Tips for Celebrating the Holidays in a Destin Vacation Rental

At Newman-Dailey we like to live the dream too. So when our Property Manager, Jessica Hill, recently celebrated the holidays with her family in a Newman-Dailey vacation rental, we asked her to share some tips on preparing and packing for a holiday gathering at the beach. Here's her tips for celebrating the holidays in a Destin vacation rental: 

I hosted Thanksgiving in a Destin vacation rental home at Jade East in Destin, Florida. We are accustomed to having a decent size crowd, so picking the right one was important. I chose Jade East Towers, Penthouse 1950. This condo is absolutely wonderful for a holiday gathering such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. My dinner was a hit and I am already excited to plan and host next year’s holiday celebration.

Making dinner in a strange kitchen is always a challenge, but it can be even more difficult in a vacation house. There’s the additional pressure of preparing meals for a larger-than-normal group of extended family or friends, plus the fact that you were hoping to spend more time relaxing in a beach chair with a good book than in front of the stove.

Some vacation rentals aren’t equipped with a lot of dishes and things you’d need for that type of gathering, but Jade East Condo 1950 had everything we needed. The homeowners have more than adequately stocked their vacation home so that every single one of their guests is comfortable. It can seem stressful to host a holiday in an unfamiliar place, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised how much fun the experience was for our family. I did stay pretty organized, so I think that helps.

In the weeks before your trip take note of the tools, such as pots and pans, that you use most frequently. Do you make a lot of dishes that require your small whisk? Do you make your Grandmother’s dressing that requires an heirloom casserole dish? Do you like to keep certain meals warm in a crockpot? You can make a mental list or if you are feeling organized, write it down so you can refer to it later. Pack what makes sense. If you are flying across the country, your Le Creuset cookware can’t fly with you so consider substitute recipes and cookware for that may work better for your celebration at the beach. 

If you are driving to your destination, you have more flexibility. It can’t hurt to pack a box of your most useful kitchen items, along with your most used spices. If you don’t want cook, there is a myriad of wonderful South Walton and Destin restaurants and markets that can supply your family with a cooked gourmet meal and all the sides. Here's our list of top locations that serve meals for the holidays if you'd rather leave the cooking to someone else. 

Where to begin? Start by making a list of everyone you want to be part of our festive holiday celebration at the beach. Next, find the perfect size Destin vacation rental home or Destin condo for your group by viewing some of the premier Destin vacation rentals online, including condos at Jade East in Destin and Hidden Dunes condos, cottages and villa rentals in Miramar Beach, among the many options. Need help narrowing your search? Simply call one of the friendly vacation specialists at Newman-Dailey at 1-800-225-7652 to help guide you in the process. 

Happy Holdiays! See you @ the beach!