How To Plan a Week Long Beach Stay

Introduction

When vacation time rolls around, make sure you're ready to enjoy every moment of your beach stay. Choosing to go to the beach for your time off holds promise of sun, sand and surf. But if you don't make plans well in advance, you may be disappointed in your accomodations. Good planning also helps you save money on rentals or hotel fees, leaving more disposable cash to spent on enjoyable beach-style fun. In many regions, the best time to start planning is one year to six months before your vacation.

Step 1

As soon as you know what dates you have free for next summer's vacation, begin searching for a rental home or condominium at your favorite beach towns. In many popular locations, all the summer rentals are fully booked by January or February, so if you want to be assured of a beach stay, make your calls as early as possible. Look online for the local rental agencies. Booking agents often have photos of the property for you to review and include information like how many blocks the place is from the waterfront.

Step 2

Ask friends, family and co-workers to give you recommendations of their favorite places for a beach stay. They may be able to tell you about private houses or cottages that are perfect for the occasion, but are never listed with an agent. Be prepared to pay a little more for a full week's stay at one of these sites; folks who only rent their home out for a few weeks during the year may charge higher prices than your run-of-the-mill rental. Have your checkbook ready to send a considerable deposit, as these private owners probably are not set up to accept debit or credit cards

Step 3

Consider spending your week-long beach stay at a hotel or a resort instead of going to a traditional rental property. Having hotel staff take care of the housekeeping is an added bonus for your vacation. You don't have to worry about security, bringing enough towels or spending the whole last day of your vacation tidying and scrubbing to make sure you get your cleaning deposit back. Many beach hotels and resorts offer a wide range of activities for the whole family in addition to basic accommodations.

Step 4

Determine what your meal plans will be for the entire vacation week. Part of the fun in a beach stay is having wonderful food and plenty of snacks. If you are renting a house for your beach stay, check what type of cookware and utensils are provided, in case you want to bring along any special items like a pancake griddle or waffle iron. Check to see if there is an outdoor grill. Leave room in your meal planning schedule to eat out several times. Memories of your beach stay should include at least one or two great meals at local diners, cafes or restaurants that feature regional cuisine.

Step 5

Verify what the amenities are at the rental, hotel or resort where you will be spending your vacation. Check if there are laundry facilities. This will influence whether you need to pack clothing for the whole week or if you can pack lightly and plan to do a wash mid-week. Ask whether there is a game console -- and what type -- and if there is a DVD player or other entertainment equipment. If there happens to be a rainy day or two during your beach stay, you'll know whether you can stay indoors and play, or if you should plan to go to the movies and indoor attractions in the area.

Tips

Don't forget your camera. Take photos of the places you visit and the fun things your family does during the beach stay so that you can cherish the memories for years to come.

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