COVID-19 FAQ

We take your safety seriously here at Gibson Beach Rentals!

COVID-19 cleaning response

Learn what we are doing to protect you:

  • Safety first! Our teams are cleaning with sanitizing protocols and CDC-approved cleaning products that are known to kill all pathogens after every guest departs and before the next guest arrives to ensure all surfaces are cleaned and sanitized properly, with special attention to high-touch areas.

  • Our Hospitality Ambassadors inspect every property after the cleaners and before your arrival to ensure the property is spic-and-span. We are following the CDC guidelines, wearing protective gear, and showing special attention to high traffic touch zones like remotes, lightswitches, doorknobs, and more.

  • Have no fear in having to stand in a long check-in line at the front desk. Our properties allow you to go straight to the condo and check-in with ease and have no direct contact to gain access into your vacation rental! Remember to download our guest app, and like always, we’ll call you when the property is ready for your arrival!

  • Contact-free service – Our teams want to make sure your stay is as enjoyable as it was the last time you visited. We’ll still be servicing our properties with any requests you may have but ask you vacate the property while our team enters and completes any repairs/requests. If it can wait, we’ll gladly add the task to our to-do list to be completed after your departure.

  • All bedspreads, linens and towels are cleaned between each guest stay by a professional laundromat that is also following CDC guidelines. Through our safe protocols, we are able to ensure that clean linen/terry is never contaminated with dirty linen. We will provide a freshly cleaned blanket for the sofa sleeper (if applicable). Owner blankets/decor pillows will be removed for the time-being. Pillows will have a cleaned pillowcase, but for any concerns you may have, we recommend bringing your own pillow. All Owner comforters have been removed as all Gibson properties are required to use our new duvet bedding system.

  • We will be placing a starter set of dinnerware, including dinner plates, bowls, glasses, coffee cups, and silverware in the dishwasher on a clean cycle for your arrival. When you check-in, make sure to open the dishwasher to find your clean, sanitized dinnerware waiting for you!

  • Srub-a-dub-dub! We are all washing our hands constantly, including every time we enter and leave a property.

  • Staying educated & trained – Our team is in constant contact with local/state officials to ensure we are aware of any updates or regulations affecting our properties and state. We are also ensuring our entire team receives ongoing training on enhanced COVID-19 awareness protocol. All staff are trained and following Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals, and the Vacation Rental Management Association sanitation guidelines as they correlate with our business model.

  • Most team members will remain working from home until further notice. For those team members who are required to work in the field/office to get everything ready for your stay, they will not be allowed to work if they are sick or have been around anyone who has been sick. We are practicing social distancing internally as well so our staff should not be within 6ft of each other at the workplace at any given time. Our staff is provided with the necessary PPE to help prevent the spread of the virus. Gibson created special COVID-19 Policies and Procedures that all team members must agree to before returning to the workplace. We are continuing to follow the CDC related guidelines applicable to public spaces and businesses.

Suggestions you can take for a healthy and safe vacation:

  • Ensure you are staying up-to-date with restrictions/directions from your own state and also for wherever you are looking to travel. All persons traveling to Florida from/through Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut are required upon entry to Florida to self-isolate or self-quarantine for 14 days, or for the duration of their presence in the state, whichever is shorter. Per county guidelines, all rental agencies are required to refrain from accepting reservations from COVID 19 hot spots in the country through July 3, 2020. To find county-specific information on Florida’s COVID-19 Data and surveillance, check out this Floridahealth.gov dashboard. All visitors are expected to follow the following Florida Executive Orders per our Governor:

    FL Executive Order 20-82

    FL Executive Order 20-86

  • If you feel sick, stay home. If you have been around anyone who has been sick, please stay home. The CDC has great information on What to Do If You Are Sick. The CDC also suggests you stay home and away from other people if you are an older person or a person with a serious underlying health condition.

  • Protect yourself and others –  Here at GBR, we are taking everyone’s safety seriously. Refer to the CDC guidelines on How to Protect Yourself and Others. Bring your own masks for you and your family.

  • Wash your hands frequently. GBR will be providing all of our properties with re-fillable hand soap at the kitchen sinks so our families and staff can stay healthy. Check out the CDC’s hand-washing FAQ page for more details.

  • GBR has teamed up with some excellent services to allow your family contact-free shopping. Have the fridge stocked before you arrive with services from Destin Grocery Girls or Be My Shopper – don’t forget these are some of our featured partners that offer you savings just from being a GBR renter! Please plan to bring your own toilet paper, paper towels and any cleaning supplies your family feels is necessary. Many restaurants are not operating at full-capacity so make sure to call-ahead for reservations or order to-go!

  • Social distance – while our beaches are open, and we want everyone to have a great time, we must all act responsibly and follow social distancing guidelines. No groups larger than 10. Groups to remain 6 ft apart, at minimum. This goes for the beach, while you are out shopping, etc.

  • At this time, we do not anticipate having to change our check-in (4pm CST) and check-out (10am CST) times, however we do ask guests be prepared and respectful of our cleaning crews and ambassadors inspecting. Trying to gain early access to a property before you are notified can put our teams in danger’s way, and we want everyone to feel comfortable during these unique times. We would suggest you have plans on what you can do should you arrive into town early – perhaps an early afternoon at the beach, stop in for an appetizer at your favorite local restaurant, or even take advantage of the free GBR Explore Package we provide!

  • Guests and Owners are asked to turn on all ceiling fans and HVAC fans (set to AUTO position) when leaving to help facilitate air circulation.

TRAVEL UPDATES: Resort Amenity Openings & Things to Know

FL re-opening: Phase 1 - Need to know Visit South Walton - Need to know Visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach - Need to know Walton County Traveler Notice Walton County - Travel update Okaloosa County - Travel update Walton County Restaurant update
Beach Manor Amenity update Beachside I Amenity update Beachside II Amenity update Beachwalk Villas Amenity update Crystal Dunes Amenity update Emerald Waters Amenity update Sandestin Pool update The Tides Amenity update Tivoli by the Sea Amenity update Westwinds Amenity update Villa Lago Amenity update
Beachside I Risk warning Beachside II Risk warning

Cancellation Policies

** THIS POLICY IS NO LONGER ACTIVE AS OF 5/20/2020 – NORMAL BOOKING CANCELLATION POLICIES APPLY **

If your reservation is within the next 45 days:

Our standard policies as indicated in your GBR Rental Agreement read: Reservations cancelled between 45-30 days prior to your scheduled arrival will result in a refund of half of the “Rent Charges Total” plus tax and full “Housekeeping Charge” plus tax. Cancelling your reservation for any reason within 30 days of your scheduled arrival will result in complete forfeiture of Total Booking Charges.

For folks looking to retain the full value of their travel investment, we are more than happy to offer an exception and allow guests a credit in the same unit for a stay before 12/31/2021. Gibson is not charging any fees to allow for you to cancel now and re-book later. If you want to go ahead and reserve the same time frame for next year, we can honor the same exact rates now for the same property. Should you choose new dates in 2020, new reservations will be booked at prevailing market rates – the rate you are booked at per night does not transfer, only the total of the reservation amount.

If you purchased travel insurance, we strongly suggest reaching out directly to the provider on the claim process before making a final decision not to visit.

If your reservation is more than 45 days out:

Our standard policies apply as indicated in your GBR Rental Agreement: Daily/Weekly Reservations cancelled a minimum of 45 days prior to the scheduled arrival date will result in a full refund of your prepayments less a $200.00 cancellation fee plus tax. 

** THIS POLICY IS NO LONGER ACTIVE AS OF 5/20/2020 – NORMAL BOOKING PAYMENT POLICIES APPLY **

If you are looking to book but haven’t made a decision yet based on our standard cancellation policies:

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY we’ll be accepting holds for any 2020 dates with no money down! We’ll confirm pricing with you ahead of time and lock you in for the dates. As soon as the vacation rental ban is lifted, our Vacation Experience Team will be in contact with you to confirm your booking. You’ll have 24 hours to confirm if you still want to come before we lift the hold and release the property for other travelers. This is a great way to lock in rates (before they go up) and not have to fear the what-if….

Still curious? Shoot us an email!