Best Kept Secret

This house does cause some mixed emotions at first. The location in Destin as a whole and the proximity to the Beach is awesome. Because of this it is very easy to overcome the issues with the house itself. This home could use some tlc. The air conditioning systems on the main floor and the bunk room do not cool very well, then again August is pretty HOT! There are alot of stairs in this home, but after a couple of days you do get used to them. It would not be recommended for small children or the elderly. We have rented many homes in the Destin area, and would consider renting this one again
Reviewed on Wednesday, August 19, 2009

We LOVED this place! It was everything that was promised and more. The pictures really don't do the house justice. It is even roomier than they show and the pool is huge and fabulous. We had a large group and there was room for everyone. The walk to the beach was super short and the beach was uncrowded. It felt like our own private beach. The problems we found were minor. We think WIFI would be a necessary addition. The local Starbucks was far away and opened late. That seemed like our only choice for internet access. Also if you use the oven it won't turn off and we had to trip the circuit breaker. That is somewhat of a hassle. We realize it was hot but the garage could use a clean up. It is a little stinky and affects the hideabed sleeping area in a negative way. We were told there were 2 refrigerators which there are. Both are huge but the one in the garage is very dirty. Really only good for beverages. No one wanted to put food in there. The couch in the great room has seen a better day. It is hard to keep it looking nice and put together. All in all it was a very positive experience and we would rent again! Thanks
Reviewed on Wednesday, July 08, 2009

This was a great house for our group of 11 women. We get away once a year and this was almost perfect. (No wait staff) We had a massage therapist come and she set her table up in the game room FOR 3 DAYS!!! There are alot of stairs to manage if you have problems with that but otherwise we had a great time.
Reviewed on Sunday, May 31, 2009

I took our group to the Best Kept Secret for a few days at the end of our spring break weekend and we loved it. We had over 20 people there and didn't feel crowded. The great room was huge and could accommodate everyone once we used the bar stools and pulled up dining room chairs. Front and back decks are spacious and there was plenty of room for sleeping in all the bedrooms. We especially loved the game room and over-sized heated pool. The location was perfect - a very short walking distance to the beach (you can see the surf from the great room windows!)in a nice, safe neighborhood and away from the extremely crowded areas (like the Majestic Sun). A word to people who are considering renting this house: first off, this is not a luxury house. The decorations, furniture and overall upkeep is not comparable to some of the newer houses in Destin. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its not nice - it is, its just not a high-end rental house. This was actually a plus for me as I wasn't constantly worried about our group damaging some expensive piece of furniture or painting. The best things about the house are its practicality and roominess, not its elegance and decor. Secondly, this house has a unique split-level layout where you have to go up and down stairs to get across to the other side of the house. Its definitely not for the elderly or those with physical disabilities. You will be walking on stairs a lot! My renting experience was very good - Landra was an excellent rep for Newman Dailey and I will definitely use them again. Everything was a promised and as pictured. Overall a great house and a wonderful trip for a large 20+/- group!
Reviewed on Wednesday, April 15, 2009

This house needs to be updated and cleaned up. It was adequate and certainly accommodated our large party, but it was a little nasty. It was very dusty. There was duct tape hanging off the window sill, which when removed, pulled plaster off. There was no internet access. The grounds were not landscaped at all..just weedy and gross to walk across barefoot by the pool. Appliances were old. The game room was dirty and we had to have the floor cleaned because it was sticky. Lights outside did not all work so when you came home at night it was dark. Lighting inside was poor and even with all of the lights on, it was hard to see. It was close to the beach and that was great. The King bed was horrible...way too soft. There were a lot of doors in this house and very hard to latch. We wanted to use the garage and the doors don't even open. The best thing about this home is its central location in Destin for teenagers, that is sleeps so many and the fact that it is so close to the beach for the price. The rental staff was great and accommodating and the cleaning staff were also good about coming back. The owners we rented from were very nice. However, I think next time we will pay a little extra and choose an updated home.
Reviewed on Thursday, April 09, 2009
Thank you so much for posting your review. We are sorry for the problems you had during your stay and appreciate you bringing it to our attention. I have discussed the issues with the property owner, and we are working to get the necessary maintenance taken care of. We look forward to your next stay with Newman-Dailey Resort Properties
Sincerely,
Jessica Hill, Property Manager
Response on Tuesday, November 24, 2009

We enjoyed our vacation and found the home had plenty of room for us to spread out. It is perfect for a large group. Everything was exactly as pictured. The blue sofa in the family room should be replaced, it has seen better days, but was fine for our limited use. We did have trouble with the pool, it was dirty when we arrived and we never could get anyone to come and vacuum the sand out. If it had been warmer, we probably would have swam anyway. The kitchen was well stocked with everything we needed. There are a lot of stairs, so this is not a good place for toddlers or older people. The only other negative comment was the lack of beach and pool toys. We purchased several chairs to use on the beach and left them in the garage for the next guests, so maybe they are still there. I would stay there again and love the area - quiet, safe and very family friendly.
Reviewed on Tuesday, January 27, 2009

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