Emerald Isle #700 by Southern Vacation Rentals

For a trip that cost close to $4,000, we expected a clean, nicely renovated, bug free place. Emerald Isle Unit 302 was none of those, and after 16 years of annual trips to the Fort Walton and Destin area, it was the worst place we’ve stayed. Roaches were terrible, and we killed more than a dozen during our five nights. There were stains on the walls and baseboards, with some baseboards kicked off the wall. The bedding hadn’t been changed from the previous tenants: there was makeup, food, and sand in the bed. About half the cushion fabric was missing from the kitchen furniture. The light fixtures were messed up and wouldn’t stay in place on the beds. The sliding back door was broken and wouldn’t lock, and the floor was uneven because it wasn’t waterproof. We spilled water and wiped it up with a napkin that was gross. There’s no way the place had been mopped in a while. Several dishes were dirty with food still caked on, and the nightstands were TV trays screwed to the wall. There’s nowhere to put clothes, so you live out of your suitcase. The rooms were hot, but the bathrooms were super cold. Parking was limited to two vehicles, which seems odd for a unit advertised for up to 12 people, when you’d expect three cars. That advertised capacity also goes against building fire code, as seen in the pictures. I wouldn’t stay in Unit 302 again even if it were free.