(June 18, 2010) - As the Deepwater Horizon incident continues to focus travelers’ attentions on the U.S. Gulf Coast, experts from the Discover Vacation Homes awareness initiative share a list of updates and assurances in anticipation of summertime beach trips across the southeast.

Following is the latest news of interest to Gulf Coast vacation rental visitors this summer. For more information on vacation rental travel, or to connect directly with professional vacation rental companies along America’s southeastern shores and beyond, visit http://www.DiscoverVacationHomes.com:

- ANNA MARIA ISLAND, FLA. –
The shores remain powdery white on the West Central coast of Florida, where Island Real Estate (http://www.IslandReal.com) is relaxing their vacation rental cancellation policy in the unlikely event that oil impacts Anna Maria Island beaches. If so, the company will return guests’ funds in full. Island Real Estate also offers a last-minute discount of up to 20 percent off the company’s website rates when reserved within 30 days of arrival. The company is continually updating its blog (http://blog.IslandReal.com) as new information arrives, including postings of photos and YouTube videos that show area activities, birds, beach views and more.

- FORT MYERS BEACH, FLA. -
The white sand beaches of Florida’s west coast are pristine and open for business, and Fort Myers vacation rental company Lahaina Island Accommodations (http://www.BeachFloridaRentals.com) is offering a $50 gift certificate for any June or July reservations. The company has also implemented a "White Sand Guarantee,” which assures guests that if the beaches are closed during travelers’ dates of stay due to public safety concerns related to the oil spill, Lahaina will issue a refund for the vacation rental less a nominal reservation fee. Lahaina’s guests with current reservations are able to change their stays to alternative dates without penalty or blackout dates (note: price differentials may be in effect). The company is also providing ongoing updates on the situation via their website and blog (http://www.VacationInFortMyersBeach.com).

- GALVESTON, TEXAS -
Texas’ shores are clear and open for fishing, swimming and other water activities, and at this time, oil is not predicted to reach the Galveston Island coastline. West Galveston Island vacation rental management company Sand 'N Sea Properties (http://www.SandNSea.com) guarantees that if beaches are closed due to the oil spill, guests can choose to change their reservations to an alternative date, to cancel their reservation for a full refund (including cancellation fee), or if Galveston beaches are closed during a guests' stay, any unused portion of the stay will be refunded. Travelers can view a live webcam of the current beach view, streaming online at Galveston.com & Company, Inc. (http://www.galveston.com/seawallcam).

- GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. -
Alabama Gulf Shores/Orange Beach vacation rental company Kaiser Realty, Inc. (http://www.KaiserRealty.com) is working hard to let vacationers across the country know the true, daily facts about the conditions of the Alabama Gulf Coast by posting daily updates, photos and YouTube videos online (http://www.SeeGulfShores.KaiserRealty.com). Kaiser is also providing a Kaiser Realty Guarantee & Promise throughout this occurrence, which ensures that if guests are affected by the oil spill during their stay, any unused portion of their visit will be refunded. While Kaiser encourages visitors to experience the beach’s beauty for themselves, they will refund guests’ entire trip if requested, including deposit and cancellation fee.

Visitors are also offered a variety of Gulf Shores travel specials all summer long, including Hot Deals with beachfront condos starting at $99/night, Children’s Fun Packs with tickets to water and amusement parks, as well as concert specials for upcoming music events across the area. Specific beach homes and condos also have their own sweet deals, all of which can be found online. Travelers can connect with Kaiser Realty on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/kaiserrealty) and Twitter @(KaiserRealty) for ongoing updates about conditions of the oil spill and vacation rentals along the Alabama Gulf Coast. C’mon and have a ball with us!

- MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST -
One of the Southeast United States’ leading vacation rental management companies, Sterling Resorts (http://www.SterlingResorts.com), is offering a 100 percent Clean Beach Booking Guarantee for its vacation properties along the gulf coast in both Mississippi and northwest Florida. This promises that if the beaches are closed due to the oil spill, Sterling Resorts will refund guests’ money or reschedule their visit for another time. Additional updates as the company closely monitors the situation are also provided on the company’s Facebook Page (http://www.Facebook.com/SterlingResorts).

- NORTHWEST FLORIDA -
St. George Island vacation rental specialists, Collins Vacation Rentals (http://www.CollinsVacationRentals.com), reports no impact from the Gulf Oil spill on this pet-friendly barrier island located near Apalachicola Bay. In fact, the company is offering discounts of up to 20 percent off a weekly stay during the summer season, also noting that select properties are available to reserve four nights and receive the fifth night for free. In the event of confirmed oil contamination of area beaches, the company will issue a 100% refund of all monies paid toward a guest's reservation. If oil contamination occurs while guests are on-location, Collins Vacation Rentals will issue a prorated refund. As the beaches remain clean and untouched at present, guests who decide to cancel before any beach contamination will be referred to the company's Rental Policies in effect at the time of their booking. Guests may also choose to pay their balance due when they arrive, rather than 30 days prior. The company's Vacation Planners are committed to working something out for each guest’s needs. Visit Collins Vacation Rentals on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/CollinsVacationRentalsFB) for ongoing updates, or sign up for their e-newsletter to receive weekly updates.

The island of Perdido Key has also remained unaffected by the Gulf oil spill, notes Perdido Key Resort Management (http://www.PerdidoKeyResortManagement), which offers vacation rentals in this western-most part of the Florida coastline. The company has posted new pictures and video at www.perdidokeyflorida.com/blog.aspx and the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce has added a link to a live webcam at http://www.visitperdido.com/edencam.htm on their site, which not only shows that the beach looks great, but also that there is no oil in the water. In an effort to put vacation rental guests’ minds at ease, the company has relaxed their cancellation policy and is offering incentives for guests to keep their reservation or make new ones. Guests who have reservations scheduled to arrive within the next three weeks who wish to cancel are receiving a full refund of their booking deposit. Those beyond three weeks who call are being informed of the temporary policy to put their minds at ease as well. If Perdido Key's beaches are closed, the company will give guests whose reservations are affected the choice of coming for a reduced rate or cancelling with a full refund of their booking deposit. Several guests who have reserved beachfront properties have requested that if the area is affected, that the option be made available to switch to an off-beachfront property called the Purple Parrot Village Resort, which features a huge 150,000 gallon outdoor pool with tiki bar and live music. This too is a concession the company is making in an effort to ensure that they take care of guests as best as we are able given the circumstances, in addition to a "Book six nights and get the seventh night free" special.

With vacation rental options from Mexico Beach to Cape San Blas and Indian Pass, Pristine Properties Vacation Rentals (http://www.VisitFloridaBeaches.com) is offering last-minute specials of five to 20 percent off, with the available booking window ranging from 20 days out as soon as 24 hours. Additionally, if Gulf County and/or Mexico Beach shores are closed due to the oil spill, guests can choose to change their reservations to an alternative date, to move their reservation to an alternative beach property unaffected by oil or to cancel their stay with a full refund, including a waiver of the cancellation fee. If such a closure occurs during a guests' stay, any unused portion of their visit will be refunded. Travelers can stay up-to-date with videos, photos, live webcam views and more by visiting Pristine Properties online, as well as on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/PristinePropertiesFB).

A “Best Deal at the Beach” promotion is available for vacation rentals throughout the Northwest Florida coast by Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals (http://www.SouthernResorts.com), who also posts daily YouTube video updates to their homepage, including footage of the day’s beach view and interviews with local fishermen, among others. A Southern Perks plan also provides guests with complimentary benefits like free dolphin cruise tickets and more. Travelers can view streaming beach webcams on Southern Resorts’ website and can sign up for newsletter updates.

The aforementioned Sterling Resorts is additionally offering $100 off per night on all condos in the company’s Laketown Wharf property in Panama City Beach, Fla., through June 6, 2010. The company will also be featured in an on-air promotion this June with The Ann Varnum Show, offering travelers the chance to win a $50 gas card upon booking a minimum stay of three nights. Four winners will be chosen, with one Grand Prize winner to receive a gas card and a two-night stay at one of Sterling Resorts’ 19 condominiums in Destin, Fla. In addition, Sterling Resorts is offering a Sterling Discount card to all its guests, who can present this card at participating businesses to receive discounts on services and products in the Destin and Panama City area.

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ABOUT DISCOVER VACATION HOMES
Discover Vacation Homes is the trusted public voice and an expert resource on behalf of the professionally managed vacation rental industry. As the awareness initiative of the long-standing Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA), it represents approximately 150,000 rental homes, condos and villas from more than 500 of the most well established vacation rental management companies in North America and the Caribbean. Often costing less than other lodging alternatives, vacation rentals afford travelers an accommodations lifestyle unlike any other, providing considerably more space, amenities, guest services and privacy.

Media Contact:
Amanda Drake
Ypartnership
(407) 838-1829
Amanda.Drake@ypartnership.com