We booked a condo in Destin, Florida months in advance specifically to enjoy time with friends and experience activities in the Destin area, including Crab Island, restaurant reservations, and jet ski rentals. Less than 24 hours before check-in, we were informed that the condo had a water leak and was no longer available due to floor repairs.
The only options offered were a refund or a replacement condo in Gulf Shores, Alabama, over 2 hours away from the original location. Since it was last minute and nearly impossible to find another comparable property in Destin, we felt forced to accept the alternative.
Unfortunately, this completely disrupted our vacation. Our group of friends stayed in Destin, so we were separated from everyone. My mother traveled from Brazil specifically to visit Crab Island and experience Destin, and many of our plans and reservations had to be canceled or changed. On top of that, Gulf Shores is a significantly less expensive destination than Destin, yet we only received a $200 refund for the inconvenience.
I understand emergencies can happen, but relocating guests to a completely different beach destination less than 24 hours before arrival is unacceptable. The communication, handling of the situation, and compensation did not reflect the impact this had on our trip. Very disappointing experience overall.