Wyndham/Vacasa partnership has really been a game changer for my family. The ability to redeem just 15k points on a 1-bedroom condo or a house close to a beach is an absolute steal. I’ve written about our stays in North Carolina, Siesta Key and St. Augustine beach. However, my latest Vacasa redemption via Wyndham points is my most valuable yet. And it almost fell through.
Last Tuesday I’ve written about our terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week. Since my kid was scheduled to have elbow surgery on the same day as our check-in, I really wasn’t sure we would end up going. That’s one huge downside of Vacasa redemptions via Wyndham: your reservation becomes 100% non-refundable 30 days before your stay. If I could get my 45k points back, I absolutely would. But according to multiple data points, Vacasa is very firm on this policy. Plus, I wouldn’t want to guilt a rental owner into a refund because of what happened to my son. They may depend on this money to pay a mortgage on the unit.
Anyway, the policy is what it is and I agreed to it. I’ve mentioned before that it’s the reason I mostly reserve Vacasa rentals in my home state of Florida. That way, if something happens, I could easily find a relative or a friend who would gladly accept a free vacation at the beach on a tank of gas. Of course, I would rather it be us. So, I reasoned that if my son handled the surgery OK, we would go ahead and make the 1.5 hour drive to the beach, which is about the same distance as from the hospital to our house. He could rest there, and we would at least enjoy the view.
I’m so glad we went. After sleepless nights, and multiple visits to ER and auto shop, it was wonderful to kick back and listen to the ocean waves crashing against the shore. The rental was everything I hoped it would be. See the listing, description and photots+virtual tour on Vacasa website.
Sure, it’s not Hawaii, but still. Madeira beach is located 35 minutes from Tampa international airport, so it’s easily accessible if you need to fly. There is a lot to do in the area, as Clearwater beach is only 20 minutes away. Your stay may even coincide with a festival, like Sanding Ovations. Tons of fun for families, with various trucks selling amazing food.
Keep Florida weird:
As you may have heard, Wyndham has lowered the price cap on Vacasa to $350 all-in per night per bedroom (cleaning fees included). While it’s a bummer, I’m glad they didn’t eliminate this option altogether. I do feel like this partnership is on borrowed time regardless. Vacasa company is bleeding money, and recently had to do a reverse stock split in order not to get delisted on Nasdaq.
It’s hard to say what the future holds, but I personally have burned all of my Wyndham points on Vacasa. Fortunately, I’ve accumulated them on the cheap. But it could make sense to buy Wyndham points if/when they go on sale for 0.9 cents apiece. Getting this particular unit for $135 per night all-in is quite a good deal. Though it looks like during spring months it exceeds the $350 cap. You may have to play around with dates and length of stay.
Edit: as posted on One Mile at a Time blog, right now you can buy Wyndham points for 1 cent apiece. The sale ends November 27th.
Why this rental is a terrific value for families (who are not picky)
I will get to the cons in my next section, but let me list the pros first.
1) Unobstructed ocean view
Need I say more? You can hear the waves from the balcony.
Sunsets are incredible.
2) The condo is decently sized, with extra beds for kids
I didn’t take a lot of photos of the unit, since we were getting in late after my son’s surgery. My apologies. But hopefully, you will get a good idea on what to expect.
Living room
Kitchen
Murphy bed
The description actually doesn’t mention the fact that sofa turns into a queen sleeper, but it does. I do recommend you bring your own fitted sheet, as I only found one for the murphy wall bed. There are plenty of pillows and blankets. The bedroom has a king bed, and there is a door that separates it from the rest of the unit. All in all, it’s a very comfortable (and clean) condo, as long as you don’t mind the outdated decor.
Originally, we put my son on the murphy bed, but he was very restless after surgery and wanted someone near him. So, we put him with my husband in the bedroom, and he was very comfortable there. I ended up sleeping on the murphy bed, and it was decent. I was so exhausted physically and emotionally, I would probably fall asleep on the floor. My daughter slept on a cot that we brought with us.
We used Doordash (my referral link that will give you $20) for breakfast delivery one morning, and bought a few groceries at a nearby store.
3) Nice amenities for families
While it’s no Hyatt resort, the condominium has a basic heated pool and a hot tub, which were much appreciated.
You can find a laundry room on the same floor as the condo, literally 15 steps away. It costs $1.75 to wash a load of clothes, and $1.50 for a dryer cycle. You can use a credit card, which is so much more convenient that hunting for quarters.
4) Beautiful beach just steps away
I’ll let the photos do the talking.
Some cons you should be aware of
1) Old building
As mentioned earlier, this may not be the right fit if you want updated facilities and modern appliances. This isn’t that type of a place, but it also doesn’t cost as much as fancy resorts do either. The building was constructed in the early eighties, and it shows. The elevator is slow and kind of scary.
The rooms have a popcorn ceiling, which is a hallmark of that era. The dishwasher is very old and loud. Et cetera, et cetera. This place won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s OK. There are many far nicer options attainable via hotel points, as long as you don’t mind splurging.
To me, this unit ticks off most of the important boxes, so I’m willing to overlook the negatives considering the price we paid. The fact that we got to go at all is a miracle. If we rented a Vacasa unit in another state, we would have to take a loss.
2) Annoying code system for everything
I get that they do it for security, but man is it a pain in the behind. There are several different codes for elevator, pool area and the unit itself. The latter doesn’t seem to work very well, and takes several tries to unlock. We actually didn’t get the code for the pool, and had to ask one of the guests.
I also met a guy who said he never got an elevator code from VRBO, and had to climb to the second floor of the building in order to bring it down to the ground floor. If that happened to us, my husband would just go home. It is what it is, just be patient and reach out to Vacasa in order to get the current codes for everything. And make sure to carry your phone with you.
Final thoughts
Despite a few negatives, I consider this unit to be one of my best redemptions to date. In the future, I may even consider buying Wyndham points in order to book a weekend here. Though right now we need to conserve cash and use up the hotel points we already have. Fingers crossed, Wyndham/Vacasa partnership will stick around for the foreseeable future.
Author: Leana
Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.
I like Madeira Beach. Nice sand and a laid back vibe. The lack of chain stores is pretty refreshing, outside the mall by the bridge to Treasure Island. The 1960’s architecture does get a bit old though. Speaking of Treasure Island, there’s an annual pirate festival that looks great.
@Christian Yes, the buildings on this stretch of the beach are generally older. Still, I much prefer it to Clearwater area. Less people and laid-back atmosphere. Some fun festivals too, as you’ve mentioned.
To me, the best beach in the state is Siesta Key, hands down. But this one is a close second.