Even if you imagine yourself spending all day long on the beach, there’s still so many decisions to make about your family’s beach vacation rental. The location in proximity to major attractions, number of rooms and amenities are all key factors to consider when picking a rental. Check out this sneak peak of the Flip Flop Lifestyle – a premiere North Carolina Crystal Coast vacation rental – that was featured on HGTV! Plus, I’ve got some great tips for first-time renters to ease your nerves and help you plan a dreamy beach trip.
Chances are if you’ve stumbled upon this beach rental review, you’re already interested in North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. Imagine picturesque lighthouses, quaint towns and quiet beaches where you’ll want to forget every care in the world.
Even though the beaches are the true gem of the area, there are so many great family-friendly Crystal Coast attractions. Knowing that there’s more beyond the beach is important information to know when picking your vacation rental – because it’s all about location!
Fall in love with the beauty of the Crystal Coast, discover the ease of using a vacation rental and come back year-after-year. That’s the magic of The Flip Flop Lifestyle!
Crystal Coast Vacation Rental Review: Flip Flop Lifestyle
Quiet Neighborhood Location
The Flip Flop Lifestyle is located in the Pine Knoll Shores area. It’s a residential area where the biggest attractions is the North Carolina Aquarium. That’s a good thing for vacationers who are looking for a quiet location.
This Crystal Coast vacation rental is tucked away from main highway. While it doesn’t sit directly on the beach, it’s a block away from the community beach access and offers dock access. If you want to sacrifice space for a beachfront view, the Flip Flop Lifestyle isn’t for you.
Instead, this rental is perfect for the family that wants to spread out and doesn’t mind the short beach walk. Enjoy the tall oak trees as views, and spacious living areas as a trade off – which worked well for our family! As a family of 5, I’ll gladly take the extra space.
Cute Details & Cozy Touches
The owners are truly fans of the beach life and this Crystal Coast vacation rental lives up to it’s “Flip Flop Lifestyle” name! Throughout the home, you’ll find cute decor touches and cool blue color palettes. The home was once featured on HGTV’s Beachfront Bargain Hunt and it’s very apparent that the owners put a lot of effort into the recent remodel.
Some of the best house features include the large kitchen with updated appliances, numerous bedrooms to sleep up to 8 guests and a claw-foot tub in the master bathroom. There’s also an outdoor shower to easily clean the sand off when you’re walking back from the beach.
The home is fully equipped with kitchen supplies and a washer/dryer. If you’re staying weekly, linens are provided with beds made.
What To Pack For Your Vacation (That’s Not Included)
If you’ve never stayed in a vacation home, there are a few things that you should consider packing. Any toiletries would not be included with your stay. Extra bedding (beyond the basic linens) are helpful when you want the comforts of home. Trash bags are another item you’ll want to have on hand as well as items to stock the fridge. There’s an Atlantic Beach Food Lion that’s only a few miles away from The Flip Flop Lifestyle. Or use a grocery delivery service to have everything ready when you arrive to your Crystal Coast vacation rental!
Crystal Coast Vacation Rental Booking Tips
The Flip Flop Lifestyle is listed under the management of the Bluewater real estate team. When you book a vacation rental, you aren’t alone in the process. From access to the property and questions about amenities, the Bluewater team is available to help you upon booking.
If you love your vacation rental, you look into reserving the dates year-after-year. For instance, if your family loves a Memorial Day weekend beach vacation, you can reserve those dates every year and (potentially) receive a discounted rate for booking in advance.
Should You Buy Travel Insurance With Your Vacation Rental?
Bluewater Vacation Rentals offers vacation insurance that you can purchase up to 30 days prior to your vacation. I recommend vacation insurance if you’re booking during the hurricane season, which is June through November for the Atlantic Ocean.
Another reason to consider purchasing travel insurance is for unexpected illness. Always read the fine print and know how the insurance covers your family’s travel, to help you decide if it’s a smart purchase for your particular situation. Everyone is different!
How To Score A Discounted Crystal Coast Vacation Rental
Everyone loves a great deal and, just like hotels, you can find discounted vacation home rentals. Bluewater Vacation Rentals offers discounts for last-minute travel, military and for early booking. The early booking discount is for vacationers who can lock down dates before mid-April for the busy season.
If you’re flexible with dates, and want to save some money, look into off-season months. The Crystal Coast has such great attractions, beyond the beach, that our family would even enjoy a winter vacation there. Our September trip to the Flip Flop Lifestyle was perfect sunny weather, for walking along the beach, but a tad too cool to get into the water.
Vacation Rental Financing Options
Qualifying vacationers can use Affirm to book their beach vacation, enjoy the trip and pay later. Essentially, upon qualification, Affirm allows travelers to pay for the trip over an extended amount of time through monthly payments. You can pick the repayment schedule that works best for your finances. Travelers can use Affirm to cover the entire cost of the vacation rental or just a portion. Any remaining balance is due 30 days prior to your arrival.
Our family’s days of staying traditional hotel rooms is over. Climbing over a pack-and-play to use the bathroom or trying to stuff baby bottles and milk into a mini-fridge doesn’t make for a great vacation. Choosing to stay at the Flip Flop Lifestyle will provide your family with all the comforts of home and it’ll be your little oasis near the beach.
Ready to book your Crystal Coast Vacation Rental? Check out Bluewater NC and follow them on social media:
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