Hidden Gem by the Sea - Walk to Beach, Destin, Florida Vacation Rental by Owner

If you want a great location, great beach cottage vibe close to beach & everything else you possibly will need - check out & book Maria's beach cottage. You will find everything you need - Beach, pool, clean digs, private setting make this a great destination to unwind & relax in the sun.

2nd time staying at this hidden gem, 2nd time having an amazing time!!!

- Great location real close to the beach

- Beautiful & quiet neighborhood

- All the amenities needed to have the perfect stay

- Fast communication, Super reliable

Already planning the 3rd stay for next year!!!

This is a beautiful place to stay! Nice and quiet area. Close to the beach. The private access to the beach is great. super easy to get a chair on the beach. no need to bring coolers or anything like that. This property has it all for you. With every stay there are pros and cons.
PROS...Clean,comfortable, and close to beach and other attractions. There is a bi Der that has loads of information about the area. That was super helpful. Communication was 5 stars. Never had an issue getting a hold of Maria when we had a question.

Very nice beach house. Very well equipped. Communication was very good with Maria. House rules/expectations were very clear. The back yard is fenced but there is not grass. We therefore took our dogs for walks to do her business.

Thanks for the amazing stay! House is gorgeous!

exactly as the name says, this is a hidden gem. maria was very quick to reply to all of our very small comcerns/questions. not toddler friendly until you move a bunch of breakable things up and out of the way which is to be expected almost anywhere you rent. did have a portable crib and blow up mattress I believe if your kid has outgrown a crib.... walk to the beach is fairly easy with an 18 month old in a stroller. I'd say 6-8 minutes ish. it's also a gated community which is nice.. and also had a private entrance to the beach beach so quite a bit less busy...would most definitely rent this again. thanks again Maria. wish it didn't go by so fast.

Family of 4 - stayed for 2022 Spring Break. The pictures do not do Justice. Absolutely beautiful place to stay. The decor was amazing and the place is 10 feet from the pool. With the private beach a five minute walk away we couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay!

Book it. Book it now! This place is perfect in everyway. I have stayed at several Airbnb's as well as multiple condos in Destin. This by far is the best one yet. Perfect location, stocked and clean. The fact that you can have your dog with you is amazing. You would never know that pets are allowed, the place is so impeccable. As soon as the dates come available for next year i will be booking again. Even the cost is affordable for what you get! I was so grateful for the wagon, pack and play, cooler, boogie boards, beach chairs and beach toys provided. You will enjoy!Natasha

Such a great location!!!! Close to the beach, shopping areas, and restaurants! The house is very nice and having the wagon, layout chairs, and ice chest there rather than having to pack them was AWESOME!!! Will definitely stay again!

Relaxing place to stay close to the beach. House was cozy and well cared for. Place was lovely and would stay again. We had an issue with getting our golf cart dropped off there to early by the company. Make sure if you get one that they drop it off on the correct day. The home owner stated that the interaction with the company was unpleasant. They were quite upset. That was hard to hear as we didn't mean for them to do that. Just want to warn anyone so it's not an awkward start to your trip. Enjoy!

Wonderful place to stay! The neighbor hood that it’s in is beautiful! Loved walking my dog in the area. The home is very comfortable and decorated beautifully! We hop to go back to the Hidden Gem next year.

This house is awesome and so well decorated. The house is very relaxing and made for such a pleasant trip. The beach is only two block away and you are able to have access to a private beach. There were several really nice restaurants on the beach within walking distances from the house. We were very impressed with the house and they have everything you need. There are TVs in the bedrooms and a very nice gas grill. We will be back soon

House is very clean and comfortable. The neighborhood was friendly and quiet. It had all of the amenities we needed for a wonderful beach vacation (fully stocked kitchen, washing machine & dryer, Pack n Play for our baby, grill, beach chairs & umbrella, and wagon to get to the beach. We went to the beach twice a day because it was so fun! For restaurants, we recommend Lost Pizza and Pascalli’s! Would love to plan another trip back here.

Hidden Gem is true to its name. Fantastic accommodation and a quick walk to an excellent beach. Had a wonderful vacation and will be back.

Our stay here at the Hidden Gem was very nice. The house is super cute and tucked away in a quiet lot. The neighborhood is so cute and quiet. Pools seemed very kept up. The walk to the beach wasn’t bad at all, only about 5 mins away if that. The beach access was super nice. The house has a wagon, about 5 beach chairs, an umbrella, and floaties to use for your convenience. I noticed a pack-n-play in the closet which is very nice for guests with little ones. The host is available for any questions that you may have once you’ve arrived. Thanks for the awesome stay!

The Hidden Gem is exactly what we hoped for! Location was perfect- in a well maintained and family oriented neighborhood. Just a short stroll to the beach! The home itself was cozy, comfortable and a great place to relax and unwind after days spent at the pool or beach.
Maria is a wonderful host, and I enjoyed getting to know her prior to our trip.
We rented a golf cart for the week and had a blast cruising around day and night and getting to and from places close by. All in all, absolutely wonderful stay at the Hidden Gem and would definitely recommend to others! We hope to be back in the future. Thank you Maria!
[Nicole]

House was cozy and quiet, and a perfect retreat after enjoying the beach. Highly recommend this place!
 

Maria was a fantastic host. Everything in the add was accurate and a very nice space. Communication was great, very easy check in and check out procedures. Will book again for the next trip. Thank you!
 

Beautiful, clean, spacious house. We loved our stay. Easy 10 min walk to the beach, pool is right across the street from the house. Lots of room for our fam of 4 and all our stuff. The house is super private, we never heard noise from the neighbors and even tho it's close to other houses, we felt like we were tucked away. The pool was never too crowded and was always clean. We only tried the large pool since it's right there.
Tip for the beach: you can rent chairs and umbrellas all day but it's expensive (for us) and if you don't rent you have to sit BEHIND the high back chairs and umbrellas which are mostly empty bc they are set up whether the renters show up or not. You can't see the water edge (where my kids want to be). Go after 5pm when the chairs are put away and you have a beautiful practically empty gorgeous beach with a perfect view of the ocean.

Great location and great area. The house is in great conditions and has all you need for your stay (towels, linens, beach chairs, cooler, etc.). The host is very responsive and nice.

Great host and the home was beautiful! It was tucked away in a cute neighborhood with a short walk to the beach and great restaurants nearby.  I would definitely recommend to stay here

Maria was the most amazing host to us! She exceeded my expectations with communication and hospitality! I cannot imagine a better place to stay for our honeymoon and we most certainly hope to return in the future!

I had a 1 year old with me and this place was perfect. 10 min walk to the beach and 1 minute to the pool. Great decorations and furnishings. Would recommend!!

I had a 1 year old with me and this place was perfect. 10 min walk to the beach and 1 minute to the pool. Great decorations and furnishings. Would recommend!!

Spacious, clean and well organized. The house was stay ready with all of the condiments. Definitely bring extra cover if you have more than two guests. Also the televisions in the rooms are very small. The house has a nice grill and outdoor lounge area. Also, the walk to the beach is not too far.

The
community is friendly but also private; the houses are tucked in close together but situated where you aren’t looking into your neighbor’s windows. We loved being a short walk away from several delicious seafood restraints and starting every morning walking the path that runs parallel to the beach to get our morning coffee. The beach is stunning and we played there every day. We just left and miss it, and Hidden Gem, already. We can’t wait to return!

Maria’s home Hidden Gem by the Sea is a beautiful full house in a super quiet and friendly neighborhood. The house is near the larger of two pools in the community. The smaller pool was heated when we visited but no one was really using it. It was easy to socially distance. We enjoyed cool evenings on the back patio back at the house. The kitchen has everything you have at home. I used the blender to make bread crumbs, chimichurri, and frozen drinks in the blender. The furnishings are really nice compared to some beach condos I’ve rented. We loved the giant shells over the enormous mirror that adds light in the living room. I think the beach is more than a 3 minute walk, but Maria provided a wagon when we visited. It was perfect for our 70qt cooler and and beach bag for 3 adults. There are a couple of restaurants by the private beach entrance.

The house is beautiful. Location is perfect (short walk to the beach). Cleanness 10/10. Maria and her husband are very caring people and respond quickly to questions/issues. My only suggestion is to provide coffee for guests. Would be really nice when you wake up to be able to make a fresh coffee instead of driving to Starbucks to get one. Overall, we had wonderful time. We’ll be back and will recommend her place to friends. Thank you for your hospitality.

This place is gorgeous and a simple walk to the beach. There are so many restaurant options around you and things to do! It has been a beautiful experience I will never forget and I am definitely going back. The host was wonderful and provided excellent communication

Our time at Hidden Gem was truly a blessing! Maria our host, was very gracious and answered all of our questions promptly. The house is so beautiful and has all the amenities you need; one of the two community pools is just across the street. Emerald Shores is a wonderful community , everybody is very friendly. The beach is a short walk away and has its own private access. Its near shopping malls, outlets and fine dining. We had a great time in Destin and I highly recommend this property and I hope we can go back very soon.

My family had an amazing experience staying here over Memorial Day Weekend. We hope we can back down here as soon as possible!

From the drive into the community, until we had to leave, we were constantly amazed with how perfect our stay was. The community was quaint and picturesque, and we felt at home the moment we walked through the door at Hidden Gem. It was well equipped, sparkling clean, and convenient to everything. We golfed, soaked up the sun on the private beach, went on an amazing dinner/dancing cruise, and spent the day at the spa. My husband and I reconnected! This is the perfect place to stay!!

Hidden Gem by the Sea is just that! The location is perfectly centered between restaurants, fun activities for the family, and the beach! The two pools are a nice option to have. The house is equipped with everything you could need for the your stay.”

“Maria's home was just as described. It is about a 5 minute walk to the beach and Maria provides you a large wagon to haul all your things. The home was very clean and had all the comforts of home. Our family of 4 stayed here comfortably and we would definitely recommend Maria's home to other families.”

Look here guys.... I reeeeaaaaalllly don't wanna share my experience because the selfish side of me wants to keep this HIDDEN GEM all to myself for future use, BUT I'll be nice and share... The home is incredible and the hosts are so thoughtful with all the amenities they offer. They even had a wagon and beach tools to take with you to the beach (umbrellas-2, boogie boards, sand buckets, chairs). The grill outside is easy to use and clean, and the private area outside, allows for an interactive experience while grilling. The home is really tucked away in a small culdesac, but it's still right in the mix to where you can enjoy a book outside on the porch, or literally walk right across the street to the pool. The community is gated, so it limits the access to cars coming through. The beach is right down the street just as advertised (maybe a 5-7 minute walk). The hosts were available to answer questions and offer suggestions MONTHS before our trip and responded quickly during our trip. So if you pass this place up, you're foolish, but that is totally fine with me because that means more available dates for me; and I definitely plan my next trip to Destin to be right there at the HIDDEN GEM! AWESOME PLACE TO STAY!!!

This was the nicest, cleanest, sweetest place we have ever stayed! It was wonderful in every way !

Maria the host is a wonderful!! Not only did she personally reach out to introduce herself but also to give us tips about our visit. Home was super cozy and lovely! I felt as if I was home and loved that it came equipped with just about anything you can think of for a trip down to the beach. We didn’t have any issues with anything in the home and the neighborhood was quiet so that’s a plus! We will be back!

My family and I stayed here for a week and had an amazing time. Maria was a considerate host who reached out to me by phone ahead of time just to make sure we were all set to stay at the house. When we arrived the house was spotless. The pictures made it look nice, but it was even nicer in person. It’s spacious with a large fully equipped kitchen that we cooked several meals in. We also grilled out steaks and hamburgers on the outdoor grill. The beach is just 5-7 minutes away by foot. The house comes with a wagon that you can use to take your beach supplies with you. There are people driving golf carts around during the day to give you a ride if you want one. The neighborhood is beautifully maintained and felt safe even at night. There’s a large community pool right next to the house but we didn’t use it during our stay. The beach itself is beautiful with white sand and clear water. It was busy, but we never had an issue finding a good spot all week, and the water itself was never crowded. The private pavilion was particularly convenient. The Dollar General next door is in walking distance (4-5 minutes away by foot), which makes it extremely convenient to pick up anything you might have forgotten or need to refresh. We made at least two trips. In short, we had no issues with our stay, the house was exactly as described, and I highly recommend this spot for a family beach vacation.”

Maria was great to work with, and the house was well represented. Hidden Gem was a great stay for our family of four. Close to great restaurants, a secure well maintained community, and right next to the most beautiful beaches in Florida! Thanks again Maria - we'll be back!

This place is so lovely. Better than the photos. It was so clean. Comfortable. Wonderful! Loved everything about it. I truly recommend it!

Maria was fantastic. Everything was adorable and well planned out. Lots of referrals while there, and the community is so friendly!

The accommodations were great and the location is awesome. Just a short walk to the beach with a private gated entrance. Having beach chairs and an umbrella available for us to use at the beach is a really nice touch so guests only have to bring their own towels and lotion, etc. Overall it was a great, relaxing experience. It was just what we were hoping for!

Our quick stay for a long weekend was perfect! Short walk to the beach, nearby walkable restaurants, and felt very safe with security code access

We loved staying here. The pictures matched the house, and it was great to have outdoor space for the kids to run around. Maria was very communicative and answered all our questions quickly. The neighborhood the house is in is family-friendly and offers a nice break from the busy-ness of the beach and Destin itself. We hope to come back the next time we go to Destin!

Hidden gem was the perfect getaway for my husband and I to celebrate our 25th anniversary. It’s private yet still close to everything you could need. You feel very at home and cozy. I love the decor and all of the special touches. This home is EXCEPTIONALLY clean!! We will definitely be back!! Maria, the owner, was quick at responding with any an all questions I had.

This location is absolutely perfect. Walking distance to beach and all pools. Awesome dollar general right next door for all needs! Very safe and secluded, yet very close to restaurants and shops!

The home was surprisingly large, and very convenient to the beach and other attractions in Destin. We would recommend this home for other families traveling to the area.

We decided to take our two girls on a beach vacation for the first time.  I am so happy that we made the decision to book the Hidden Gem by the Sea. Plenty of room to spread out with our kids, very clean, vibrant community, and the private beach access is fantastic! Will be booking again in the future.

Our family had an amazing time staying at "Hidden Gem." Maria's home is in a safe and well kept community, and it's central to everything in Destin (beaches, restaurants, shopping, activities). The house was stocked with all the essentials and more (beach chairs and umbrellas, a wagon to take everything to the beach, a cooler, a grill). Having access to the private community shelter on the beach was also a nice plus. To top it all off, Maria communicated extremely well throguhout the process. We will definitely be back in the future.

We absolutely loved staying at the Hidden Gem. It was the perfect size for my family of 6. It's close walk to the beach and there's a wagon on the patio to haul your towels and sandcastle making materials to and from the beach. It's very close to the community swimming pool. Maria was super awesome communicating with me every step of the way. We will definitely return!

That's the right interpretation of the word Paradise. What a lovely house in a great neighborhood where everything is available and up to your expectations. My family and I enjoyed every single moment of that great time that we had there.

We enjoyed our stay! The community was very quiet and the atmosphere was homey. The house is tucked into a corner of a cul-de-sac and is very shaded. We walked to the beach, however, there is a driver and a golf cart that circles and will pick you up if you want a ride (you will still walk some because the cart doesn't go all the way to the beach). We walked to Captian Dave's and Pompano Joes for dinner. We also walked to Dollar General for more sun screen. Pompano Joes was over half a mile and Captain Dave's and Dollar General were about a quarter mile. We brought our badminton set and tennis rackets from home to use on the tennis court that is available. This resulted in an epic family tournament! We didn't realize that Maria had an outside storage unit with beach chairs and umbrellas until the last day. We had already gone to the store to purchase those items, so check the shed outside first! The private beach was very nice and clean with bathrooms and a snack area. Also located there was kayak and paddleboard rentals along with beach chair and umbrella rentals. The private beach allows personal umbrellas and tents but you need to place them behind the rental ones. This was not a problem and did not seem inconvenient. At the pavilion, there are steps (about 10) down to the beach with no ramp. The beach warning flag that was the closest was to the east. The ocean conditions flag (yellow for us) was very visible, however, the smaller one that was attached to it (placed under) was not very visible so please look closely to determine if there is another smaller flag under the larger one. Maria has posted on the refrigerator a flag guide and it came in handy during our stay. The home itself is nicely furnished and very comfortable. We had 5 adults total and we did not feel crowded as there was plenty of space for everyone. We did not use the pools that were available as it was just too easy to get to the beach. However, the pool located in the center of the community and across the cul-de-sac from the house was the largest and the busiest (busiest but not busy- no more than 15 people max were ever there). We did walk a lot (our choice) but other families did bring bikes or rented bikes locally and were using those to get around the community and the neighborhood by the beach so that is an option. There is a nice wide bicycle/sidewalk trail along the beach that we used to get to the restaurants. Overall our vacation was great. We relaxed, we laughed, and we had a great time.

The house was perfect and we were pleasantly surprised at the location and convenience to restaurants and the beach. We would highly recommend this house and this neighborhood to our friends. We had a great vacation in Destin!

This place is AMAZING! Quiet neighborhood, close to the beach, and right in the middle of everything!! Beautiful and spacious villa! 

We had a wonderful stay! The house was very clean and well appointed with necessary amenities. The house was perfect for my family of four. The walk to the beach was only a few minutes and the pool was just steps away. Our host, Maria, was fantastic. I definitely recommend this place. 

We spent 5 days here and we had the best time!!! Close walk to the beach and a quick drive to great restaurants. The house is more private than I thought it would be from the pictures. I would recommend it to a friend and stay here again! 

Maria's "hidden gem" was incredible. We found everything we need at her house. The place in person was beyond the pictures. Everything was clean when we entered, and whenever I needed to communicate with Maria, she responded back quickly. My friends and I wanted to avoid the spring breakers and I couldn't have asked for a better place to stay in Destin. We weren't far from the beach, and it was exactly what we needed! I recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a relaxed, calm and fun place to stay!

Our experience was amazing! Perfect house on a great location and a short walk to the beach.

“I stayed here with 7 of my friends and we all LOVED the house. It was clean, well stocked, and gave a nice beach feel. It had an outdoor area, a nice living room with a tv for relaxing, and a big kitchen where we were able to cook most our meals. We spent a good deal of our time in the heated pool since the ocean was a bit chilly, but the beach is just a short walk away. The neighborhood felt very safe, friendly, and relaxed. There's a Dollar General in walking distance, and anything else you need is just a short drive.Maria was a great host as well. We really appreciated how responsive, kind, and helpful she was. We really enjoyed our vacation here.”

This place is absolutely breathtaking from the moment you walk in Hidden Gem! If you are looking for relaxation, this is the place to go! Book it and you will not be disappointed. It is the best of the best. The pictures of the place does not show how beautiful it is!! We will book again and again! Maria is an exceptional host!! Thanks for a great relaxing stay will be back soon!!