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Beach Vacation Rental Scout

Isn't It Nice to Have a Friend in the Know?

Beach Vacation Rental Scout narrows your search for a great beach rental to just the gems.

Why Not an Ocean View

Over the past nine years, I've
logged hundreds of hours online searching for vacation rental homes.

And I've stayed in dozens of homes. Some were phenomenal. Others, not so much.

Do you dread spending hours scrolling through listing for hundreds of beach house vacation rentals?

Are you worried that the vacation rental you've chosen isn't "all that"? I've been there!

I'm ready to make the same quality recommendations you'd expect from a close friend.

Meaning, I'll give you the details -- what's to love and what's not so perfect.

It's all about personal, firsthand experience. I visit every home I review and interview every vacation rental property manager I recommend.

Heading to the California coast? Click here for the full list of personally vetted homes and vacation rental property managers representing hundreds of condos, cottages, apartments and luxury villas on -- or very near -- the sand.

If you'd prefer a Florida beach house, click here.

Or, go straight to homes specializing in:

Pet Friendly Beach Vacation Rentals

Family Friendly Beach Rentals

Great Reunion Sites

Homes with venues and services for celebrations -- from birthdays to beach weddings


Get ready to meet some new friends -- who just happen to own a home on the beach.

In-Person Reviews are just that: detailed reviews of my short-list of the beach house vacation rentals, handpicked from among hundreds of online listings.

Snapshots give you a shorter overview of beach house vacation rentals that caught my eye online. In some cases, I've visited the home, but haven't stayed overnight. In all cases, I've talked in-depth with the owners to verify the basic details before lending my preliminary endorsement.

Both give you Owner's Favorites -- valuable insider information you won't get anywhere else.

Rental Property Manager Profiles introduce you to local companies with a small, but select list of beach house vacation rentals. Here you'll get personal assistance and extra services, along with insider information about the beach town you plan to visit.


Why me?

footprints on the beachBottom line? I love vacation rental homes. I became
my family's designated beach vacation rental scout after stumbling across renting as an option eight years ago.

At first, those mammoth vacation rental booking sites made me feel like a kid in a candy shop. Until I
realized hours -- sometimes days -- had passed and I was still scrolling though listings.

At some point you realize you’re on your own. Nobody to give you the straight scoop when every vacation rental owner is paying a fee to be listed. Which
means there are bound to be a few disappointments.

Scuffed walls. Broken appliances. An “ocean view” the size of a postage stamp.

Over time (and lots of trial and error), I developed a sixth sense for scouting out the gems. (Hint: they’re not always listed on those monster sites).

And, if you can't find the right beach house on here?

Visit the Beach Vacation Rental Scout Custom Search Engine

or

Borrow Beach Vacation Rental Scout Web Search Strategies


Ready to get some sand between your toes? Let's get started!

Beach Vacation Rental Scout



Beach Vacation Rental Scout E-Zine: Monthly Updates and Great Vacation Ideas
Beach Vacation Rental Scout Monthly E-Zine: Subscribe to Life's a Beach House for the latest whether you're planning a fun family vacation or just living vicariously.

Beach Vacation Rental Scout's Blog
Beach Vacation Rental Scout Blog is a heads up on the latest beach houses I'm adding, along with links to really useful travel and vacation resources. Subscribe here!

What Beach Vacation Rental Scout Can Do for You
Three ways Beach Vacation Rental Scout makes all the difference.

Vacation Rentals at the Beach: 5 Reasons a Rental is Better Than a Hotel Room
Vacation Rentals at the Beach: 5 Things You Can Do in a Rental that You Can't in a Hotel

The Beach Vacation Rental Scout Difference: 5 Things Make This Site Unique
The Beach Vacation Rental Scout Difference: 5 things that make this site unique

Different Vacation Ideas: Plan a Babymoon, Grieve or Scout for Retirement
Different Vacation Ideas: Desperately need some time away? Here are five good reasons to take a vacation you may not have considered.

The Perfect California Beach House or Local Rental Property Manager
Ready to find the perfect California beach house? Begin with this handpicked group of beach house vacation rentals and great rental property managers serving the best California beaches.

The Perfect Florida Beach House or Local Rental Property Manager
Ready to find the perfect Florida beach house? Check this handpicked list for reviews of rentals for affordable family vacations or the profile of a local rental property manager.

Family Beach Vacations: Tips for Finding a Family Friendly Vacation Rental
Planning a family vacation at the beach? Renting a house (rather than a hotel room) will transform your family beach vacations. Here are five tips to help you find the right one.

Pet Friendly Vacations: A Guide to Vacation Rentals Near Dog Friendly Beaches
Pet friendly vacations: The best family vacations are dog friendly vacations. Scroll down for my list of favorite beach house vacation rentals near dog friendly beaches.

Reunion Sites: Big Homes for Family Reunion Activities or Girls Getaways
Large vacation rental homes make great reunion sites, whether you're planning a family reunion, looking for graduation celebration ideas or just a different place to gather for girls getaways.

Beach Wedding Ideas From Beach Vacation Rental Scout's Wedding Guru
Meet Beach Vacation Rentals Scout's Beach Wedding Guru, Joan Burns. She's helped hundreds of Southern California brides create their dream weddings and shares her beach wedding ideas with us.

Monthly Vacation Rental: How to Swing a Month at the Beach
Why Not a Monthly Vacation Rental? You can hardly get away for a week, you say? Let these two stories inspire you to extend your time in paradise.

Vacation Rental Property Manager: 8 Benefits and 2 Evaluation Cool Tools
A vacation rental property manager can be a strategic ally if you’re new to vacation rentals or planning a family reunion or special celebration. Here are 8 reasons to go local.

A Discount Vacation Rental? Here Are 5 Strategies for Getting the Best Value.
How to Get a Discount Vacation Rental: Five Easy Ways to Save On Your Next Beach House Vacation Rental

Great Vacation Ideas: Traveling in the Off-Season
Great Vacation Ideas: Traveling in the Off-Season

Vacation Trip Planner: From family reunion ideas to rental etiquette questions
Vacation Trip Planner: Whether you're planning a family vacation or looking for ways to travel on a budget, this handy guide is the place to start.

Vacation Planning Tips: When and Why It's Best to Rent a Beach House
Vacation Planning Tips: Vacation rentals are ideal for inexpensive family vacations, pet friendly vacations and girls getaways-- and perfect if you need family reunion ideas or beach wedding ideas.

Vacation Planning Websites: 3 Cool Tools for Renters
Vacation Planning Websites: Three cool tools for renters

Web Search Strategies: The Scout's Guide to Best Options and Search Strategies
Web Search Strategies: The upsides, downsides and bottom line on five different web search options.

Beach Vacation Checklist: 5 Potential Deal-Breakers for Renters
Beach Vacation Checklist: 5 Potential Deal-Breakers for Renters

Great Customer Testimonials: They Beat Listings, But Not an Independent Review
Great Customer Testimonials: They beat listings alone. But here's why independent reviews are even better.

Property Scams and Scare Tactics: Consumer Safety Tips for Vacation Home Renters
Property Scams and Scare Tactics: Consumer Safety Tips for Vacation Home Renters

Travel on a Budget : Plan a road trip , shop local markets, cook together.
Travel on a Budget: Five inexpensive family vacation ideas that buy you more fun--and maybe one of your most memorable vacations yet.

Luxury Beach Vacation: What’s On Your Luxury Beach Vacation Wish List?
Luxury Beach Vacation: What’s On Your Luxury Beach Vacation Wish List?

Celebrations Guide for Renters: From Beach Wedding Ideas to Girls Getaways
Celebrations Guide: From beach wedding ideas to 40th birthday celebration ideas, beach house vacation rentals give you the space and privacy for memorable events.

Your Beach Vacation Packing List: Handpicked Items that Are Fun and Functional
Check your beach vacation packing list against this handpicked collection of fun and functional beach gear, electronics, sports equipment and accessories.

Custom Search
If you can't find the right beach vacaion rental listed on this site, this custom search engine will bring back the best results based on your own keywords.

Best Travel Books -- California: Architecture to Zagat
Best Travel Books for California Beach Vacations: Browse my personal bookshelf for help finding the best beach, planning day trips and digging deeper into the history and culture of your destination.

Beach Vacation Rental Scout
Meet Joyce Copeland and find out about how she became the Beach Vacation Rental Scout (and why you can trust her picks).

Beach Vacation Rental Scout Press
Beach Vacation Rental Scout Press: The place to find press releases, media mentions and media contact information.

Beach Vacation Rental Scout's Privacy Policy
Beach Vacation Rental Scout's Privacy Policy

Contact Me
Contact me with recommendations and requests.

Beach Vacation Deals: A Bargain -- or a Low Base Rate Plus Fees?
How to Evaluate Beach Vacation Deals: Looking for inexpensive family vacation ideas? Be wary of "bargain" hotel rates. Some low base rates are just the foundation for lots of extra fees.

Planning a Picnic: 5 Ways You'll Eat Better When You Rent a Vacation Home
Planning a Picnic: 5 Ways You'll Eat Better in a Vacation Home

Road Trip Fun: Rediscovering the joys of traveling by car
Road Trip Fun: Rediscovering the joys of traveling by car

Beautiful Beach Houses: 5 Ways Your Accommodations Your Vacation Experience
Beautiful Beach Houses: 5 Ways Your Accommodations Can Change Your Vacation Experience

Online Vacation Planning: Don't Leave Out Personal Recommendations
Online Vacation Planning: Don't Leave Out Personal Recommendations

The Expectations Gap: Five keys to managing your rental expectations
The Expectations Gap: Five keys to managing your rental expectations

Etiquette Questions for Renters: Five Guidelines for Common Issues
Etiquette Questions for Renters: Five Guidelines for Common Issues

Hot Tub Safety: Tips for a Healthy Vacation
Hot Tub Safety: Tips for a Healthy Vacation

Southern California Beachfront Rentals With Built-In Beach Wedding Ideas
If you're planning a California beach wedding or looking for family reunion ideas, these Southern California beachfront rentals give you location, space and event planning resources.

Pet Friendly Beach Vacation Rentals: California
Here are some of my favorite pet friendly beach vacation rentals and vacation rental property managers.

A Local Rental Property Manager Can Save You Hours. Check out California's Best.
The right vacation rental property manager can save you hours on family vacation planning. Some help with beach wedding ideas or family reunion sites. Here are my favorites in California.

Reunion Sites: Choose a Great Beach House for Group Gatherings
California Reunion Sites: Check out these large occupancy vacation rentals if you're planning a family reunion, looking for beach wedding ideas or need a new venue for your girls getaways.

Celebrations Guide California: Rentals With Event Venues, Concierge Services
Celebrations Guide - California: These beach rentals and rental property managers can help with beach wedding ideas, 40th birthday celebration ideas and pampering for girls getaways.

Find a Discount Vacation Rental In California
Find a Discount Vacation Rental In California

A Cedar Key Florida vacation rental for kayakers and nature-lovers.
Looking for an alternative to crowds and cliches? This Cedar Key Florida vacation rental is a pocket of peace and natural beauty on the little explored Nature Coast.


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