Beach House Rentals For Everyone

The beach house is a special type of residence. For many, it is the embodiment of summertime: fun in the sun, maximum time for relaxation, and total freedom from routine, even just for a week or two. From a historical perspective, the beach house plays an important role in defining the moment when owning a second house for the purposes of leisure became a reality for many people, especially in the United States. The seaside vacation home is a part of our culture. Just think of all the films and books that have are set in a beach house.

There have been several famous beach houses throughout history. Above you can see the beach house that William Randolph Hearst commissioned Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan to design for his mistress, Marion Davies. Far from the conception of the beach house as simple structure, Morgan's beach "house" actually turned out to be a 34-room Georgian estate on the sun-dappled beaches of Santa Monica. This property was the setting for massive beach parties filled with classic movie stars.

Modern architect Andrew Geller (who's inventive Frank House you see to the right) made his name designing inexpensive, imaginative beach houses for frazzled New Yorkers who needed respite from the strain of city living. Nowadays the latest trend is to rent an airstream or vintage trailer and literally make your holiday home right on the beach.

The form taken by the beach house must necessarily be based on the environmental demands of the land its built upon. Just as the beaches of the world have disparate climates and natural elements that affect them on an annual basis, beach house architecture also must adapt to suit the environment - or else get blown away by some natural disaster or another!

As you can see to the right, some architectural styles are more suited to certain areas that others. While the Colonial Saltbox beach house looks wonderful in Nova Scotia, it probably wouldn't be too popular - or practical - if it were built in a tropical environment prone to hurricanes.

Unfortunately, owning a second home on the beach solely for relaxation isn't in the budget for most of us. Enter beach house rentals. Rentals are a great way to test the waters and find out what your perfect beach house actually looks like. Perhaps you're the type of person who enjoys soaking up the sunshine next to an azure sea. Or maybe you're more into the rugged outdoor feel of rocky shorelines and coastal meadows. No matter what your fancy, there's a beach house rental out there for everyone.

While large-scale beach resorts and hotel chains can offer big luxuries and other extravagant extras for a price, the humble beach house rental offers something even more valuable: privacy. You won't be elbow to elbow with other guests and you certainly won't be sharing your pool with noisy kids who won't stop splashing (unless they're you're own). In addition, beach house rentals often come with special amenities like private pools, cabanas, and patios with incredible views of the beach. You won't have access to these types of luxuries at a hotel unless you pay extra.

If you're completely at a loss for where to start looking for a beach house rental of your very own, I recommend searching for a beach house rental that is both architecturally appropriate for the environment (so you know you're safe should the catastrophe strike) and ideally set in a gorgeous location with as many ocean-facing windows as possible. After all, you're going to be spending most of your time at the beach, so it may as well be a great spot.

Ultimately, the perfect beach house should have personal meaning, which can be hard to locate if you don't know what to look for in the first place. But take heart: it's now easier than ever to find your own summer hideaway. In the past, potential beach-goers had to flip through newspapers classifieds and call around for hours to find a beach house rental, often renting it sight unseen. These days, finding the perfect beach house rental is as easy as using Google. Just remember: architecturally appropriate in a gorgeous setting. And who knows, you might find yourself enjoying your time at the beach so much, you'll decide to take up permanent residence. It wouldn't be the first time!