How to pick the perfect vacation rental in Gulf Shores

Located along the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores’ warm waters and tropical weather offers year-round opportunities in Alabama for enjoying the beach, fishing, golfing, and relaxing in general. Visit one of Gulf Shores’ nine public beaches for the perfect sandcastle making sand and warm waters, or check out one of the many golf courses located inland. Checkout the ultimate live music experience at Hangout Music Fest or take the kids to see the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo—no matter what you choose, you can’t go wrong.

Follow these tips to help you pick the perfect Gulf Shores vacation rental for your travel plans.

1. Where to stay to enjoy the beach. Visitors can enjoy Gulf Shores’ warm waters year-round, making the white sand beaches a popular hangout spot no matter the season. Gulf Shores boasts nine public beaches along Beach Boulevard. Gulf Shores Public Beach is one of the most popular choices for both couples, singles, and families. More adventurous visitors may want to look further north, and stay near Gulf State Park near Orange Beach.
2. Where to stay to go golfing. There are a total of nine signature golf clubs across Gulf Shores, as well as a state-owned 18-hole course. To enjoy the golfing industry, visitors will want to stay further inland, like in the Craft Farms neighborhood to be near the Craft Farms golf resorts or south of Highway 59 near the Gulf Coast Golf Club.
3. Where to stay near the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Located just off Highway 59, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is home to over 500 animals and was featured on Animal Planet. Stay near the zoo to also be near a wider variety of shops and restaurants, including King Neptune’s Seafood Restaurant and Drunken Shrimp.
4. Where to stay for Hangout Music Festival. The annual three-day music festival is hosted in Gulf Shores in May. It’s hosted on Gulf Shores Public Beach, right behind the Hangout restaurant it’s named after, so attendees should look for condos or houses near that area. Some nearby options include West Beach, just a 10-minute walk from the festival, and condos close to the Gulf State Park Pier. There are shuttle buses that run during the festival and deliver most festival-goers to and from their condos each day.
5. How to choose your own Gulf Shores rental experience. For Gulf Shores visitors in town just for fun in the sun, stick to condos right across the street from the ocean—but be aware that rentals without direct beach access will require you to walk to certain out of the way public beach accesses. To get a more well-rounded vacation and be near more shopping and restaurants, stay within walking distance of the intersection of Highway 59 and the beach road where second and third tier houses and some condo properties can be rented.