Snowbird Lifestyle, Cuisine, Entertainment and Travel
Where to Find a Last Minute Snowbird Rental Two Rental Web Sites Specifically Cater to Snowbirds Seasoned snowbirds know the race to book a rental for the next season is very real. If you have never experienced losing out on a property because someone else …
Seeking paradise in another country requires much thought and honest evaluation International Snowbirds Ten Considerations of Snowbirds in Foreign Countries The inspiration for this post are the numerous TV shows featuring international travelers who purchase property in another country. You know the ones: ex-pats who …
Housing has been and always will be the biggest consideration as well as expense of the snowbird lifestyle. Housing choices dramatically affect every aspect of every other detail of a snowbird's warm weather existence. Therefore, it's important to not only make the best choice for your own individual preferences, spouses and partners also need to be on board.
I've compiled and rewritten feedback regarding housing options from commenters on a popular online thread. Below are brief overviews from real people who expressed their likes and preferences for renting, owning and recreational vehicles (RV's).Of note are the snowbirds who combine two or more options for their winter escapes. The creativity of mixed housing options is fun to explore.
Following are actual firsthand accounts from snowbirds who have experienced various housing options. Their insights highlight the trade-offs, lifestyle considerations and personal preferences that come with renting, owning, or living in an RV for an extended period of time.
Many snowbirds appreciate the flexibility that renting provides because it allows them to explore different locations without long-term commitment. Renters often note the convenience of turnkey living such as furnished spaces that they don't have to maintain and the ability to simply “lock up and leave.” It's also less expensive to rent a few months rather than own a property and have to pay the expenses when it's not in use. However, drawbacks include rising seasonal rates and competition for the premium properties that results in limited availability.
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Type: Long term condo rental in Florida
Time frame: Typically Jan 1 through the end of March, or occasionally December through March 31. Reserve a year in advance.
Considerations: Makes better sense for us to rent than own year round. When not in use nine months a year it avoids the headache of renting it out
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Type: Primary home is in Michigan with an average of more than 100 inches of snow per season. Rental properties, typically in Arizona via third party web sites are typical housing with ocean cruises added into the mix. This year is a stay in central California flanked by cruises.
Time frame: Three to four weeks or more in a rental property and at least one or two ocean cruises. After the December holidays, the timeframe is to be away all but five weeks until late April. Bookings are made one to two years in advance for maximum discounts.
Considerations: The wife does not want a RV/camper, second home nor to be a host or landlord for a rental property. The couple uses strategic 0% interest credit cards, perks, points and air miles to obtain the best rates on travel, including hotels, cruises and airfare. They also choose to live in a modest home during the off season.
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Type: Based in Northern Virginia. Rent in Florida during the winter and in Cape Cod during the summer, usually through a third party booking site.
Time Frame: One month in Florida, one month in Cape Cod.
Transportation: Travel is by autotrain to Florida, and although pricey, it's less expensive than fuel, hotel, food, wear and tear plus hotel for a couple of nights. They stop to visit friends on the way to/from.
Considerations: Because owning a place in either Florida or Massachusetts is expensive, not wanting to be tied to the same place every year and feel obligated to use it, renting is the better choice. An $8,000 to $10,000 rental may seem expensive for a month, but a second home or RV would be more expensive with insurance, maintenance and so forth.
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Type: Rental properties via a third party web site. Usually go to Arizona, but occasionally Florida.
Time frame: Primarily in January. Holidays at home bring contentedness and then the snowbirds depart for a warmer climate.
Considerations: Every year is different on purpose. The math for a second home doesn't make sense with today's prices and the routine of the same place every year isn't appealing. Low stress and flexibility are the priorities.
For some snowbirds, owning a second or vacation rental home offers stability and familiarity that renting cannot match. Property owners enjoy returning to a space that feels truly their own and often customize it to suit their lifestyle. Many have friends and loved ones in the same area. Over time, ownership can also provide financial benefits such as appreciation or rental income when not in use. However, owners must determine how the property will be maintained with the logistics of being away for extended periods. Owners also should be comfortable with the concept of returning to the same place rather than exploring new areas.
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Type: Initially rented a property in Florida as a single man escaping Midwestern winters. Made an offer on a nice small home in a preferred location, but the offer wasn't accepted. Then purchased a townhome in a second location. Six years of ownership.
Cost: Financially, the owner recommends renting if staying less than three months.
Considerations: Now has a new life partner and she also likes the townhome community. They considered moving to a larger, nicer place, but don't want to leave their friends, so they plan to stay because it is a nice place to live.
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Type: Purchased a beautiful condo in gated community, Fort Myers, Florida. Two years of ownership.
Time frame: Rent to snowbirds for the winter which covers HOA fees and a portion of taxes. Owners also use it once or twice during the year.
Considerations: They bought their place when her parents were still alive, but after they passed there is uncertainty about keeping it because they don't really know anyone and are not planning to join social or sports clubs, so it seems "ridiculous to stay" for any length of time. We are considering selling because we can't make the emotional commitment.
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Type: Smaller, economical desert home in an Arizona small town with low maintenance landscaping due to no lawns, low water plantings
Time frame: Owners enjoy the winter there with many social activities such as dances, music, potlucks, community activities
Considerations: Located in a place that many snowbirds pursue community theater and artistic endeavors that they missed in their younger days
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Type: Duplex in unnamed warm weather college town
Time frame: Owners use one half of the duplex for the winter as snowbirds and a year round getaway. The owner's two children live in the other half of the duplex and maintain the entire property.
Considerations: One of the two now adult children decided to settle there and are now employed in the area and enjoy the social life.
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Type: Florida house, downsized primary home in Connecticut to a condo
Time frame: Late October to late April/May in Florida, Connecticut in the summers and early autumn
Considerations: Husband and wife snowbirds. He is within weeks of retiring and she is already retired. They still have parents, family and friends in Connecticut so they fly back and forth as needed. They like their area of Florida because it's near friends and there's plenty to do. Owning two homes is not the least expensive option, but they like being home and having what they need in each place.
Type: Arizona house, lake property and primary home is a condo with "no worries"
Time frame: Six months in Arizona, plus a recreational lake property in summer season
Considerations: We can "lock and walk away." The Arizona house appreciated five times the purchase price, so the winter home turned out to be a good investment.
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Type: Rented for a couple of years, then purchased a small Naples, Florida condo. Based in the Midwest.
Time frame: December through April in Florida, plus occasional visits for a week or two during the year
Considerations: The condo is a great option for cruises that depart from Southeast Florida, including an extended round trip cruise from Fort Lauderdale. After 15 years in Florida, they have a group of friends who are scattered throughout the Eastern US. When traveling, the stop to visit their winter friends at their primary homes and vice versa.
Type: Condo on the South Carolina coast
Time frame: Winter months
Considerations: The other owners are from the south and want to use the place in the summer only. We use it in the winter and drive there so we have a car. We also have a small storage unit for bikes, golf clubs, tennis and pickleball racquets and other items.
Snowbird RV enthusiasts are attracted to the freedom and mobility of the lifestyle due to the ability to follow the weather, easily change locations and hybrid benefits of owning their rig without having to maintain it from a long distance in the off season. Many RVers also value the camaraderie and close community of campgrounds and RV parks. However, this lifestyle requires adaptability to live in much smaller spaces, being able to drive your RV, ongoing travel planning, as well as maintenance of the vehicle and storing it in the off season. It is not especially inexpensive for lot rent and occasional hotels. Amenities such as laundry, fitness centers, pools, convenience stores and more are sometimes available on site.
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Type: Recreational Vehicle (RV)
Time frame: Winter months of the year "in the south"
Considerations: The flexibility of going anywhere when the "mood strikes" is appealing. Extended time in a RV is not necessarily bad, however, that much time in a campground is a turn off. Storage for the RV in the off season is problematic.
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Type: 35 foot camper
Time frame: Five months in Arizona and the remainder of the year in Kansas
Considerations: The contributor's buddy and his wife live in Arizona for the winter and enjoy the same campground slot every year. Full amenities including on site laundry, pool, wi-fi, off leash dog park and the same friends every year. They love it.
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Type: Small RV
Time frame: Two months in Florida, January and February
Considerations: Although the RV is small, they have a large clam (screened tent) that expands the living space. They occasionally stay in a hotel and spend approximately $60 per night for the campground and $200 a night for hotels, it's relatively lower cost and provides flexibility.
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Type: Small rented camper in Key Largo, Florida
Time frame: February of 2026
Considerations: This is our first time trying the snowbird thing. Baby steps to start...
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Type: Double wide trailer in Key West, Florida
Time frame: Mid January to early April
Considerations: One partner has been traveling to Key West for 30 years and has built a network of friends in an established park right on the water. The new partner has been going to Key West for three years and although not keen on being a snowbird or wintering in Florida, she's supportive of the arrangement. They drive down with their dog, split the rent, which makes it even more affordable and her man is passionate about boating and fishing with nearby boat storage. A relative stays in their Northern home while they are away and helps with mail and other things.
--Anne Frank, German author, historic figure
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The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Midlife Snowbird. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links or advertisements does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Low, Mid and High Rise Buildings A Look at Three Very Different Snowbird Housing Options Definition of Low Rise Building Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Having few stories and not usually equipped with elevators Mid Rise Building American Heritage Dictionary: Relating to or being a building of moderate …
From Snowflake to Snowbird A Mini Report from a Former Snowflake I wasn’t familiar with “snowflakes,” which are a variation of snowbirds, until a reader contacted me about it. Online Artificial intelligence (AI) defines the primary difference between snowbirds and snowflakes as the former have …
Many times I'm inspired to write about questions I receive seeking insight of the snowbird life. This time our repeat vacation rental guests asked about making the transition from a summer to winter stay. We recently hosted Jen, Steve and their senior dog for two weeks in August. They love it here and said they are now considering returning to the same unit in the winter of 2025. I feel the same way, it's nice to be accustomed to the flow of the set-up, the furniture, location and why change if it's not necessary?
Jen already researched that our unit isn't available for Jan/Feb, but she and Steve wondered about March dates. That's a tricky one. The weather is steadily improving and that means the rates are substantially increasing. Shoulder season rates are early to mid-March and then there's Spring Break rates. Typically the Spring Breakers drive the snowbirds out for two reasons: they pay higher rates for the better weather and the area's population density noticeably increases.
My husband, our Golden Retriever and I were in Northwest Florida during Spring break this year and it's a completely different perspective than the winter months. The college-aged Spring Break students we encountered were very polite, blending in as fellow beach goers having some fun. I didn't see anyone stumbling around or overly loud, but I did see young ladies beautifully dressed up for sunset selfies; students enthusiastically indulging in beach volleyball, enjoying the pools, strolling the sidewalks, enjoying food and beverages in the local establishments and congregating after dark in the sand. We never find snowbirds out on the beach after dark except for the occasional night fisherman.
I don't know anything about Jen and Steve's budget, but March is a viable option if they put their funds into a shorter stay. This could be just the thing they want and need. Summer and winter in the exact same location have some very big differences as I've experienced. Maybe the Jan/Feb weather in Northwest Florida is too drastically different than the hot, humid temps of a Florida summer. Always research the mean temps no matter where you are considering, don't rely on your hunches and intuition, it may or may not be accurate.
Jen asked me about North Florida vs. South Florida. I told her essentially the same information as I wrote about in this post.
Location, Location, Location: Peak Vs Off Peak
Other considerations for summer to winter snowbirds and vice versa include your tolerance for busy vs. off season population density. Summer is much busier on the beach, in the restaurants, stores and establishments, other activities, driving in traffic and travelling to/from your destination. You'll likely have construction delays everywhere and you'll probably not stay as long because lodging rates are much more expensive. Beach service is a summer and shoulder season luxury.
Summer in Florida and popular Southern states such as Texas and Arizona is very hot and humid. If you like walking or running to exercise outdoors, it's almost unbearable during the hottest months of the year. Summer options involve swimming pools, lakes and the ocean.
When children are not in school, they are in full force in the locations where families go for vacations. Therefore you can expect to have a lot more activity and noise on the beach, in the pools and in the general community.
Winter is slower in terms of population and much less busy at the restaurants and retail shops, it's a longer season, generally less expensive and a time to get better acquainted and connect with others in your immediate and greater community. Winter snowbirds are much more likely to greet each other and be sociable. There's fewer distractions than the summer crowd.
In the winter, the sun rises and sets for a much shorter day, the temps tend to be cooler, cloudier and/or rainier. Many restaurants and attractions close for the month of January while the staff and owners go on their own well deserved vacations. When dining out, lunchtime is the best option for beachfront dining. You won't see a thing for dinner hour other than complete darkness.
Unless you have access to a heated pool or jetted spa, it's not likely you'll be swimming in the off season. However, with children in school, you'll likely not be encountering toddlers, kids, teens and young adults in the area during the winter. Weekends and holidays are a draw and do bring families during the winter for a refreshing change.
Before committing to changing from summer, shoulder season or winter, think it through, do your research and make an informed decision. It can be drastically different in the exact same location of your summer or winter community. If you're like me, you come to appreciate each season for the changes and make the most of each time you're able to be in your happy place.
-- Anthony J D'Angelo, American Author, Speaker, Business Owner
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Midlife Snowbird. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links or advertisements does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Proximity to local attractions such as wineries, entertainment, sports facilities, shopping and restaurants will help bring guests to your property. [Country Heritage Winery, Laotto, Indiana] Thinking of Renting Out Your Primary Home? Checklist of 15 Considerations Prior to Placing Your Primary Property on the Rental …
Snowbird Housing Deal Breakers Hint: The Deal Breakers are Personal and Nuanced Price, location, view, pet friendly and availability are all deal makers. They’re also the deal breakers. However, there’s more to it than that. It’s the nuances of a particular rental that may or …
As a long term member, and more recently a business owner who participates in social media groups for the vacation rental market, I repeatedly witness all kinds of online "arguments" about rental terminology. "It's not an ocean, it's THE GULF!" which is understandably significant in both price and technicalities. Another budget-buster relates to posts along the line of, "In search of BEACHFRONT property only" for a specific amount of money or desirable dates. Beachfront, ocean/gulf front and ocean/gulf view are quite different, which is why it's very important to make sure you and the administrators of your prospective new place are in sync with the intended meaning vs. reality. It's because of these online terminology discussions that inspired me to write about what I consider to be the top 100+ terms for snowbird and vacation rentals.
Domestic and international snowbirds tend to rent vs. buy their southern abode as well as move around fairly often. Canadian and other international snowbirds may not be as familiar with the United States' rental definitions or customs and they can also vary from state to state. Florida is the most popular destination for all snowbirds and amongst other things, has it's own unique way of addressing the beaches. As an example, a quick way to start a heated discussion is to mention Florida's "private beaches."
Like it or not, private beaches are fairly common in many areas of Florida and other states and that means you may rent a property with a direct view of the water and have no way to access the water or beach without walking or driving to a public access point. Once on the beach, private beaches typically restrict visitors to the wet sand along the coastline. How will you know if you're on a private beach? There will be plenty of signs posted both in the sand as well as at the gates or access points. Trespassing can result in being asked to leave or worse, so it's best to fully understand the set-up and ask the right questions before renting a place.
Deeded access is another term that is key to beaches -- your rental may include deeded access to a lake, bay or beach, but you will want to clarify how far it is to reach the deeded access point as well as parking options.
Test your rental term knowledge and have fun with quizzing yourself, friends and family. As much as I thought I already knew about the most common terms, I learned nuances such as a park model is legally classified as an RV; beach front, ocean/gulf front and ocean/gulf view are totally different and every state and local region has their own restrictions. Knowing what the rental terms actually mean can alleviate confusion and disappointment prior to choosing a property. For your convenience I've created a list of 100 helpful definitions and terminology. As always, do your own thorough research and ask a lot of questions.
| Accessible Vacation Rental - Accessible to guests with physical disabilities or impairments |
| Alternative accommodation - Any non-hotel property |
| Amenities – Attractive and desirable additions to a place that exceed one’s basic needs |
| Amenity Fee - Additional fee for amenities such as wifi, a pool, club house, fitness center, golf course, etc. |
| Apartment - A space within a building that is available for rent, but is owned by another entity. |
| Availability Calendar – Potential guests can see the dates that accommodations are still available and what has already been reserved. |
| Availablility Nights - The total number of nights available in exchange for a specific contracted rate. |
| Back to back booking - Consecutively booked immediately after the other |
| Balcony - A structural platform located off the ground that extends from the exterior of a building and is enclosed by a railing or half wall |
| Beach - A sandy or pebbly coastal shore, especially by the ocean or gulf between high and low water marks. |
| Beach Front – Situated near or on the area where the land meets the sand with direct and/or panoramic views and no cliffs, roads or rocky areas in-between the unit and sandy beach. You may be able to walk directly from the unit a short distance to the sand or there may be a short pathway that leads to the beach. |
| Best Available Rate (BAR) – Guests are assured the rate is the lowest available for each night of a multi-night stay to avoid confusion or to eliminate the need to continue to try source a lower rate. |
| Best Available Rate Guarantee - Guests are guaranteed the rate is the lowest available for each night of a multi-night stay to avoid confusion or to eliminate the need to continue to try source a lower rate. |
| Blocked View/s – No view due to an obstruction such as a wall, building or other type of structure |
| Book Direct: The most direct method to reserve a property instead of paying a fee to a third party booking site or distribution channel |
| Booking Confirmation - Written notification issued by the agent, owner or property manager to confirm the price, dates and other key details of the reservation. |
| Booking Fee – An extra charge for booking a reservation |
| Breed Restrictions - Rental policies that disqualify a specific breed of dog that are high risk and/or not covered by insurance. |
| Cancellation Fee - The amount of money due for cancelling a reservation after the cancellation deadline |
| Cancellation Policy – The policies and terms relating to cancelling reservations |
| Changeover Days - Specific days of the week when bookings start and end |
| Check In - The earliest time allowed to check into the property |
| Check Out - The latest time allowed to check out of the property |
| Closed to Arrival (CTA) - A tool that makes certain dates not available for check –in |
| Coastal Dune - A landform of sand created by wind- or water-driven sand, many coastal dunes are restricted from humans walking on them or disturbing them. |
| Condo/Condominum – A residential complex of housing with separate individually owned units. The interior from the walls/ceiling/floor inward are controlled and maintained by the property owner and the exterior, including the land and amenities are owned and maintained by the Homeowner’s Association (HOA), of which all condo owners in the building or community are members. |
| Condo-Hotel / Condotel / Hotel Condo / Contel - A condominium building with shared amenities that is operated like a hotel, offering short term rentals and maintains a front desk. Legally, it is a condominium, yet owners can leverage marketing and management by a hotel chain. |
| Custom fees: Any fee that is unique to a property such as pool access fees |
| Damage Waiver Fee: Non-refundable, typical nominal fee that covers accidental property damage caused by the guest |
| Damage/Breakage/Security Deposit Fee - Refundable fee added to the overall bill, typically $200 to $300 or 10% of the rental amount that covers accidental property damage caused by the guest |
| Deck - A flat structure that is usually connected to a building and constructed of wood or plastic composite materials, often elevated from the ground. |
| Deeded Access - An easement that allows property owners access to a beach, bay, lake or other desirable feature. It may be neighborhoods or sub divisions adjacent to or near a beach or other feature who have an agreement with the local government granting deeded access. Deeded access might not necessarily be closest to the property, but it typically is not too far away. |
| Down Payment – A portion of a charge paid initially with the balance to be paid later |
| Duplex - A low density multi-unit residential structure or dwelling that share at least one common wall. The floor plans may or may not be the same in each unit. |
| End Unit - A unit on either end of the building, it is more desirable because it shares just one wall instead of two or more and may have windows on three sides vs. two sides. |
| Front Row – A residential dwelling situated closest to the shoreline, or first row compared to second and third, etc. |
| Gated Community – A residential community with restricted geographical boundaries and gates to control access to the area. Access points may be staffed or utilize an entry code. |
| Ground Floor – The ground level floor of a building, which may or may not have a view |
| Guest Fee - An additional fee not included in the rate such as pet fee, cleaning fee, hot tub fee, club house fee, parking, etc |
| Gulf - Part of an ocean or sea that extends into the land, a gulf can be expansive, such as the Gulf of Mexico, or much smaller |
| Gulf Front /Ocean Front- A direct and/or panoramic coastline view of the ocean or gulf, but not immediately connected to the sand, such as a road or cliff between the unit and the beach |
| Gulf of Mexico – Both an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, there are seven southern US states that access the Gulf of Mexico: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The area is also known as the “Third Coast” with the Atlantic and Pacific being the first two. |
| Homeowners Association (HOA) – An HOA is a legal organization of homeowners who collectively pay fees to govern and maintain all properties, amenities and common areas within the association. |
| House Rules - Rules and policies clearly stated by the host for guests and their pets and visitors |
| Installments - Fees broken into smaller partial payments |
| Key Drop Box - A publicly accessible, yet secure location to pick up or drop off keys |
| Keyless Entry - Electronic lock that does not require an access card or traditional key for access to the property |
| Lodging Tax - A hotel or lodging tax is charged to travelers when they rent accommodations for 30 days or less in a hotel, inn, vacation home, motel, or other type of lodging. |
| Long Term Rental – Typically a residential lease for six months or longer |
| Low/Off-Peak Season - The least popular time of year to travel to an area, also known as off-peak |
| Maximum Occupancy - The maximum number of persons legally allowed to stay at a property |
| Minimum Stay - The lowest number of nights an owner or host will accept a reservation |
| Mobile/Manufactured Home - Built to HUD construction standards, manufactured or mobile homes are constructed in a factory and are designed to be moved to their destination on a trailer chassis. Mobile homes are sometimes placed in a mobile home park or on leased land where the owner rents a space or leases the land. |
| Monthly Rental – A unit that is rented by the month, usually from the first to last day of each calendar month |
| Mountain - A large natural elevation rising abruptly from the surrounding level; such as a large steep hill or mountain range |
| Multi-Unit - Two or more housing units that may or may not be identical |
| No Show - A guest who does not show up and provides no explanation |
| Non-Refundable Rates - A lower rate in lieu of certain conditions, such as non-refundable or non-cancellable |
| Occupancy - Residing in or on something |
| Ocean - A very large expanse of sea that is divided geographically, such as the Atlantic Ocean or Pacific Ocean |
| Ocean/Gulf Front - A direct and/or panoramic coastline view of the ocean or gulf, but not immediately connected to the sand, such as a road or cliff between the unit and the beach |
| Ocean/Gulf View – A non-direct view of the ocean or gulf from a particular angle that may or may not be a fair distance from the water |
| Open Container/s - Any alcoholic beverage that has been opened and has a broken seal or a portion of the contents removed. |
| Outdoor Amenities - The desirable, useful exterior amenities of a property such as BBQ grill, outdoor shower/s, playground, dog park area, pool, tennis court, beach area, etc. |
| Owner’s Closet - A locked closet or interior room that contains housekeeping or personal effects of the owner or host |
| Park Model – A smaller mobile home designed for seasonal occupancy and less mobile than an RV, yet is classified as an RV. |
| Parking Fee - A fee to park a non-oversized vehicle or other boat or vehicle on the property |
| Parking Permit – A temporary or permanent sign or tag displayed in the vehicle to show it is permitted to park on the property |
| Parking Restrictions - This is a limitation or restriction of the visitor’s access to parking on the property due to multiple vehicles, oversized or commercial vehicles, RV’s, golf carts, etc. Restrictions may also apply to where a vehicle may be parked. |
| Partial View – A view of at least a sliver of the feature such as an ocean, coastline, water or mountain |
| Patio – A paved area located adjacent to a residential dwelling, typically made of concrete or stone or tile pavers |
| Peak/High Season - The most popular time of year to travel to an area |
| Pet Fee – An additional non-refundable fee for cleaning or other potential pet-related damage to the property |
| Pet friendly - Properties that allows pets, typically dogs, to stay, although there may be limitations such as age, weight or number of dogs, breed restrictions and/or additional fees |
| Price-Per-Guest - Pricing based on the number of guests |
| Pricing Structures - Different rental prices based on the rental season or time of year |
| Private Beach – Private beaches are owned by a property owner or entity with restricted access to the public. The dry part of a private sandy beach is private and the wet area is public and open to anyone. |
| Private Home/Residence – A private home/residence that is not part of a commercial establishment |
| Property Description – A written description of real estate that describes the details and features of a home for sale or lease. |
| Public Beach – Public beaches are owned by the government and generally do not restrict access to the public, although there are typically specific rules about open containers, dogs, open fires, fireworks, weddings and more. |
| Rack Rate - The listed or advertised price for a room or property per night, it is the maximum rate. |
| Recreational Vehicle (RV) – A recreational vehicle that is designed to be mobile, with hookups that can easily be disconnected. |
| Rental Agreement/Contract – A contract between and owner or property manager and a tenant who wishes to use and occupy the property for a specific period of time as well as other terms and details related to the transaction such as cost, policies and procedures. |
| Remodel – To change the shape or form of something, such as a building, by demolition and construction. |
| Renovation – The process of cosmetic work renewing, repairing, updating or restoring to good condition. |
| Repeat Guests – Guests who return to the same property are considered valuable and are typically welcomed back. |
| Reservation Deposit – Nonrefundable money that is pre-paid to make a reservation and applied to the total bill. |
| Resort - A tourist destination that is usually in a scenic location for vacations, holidays, relaxation or recreation, or which is frequented for a particular purpose such as a spa, golf or wellness retreat. |
| Resort Fee – An additional fee that is charged to pay for a range of amenities, such as pool use, gym access, towel services, Wi-Fi, newspapers, shuttle service, daily parking, etc. |
| Row House - Similar houses in architectural style that are joined by side walls, also known as townhouses |
| Sales Tax - A consumption tax on the sale of goods and services, it is paid by the guest at the time of the sale, collected by the agent and paid to the government. |
| Service Fee – An extra charge assessed for a specific service |
| Short Term Rental – Typically a residential lease for 90 days or less |
| Shoulder Season – the period of time between peak and off peak season |
| Side View – A non-direct view from the side to see the feature such as an ocean, coastline, water or mountain |
| Single Family Home - A very low density, detached residential structure or dwelling site-built on its own land for the private use of the owner. Also known as R1, which means it’s zoned residential with one unit per lot. |
| Smart Lock - Bluetooth or wi-fi keyless locks |
| SNAD - Acronym for “significantly not as described” |
| Time Share - A timeshare is a legal arrangement for many people to share ownership of a property, such as a vacation property or condo within a resort area. Each buyer usually purchases a certain period of time to stay at the property, which may or may not be in the same unit each time. |
| Townhome/Townhouse - A narrow, non-freestanding row house connected on the sides, typically three or more floors tall. The owner possesses the land on which it is situated including the yard, patio or deck and the interior and exterior of the unit. |
| Trip/Travel Insurance – A separate insurance policy paid for by the traveler to protect the traveler from potential financial losses due to specific conditions. Coverage varies by policy for risks ranging from minor inconveniences such as missed airline connections or more serious issues including injuries or major illness. |
| Vacation Rental – Accommodations, typically located in a desirable area, that can be rented on a short term basis. |
| Value-Added Items - Amenities such as cribs, roll-away beds, high chairs, fire pits, BBQ grills, hot tubs, etc. that provide an extra value to guests |
| Walkability – A measure of characteristics that make an area easy to navigate by walking |
| Weekly Rental – A unit that is rented by the week, usually from Saturday to Saturday |
-- Lin Pernille, American Photographer, Videographer
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