Posted by
Ryan Swaim
I am often asked how a vacation rental can be considered an "affordable" vacation (usually by those who have only stayed in hotels in the past.) While we do have a wide range of properties (and rates) available, some can appear quite expensive at first glance. However, once you dig a little deeper, it's easy to see where the value lies.
First of all (and this applies to hotels as well as vacation rentals,) getting to the Myrtle Beach area is considerably easier for most Americans than, say, Florida or Hawaii. We're within easy driving distance of most eastern states, and actually sit right on the halfway point to central and south Florida for many travelers. Rarely is expensive airfare or car rental needed, and with gas prices down considerably from their 2008 levels, driving is once again an economical alternative.
Of course, getting here cheaply doesn't help if you have to mortgage the house to pay for your accommodations, and that's where Dunes Realty and vacation rentals in general really shine. For example, an oceanfront king bedroom at most of Myrtle Beach's nicer hotels will run somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,500-$1,800 for the week beginning July 4, 2009. Not bad, but that room only sleeps two comfortably and you'll need to eat any meal that can't be microwaved or stored in a mini-fridge out at a restaurant. Again, not always a bad thing, but we're talking about making things economical, and fixing breakfast and lunch at home (and even a family dinner or two) can certainly help in that regard.
By contrast, a top-notch five bedroom oceanfront house with a private pool will run somewhere in the $6,000 range for the same week. Sounds expensive, until you consider that this house will sleep 16 people comfortably... that's only $375 per person for the week of the Fourth of July! (Fitting the same number into the hotel rooms mentioned above would require 8 rooms at a cost of at least twice that figure.) In addition, a vacation rental comes complete with a fully-equipped kitchen, giving you the option of eating out or dining in, as well as the ability for the entire family to gather together in one location... did I mention the private pool?
If this particular option doesn't work for your family, we can certainly find one that does from the more than 1,000 properties we manage. Keep in mind that the week mentioned above is the most expensive of the entire year, and you can save considerably by moving earlier or later in the season. Don't need five bedrooms? No problem. Need more? We can do that too, and often for a lower per-person cost. Don't mind a walk across the street to the beach? Second and third row rates can often be as little as half of oceanfront prices, and with many of the same amenities. You can also save a good deal by choosing a property without the private pool... after all, the Atlantic Ocean is just steps away from all of our properties.
Speaking of the ocean, I think it's important to remember that it is our single biggest attraction, and it is completely, 100% FREE! Sure, we have amusement parks, waterparks, miniature golf, live shows and all of the other attractions that made Myrtle Beach famous, but the ocean is still number one. Whether it's long days on the beach with the kids or long moonlit walks (without them,) the beach is always sure to please, and you never have to wait in line to use it!
The bottom line is, well, the bottom line, and we know of no other option that offers so much for so little. If you haven't made your vacation plans yet this year, give us a try, and we think you'll agree.
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