My Vacation Haven

I’ve booked condos in Westwinds at SanDestin from My Vacation Haven since at least 2009, maybe longer. I stay for a month every fall, and I am very satisfied with their service. The price I pay is a fraction of what SanDestin real estate charges. Dates have always been flexible, and suited to my needs, albeit at a slightly higher price. Dana is excellent to work with and I highly recommend her. My only complaint, and the reason I don’t offer a five star review is that because of the high volume of short term rentals involved, their computerized guest management system lacks any flexibility, and sometimes seems impersonal.

Terrible experience! Me and my wife go to Destin Fl every year
to enjoy the beach and activities there. We decided to take my
parents and nephew to Sandestin for week of enjoyment.
The condo we rented was nice. When we got unpacked and
Settled in me and my dad went onto the patio and found geckos
all over the patio furniture, even little feces they left on the couch.
Later I found little holes in the screen which I tried to close up
but they still kept getting in. Then when we went to the beach
we went to take the beach furniture they posted in the add as
part of the package, we found that except for one chair the rest
of the stuff was broken or unusable. There also was a bunch of
other little hiccups, but we chalked it up to things that happen
When you rent. The real problem was the mildew smell that we
Smelled the first day. We thought it just needed to be aired out
and after a couple days it lightened a little. My mother was feeling
A little sick but because she’s on medication because of breast
Cancer it’s not unusual for her to not feel well at times. But then
My wife started feeling sick, then that night my dad asked me
to come in their room and he pointed to what appeared to be
Black mold on the ceiling and around the vents. Also it was in
their walk in closet also on the ceiling and vent. I called
Management left them a message and an email about what
We found because it was after hours. Didn’t hear back until
Saturday morning when we left. I took pictures and showed
Them to a company back home that verified it was mold.
I was very upset when I found that out. I called My Vacation
Haven to let them know what we found out and they apologized,
Said they were looking into it, that they knew that the unit had
Some issues and thought the owner had address them.
We agreed on them refunding a portion of my money
They never did. They then no longer wanted to speak to me
And directed me to speak with their attorneys. Their attorneys
Implied that because we didn’t report it the first day, so that they
Could move us, that we used that situation to get a free vacation.
To make my point lets just say that was true. The fact that there
Was mold, and the fact that your clients had to move their family
And be inconvenienced would that still not be valid reason for
Some kind of recovery? What nerve! Anyway I reported the
Issue to the BBB then their lawyers threatened me with a cease
And desist. Can you believe that??? I eventually reported it to
American Express who investigated and found validity crediting
Our account back. Boy I love that American Express!
My opinion is that My Vacation Haven is a poorly managed company.
Very insensitive to their clients and in my opinion lack integrity.
There are many other rental agencies there and my opinion is
Go elsewhere…

Booked thru vacation haven for a quick trip to sandestin. We go every year, but this was our first time going thru vacation haven. called earlier in the week to see if we could get an earlier check in and they said just call the day of so they can coordinate with housekeeping. Well we did just that and was told they made a note in the computer and would call when ready. So I called two more times once we got there to see if they were close to ready. Check in is at 3. So we arrive at 1:45 after killing time and the cleaning crew is obviously long gone. It’s 2:05, code doesn’t work. They said they haven’t heard from housekeeping and I had to literally twist her arm to ask her to call me again when it’s ready. Meanwhile I have two whiny kids and melting food in my cooler. We take kids to pool and at 2:52 I get a call our room is ready. I asked if our code would work and she says no. Ok then… then she says «I can get you a new code if you want.» Gees, I’ve waited an hour, what’s 8 minutes!!? Totally unaccomodating. We come to sandestin every year and have never had this sort of treatment. No one wanted to help or go the extra mile. If they can’t do a check in prior to 3, they need to tell you up front and be firm. Don’t be wishy washy. And what really irked me was getting several emails from them the day before we left wanting me to text or email what time we would be checking out. WTF? Check out says 10am. Why would I help y’all out when you stuck to your 3pm check in. I’m worn out just thinking about it still. I’ll stick to
thanks!