Destin Vacation Rentals by Sarah

My name is Sarah, and I’m the writer, photographer, and creator of this site. I also personally manage 4 vacation rentals for owners who are friends of mine. All 4 are located on beautiful Holiday Isle in Destin, Florida.

Because I only manage four rentals, you get truly personalized attention from me before, during, and after your stay. That’s a big difference from booking through a large rental company that may be juggling hundreds or even thousands of properties.

When you stay at one of the rentals I manage, I’m always available to help with planning your trip and anything you might need while you’re here. My response time is always under an hour (usually much faster), and I truly care that you have an amazing time in Destin. If there’s something you need and it’s within my ability to help, I’ll always do my best to make it happen.

Below, you’ll find a description of each vacation rental I manage so you can find the one that’s the best fit for your stay.

If you’d like pricing and details about direct booking to save fees, feel free to email me at sarah@thegoodlifedestin.com. Please don’t message me through the Airbnb platform asking about direct booking, as those conversations aren’t allowed there and I can get banned if I answer those messagaes. It is fine to discuss direct booking on my own platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and by email.

Direct bookings are paid via Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, or check.

Daylight Condo at the Islander Resort with Pool and Hot Tub

Daylight is a ground-floor condo at the Islander Resort on Holiday Isle in Destin, Florida that sleeps up to six guests, and it’s located in one of the most convenient spots on the property. From the back patio, you can walk straight out onto a grassy lawn and head directly to the private beach gate or turn the other direction to reach one of the resort’s pools and hot tubs, both just steps away. There are no stairs, no elevators, and no long walks, and you can park right in front of the unit, making arrivals, beach days, and unloading a breeze.

The Islander Resort offers private beach access, 2 pools and 2 hot tubs, tennis courts, pickleball courts, shuffleboard, a fitness center, and seasonal family activities. These often include lawn arts and crafts, poolside movie nights, live music in the evenings, and sandcastle-building fun for kids. The year-round heated pool is just steps from Daylight, which makes this a great option in any season.

This condo was my dad’s home, and over the winter I thoughtfully refreshed and updated the space with care and intention. I spent several weeks staying here myself, making sure it was equipped with everything I would want as a guest, focusing on comfort, functionality, and the small details that make a stay feel easy and welcoming. Daylight is the place where I’ve had the freedom to be especially hands-on, and it reflects the care and attention I bring to hosting.

The condo is named Daylight, inspired by a line from a Taylor Swift song that has always resonated with me: “Step into the daylight and let it go.” Even if you’re not a Swiftie, the sentiment fits this space perfectly. With its bright, colorful, and playful touches, Daylight is designed to feel like a cheerful coastal escape the moment you walk in.

Unit features include:

• Ground-floor, walk-out patio
• Closest unit to the beach gate at the Islander
• Steps to the pool and hot tub
• One pool heated year-round (located next to the unit)
• Private beach access
• Park directly in front of the unit
• Fully stocked kitchen
• Comfortable, thoughtfully updated interiors
• Easy access to all resort amenities

Daylight is ideal for guests who want the fastest possible access to the beach and pool, paired with a space that’s been carefully prepared to feel relaxed, welcoming, and fun.

The listing for Daylight will be finished and open for booking starting February 1st, 2026, so check back for the link

Pelicamp Condo on Destin Harbor with Pool

Pelicamp is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom corner condo at Dolphin Point in Destin, Florida, and it comfortably sleeps up to six guests. It’s located in a gated community on Holiday Isle, just a short walk to the beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.

The private, gated beach access is reserved exclusively for Holiday Isle owners and their guests, which helps keep this stretch of beach quieter and less crowded.

The Dolphin Point complex features a newly updated heated pool area, tennis and pickleball courts, and a kayak and paddleboard launch on the harbor (bring your own equipment; rentals are not available on site). There is also water taxi pickup spot steps from the unit, making it easy to get to Destin Harbor without worrying about parking.

Unit features include:

• Private balcony with harbor views
• Short walk to the private beach gate
• Cable TV plus the option to log in to your own streaming apps
• Fully stocked kitchen
• Drip coffee maker, Keurig, and electric tea kettle
• Heated pool access
• Harbor beach area
• Four beach chairs, umbrella, and a wagon for guest use
• Sand toys for kids

…and more thoughtful touches to make your stay comfortable and easy…

The owner of Pelicamp is my friend Beth, who lives in the Dallas, Texas area. She’s a mom of 3 and a grandma of 7, and this condo has been part of their family’s traditions in Destin for many years. As the grandkids have grown and visits have become less frequent, she’s chosen to share the condo with guests looking to create their own family memories and traditions here. I’m honored that she trusted me to care for and manage such a special place.

Pelicamp is listed here on Airbnb: Pelicamp Vacation Rental

Emerald Finn Townhouse on Destin Harbor with Boat Slip and Dock

Emerald Finn is a beautiful four-bedroom canal-front home that sleeps up to ten guests and is located on Holiday Isle in Destin, tucked along a quiet canal just off Destin Harbor. It offers a unique and peaceful setting where boats pass by at eye level and the water always feels very close.

One of the standout features of this home is the private 32-foot boat slip with a boat lift, making it an excellent choice for guests traveling with a boat. Having a dedicated slip and lift right outside the back door adds a level of convenience that’s hard to beat, especially for longer stays or boating-focused trips.

Guests can easily walk to O’Steen Beach and the jetties, a popular snorkeling area, as well as Norriego Point Park, all without needing to find or pay for parking. It’s also walkable to the private Holiday Isle beach gate, offering easy access to the Gulf side when you want a classic beach day.

Inside, the home has been fully renovated with fresh, thoughtful updates throughout. The owners have put a lot of care into creating a space that feels comfortable, welcoming, and well-equipped for families and groups. With both a lower patio and an upper patio, there are multiple outdoor areas to relax and enjoy the canal views, morning coffee, or evenings after a day on the water.

The owners of this home are Tim and Debra, who were actually past guests of mine. They vacationed here with their family a few years ago, fell in love with the Holiday Isle neighborhood, and eventually purchased this home nearby. After experiencing my hosting first hand as guests, they reached out and asked me to manage this property, which I was honored to do.

Unit features include:

• Canal-front location on Holiday Isle
• Private 32-foot boat slip with boat lift
• Sleeps up to 10 guests
• Four bedrooms
• Lower and upper outdoor patios
• Fully renovated interiors
• Walkable access to O’Steen Beach, the jetties, and Norriego Point
• Easy walk to the Holiday Isle private beach gate
• Fully stocked kitchen
• Comfortable, thoughtfully furnished living spaces

This home is ideal for guests who want the convenience of boating, a quieter waterfront setting, and a beautifully updated place to gather with family or friends.

The listing for Emerald Finn will be finished and open for booking starting February 1st, 2026, so check back for the link

Destin-ation Townhouse on Destin Harbor with boat dock

Destin-ation is a 4-bedroom, harbor-front home in Destin that sleeps up to 8 guests and sits directly on Destin Harbor, with water views from the living room and multiple outdoor spaces. From the backyard, you’re looking straight across the harbor to Marina Café and Boshamps, with HarborWalk Village just to the left. Fireworks light up the sky regularly during the season, and the views from the yard and upper patio are especially beautiful in the evenings.

The backyard at Destin-ation is sandy and waterfront, making it a great setup for families who want space to relax and play while staying right on the harbor. There is 18 feet of dock space, which is ideal for smaller boats. Larger boats can also work by parking perpendicular and tying off using the side anchors. The dock can also be used for water taxi pickup, with service coming directly to the house.

Location is one of Destin-ation’s biggest highlights. It’s just a short walk to O’Steen Beach and the jetties, a popular snorkeling area, and a little farther to the newly updated Norriego Point Park. Being able to walk to these spots means no parking charges and hassles for these popular areas. Guests can also walk approximately 0.75 miles to the private Holiday Isle beach gate for Gulf access.

Inside, the home is comfortable and family-friendly, with water views from the main living space and fun extras like arcade games in one of the bedrooms that make it especially appealing for groups traveling with kids or teens. The upper patio offers another great place to relax and enjoy the harbor scenery.

Destin-ation is owned by my dear friend Shirley, who lives in California. She’s a mom, a grandma, and someone I’m very close to, and I’m honored that she trusts me to manage her home and care for it locally.

Unit features include:

• Sandy harborfront backyard
• Direct harbor views from the living room
• Upper patio overlooking the water
• 18 feet of dock space (ideal for smaller boats or side tie-off)
• Water taxi pickup at the dock
• Short walk to O’Steen Beach, the jetties, and Norriego Point
• Walkable access to the Holiday Isle private beach gate
• Fully stocked kitchen
• Drip coffee maker and Keurig
• Beach chairs, umbrella, and wagon for guest use
• Arcade games for added fun

…plus many more thoughtful touches to make your stay easy and memorable.

Destin-ation is listed here on Airbnb: Destin-ation Vacation Rental