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'The Great Escape'...Private Pool...Beach cottage...Steps to Beach!

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Pool
Pool
Your own private pool!
Exterior
Exterior detail

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8134.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Dryer
  • Washer

Explore the area

Map
Destin, FL
  • Henderson Beach State Park
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Emerald Coast Centre
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Destin Commons
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Destin, FL (DSI-Destin-Fort Walton Beach)
    ‪6 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bunk Room

+2
4 Single Beds and 2 Single Bunk Beds

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Second Master

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Master Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Outdoor Shower

Outdoor shower

Second Bath

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

'The Great Escape'...Private Pool...Beach cottage...Steps to Beach!

Newly renovated! Our charming Destin Florida Vacation Home is a three-bedroom cottage located in Destin's Crystal Beach community. We just installed brand new Luxury vinyl planks throughout our home and updated our kitchen with quartz countertops and stainless appliances.

Conveniently located just one and one-half blocks from the pristine Emerald Coast beach. It is an easy walk and there are no busy streets to cross. With 20-foot high vaulted ceilings and a retractable wall of glass overlooking our private pool, our home allows the outside to become part of your everyday living environment. Every room contains a ceiling fan and a 6-foot privacy fence surrounds the pool. Children and families are welcome. You have this darling home, private pool and grassy play area all to yourself. Named “The Great Escape”, you will find this vacation home to be a wonderful retreat for families and/or couples.

The contemporary decor and open floor plan allow you to relax in the comfort of our vacation home. The location is convenient to Destin Commons, the Fort Walton Airport, Big Kahuna Water Theme Park, and numerous restaurants and cafes within walking distance - including our favorite ice cream place- The Marble Slab.. This absolutely perfect vacation home comes with a king bed in the primary suite, a king size bed in the second bedroom and 2 sets of twin bunk beds in the third bedroom, which is perfectly suited for children! You will find the kitchen is equipped with everything you need and all the comforts of home. The floor plan is open and airy, with a spacious feeling. Don’t forget about your private pool and patio area complete with gas grill and patio table and chairs and lounge chairs. It's a wonderful escape from the beach. But, the Destin Florida beaches are the BEST!!! Your wonderful vacation can start with a day with shopping or golf, hit the beach or sit by the pool, you can complete your day with a fabulous meal. Whether you are in the mood to dress up and go out, or grill out by the pool, it is your choice. Our home is centrally located to a wide-range of activities for all ages. We are confident you will enjoy your 'Great Escape' Destin vacation as much as we do!


Keywords: Home

Property manager

Nancy Phinney
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Cleaning fee is $200
Pool heat is $150 per week (upon request)
Pet fee is $100 per pet/per week

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Destin

Located in Crystal Beach, a neighbourhood in Destin, this holiday home is near theme parks and near the beach. Destin Commons and Silver Sands Premium Outlets are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Destin Beaches and Henderson Beach State Park. Travelling with kids? Consider Big Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park and Fat Daddy's Arcade. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and horse riding nearby.
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Map
Destin, FL

What's nearby

  • Henderson Beach State Park - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Emerald Coast Centre - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Destin Commons - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • James Lee Park - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Big Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park - 5 min drive - 4.7 km

Getting around

  • Fort Walton Beach, FL (VPS-Northwest Florida Regional) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Chipotle Mexican Grill - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪LongHorn Steakhouse - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪World of Beer - ‬11 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Does 'The Great Escape'...Private Pool...Beach cottage...Steps to Beach! have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is 'The Great Escape'...Private Pool...Beach cottage...Steps to Beach! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at 'The Great Escape'...Private Pool...Beach cottage...Steps to Beach!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 'The Great Escape'...Private Pool...Beach cottage...Steps to Beach!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 'The Great Escape'...Private Pool...Beach cottage...Steps to Beach! located?

This family-friendly Destin holiday home is located near the beach, within a 10-minute walk of Henderson Beach State Park and Miramar Beach. Destin Beaches and Big Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 78 out of 91 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 91 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 91 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 91 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 91 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mike A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Escape is great!

Love the layout, can see the pool easily from inside the house. Pool clean and warm. Managers extremely prompt for small issues. Quickly resolved the same day. Very happy with our two week stay!
Stayed 14 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Escape!

Great Escape was amazing! Wonderful house and property. Love the back yard and pool. Close to the beach and lovely neighborhood. Had a great time!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tina S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Destin Get Away

Perfect size home with everything you need in a quiet neighborhood close to the beach. Any questions or concerns, the property manager was easily accessible. Close to the grocery store, shopping, and restaurants. We will definitely make this our vacation destination.
Stayed 14 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kevin W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Delightful

We loved our 10-day stay at Great Escape. We are an older couple (70 and 65) and we drove down from Chicago with our two beloved dogs (Marti and MJ). It's always a bit of a gamble booking on VRBO but the second we opened the front door, we knew we had hit the jackpot! The layout was just what we wanted - a long great room running the length of the house, with very high ceilings, and at the end of the room, sliding glass doors that opened to the delightful patio, pool, and fenced-in back yard. The master bedroom and bath opened off the great room and featured the same great view. The furniture was super comfortable and the TV setup was outstanding. The location was excellent for us - we walked to the beach and to a few of the local restaurants (Camilles and the Henderson Inn) and every night we walked Marti and MJ through the quiet streets of the neighborhood. We drove to various places around Destin and thought we were very centrally located. Nancy Phinney was an excellent host and answered all of our questions very promptly. We hope we can come back again next year!
Stayed 10 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Maria S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

We loved it we definitely come back
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jim M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect week

House was very clean and well maintained. Lacking nothing. Nicely decorated Had all the appliances and comforts of home. Everything worked well
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Second time

We love staying here. Great location and perfect house for my family and dog.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

Perfect place to stay. Very close to everything (shopping, food, grocery, beach, etc). The pictures on VRBO don’t do this place justice. It’s gorgeous and very spacious. Had tons of beach towels, beach umbrella, boogie boards, beach chairs, and more
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Casey R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very clean house and close to the beach

We had a wonderful time. The house was close enough to the beach for us to walk. When the beach was full we drove down to the state park. Very close to food places and shopping. The kids loved the pool and were in it nonstop.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mark J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great

We absolutely enjoyed our stay at the Great Escape! It was a perfect place for our family and the pool topped it off!! Great Location. Hopefully we can stay again soon. Only issue was the bathrooms need some TLC. Found hair around sink and clump of dog hair under kitchen table. Since you are paying for a cleaning service after each guest visit, wanted to make sure you are getting the service you are paying. Thanks again for a memorable vacation for our family.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Arlene H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spring Break 2024

Great Location, very comfortable home for Spring Break Enjoyed our stay Children had a great time Highly recommend
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bernadette M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family getaway

The property was a perfect size for our family with elder adults.. also being able to allow our 2 dogs was amazing. The pool and yard was perfect size. Neighborhood was quite and not busy which made it fanatic. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Destin vacation

The house is very well kept and has nearly anything you will need. We enjoyed the pool tremendously
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Taylor G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Summer Relaxation

We enjoyed our stay here. The location is great for being close to stores, the mall, and the beach. Quiet neighborhood. We came here a long time ago and enjoyed returning.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kayla L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Great Escape is wonderful!

We really enjoyed our stay at The Great Escape! The house was very spacious and cleaned very well. We loved the pool in the backyard. It was close to town, but also not too far from the beach. We would love to come back one day!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shane R., Atlanta, GA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Home!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Great Escape. The home was clean and well stocked. Very close to the beach, shopping and restaurants. Quiet neighborhood. We will be back!!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dolores S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

It truly was a great escape

Me and my family (teenagers and grandma) stayed for 5 days and it was truly the best vacation ever. The house was so peaceful and you could feel the love the owners put into it. It was perfect. The pool was wonderful, the beds slept great, the walk to the beach was so relaxing and short... there was so much room for us. And everything was so close...I could go on and on but everything was wonderful. It was much needed R&R and we honestly didn't want to leave. The beach is really the only thing that was crazy. Most of the beach is private for the condominiums and the small public area was packed, but it wasn't something that would make me not come back... the house made the vacation. Thank you to the owners for having us. ❤️
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heather J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

50th Birthday celebration

Our 4th trip to the Great Escape. Our go to for a relaxing retreat
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Raymond B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing House and Location

From the location to the house to the pool, everything was fantastic. The host was very prompt with answering questions and was also very accommodating. If you are looking for a great neighborhood to stay while in Destin, this house is for you. You will love staying here as we did!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Donna J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay with small dogs

The house is somewhat dated in the kitchen & bathrooms. However the location and the pool were perfect. We have 2 small dogs so the fenced in back yard was perfect. Kitchen & pantry well stocked so we made almost every meal ourselves. Close proximity to Publix, Starbucks and Whole Foods. Beach is block away and was stunning. Properly management extremely responsive and timely. We will definitely be back !!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Angelique N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great escape for sure

This house was very clean and cozy. The pool was perfect for being in the water since we missed the crystal waters at the beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maura P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely perfect

The house was exactly what we needed! Great size and GREAT location. A super quick drive to shops & restaurants and just a quick walk to the beach. The home was equipped with what we needed & the private pool in the back yard was a nice treat. The hosts were friendly & communicative. We would definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

John W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Communication…..

Was texted by property mgr that people were coming in on Tuesday to replace handle of sliding door. Company came in with boxes of blinds to replace. I said the msg I got said you were replacing handle. Never hear back on this! Told mgr Monday the queen bedroom the wheels on the bed were cracked and response was thanks for letting me know (never fixed). Thursday morning reached out saying microwave died never received a response!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

John K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice home

Its a very nice home ..love the pool and fenced in back yard
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Laura R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Experienced renter with an honest review

Overall we had a good trip and a nice stay. My family has rented 6 beach rentals in different cities so I feel like we are "experienced" renters. Positives: The house is bright, sunny, and private. Beds were comfy. The backyard is its best selling point. The pool isn't huge, but it didn't hinder our fun. The location of the house is great for all shopping and restaurants. A few things out of anyone's control - helicopter tours are constant so loud helicopters fly over nearly every 10-15 minutes. Also, the house next door was under construction so there was a lot of hammering and people walking by the house all day. There's lots of beachfront hotels and you have to walk pretty far down the beach to get to a place that isn't private and blocked off. Negatives: 1) I inquired whether or not there were more toilet paper rolls in the house. Property manager said something to the effect of this is not a hotel and you have to provide your own. I thought this response was a little rude when a simple, you need to provide your own would have sufficed. This is the first rental we have been in where toilet paper wasn't provided for the week. People come from out of town and often shop for these types of trips in advance to avoid having to shop upon arrival. I think it would be nice to be made aware in advance that you only get a starter kit of things like toilet paper (2), paper towels (1), and kitchen trash bags (1). For the price of the rental, I'm genuinely shocked something as inexpensive as toilet paper wasn't provided. 2) Only one key to the house was provided. This is insufficient when the house sleeps so many people. It is conceivable that multiple families are staying and not everybody is doing the same things at the same time. Something like a Ring device with a key code would be more convenient. 3) Beach towels were provided, but we were often doing laundry because we swam all day and towels stayed wet. A prior Ormond beach rental had something like 20-30 towels for the same size house. This is extremely high and I'm certainly not expecting that, but I think more than what was there would have been nice. 4) The kitchen was lacking a few random things that we needed. I would have liked a whisk and oven mitts instead of pot holders. Not enough microwave safe cookware was provided and I burned myself taking a ceramic plate out of the microwave. 5) Binder didn't provide enough info on how how to use amenities (tv, list of channels)
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

About the host

Hosted by Nancy Phinney

Host profile image
Welcome to The Great Escape! This is our home away from home. We built this house in 1998 when we were living in Boston, MA and needed a place to 'escape' to. We found Destin. Most of our family and friends had not heard of Destin and thought we crazy to be building a vacation home so far away. They also thought it would be impossible to rent and manage from so far away. Well, 17 successful years later we're still at it and loving it. We get down to Destin a few times every year; although it is never enough and the visits are too short! Destin is like an addiction! We just want to go back for more. And, the more we talk to people, we learn we're not the only ones who feel this way. People have been going to Destin year after year - for 15-20 years or more! We love Destin, the people, the incredible beaches and the wonderful memories we build with each trip. We've had over 100 families stay at the Great Escape and many return each year. As a mother of 13 year old twins and a nine year old, our lives are extremely busy and I look forward to our weekly vacation each year. We strive to make The Great Escape a wonderful, relaxing experience for all of our guests and are sure you will enjoy it, and Destin, as much as we do. We look forward to having you visit!

Why they chose this property

The Great Escape is a retreat from your everyday life. It is equipped with everything you need - you just have to show up and relax! We are within walking distance to shopping, restaurants and of course the beach! The private back yard allows you to entertain friends or enjoy the peace. You choose! Coffee in your jammies by your own private pool or cocktails at night - the choice is yours!

What makes this property unique

Our home is just that - a home. We have decorated as a home and it comes equipped with everything you will need to enjoy your vacation. We provide all linens, inlcuding beach towels! We also have pool toys and beach toys for you to use. If you're traveling with small kids, leave the pack 'n play and booster seat at home - we've got both at our place for you to use!

Languages:

English

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