One of the many questions we get regarding our Myrtle Beach condo rentals is what is the difference between an oceanfront condo and an ocean view condo.  If you take the words literally, they both mean the same thing. If the condo is oceanfront, then obviously you have a view of the ocean.  No?  These aren’t literal definitions though. Let’s explain.

Oceanfront Myrtle Beach condos are parallel to the ocean, meaning you are facing the ocean while standing on your balcony. Simple as that. The building is not tilted, nor do you have a side unit that has a VIEW of the ocean.  When you look out your balcony door, the ocean is directly in front of you looking straight ahead.  This added luxury is why oceanfront condos are usually more expensive – the view is spectacular.  The photo below is an example of an oceanfront condo rental:

Oceanfront Condo - Notice How the Beach is Parallel to the Balcony?

Myrtle Beach condo rentals that have an ocean view, on the other hand, might still have a very nice VIEW of the ocean, but your balcony might be on the side of the building, rather than in the front (or back, for that matter). These condos generally are less, simply because you are not paying for the view.  There is no difference in actual quality of the unit itself. You can still expect your tiled floors, jacuzzi tubs, and granite countertops – just not the view.  Keep in mind, there are other types of an ocean view condos as well. If there is a home or condo on the second row, there still might be a good view of the ocean – but you might need to walk an extra 100 feet to get to the beach.

Ocean View: You can still see the ocean, but it's not directly in front of you.

We have a wide assortment of both oceanfront and ocean view Myrtle Beach condo rentals. Summer is already booking up fast though. Don’t hesitate too long. The best condos are already sold out!

Thanks to a tweeter on twitter, I found nice article about the Grand Strand area in U.S. Airways Magazine (yea, I know, odd).  I, for one, have not seen a U.S. Airways magazine in the past, even though I have flown with them on many occasions.

Even so, it’s not just one article, but a few good ones about the different aspects of Myrtle Beach, from golf to business to a “best of Myrtle Beach section”.  Let’s start with the fun stuff, shall we?

The named the Best Golf Hole as “The Gambler”. It’s at MBN’s Kings North course. Par 5, designed by Arnold Palmer. They say the best route is just a roll of the dice.  Best Ice Cream? Despite a mixture of good and bad reviews on the Myrtle Beach Restaurants website, Painters Homemade Ice Cream in North Myrtle holds the title for excellent ice cream.  Best Souvenirs? The Gay Dolphin on the ocean drive section of Myrtle Beach. And Collector’s Cafe brought the title for fine dining.

Now I have to throw facts out at you about Myrtle Beach. Some of these are pretty staggering.  The Grand Strand area has more than 47,000 hotel ROOMS, 1,700 restaurants, 1,800 golf holes, 15 million annual visitors and 60 miles of beaches.  Pretty nifty huh? There were also 3,387 marriage licenses issued in 2008 from Horry County, according to the article.

New Boardwalk

One of the articles even touched on the new Boardwalk that should open next summer. It will be 1.2 miles and connect the two piers in the downtown Myrtle Beach area.  The boardwalk will be broken down into three sections, a) a nature trail, b), a “nostalgic reverie with mom-and-pop shops and restaurants”, and c) the promenade, which will have larger areas for special events and concerts. This new boardwalk should add another who dynamic to the Myrtle Beach vacation. And since it is close to many Myrtle Beach hotels and condos, access to it will be quite easy for the tourists.

Some Pavilion History

Ready for a Myrtle Beach history lesson? Did you know the Myrtle Beach Pavilion was lost in a fire, not once, but twice? The first in 1920 (rebuilt in 1925) and then again in 1944.  Then in 1948, Burroughs and Chapin rebuilt it for the third time, but used reinforced concrete walls. The park was host to 40 seaside rides, including a carousel that was 1 of 15 in the United States. It also included South Carolina’s tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster.

Like I said, these articles covered quite a bit in the Myrtle Beach area and were well written. It’s good to see Myrtle Beach noted and on the map.  We don’t  just have Myrtle Beach condos and hotel rooms, but a history of golf, games, amusement and much more.

Myrtle Beach always does Christmas right! There are plenty of events and activities here for those of you staying with us in one of our winter condo rentals.

Live Shows
Get into the spirit of the season by catching special Christmas performances. The Carolina Opry’s Christmas special is an old favorite with comedy, music, and fun for the whole family. The Palace Theatre will be featuring the famous Twelve Irish Tenors singing holiday classics all month long, along with award-winning performers Michael W. Smith December 3rd-5th and Debbie Reynolds December 8th-12th. If you’re looking for humor, Atlantic Stage will be presenting David Sedaris’s hilarious Stantaland Diaries. And don’t miss Myrtle Beach’s own Long Bay Symphony Orchestra performing Handel’s Messiah on December 6th at Myrtle Beach High School.

Holiday Events
Start off the month with the Christmas tree lighting in Surfside Beach on December 3rd. You can enjoy holiday parades at Broadway at the Beach on December 5th, and at Surfside Beach on December 12th. Market Common will have free carriage rides every Saturday, along with ice skating in the last two weeks of December. There’s a Winter Arts & Crafts Show at Springmaid Beach Resort this weekend, and don’t miss the Christmas Towne Holiday Festival at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on December 13th. And round off the year at Broadway at the Beach’s New Year’s Eve Party!

We here at CondoLux would like to thank you for another great year, and look forward to seeing you on your vacation again in 2010! As always, you can check out our Myrtle Beach vacation rentals.

Get ready for the Christmas season and enjoy beautiful Myrtle Beach during a quieter, more unhurried time of year during November!  There are quite a few interesting things to do this month along the Grand Strand.

Performances
The Carolina Opry’s Christmas Special lasts all November and December. This holiday show features music, comedy, and dance all themed around Christmas and the holiday season. Another winter classic, The Twelve Irish Tenors, will be performing at the Palace Theatre this winter as well.

Concerts
Myrtle Beach is lucky to have a professional orchestra, The Long Bay Symphony Orchestra. They will be performing their concert series this month on November 8 at Myrtle Beach High School. And don’t miss the Youth Orchestra’s fall concert on November 19th, also at Myrtle Beach High School.

Christmas
It’s never too early to start enjoying Christmas at Myrtle Beach! Broadway at the Beach holds its Christmas tree lighting on November 7th, while Market Common will have its own tree lighting on November 27, along with free carriage rides starting November 28 every Saturday until Christmas. Little River will be holding a Christmas Market with a parade on November 28th.

And don’t forget, we offer plenty of Myrtle Beach winter rentals for those who want to beat the rush and get a great deal!

There are several ways to cut down the expense of insuring your vacation home in Myrtle Beach. Here are some great tips from our local  insurance agent, Scott Todd of Todd Insurance Agency, Inc.

1. Get a longterm customer discount – If you’ve had homeowner’s insurance with the same company for years, think twice before moving to a new carrier. You may be getting discounts for having that policy for a long time. Do the math and see if moving to a new company will save you money. (Many companies grant the same discount if you’ve been with a prior company for a long time)

2. Combine your vehicle, boat or motorcycle, and homeowners insurance policies and keep them with the same company. This is one of the biggest discounts you can have.

3. Try to purchase your home nearby to a “paid” or city fire station. Volunteer fire stations will help, but your best discount is being near a city organization. Try to make sure you have a fire hydrant within a mile of the house for even more of a discount.

4. Add a security system to your home. Make sure you keep well-maintained fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, carbon dioxide detectors, even an alarm for radon gas. Don’t forget to notify the agent when you’ve done this. Neighborhood Watch communities can help, too.

5. Don’t own a typically vicious dog or dangerous animal. Any type of dog like a doberman, rottweiler, or pit bull can increase your homeowner’s liability insurance. Resist the impulse to get that new “wild” cross-bred cat, too.

6. Keep pools, hottubs, or trampolines behind a locked fence, and maintain guard rails on any outside stairs. Many times these fall under city ordinances as well.

7. When figuring your appraised value, deduct the amount that would cover land only. You want to insure only the home or structure, not the rocks and grass!

8. If purchasing, choose a newer home. Most insurance companies charge more for older homes due to repair rates.

9. Stick to a well-known national insurance company and choose a higher deductible. You may find a lower rate with a fly-by-night company, but if you have to make a claim, they may have flown!

10. Keep a high credit score, or choose one of the insurance companies that don’t count your credit rating in your premium charges. If you’ve got excellent credit, find a company that rewards it. Taking the time to do a little homework can help your insurance expenses whether it comes to SC homeowners insurance or cheap car insurance in Myrtle Beach.

Also, if you’re in another state and have your car insurance with a company, you can insure your condo in Myrtle Beach with the same company and get the same multi-policy discount. Todd Insurance Agency, Inc is fully licensed for any city in the states of North and South Carolina. Todd Insurance can protect your car, home, motorcycle, boat, provide renters insurance, and much more..

Contact them for details!

Todd Insurance Agency, Inc.
1515 Hwy 17 South
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(888) 288-8713 (Toll Free)

www.carolinapolicies.com