Memorial Day marks the beginning of the peak beach season in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama and Perdido Key Florida, just as it does at most beach resorts. The difference this year is that the definitive travel pattern that has held true for 30 years has changed dramatically. Our vacation business is basically driven by the school system calendar because our beach destination is first and foremost family oriented. Parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all converge on our soft, white beaches to revisit their relationships, relax, build memories and most of all HAVE FUN. So in past years the typical vacation pattern is for visitors to complete their summer reservation plans during the months of January, February and March. This year however a phenomenon of a shortened vacation reservation window has emerged. In early May we had a large amount of available vacation rental properties for the Memorial Day holiday but as the end of the month approached the gaps began to fill. By the time the holiday rolled around we had a "full house", which has never occurred before at Meyer Real Estate.
The last minute reservation pattern has continued all summer. Another peak week occurred the 4th of July with almost all condominiums and beach houses occupied. Now it's hard to believe that July is almost over and school sessions in some areas will begin as early as mid-August. The last hurrah for many families will be the time period immediately after the rental prices drop on August 5, 2006.
Although the summer is almost over, which is hard to believe, the fall ushers in a whole new set of delights with great weather, fewer crowds and fun festivals.
