Thinking about a beach vacation and want to know where are the cheapest beach house rentals? We’ve taken a look at where you can get the most ‘bang for your buck’ in the U.S and internationally. Staying in a vacation rental works out much cheaper than staying in hotel rooms, meaning you’ll have more money to spend on fun vacation activities, such as watersports, eating in restaurants, and exploring mangroves. So, where are the cheapest beach house rentals, and how can you find the best deals?
Florida
From small towns to bustling beach strips, Florida is home to cheap vacation rentals in all kinds of locations. Blessed with stunning beaches along the Gulf Coast, and home to white sand and turquoise waters, Florida is undoubtedly home to some of the best beaches in the United States. It’s also home to year-round good weather, meaning almost any month is a great time to visit. While Florida has a booming tourism industry, there are still some parts where you can find a decently-priced vacation rental homes, from condos through to beach houses and apartments.
Naples
Search for a beach house or apartment in Naples, where prices tend to be lower than other Florida beach destinations. The area is known for its beautiful beaches, shopping, golf courses, and stunning state parks. You can even find vacation rentals that won’t break the bank on nearby private beaches. Top activities in the area include paying a visit to Delnor-Wiggins State Park or exploring nature trails at Naples Botanical Garden.
Marco Island
Marco Island is also known as a great spot to find a vacation rental bargain. It’s a stunning barrier island best known for its abundance of birds (meaning it’s an ideal location for bird-watchers), as well as has tons of fun activities including kayaking in mangroves, boat tours where you can spot dolphins, and stunning, white sand beaches. It has a large residential community, with many reasonably-priced family-sized houses up for rent.
Alabama
Alabama is also home to stunning beaches along the Gulf Shore but doesn’t draw the same amount of tourists as Florida, meaning you’re in for a more peaceful vacation. It’s also home to historical ruins and a great food scene, making it an all-around perfect destination.
Fort Morgan
When it comes to Gulf Shore destinations, Fort Morgan manages to escape the busy tourism that many parts of Florida experience. Fort Morgan offers a much more peaceful vacation experience — and decent vacation rental prices. It boasts picturesque beaches and the area is filled with charming Southern mansions and cottages, giving it a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. If you want to get a culture fix after a bit too much time on the beach, there’s a 19th-century masonry fort you can explore, or you can visit the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.
South Carolina
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is a popular destination in South Carolina thanks to its 60-mile string of beaches, fun vacation activities, watersports, and bustling boardwalk. As it’s a busy vacation spot, beach houses rentals can be more expensive than other beach destinations in the U.S, however, rentals are still cheaper than many parts of Florida and California.
Massachusetts
Cape Cod
Head to Wellfleet in Cape Cod — a charming Massachusetts town located right beside a peaceful, sandy beach. Cape Cod is a popular vacation destination, and you can find great vacation rental bargains in Wellfleet, which is close to some of the area’s top activities. Visitors love Cape Cod for its golden beaches, shopping opportunities, local galleries, art scene, and of course, the area’s famous oysters.
Mexico
Fly down to Cancun and you’ll find beach rentals that are substantially cheaper than back in the US, plus you can get a lot more for your money in Mexico. If you want to catch some winter sun without going too far afield, the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is the place for you. Head to Playa del Carmen where you can find spacious vacation rentals at affordable prices — many of which come with their own pool, alongside being just a short walk to the Yucatan’s Caribbean beaches. While in the Yucatan Peninsula, explore Mayan ruins, indulge in delicious Mexican food, and immerse yourself in a different culture. You can find cheap flights between many parts of the U.S and Cancun, and they are often direct or have a short layover.
Extra Tips To Find Cheap Vacation Rentals
Walk to the Beach
To save money, look for beach house rentals that aren’t on the beach. Rentals that are directly on the beach will be more expensive than a rental that is a five to ten-minute walk away. One of the good things about being slightly further away from the beach is that you might be closer to supermarkets and cheaper restaurants — meaning you won’t be spending so much money eating at beachside restaurants, which are usually more costly.
Time of Year
An important thing to think about is the time of year you’re traveling. Peaks times, such as Spring Break, summer, and Christmas are the most expensive to rent a beach house. Prices rockets in areas such as Florida and California when other parts of the U.S are experiencing cold, snowy weather, as Florida and California both have balmy temperatures, and it’s still possible to swim in the sea still. If you can, travel during off-peak season, and you might be able to find some amazing rental offers as homeowners slash prices to fill vacancies.
Which Vacation Rental Sites
Browse the top vacation rental sites to find your perfect, cheap beachside vacation rental. Many travelers browse sites such as Craigslist to find a good deal — and while you might be able to find a good offer, be careful when using sites such as Craigslist. It’s more than just being sure the lister has a valid email address — you need to check for fraud.