, but are from around the resort property or neighborhood. Just about every listing for a rental near a beach will show an image of the beach, yet the view shown in the photo isn't necessarily what you will actually see from your kitchen, living room or balcony. Same for mountains, rolling hills or even the community pool.
Of course every rental owner wants to show their listing in the most flattering manner, which usually includes professional photos that have been lightly retouched for brightness and color. Now compare those photos with actual photos guests have posted online, if available. If the decor and images tell the same story, it's a good sign. Remember, guest photos may not reflect the most current version of the property and the reverse may also be the case: the rental photos may not be current. Guest photos are likely taken with clutter in them or poor angles and/or lighting, which is to be expected. Guests typically want to share their enthusiasm for a place, but don't forget motive. If a guest is unhappy, they may unfairly post photos and reviews that show the worst or exaggerated attributes of a property.
Online reviews, when available, can reveal details that may not be obvious from the photos. Typically this might include clarification that a view is partially obstructed, that the water is much further away than it appears, that the unit's space is much smaller than it looks or that there is a road in-between the property and the beach. Most owners do not intentionally mislead their guests or do not realize that guests who have never been to the area don't have the personal experience of having seen the neighborhood in person. If there is a valid suggestion that can privately be sent to the owner to improve their listing, that is always appreciated. As mentioned before, remember the motive for reviews. If a review seems unfair or one-sided it may be because of an unhappy guest who does not have the best intentions.
Drone photos showing the bird's eye view are great for getting an overview of an area, particularly in relationship to a particular feature, such as a body of water. Be realistic of where the property you are considering actually is and what obstacles will be in the way of your rental compared to the feature shown in the photo. You are not going to be in a drone looking at the view, so don't confuse the purpose of the drone photos.
I know first-hand of guests who rented a private home with fenced private pool directly facing the gulf and beach with just a road in-between. What isn't obvious is that because of the fence, to get from the home's pool to the beach, it's necessary to walk a block West down the street to exit the housing addition, walk over and cross the main road and then walk back East another block to get to the neighborhood's beach access point. Because of the fence, it isn't as quick or simple as merely walking across the street.
Many times photos are stretched on purpose or inadvertently which causes the space to look much larger than it is. Be aware of stretched photos that may have unnatural proportions of the items that you can see are wider than taller, such as appliances. Misconceptions about the size of a space are likely to cause the most distress upon actually renting a place only to find it's smaller than they realized.
Photo angles are a legitimate method of showing the expanse of a space, but recognize that angles also can make an object appear much larger than it actually is. This is especially apparent with angles used to show features such as a yard, swimming pool or interior rooms of a home or condo. Low angles or cameras mounted on the ceiling looking downwards can make a room or feature seem much larger than it is. When you are actually in a space, you will not have the same "fly on the wall" or "worm's" view which means the space will not look as large as it does in the photos.
It's frustrating to see listings promoting rentals that don't accurately portray the property. As an example, I commonly see photos of "gulf view" properties that actually have a side view of the water from way back in a condo complex. An unsuspecting guest may not realize the view from the interior of the unit is going to be of the homes adjacent to the unit, not the water. The only way to see the gulf is by stepping onto the balcony and looking into the distance. Technically, it is a gulf view, but there is a huge difference in what that gulf view is compared to a unit where you can directly see the gulf from the interior rooms and the balcony. Ground floor units that promote themselves as "gulf view," present a different challenge. Be aware of what that gulf view might actually be. For anyone not familiar with ground floor units, your actual view may be a sliver of the gulf due to natural topography where the ground floor unit is lower than the dunes next to the gulf and it results in limited views. If you aren't sure of what view you are getting, ask for photos that are not "zoomed in."
Visual cues provide a wealth of information. Look for hints in the listing photos that show the balcony railing in the foreground and other details such as the pool, road and beach in the background. High rise photos typically show great views looking across the water and/or other natural features. However, the view looking down from say, the 11th floor, may be terrifying for you, your pet or guests. I have friends who stayed on upper floors of high rises just one time. It was too much and they returned to the same complex only in a lower location. Visual cues can indicate the distance from your potential rental unit to get to the nearest parking lot, pool, attraction such as golf course or body of water. There are many great rentals in buildings that are second or third row to the beach, just make sure you are aware of it from studying the photos.
I've seen plenty of online photos of beautifully staged rentals with props that are not likely included in the rental. This may be items such as dishware or glassware, food, beverages, napkins, accessories, beach equipment and much more. If a staged photo shows these excluded items, it should specifically say on the photo "Food and beverages are not included" to make the potential guest realize the photo is for illustrative purposes. I have also seen rental photos with items such as laundry soap, beach towels or high end barware and the description does clarify that the soap, barware and beach towels are indeed part of the rental. To be sure, read the fine print or ask the owner or property manager.
As is commonly known in psychology, don't be distracted by dazzling photos, pay attention to what is not being said or shown. Prime photos, also known as "Hero" shots might show an amazing view looking in one specific direction. However, what is to the left or the right that is not shown in the photo? Telephone poles? A privacy fence, dumpsters or other obstruction?
Does the rental have a dishwasher or washer and dryer? Photos of appliances such as an in-unit washer and dryer may or may not be shown online for various reasons, so you should clarify what is available. If in-unit washers are lacking and there's no visual cue from a listing photo, it can easily be missed prior to arriving and realizing coin-op laundry facilities are located in a common area. Similarly, distance to parking, dumpsters, elevators, stairways and much more may not be photographed. Always ask for clarification.
Don't assume every room has a nice or any view. The bedroom window in our condo looks at a covered walkway and swaying palm trees. The bedroom of the unit directly next door looks at a covered walkway and a dark stairwell. I cannot say it enough, "Pay attention to what is not being said or shown." It's ok to ask for photos showing each view or all perspectives of the rental so there's no surprises.
It is expensive to hire a professional photographer, but current photos that accurately portray a property are invaluable for potential guests as well as owners. Professional photos are designed to dazzle you, however, don't overlook the gems that may be bypassed due to poor quality photos. Over time, furniture, appliances, rugs, lighting and decorations change. If you aren't sure of how recent the photos are, don't hesitate to ask.
Overall, take your time to carefully study the promotional photos, reviews and then make an informed decision. If necessary, try out different places until you find the one you want to return to over and over again.
-- Bruno Barbey, French Photographer
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