Moontide loves beach weddings!

Veronica and Teresa can put you in touch with local caterers, photographers, or wedding planners.

Want to do it yourself?  With Moontide you have your own 1-3 bedroom, luxury apartments ...with FULL kitchens.

The community room opens right onto the beach and holds 35 seated, more standing up, so is perfect for a small to medium sized reception.  It also has a "catering kitchen" to help you arrange whatever delights you've prepared upstairs!

You might combine your wedding with a family reunion!  Moontide only has a 4 day minimum stay and rates are lower than many hotels!

Call Moontide today to check into having your dream beach wedding... you can get more creative ideas on our PINTEREST page (click) and here is a great article we found to make your planning easier...

How to Plan the Perfect Beach Wedding
... by Rebecca Kinnear

DWH A-List Planners know a thing or two about planning perfect beach weddings. We solicited their best advice for an oceanfront affair — everything from choosing the right gown to windproofing your decor — to keep you worry-free while exchanging vows on the sand.

Skip the big dress. Let’s face it: A ballgown belongs in, well, a ballroom. “You may be able to get down the aisle in a full dress and long train,” notes Paulette Davis of Bahamas Wedding Planner, “but walking on the beach and taking photos won’t be easy. If a large dress is a must, make sure it can bustle easily.”

Think light. “Dresses with lace trim can be difficult because they pick up debris from the beach,” says Kate Bentley of Happily Ever After Wedding Planning & Design in Key West, Florida. “Instead, choose a lightweight fabric like chiffon or charmeuse so your gown flows in the ocean breeze.”  (read more)

Hope You're Having a Great EASTER Weekend at Moontide!

New Smyrna Balloon Fest 2013 - a World Class Airshow Event!

April 5^th, 6^th and 7^th in New Smyrna Beach will be the home of the 5th Annual Balloon & Sky Fest… hosted by the Balloon and Sky Fest Foundation (501c3) of Central Florida.

This is a a full weekend of Hot Air Balloon, Aviation and family activities and benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs as well as other area youth organizations.

A wide-ranging event, with a variety of activities, the festival features “Balloon Glows” Friday & Saturday night, balloon passenger flights Saturday and Sunday morning and FOUR world-class air shows (two night and two day shows) with dozens of warbirds on static display; rides in helicopters, airplanes, a classic DC-3, and a WW II B-25 bomber.

Kids will love the 2-acre 4-H Animal Encounter; a hands-on, up-close experience with a wide variety of animals. 

Under the watchful eyes of the 4-H Club members - and an on-site veterinarian to ensure animal safety - the animals will stroll, watch, interact, perform - and sleep - all weekend in New Smyrna Beach.  Kids of all ages will love this venue, and everyone will learn more about Earth's living creatures. 

Horses, ponies, goats, sheep, geese, cows, plus birds of prey, amazing marine life displays and old-fashioned hayrides for all to enjoy and pony rides for the youngsters, plus a display of antique tractors.

Event Chairman Arlen Stauffer says…  "This is a huge event for Central Florida, and there really is something for everyone here."

"Inspiration Village is a place where NASA, Embry-Riddle, our military, the Boy Scouts, and radio-controlled airplane experts will work to entertain and inspire our visitors.  4-H Clubs from all over Florida are bringing their best animals to Balloon & Sky Fest so there will also be two acres of animal fun!"

Other show highlights include world champion Patty Wagstaff and the 300-mph jet school bus and we’ve gotten word that the festival may even have a B-2 Stealth Bomber flying by each day!

You, and your family will share in special ceremonies honoring veterans during the air shows, shop with hundreds of food, business and arts & crafts vendors; and enjoy live music on stage all weekend.

Even the music has a little something for everyone with musical genres from jazz, soul and soul, to Celtic Folk, Country Western and even Ska, with “Teflon Don” of Orlando.

This is truly a world class, airshow event, attracting visitors from all over the US, and the world! In 2012, more than 40% of Balloon Fest attendees came from outside of Volusia County. This is good to know for companies considering becoming vendors and sponsors (Food vendors spots are sold out for 2013, but other slots remain avail as of publication date).

David Bart, Balloon Fest Executive Director, points out…  "For 2012, our economist calculated an economic impact of our event at more than $10 million for this area.

People come from all over the country to take rides in our balloons and, while they're here, thay also ride in a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter, an original American Airlines DC-3 , and a World War II B-25 bomber!"

This is a true all-family all-weekend fun festival.

If you’re coming from out of town and looking for a great place to stay… New Smyrna hosts many excellent spots.  Of course there is Moontide Vacation Apartments... 1-3 bedroom, luxury apartments with full kitchens for less than you'd pay for many hotels.  Right ON the beach, Moontide will truly give your family a "home base" and the full beach experience.

Additionally, up the road in Daytona Beach, there is the 5 star, award winning August Seven Inn, a luxurious bed & breakfast, just a 10 minute walk from the beach.

Both Moontide and August Seven get booked up fast... so call now (use promo code "connections" to check for any special rates, if avail)... follow the above links to their websites.

For the New Smyrna Balloon Fest... Admission is just $5, and kids under 12, all Boys & Girls Clubs members, and all Veterans get in free.

VIP Passes are available with lots of additional perks and amenities.

Visit the OFFICIAL web site for more information!

Florida Beach Weddings; Beautiful & Budget Friendly

Budget Beach Weddings: Top 10 Reasons They're a Great Idea!

We can probably think of 100 reasons for you to have a beach wedding at Moontide on New Smyrna Beach, however, we'll give you just our top 10 for now.

Get creative!

1) Beach weddings are, by nature, more casual affairs. More casual means less bankroll, less stress, and more sand between your toes.

2) Your wedding and reception are at the same location, making it easier for guests, creating less stress and meaning you aren't paying for two separate venues and worrying about transportation costs between the two.

Combine a Family Reunion with YOUR union!

3) Family hasn't been together in a while? Your beach wedding can be combined with a family reunion.

4) Moontides "community room" is perfect for your reception. It opens right onto the beach itself, so you can have the ceremony down at the waters edge, then just walk up a bit to pop the champagne!

5) Your wedding party will appreciate the casual nature of your wedding and it's lack of impact on their pocketbook. Bridesmaid's dresses are generally sundresses that can be worn again. Often Groomsmen simply color coordinate in matching board shorts and shirts.  Even your wedding dress can be unusual. We've seen more elaborate wedding dresses on the beach and we've seen white bathing suits with wraps for the bride as well. Suit your personality.

The Goofy Groomsmen!

6) Spend as much as your wish (or as little), decorating for the ceremony. A short ceremony doesn't even require seating for the guests... just mark off an "aisle" and make an "arch" for the bride/groom to stand. Even if you buy color coordinated beach chairs, you'll spend about the same as you would to rent them and you can give them to the guests as take-away gifts. Another idea... buy color coordinated beach towels and let guests sit on the sand. Look on the internet and Pinterest for ideas that are beautiful, and inexpensive.

Great idea for wedding photos

7) For food, Moontide's community room has a "catering kitchen," meaning it doesn't have cooking facilities, but it has room to coordinate and organize your reception food. You can hire a caterer, or do something simple yourself and go for a cold seafood buffet accented with tropical fruits and Pina Colada Punch. You'll spend a fraction of what you would have spent at most wedding venues.  

8) The beach itself is your "ambience" ...forget fancy centerpieces, banks and banks of flowers or ice sculptures (obviously)... whatever you choose for your "theme" is going to be budget friendly.

9) If you're thinking of a destination wedding... no better spot than Moontide. Your attendance is sure to be up, as guests will want to make a long weekend of it and combine it with a family vacation.  Moontide's beach apartments are 1-3 bedrooms with full kitchens. No worrying that everyone has to be "entertained" all the time... if the kids get a bit bored... send them back up to the room to watch movies and munch on homemade popcorn.

10) Save on the Honeymoon!  Come on... your wedding is already being held at Moontide... where the whole world wants to come for vacation! Instead of cutting out after the wedding ... just book yourself an apartment a little further away (on a different floor) from the rest of your guests... but hang out for the weekend enjoying the company of family and friends. Take the money you save by having your honeymoon right here at Moontide and put a downpayment on your dream house instead!

We can think of lots of other reasons to have your wedding at Moontide... but we'll just give you two more... Veronica and Teresa! They are your "secret weapon" and will give you all kinds of great tips, as well as helping out with some of the details.  In fact, I bet they'll make your wedding so special... you'll want to come back EVERY year to re-enact it!

Check out Pinterest for lots of great wedding ideas!

The Holiday Season in Florida

Florida is one of the most popular destinations during the winter months and the term "snow-birds" was coined to describe all the folks who escape the bitter cold up north, and migrate down south for the warm sun, and sandy beaches.

Growing up in Florida, you look longingly at photos of snow covered "winter wonderlands" and, many of us head north for a quick peak at the changing leaves and the white blanketed hills and trees, yet, we are always grateful to get back home, take off our parkas and dig our toes into the sun kissed sand beaches.

The great thing about Florida in the winter time is... well EVERYTHING.  It's, frankly, the best time to be in Florida.  You have it all... warm sun balanced by fresh cool breezes and the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities without getting overheated and uncomfortable.

Florida and GOLF, go hand in hand, and Florida hosts some of the best golf courses, and is home to some of the best golfers, in the world.  Golf enthusiasts often take the time to get in some intensive lessons with pro's like Bill Madonna, a Master PGA professional and one of the top instructors in the world.  Bill makes his home in Orlando at the Bill Madonna Golf Academy.

An abundance of natural beauty can be found in Florida which is dotted with lakes and springs, often connected by long, meandering rivers and creeks, which offer a great day of canoeing and relaxing with a picnic and a book along some sandy shore.

If you are a fishing enthusiast, Florida is home to some of the best salt, and fresh, water fishing in the country.  In the same day you can start upriver, drop your line in the water, and end the day grabbing some grouper out of a salty ocean bay.   You can always find a boat rental facility, or go in style, with one of the many professional charter captains offering their fully equipped boats for your day of fun.

Here in New Smyrna Beach we're known around the world for surfing... and even if you don't surf yourself, the sport provides hours of free entertainment while you sun yourself on the beach.

Does it get COLD in the winter here in Florida?  Absolutely it can.  Bring some warm clothes with you, just in case.  However the great thing about Florida winters is that you might wake up to a bitter cold morning, but by noon, with the sun shining brightly on a clear sky, your jacket is off and you're enjoying "t-shirt weather."

Remember, when it comes to your stay in Florida... location, location, location!  While there are lots of great destinations in Florida... Miami has the nightlife, Orlando has "The Mouse" and St. Augustine has the history... here in New Smyrna we have a relaxing, central location, that is the closest beach to Orlando, just an hour away from St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral and NASA/Kennedy Space Center, plus, just a short drive from some of the best cave and spring diving locations in the state as well.

New Smyrna is a hub of activity in the winter season.  There's lots of art and music events, great places to eat, and Daytona Beach, with the Daytona Speedway, is right up the road in case you get a hankering for some automotive action!

Another of the "pluses" of staying here with us at Moontide, on New Smyrna Beach, is that you have a full apartment for your comfort.  There's a kitchen to make some hot cocoa in, or prepare a fresh seafood feast to enjoy on the balcony overlooking the surf and, on the practical side, a laundry to wash those stinky fishing clothes, or rinse out your bathing suits.

With all that Florida, New Smyrna and Moontide have to offer... is it any wonder we tell you that NOW is a great time to make reservations?

800-421-8222 Use promo-code "connections" to see 
if we have any special rates or offers.
http://www.themoontide.com

Vacation Rentals – SMART Choices for Vacations OR Second Home

Weighing your Retirement and Vacation Options? Consider the “Vacation Home.”

In this economy families are looking for cost saving ideas for family vacations. Combine this with the “overly-stressed” lifestyles many Mom’s and Dad’s have due to work schedules and it’s clear why “vacation rentals” are surging in popularity.

What is a “Vacation Rental?” 

It’s a rental home, or condo, generally rented by the day (usually a 3-4 day minimum), week or month, and equipped with all the comforts of home. Staying in a “real home” with kitchens, washer-dryers, TV’s with DVD players for movie nights... are the FAVORITE way to travel for many families... especially Europeans and Canadians.

Having a kitchen available is not only a great way to save hundreds, or thousands, in restaurant tabs, with more and more people watching their health, it’s also a way to vacation without blowing your families nutritional “rules.” Some vacation homes or condos might even have BBQ grills and there is something really special about enjoying a home-cooked meal with your toes dug into the sand, while watching the waves crash on the beach.

Vacation homes are a favorite for family reunions too. My Mother’s side of the family rents a 3-bedroom vacation home on the beach every summer for themselves and the Grandparents. When more family members (two cousins and their brood) are coming also... they rent out 3 Condos in a high-rise instead, letting the teenagers have their own, while the Grandparents bunk together as well. The cost for renting these multi-room homes and apartments means more square footage, often at less cost, than many hotels can provide. Add in the cost savings on food too and you make this a very smart budget choice.

So... Do you want a vacation home or a vacation apartment or condo?

Probably depends on what your family enjoys doing and the location you are looking at. Obviously if you have a noisy bunch, you won’t worry about disturbing the neighbors if you get a home. Also, if you like backyard activities, that is a consideration as well. If you’re looking at homes, ask what they come equipped with (bib grills, horseshoes or other yard games, bicycles, etc).

Apartments and condos have their appeal as well. If they are located on a good piece of land, or right on the beach, you’ve still got room for outside endeavors, and you might have a lot more activities and perks.

Veronica Patterson is the "concierge" at Moontide vacation rentals on New Smyrna Beach Florida, (just South of Daytona Beach) and points out their advantages; such as other amenities that are very much like a hotel...

“At Moontide we have the comfort of home, with the fun of a hotel. Guests can use the 'catering kitchen' in our Community Room to assemble a feast for a family reunion (or wedding reception) while the kids play the board games or watch movies. We also have tennis courts, shuffle-board and, during busy season, organized activities for the guests and residents.” 

Keep the location of your vacation rental in mind. If you are staying a week or more, it’s important it’s located close to sightseeing spots so you can make it your “base of operations” for exploring the area. 

Veronica is somewhat of a Florida history buff, so some of the perks Moontide guests get are great ideas for fun things to see and do that are off the “tourist radar.” New Smyrna is the closest Florida beach to Orlando as well as being just South of historic St. Augustine, and North of NASA and Cape Canaveral, so for a Florida vacation, it’s a prime destination and one that keeps their guests coming back again and again.

But what if you are looking to vacation a LOT? Perhaps you’ve even thought about buying a second, vacation home? 

That’s a great idea... as owning your own vacation home, or apartment, and renting out when you aren’t using it, is a great way to subsidize your own get-always and can potentially produce an additional revenue stream for you.

Al Brooke is a tax consultant in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and an owner of a vacation apartment himself.  He points out that... "Financially speaking, advantages of ownership flow to appreciation and leverage as they always have in real estate.  There can be some tax benefits as well, using either a "second home" position, or treating the property as a vacation rental property.  As always, consult a professional on your individual situation."
,
Years ago, I had a friend who’s parents bought a vacation type condo for him to stay in while he was attending school at Embry Riddle. After he graduated, his parents kept the condo for their own vacations and rented it out when not using it. Their “end game” was to make it their retirement home.

If you go that route, you also have a choice to make... home, or condo?

Some of the same considerations apply that we already covered, plus an additional one. With a vacation home you will want to research a real estate management company (and their rates), as well as lining up a cleaning company, and perhaps a pool company, to take care of prepping it for the next group of guests. You also need to insure that the home is being purchased in an area that allows short term rentals, and one were there is not a danger the rules will change in the future.

With a condo type apartment, in a building that has regular rentals, you have a management and maintenance staff on premises, something that could be very important if you have a busy lifestyle at home and aren’t available on short notice to deal with emergencies that might come up.

Real estate professional, Renee Stimson, often works with buyers who are looking for a vacation home, or vacation rental property, and says that... "You want to do your “homework” on your overall costs to maintain the property, insurance needed, tax advantages and rules, and rental income possibilities.  If there is onsite management, ask if they can show you prior occupancy rates."

Other tips from Forbes magazine includes that while, “You can make a tidy income owning second homes and renting them out.” Homework is key and the amount of effort you put in can make all the difference in the world in whether you break even or make a profit. 

For instance, many people find that positive cash flow is very easy in some areas, and more challenging in others, but in either case, there are lots of ways YOU can assist in “marketing” your rental. For instance, social media and the internet allows you to reach out to people all over the world and, if your rental is an area that is more “seasonal” for the US market, you can market it in countries that have a different vacation schedule than ours. 

How the rental income is "split" will vary.  Again, Al Brooke weighs in... "With the units at Moontide in New Smyrna Beach, the rental income is divided between a commission (rates vary significantly) and an owner's share.  Moontide owners pay a commission of 12% or 7% depending on how the vacationer was "acquired". The owner keeps the lion's share of the income."

"Owners can find their own tenants through many rental sites, the largest of which is VRBO and Moontide charges a commission of only 7% if an owner finds the renter, negotiates a final price, and then refers the renter to Moontide only for the booking, not further negotiation." 

Depending on the management company you’re utilizing, they may have some marketing tools already in place. This is something to add to your “checklist” of questions to ask.

70% of all buyers at Moontide have been former vacationers and we would guess that is true of many types of vacation ownership destinations around the country.  Of course, it's recommended that you try out any destination you are thinking of "investing" your time and money in, to be sure it's a good fit for your own use.

Whether you are looking for a cost effective way to vacation ... or have a strategy to subsidize vacations or retirement plans, Vacation Rentals are surely an option to consider.

For more info: Moontide Vacation Rentals
Renee Stimson, NSB Real Estate
New Smyrna Beach, FL

Florida Vacations on a Budget!

SMILE!  You certainly don’t have to stress your finances in order to destress your life.

In beautiful New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Moontide offers affordable get-aways in luxury oceanfront apartments.

In this economy people are looking for smart ways to spend their vacation dollars and a 4 day or even month long stay at family-friendly Moontide beach condos is perfect for cost conscience vacationers.

At Moontide you can take your family back to the “old days” of Florida vacations.   Back to a more gentle age when families spent quality time together on the beach building sand castles, telling stories, swimming and fishing.

Enjoy taking your children to visit Florida’s most valuable “tourist attractions” … our natural wonders found from a kayak, a pontoon boat, or just walking down a nature trail. Quality time with your family, fresh air and sunshine are the “value added” features that Florida has to offer and, best of all, they cost nothing!

New Smyrna Beach, and the Moontide condos are perfectly situated for your “Florida Expedition.”   Don your best Indiana Jones outfit and visit the “Fountain of Youth Archeological Park” in historic St. Augustine and, of course, the “Castillo de San Marcos” National Monument – just called “The Fort” by locals.  Make sure to check in at the Alligator Farm before you head back.

St. Augustine is just a short drive North from Moontide… a beautiful drive up through the beach communities and through Daytona Beach – home of the Daytona Speedway and annual motorcycle events such as Biketoberfest and Bike Week.

There are plenty of things to see and do right in New Smyrna too!  The BalloonFest is fun for the whole family as is the Friday and Saturday night Dinner & River Cruise.  For adults... historic Canal Street is chock full of great dining, art and entertainment with special events happening year round!

Are you an outdoor and active kind of person?  New Smyrna Beach is famous for it's surfing and is home to many a surf tour.  Check out Moontide's YouTube page for a great video from the Bum Rush Tour.  

Whether you are surfing, fishing, riding a bike or just kicking back with an umbrella drink - the beach is the the place to be and at Moontide you only have to walk out your door to be on it!

If your kids are “Astro-nuts,” they’ll love that Kennedy Space Center is just a short drive South down the coast.   On the way, grab an airboat ride in the glades just west of Cocoa Beach and make sure to grab some seafood at Grills Seafood and Tiki Bar along the port where the cruise ships dock. 

There are plenty of things to see and do that are free, or low cost, and that entertain and educate!

Did we mention that Moontide condos are located right ON New Smyrna Beach?   And that New Smyrna is one of the closest beaches to Orlando?   So, if you want to sneak in a day at Disney too –just do it – and come back to your home away from home at Moontide.

At Moontide, each condo-apartment is individually owned, so each is furnished in it's own unique style.  These 1-3 bedroom luxury condos are equipped with full kitchens so Moontide offers you the ability to have a REAL family vacation, without “breaking the bank.”   Stays can be as short as 4 days, or last months.  

Save money by fixing breakfast and lunch to enjoy on the beach, you can always splurge with a great evening meal out – some of Florida’s top rated restaurants are just minutes away - we love SoNapa (with a location right up the road from us and a new one opening in Maitland, north of Orlando) and the Dolphin's View for great casual food and (of course) a great view of the water, boats and Dolphins!

Like to be active?  Moontide has tennis, shuffleboard and, of course, long romantic walks on the beach.

Imagine sitting on your balcony with a bottle of wine at sunset and listening to the kids splashing in the pool just below you while you reconnect with your spouse. 

Have you ever enjoyed a piping hot cup of coffee while the ocean waves tickle your toes and the sun rises in front of you over the sparkling surface of the Atlantic? 

Have you heard the sound of dolphin’s laughter as they roll and play in the surf?

Ever caught a glimpse of an elusive whale like this one right behind Moontide?

This is why Moontide guests (and owners) come back over and over again. 

The folks at Moontide – staff and owners, become your “family.”  Get to know them in the community room where games and activities are hosted on a regular basis.  

In fact, keep the community room in mind if you have a small business conference, family reunion or beach wedding to plan.  Moontide loves to be the “host” for these types of events and the community room opens right onto the beach… it doesn’t get much better than that! 

If you are looking for a REAL get-away vacation, your own tropical paradise without the expense, then you’re already part of the Moontide family – you just didn’t know it yet!

For more information on things to do in Florida and New Smyrna, visit our YouTube channel.  You can interact with Moontide “fans” on our Facebook page, and you can shoot us your email to get “Moontide News” with special events and offers.   You can access all of this, as well as the Moontide web site here…

http://www.moontide.html

Want to check on reservations right away? 

Call the friendly staff at Moontide now at:

800-421-8222 or local at 386-428-5691
email: moontide@cfl.rr.com