Popular travel accommodation website Airbnb has confirmed what locals and homeowners along 30A have known for some time – The Emerald Coast is where it is at.
The travel website released its hot list of trending U.S. Domestic Destinations earlier this week and the top three spots were all in Northwest Florida – Cape San Blas, Mexico Beach and standing top of the list - South Walton.
Sam Randall, Senior Communications Manager for Airbnb, explained that the rankings were derived from tallying the most popular internet destination searches with the booking data the website has access to.
And the research also shows, as restrictions are lifting, how we travel is changing too.
Airbnb reported that more people are booking longer stays with nearly half of bookings now being for more than one week.
And what we are looking for in our vacation experience is changing too.
“While there is no doubt South Walton’s wonderful sugar-white sand beaches and clear emerald waters are still a major attraction,” said Inlet Realty Group’s 30A property expert Gordon Tarver, “so is the unique nature of 30A’s different communities, houses and homes.
“Glamorous condominiums in Alys Beach, homes in Rosemary Beach which look like they have stepped off the pages of Architectural Digest or waterfront beach cottages where the “boardshorts and barefoot” beach vibe is still alive – we have it all.”
Vacationers using Airbnb can now create a personal curated collections of homes – Wishlists - selecting their preferred options from more than fifty categories.
In addition to the number of bedrooms, price per night and a private pool, site users can also make choices based on a property’s style and amenities.
Airbnb has added a new category – Design – to the list, identifying more than 20,000 homes selected for their architecture and luxurious interiors.
The number of people adding “Design” to their Wishlists has grown 175% in the last 12 months.
As 30A continues to grow as a domestic tourist destination, more and more luxury property is being added to the inventory.
“Price per night for rentals is at an all-time high, as is the price per square foot for real estate sales along 30A.” explains Gordon.
“New homes are being built with more luxurious finishes: infinity pools, wine cellars and high-end appliances, sound systems and the very latest technology.
“It is no surprise that discerning vacationers from across the U.S. are looking at South Walton and 30A as the perfect place for their getaway or second home. We have wonderful beaches, excellent restaurants and entertainment and a range of different communities which excite and delight visitors every day.”
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