Friends looking for a beachfront rental in the Southeast
Lady Jane is a working shrimp boat that offers excursions in the Marshes of Glynn near Sea Island, Ga.
Q. We would like to rent beachfront accommodations with friends in the Southeast this fall after the kids are back in school and the beaches are less crowded. There would be four couples. I've seen some of the cottages and homes, and one with four bedrooms and a kitchen would be ideal. That way we could go out for dinner or eat in.
Can you give me some guidance on where to start? Thank you.
A. Autumn is a beautiful time of the year in the Southeast along the ocean, and you should have no trouble finding accommodations once summer is officially over. High season ends just after Labor Day, so you will find midseason rental rates more economical. Winter rates are the least expensive of all.
The homes are usually individually owned and a real-estate firm handles the rentals. They are completely furnished and have plenty of bathrooms and showers. You might have to take your own linens.
You can get in touch with real-estate firms through the Chambers of Commerce in the various areas. For North Carolina's Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras National Seashore, contact the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce at www.outerbankschamber.com or (252) 441-8144.
South Carolina's Grand Strand has 60 miles of sandy coast communities including Myrtle Beach, Atlantic and Pawleys Island. Because Myrtle Beach is the largest town in the area, contact www.myrtlebeachinfo.com or phone (800) 356-3016.
The Golden Isles is a necklace of small islands lying off Georgia's coast. Listings can be found by contacting Brunswick-Golden Isles Visitors Center at www.comecoastawhile.com or call (800) 933-2627.
Another spot is Sandbridge near Virginia Beach, Va., with an oceanfront several miles long and away from that city's "touristy strip." Contact the Virginia Beach Visitors Information Center at www.vbfun.com or (800) 822-3224.
Q. I am a 69-year-old female looking for information on sharing rooms on trips with other singles -- very costly when traveling alone. Right now I would like to do overnight on the Spirit of Peoria, but can't find any information on sharing. Thank you.
A. You're right -- it is more costly to travel alone. Travel packages for cruises and other trips are based on double occupancy in order to hold down the cost. I would suggest asking a friend or a relative to share the cost of an overnight on the Spirit of Peoria with you.
Check www.spiritofpeoria.com, or call (800) 676-8988 or e-mail info@spiritofpeoria.com.
Send your questions at least sixweeks prior to travel to MadelynMerwin in care ofTravel,Daily Herald, P.O.Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006, or e-maildpmerwin@sbcglobal.net.