We are considering a second home purchase in St. Augustine for vacations and later for our retirement. Can anyone suggest specific areas to check out, or to avoid? We are looking for safe comfortable housing, quiet, near nature/beach, condo or single home in a gated community. Are there any 55+ communities you can recommend?

Thanks Fodors!

Aranda

"Can anyone suggest specific areas to check out, or to avoid? We are looking for safe comfortable housing, quiet, near nature/beach, condo or single home in a gated community."

Sure can, but I don't know what your budget is. Crescent Beach would be a great choice. Crescent Beach is located here: http://www.city-data.com/w8/bgm3497.gif

Do you want a good Realtor recommendation?

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Yes, a good realtor recommendation would be great, thanks!!

Stefanie Bernstein
[email protected]
[email protected]
(904) 669-5134

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Thanks Vic, loved your flight memory site. I'll be contacting the agent you recommended.

Happy trails,
Aranda

Hi all. My husband and I are in the same "situation" as Aranda. We have booked flights to arrive in Jacksonville (from Idaho) on April 22 and return on April 30. We want to explore the area as a possible second home/retirement in a few years. We are looking for recommendation on best place to stay for the week. I see a lot of VRBO listings but don't know which area is best. Also...I haven't booked a rental car yet but see rates are about $100 a day. What's with that? I don't see any alternative but would welcome ideas. I will check out the realtor that Orlando_Vic mentioned.

Shari

Just realized that it wasn't clear in my earlier post...we are interested in St. Augustine but flying into Jacksonville.

slkeyes,
One good place to stay is Beacher's Lodge which is on Crescent Beach. http://www.beacherslodge.com
It is an oceanfront condotel & we used to own one of the condos there. Stefanie's office is a few miles north on A1A.

Regarding a rental car, go to Thrifty.com and use corporate # 004M001010. I see rates for April 22-30 as low as $165 per week. This is the Orlando Magicard rate and available to all from here: http://www.orlandoinfo.com/magicard/download.cfm


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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

I love this forum!!! thanks, Vic. I've booked the rental car using this corporate code. I'll check out the Beachers Lodge and also send an email to Stefanie.

You're the best!

http://www.anastasiacondos.com/condo604.php

Love this place. We used to go every year and stayed in a family friends' condo over 20 years ago. A co-worker moving from S FL bought a condo here a few years ago. I love the floor to ceiling, wall to wall glass windows/doors opening to a screened porch off the living room and master bedrooms. Great location (IMO) and gorgeous beach. Small pool.

This looks great also. Thanks!

Just an idea but we have our second home in Ponte Vedra Beach just south of Jacksonville. It's a great little area, and what our family thinks is a hidden gem. There are some great places on the water, or across A1A, just a short walk to the water. Fabulous restaurants all over.

If you're looking for a place to stay sometimes you can find great rates at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. Before we had our place we stayed there several times for $150 a night, right on the water!

Good luck with your search!