Guest Services

Guest Pre-Arrival Information

As your Gulf Coast vacation approaches, we hope you will find the pre-arrival information listed below helpful in planning for your vacation:

Check-In & Check-Out Information:

Check-In Location
The office location at which you will check-in is listed at the top of your Vacation Rental Lease Agreement. Unless otherwise noted, the following are the office address for check-in:

Simmons Bayou Office: 2010 SR 30 A Port St Joe, FL 32456 / 800-450-5116 / vacation@gulfcoastvacationrentals.com

Check-In Time
Simmons Bayou Office: 5:00 pm EST
Mexico Beach Office: 5:00 pm EST
Due to high volumes of turns, we can not promise early check-in time in the summer. If another member of your group will be arriving first, they are welcome to pick up the keys with prior consent. They will be asked to provide the front desk with the name of the leaseholder and the name of the property in which you are staying.

Check-Out Time
Simmons Bayou Office: 10:00 am EST
Mexico Beach Office: 10:00 am EST
Departure instructions are in the welcome packet guests receive at check-in. Please return keys to your check-in office by 11:00 am EST. Each office has an After-Hours Exchange box for early departures.

Late Arrivals
For late arrivals, please call our office if you will be arriving after-hours. Your check-in packet with keys and directions to your vacation home will be left in the After-Hours Exchange box if your balance is paid in full and we have your signed lease. These boxes are located beside each office's main entrance door. We offer an After-Hours emergency telephone number for anything needing our immediate attention - (850) 340-1903.

Vacation Home Information:
To ensure your comfort, Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals requires all properties to be furnished with a variety of amenities. Please refer to the property's page on our website for the exact amenities offered. Should you have additional questions, please contact our office and we will be happy to assist you.

We recommend you bring the following items when planning for your Gulf Coast vacation:

Paper Products (Paper Towels, Napkins, Trash Bags, etc.)

Cleaning Supplies (Soap, Detergent, Cleaning Spray, etc.)

Toiletry Products (Shampoo, Toilet Paper, Bath Soap, etc.)

Beach Supplies (Beach Chairs, Beach Towels, Sun Tan Lotion, etc.)

Kitchen Supplies (Spices, Condiments, Cooking Oil, Specialty Cooking items, etc.)

Baby Equipment (Cribs, Pack 'n Play, High Chair, Baby Gates, etc.)

Renter Responsibility
You are REQUIRED to leave the property in the same general condition that you received it. Make sure that dishes are washed, garbage is removed from house to trash receptacles, and the home is generally picked up and ready to be cleaned. If additional cleaning is required, or rearranging of furniture that you have moved, appropriate charges will added to your reservation. All waste must be placed securely in the marked cans provided. Make note of the waste designation for each can to be picked up by Garbage Company.

Cape San Blas, St. Joe Beach, Port St Joe, Indian Pass Area:
Off Season - Mondays by 7:00am EST
Summer Season - Saturdays and Mondays by 7:00am EST.

Mexico Beach Area:
Off Season: Mondays by 6:00am CST

If any waste is not placed in the destignated area for pick up, additional fees may be charged to your reservation.  Do not overfill the waste cans where trash is accessible by animals or weather. If there is a mess made because the trash can was not secured or there is trash over-full, you may be charged up to $250 for the cleanup up. If the waste can is full or have any questions regarding cleaning departure or trash, please contact the office at 800-450-5116.

Vacation Home Telephone
The vacation home telephone number can be found on your Rental Agreement. All homes have a long distance block unless otherwise advertised. Any unauthorized long distance calls charged to the vacation home telephone will be billed to the leaseholder. Please be advised that cell phone coverage is limited in many of the immediate areas surrounding our properties.

Time Zone
A unique feature of visiting our area is being in two different time zones – Eastern & Central. Due to being so close to different time zones, sometimes clocks on electronic devises change to reflect the nearest time zone. This can cause some issues with knowing the correct time. The time zone for each local area is listed below:
Eastern Time Zone: Beacon Hill, St. Joe Beach, Port St Joe, C-30, Indian Pass, & Cape San Blas
Central Time Zone: Mexico Beach

Bed & Bath Linens
Bed and bath linens are provided for all our reservations. Beds, except trundles, top bunks, futons, rollaways, and sleeper sofas, are made the day of arrival. Each home provides one bath towel, one washcloth, and one hand towel per sleeping capacity of advertised beds, one bath mat for each full bathroom, one hand towel per half bath, two kitchen towels, and two dish cloths.

Housekeeping & Maintenance
Your rental home will be carefully inspected before your arrival and upon your departure, but unintentional oversights can and do occur. We have housekeeping and maintenance staff that will be available for any issues or concerns that happen during your stay. Our offices are open seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and we offer an After-Hours emergency telephone number for anything needing our immediate attention – (850) 340-1903.

Pets
Pets are welcome to stay in any Rental Home that is designated Pet Friendly. If you decide to bring your pet, please contact any of our offices to update your reservation. A non-refundable charge of $100 + tax for each pet will be added to the total cost of your reservation. A maximum of two pets are allowed in the Rental Home unless otherwise advertised or with Homeowner consent. Some homes note specific restrictions regarding the size or type of pet, and additional charges may apply. On all Gulf County beaches, with the exception of St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, pets on leashes are more than welcome to take their owners for a walk. Despite the leash law, dogs can still have fun! Be sure to bring a long lead leash so both you and your pets can be active.

Travel Insurance
Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals has contracted with CSA, Inc. to offer Trip Insurance which can protect your vacation investment against hurricane evacuations, and other unforeseen circumstances that could cause cancellation of your trip and forfeiture of payment. The insurance covers trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay, emergency medical transportation, and 24 hours emergency assistance. Travel Insurance is available for purchase until your last payment is made. For questions about Travel Insurance, description of coverage, or to make a claim, please contact CSA, Inc. at (866) 999-4018 and refer to partner code GULFCVAC.

No Trace Ordinance
Our Beaches are known as truly a vacation paradise, and named the best beach in America (2002) by Dr. Beach. We want to keep it that way for the enjoyment of everyone! For this reason, the "Leave No Trace" ordinance was issued for Gulf County beaches in 2015. Simply put: Anything you brought to the beach with you should also leave the beach with you. Anything left on the beach overnight could be cleared off the beach by the time you return in the morning. Please do your part to protect and maintain our beaches.

BEACH DRIVING IS ONLY PERMISSIBLE BY PERMIT FOR GULF COUNTY RESIDENTS AND/OR PROPERTY OWNERS. For more details, and the latest updates on Gulf County's Leave No Trace ordinance, visit this website: VisitGulf.com/Leave-No-Trace.