A recent comment on our Facebook page asked that questions – Who IS Your Friend at The Beach? As a former journalism major, I was taught not just to answer WHO – but when, where, what and why?
Who?
I started Your Friend at The Beach (YFAB) in 2005. I decided after years of renting my condos through large companies I wanted to take care of my own condos and my own guests. I truly thought I could do it better and offer customized service. As my four children went off to college, I used the skill set of being a mom to “take care” of our condos and our guests. I named my company “Condos on 30A” but quickly changed it when a guest who had just completed a week at one of my gulf-front condos asked if I made everyone feel like I was their friend at the beach? I do – and that became my mission statement and my new company name. I want to be the friend who thinks of every detail from supplying the pack and play for the little ones to surprising guests with a bottle of wine when they arrive. I want to be there to greet you and I have had the pleasure of watching the little ones grow from toddlers to teens as “friends” return year after year.
Where?
The condos I manage, along with my team, are located on the Emerald Coast of Florida – most of our twenty-five luxury beachfront condos are on 30A. Where is 30A? It is fifteen seaside villages in South Walton County. Each one is as unique as its name. In Blue Mountain Beach, YFAB has fourteen condos at Adagio, nine gulf fronts with four bedrooms directly on the Gulf of Mexico. At Adagio, we also have five pool fronts that are three bedrooms and just steps to the beach. The pool that they surround is an 8,000-square foot pool surrounded by palm trees, umbrella-shaded tables and lounge chairs in abundance.
Less than two miles from Adagio, is San Remo condos. San Remo sits on the south side of 30A and has magnificent views of the gulf. Our guests with smaller families appreciate the choice of two and three bedrooms condos that still have beach views, a large pool with lap lane, hot tub and a less than 100-yard walk to the sand.
Are there more condos you manage? Yes. Villa Coyaba in the Crystal Beach area of Destin combines the convenience of being close to attractions like Big Kahuna’s Water Park and the Destin Commons Shopping and Restaurant complex with a private beach with beach chair service included. Villa Coyaba has the same four-bedroom layout at Adagio but with just 32 condos sharing the beach, you’ll have plenty of room to stretch your toes in the sand.
Who have we become?
We are a boutique rental management who has chosen to remain small, taking on only the most upscale condos and treating each one as if it were our own. To do that, I have the help of Larry Snyder. Larry joined YFAB five years ago and he oversees all housekeeping, maintenance and leads the technology. Our free app YFAB is a result of Larry’s diligent efforts to put all the answers to our friend’s questions in the palm of their hand! While we are not the only one with an app, our app is the most used because we only put restaurants, events and activities that we personally would tell our friends. Download YFAB and discover the difference.
How are we different? Why does all this matter?
From the first email or telephone call, we want to assure you that you have found the perfect beach getaway for your family. We provide high chairs, pack and plays, well-stocked kitchens and 100% cotton sheets and towels. We check each condo before you arrive and call you if it is ready before the 4 p.m. check in. Just like a friend would do!
As you enter each condo, you will find special welcome gifts – a beach towel in case you forgot, coffee for your first morning and a bottle of wine to toast your first sunset at the beach. In recent years, we have added more services with our Concierge at the Beach, Tori Fox Stapleton. Yes, my daughter, Tori, grew up helping me clean condos, babysit our friend’s children and now helps YFAB with her skill as an event planner and social media whiz. She can arrange to have your groceries delivered before you arrive, get a sitter for a night out or deliver a crib for the baby too big for a pack and play.
When is the best time to visit Destin and 30A area?
That answer is as diverse as the friends that visit us. For families with children and school schedules, summer is a popular time with warm gulf temperatures, a myriad of local activities to choose from such as paddle boarding on the dune lakes or fishing in one of our storied Destin fishing charters. Young families and retired couples like to visit in the fall when the temperatures and water are still delightful. They also find the rates lower and some fall festivals like the Destin Seafood Festival in October and the Watercolor Film Festival in November. If you enjoy golf, you can visit year-round, but you can escape from the winter cold up north to find sweater-only weather on the gulf and tennis courts in December, January and February.
But the real answer to why we do, what we do is simple. That’s what friends are for. Check back in the next month and find out just what last minute specials YFAB offers for their friends at the beach. Visit our website to let us help you plan your next beach vacation.www.YourFriendAtTheBeach.com And we’d be grateful if you’d “like” us on Facebook.