We’ve just returned from our UK trip, and boy, do I have a ton to share in upcoming months. If you have any urgent questions about lodging, activities, transportation, or tours, feel free to shoot me an email! Onto this week’s newsletter.

A great beach house rental can turn a good vacation into a legendary one. A bad rental can ruin a trip that took months to plan. After years of group trips and family beach weeks, here's what we've learned about booking rentals the right way.

What to Look For When You're Booking

• Read the sleeping configuration carefully, not just the bedroom count. A listing that says "5 bedrooms, sleeps 10" might mean two king beds and three air mattresses. Look at every photo and message the host to confirm bed types if it's unclear. For families with infants or toddlers, ask whether a pack-n-play or crib is available.
• Calculate the total cost, not the nightly rate. Cleaning fees, service fees, local taxes, and pet fees can nearly double what you thought you were paying. Always get the full total for your actual dates before comparing properties.
• Verify the actual walk to the beach using Google Maps street view. "Oceanfront," "ocean view," and "short walk to the beach" can mean wildly different things. For a family hauling a beach tent, a cooler, and three kids, a quarter mile matters more than you think.
• Check parking capacity and kitchen equipment for your group size. Confirm exactly how many vehicles the property accommodates, because overflow parking can cost extra. A well-equipped kitchen is where group trips save the most money, so look closely at the photos to ensure it’s the right size for your group.
• Read the low-star reviews first. Sort by lowest rating and spend five minutes on the 2- and 3-star reviews. They reveal the real issues like thin walls, cleanliness, or bad hosts - things you can’t see in photos.
• Understand the cancellation policy before you pay. For group trips, always opt for Flexible or Moderate cancellation terms when possible. Someone's plans will change. They always do.

Which Platform to Use

​VRBO is generally the better choice for large beach houses and group rentals. The listings skew toward full homes, and the weekly pricing tends to work out better for longer stays.

Airbnb has more variety and works well for unique properties, though fees have become less predictable.

​Whimstay is another one worth considering. They specialize in discounted short-term vacation rentals, specifically properties that would otherwise sit empty, which means you can find genuine deals on full vacation homes, often at 20 to 40 percent below standard rates. It's a great option for flexible groups or families who have their dates locked in but haven't pulled the trigger on a property yet. The inventory skews toward the kind of larger, amenity-rich homes that groups need, and the search experience is straightforward and easy to navigate. If your summer dates are coming up fast and you haven't booked yet, check Whimstay before you assume everything good is gone.

We recommend getting travel insurance when you book any group rental. Check out World Nomads to compare policies.

Red Flags to Avoid

• Few reviews, or all reviews appeared within the last few months
• No photos of the bedrooms, bathrooms, or kitchen
• Host asks you to communicate or pay outside the platform
• Pricing dramatically lower than every comparable listing in the area
• Vague descriptions of sleeping capacity and bed types
• Non-refundable deposit required within 24 hours of inquiry

The Best Beaches for a Group Trip

The Outer Banks, North Carolina is the gold standard for large group rentals. Enormous multi-family homes with private pools and direct beach access are the norm here, not the exception. Wide uncrowded beaches, wild horses at Corolla, and outstanding seafood make it one of the East Coast's best group destinations.

Isle of Palms, South Carolina sits 20 minutes from Charleston and delivers wide, calm Atlantic beaches at more accessible prices than comparable Florida destinations. Charleston as a day trip option (for food, history, and architecture) is a bonus.

30A and Rosemary Beach, Florida offer the most beautiful stretch of the Gulf Coast. Think emerald water, white sand, and a walkable, bikeable community with no high-rises. Premium prices, but the experience earns them. More 30A trip ideas HERE​

Ogunquit, Maine has three miles of pristine sandy beach, the spectacular Marginal Way cliff walk, and a food scene that punches well above its size. Less crowded than Cape Cod for comparable summer weeks.

Traverse City and the Lake Michigan Shoreline is the best surprise on this list. Crystal-clear freshwater beaches that genuinely rival ocean destinations, Sleeping Bear Dunes nearby, and rental costs at a fraction of East or West Coast alternatives. (Find our Traverse City tips HERE).

One final tip: assign a trip captain. One person books the house, one collects payment. It's the single thing that turns a chaotic group text into a trip everyone actually shows up for.

Hope you’re having a great summer,

Kirsten