F&Q

Frequently Asked Questions

We've prepared a list of questions and answers that reflects most of the things guests want to know.

If this list doesn't include your question, just ask!  We'll be happy to answer it, and who knows -- maybe it will end up this list too!  Here goes:

 

What starter packs are included in my rental?

Great question and we get this one a lot! We provide every rental with the following items to get started:

Do I have to bring my own towels / linen / pillows?

Absolutely not! All bedding is provided for all beds & pull out sofas in our rentals, including clean sheets, blankets, bed toppers, and pillows. Every bathroom is stocked with fluffy towels, wash cloths, bath mat, hand towels, & makeup towel.
(Exception: If you plan on using the Pack-and-Play crib, you will want to bring bedding suitable for your baby's age and size. Also, plan on bringing your beach towels!)

What cooking/eating utensils will I need?

Our houses are provided with all standard cooking equipment, including pans, silverware, cutlery, dishware, and grilling tools. We even include kid/plastic dishware for the little ones! Unless you have a specific and unusual requirement, you should not need to bring any type of equipment to cook on.

Do you provide charcoal or gas for the BBQ grill?

Yes, we provided the gas/propane for the gas BBQ grills. You will need to bring charcoal and/or lighter fluid with you, but we do have the BBQ supplies like tongs and cleaner. Check the description of each rental to see which type is at the one you are renting. If your house is equipped with a gas grill, it is either piped to a fixed tank, or propane canisters. In the unlikely event you should need a spare canister, you can call the contact numbers in the house and one will be brought out for you within 24 hours. There is no additional charge for this amenity.

Where can I fish, and what licenses do I need?

If you are an Alabama resident between the ages of 16-64, you are able to fish on public property with a permit. If you are 65+ or under 16 years old, no permit is required. A saltwater fishing license is required for all of the waters in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. This includes the Intracoastal Waterway and back bays. If you choose to fish on a charter boat, the company will provide everything you need, including the license.

What are the beach conditions and colored flags mean?

We highly encourage you to sign up to receive daily beach conditions and warning flag status by texting ALBEACHES to 888777. At the end of your vacation, opt out of the text alerts by texting STOP.
Visit Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism Beach Report & Safety page for more information! or the City of Foley Tourism page. 

 

Do I have to clean up after myself?

We do not expect you to do your own laundry; after all...you didn't go on vacation to clean house! However, upon checkout we do ask for you to start the dishwasher and other minor items to assist with the next guest arriving behind you. We might have to an extra cleaning charge if the rental is left in an unusually filthy state, e.g. sand tracked all over the carpets, dirty caked-on dishes, etc. If you're reasonably decent, there won't be a problem.

Will I be hit with charges for consumables or minor damages?

Every guest reservation comes with a non-refundable guest damage policy as part of the booking fee. We expect a certain amount of wear and tear, as well as consumption of products. We expect you to use the toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, etc., and there'll be no charge. We also understand that light bulbs blow, plates break, and there may be the occasional scratch on the wall. We ONLY charge for unreasonable damage or missing items that can't be considered normal usage – lost or stained towels, torn sheets, stain-ruined comforters, a hole bashed in the wall, a whole case of paper towels vanished, that sort of significant and unusual thing. Every damage is always documented. 

Can I hold my wedding/family reunion/big party at your property?

Maybe!! Some our our property owners do allow weddings/small family reunions/parties. If you are interested in holding such an event, you must get prior approval before making your reservation.
There is a strict no large event/parties, or large gatherings allowed at our properties due to neighborhood ordinances. However, it is generally okay to have family and friends over for dinner, as long as they do not stay the night and can park all vehicles in the allowed parking spaces at each property. Should a party or large event be discovered, this would be grounds for no refund on security deposit, additional fees, and even possible eviction.

What do I do for food?

You will need to provide your own food if you want to cook. Several grocery stores are in the area including Pier 33, Rouse's Market, & of course Walmart.
Talk about the restaurants! So much good eating there is too many to list. Information on area restaurants can be found via Google or https://www.gulfshores.com/ or https://visitfoley.com
Want someone to do the grocery shopping for you? Consider using the The Beach Moms who offer a concierge service (for a fee) providing services to visitors at the beach. They will get all of your groceries ready and stocked in your condo or house before you arrive, make dinner reservations, arrange transportation, and even plan fun outings for you and your family! 

Can I get an early check in or a late check out?

Possibly, depending on when the next guest will be arriving, but you need to specifically ask and receive an answer BEFORE arriving to the property. You must ask within 1 week of your arrival, and at least 24 hours ahead of the extra time you want. Please understand our housekeeping team will need time to properly clean the property before your arrival. If there is a guest arriving/departing on the same day, no early/late check is possible. If there is no other arrival or departure, we usually permit up to 2 extra hours. Beyond that requires payment of an additional fee. Taking early/late checkout without arranging it with us beforehand and obtaining written permission, will incur a sizable additional fee.

Can I bring my pet?

It depends on the property. Please check the listing details to know if the property allows pets or not. There is an additional cost per pet that you see under the Rates section. Please note that this is a pet rent fee, not a cleaning fee; you may still be charged an excess cleaning fee if your pet leaves a mess. 
Our town offers several local Pet Resorts to accommodate you furry friend while you are not to far away. Please call ahead for a reservation

I want to have family over for dinner, do I have to pay extra?

The extra-guest charges are for guests staying overnight. You do not have to pay to have people visit for the day as long as they do not stay the night.

Does your houses allow smoking?

Smoking & Vaping is strictly forbidden inside ALL of our properties. However, you are perfectly free to smoke in the beautiful great outdoors surrounding each rental. Please use good sense and courtesy regarding your ashes, butts, or other potentially hazardous materials. Never smoke never the entrances so that the smoke comes inside the home...and then the fire alarms go off. Do not litter.

What is your cancellation policy?

When you rent a property from RPM Rentals, the entire property is reserved for your exclusive use, and so it is unavailable for anyone else to rent. A cancellation usually means that nobody will be able to stay at the property for that time, because most people plan their vacations in advance. Therefore, we do not encourage cancellations.

For all properties, the cancellation policy is as follows:

"One hundred percent (100.00%) of the total booking charges will be refunded if the cancellation is made more than 60 days prior to the arrival date of the reservation. Fifty percent (50.00%) of the total booking charges will be refunded if the cancellation is made more than 30 days prior to the arrival date of the reservation. Zero percent (0.00%) of the total booking charges will be refunded if the cancellation is made more than 0 days prior to the arrival date of the reservation. For cancellations made within 0 days prior to the arrival date, no refund will be issued."

We highly recommend buying travel insurance - either standard or CFAR (cancel for any reason) - when booking a vacation rental.  Needing to cancel or move dates is extremely common and it greatly helps to have travel insurance if the unforeseen happens.  We sell travel insurance directly through our software and can provide you links to buy it with your booking.  Please contact us about this if you have questions.  It typically costs about 7% for standard and about 9% for CFAR.

How do I get into the house I rented?

About 24 hours before your scheduled arrival, we send you an email with directions and an access code to a electronic lock on the house. This way, you can arrive however late suits your schedule and you don't have to worry about meeting anyone in person. If you have multiple cars coming, you can give everybody the code, and whoever gets there first can unlock the door and get in (at your scheduled check-in time). If for some reason you don't receive this email, check your SPAM folder or write us to have it re-sent to you.

What if my guest numbers change after I make a booking?

No problem! You can simply change your guest numbers up or down by letting us know, and we'll adjust the charges accordingly. Please note that we cannot allow reduction of guest numbers within 2 weeks of arrival, because we've already started stocking and preparing for the numbers you gave us. We may, however, still be able to increase guest numbers right up to arrival. Please contact us for confirmation.

Who counts as children?

When counting guests at our properties, children are defined as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This includes infants but does not include those yet unborn.

Do you accept service animals?

Any of our properties which accept pets can also accommodate service animals by prior arrangement, for which there will be an additional cleaning charge. Documented, government-issued proof of service animal status is required.

How can I get to the beach?

You can find a map of public access points here: https://www.gulfshores.com/blog/things-to-do/beaches/quick-list-of-public-beaches-on-the-alabama-gulf-coast/

Can I park my bus/RV at the house?

Currently none of our properties allow for large buses or RV's to be parked at the property. You are welcome to park any normal vehicle that you can make fit into the driveway. Basically, if it's larger than a 15-passenger van - don't count on it.