For the past 25+ years, our family has rented various units at Hidden Dunes during spring break. This villa is easily the finest of all those in which we have stayed. The location absolutely cannot be beat if one does not insist on having a place directly on the beachfront. And even if one feels that a beachfront location is the "only" way to go, I would still highly recommend that this villa be given strong consideration, especially given all it has to offer in terms of condition, size, convenience, proximity and amenities - a total package that is tough to beat!
The owners and rental management personnel are great to work with - detailed, useful communication took place before and after the rental agreement was reached. The owners even took the time to call us after we checked in to make sure everything met our expectations (which it easily did!) They have have seen to it that the villa has all the necessary updates to make their vacation home comfortable and luxurious. The first-floor location allowed quick and easy access. The three bedrooms comfortably accommodated our group of five adults and two active toddlers. The high-end kitchen appliances made meal preparation a breeze. A favorite spot to relax was the large, nicely furnished porch overlooking the lake - a great place for one to easily slip into vacation mode any time of day or night. Very peaceful and comfortable.
As for the gated community of Hidden Dunes, itself, not having to cross a public street to get to the wide and wonderful deep-sand beach once on the grounds is a huge plus. Another huge plus is Hidden Dune's proximity to major shopping areas, many great restaurants, and the old (and new) beach towns along 30A. To top it all off, a sufficiently sized heated pool is just steps away from the villa's front door - a great "waterfront" option on those days during which the beach may be judged by some as being uncomfortably cool or windy. Or a great option at any time, as far as some in our group was concerned! :-)
I highly recommend Hidden Dunes and, more specifically, this particular villa for consideration when choosing a vacation spot along the beaches of the beautiful Emerald Coast. Lord willing, this first stay of ours in this exceptional villa will be followed by many more stays in the years to come!