15 Amazing Airbnbs in Orange Beach, Alabama (2021 Edition) (2023)

FAQs

Which is better Gulf Shores or Orange Beach Alabama? ›

Gulf Shores vs Orange Beach- Beaches

Gulf Shores is larger than Orange Beach in terms of size — with more coastline compared to Orange Beach — so it offers more variety when it comes to beaches. The main public beach area in Gulf Shores is West Beach, which provides volleyball courts and other amenities for tourists.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are charming beach communities alive and vibrant, with a good mix of the young and old bringing excitement to the area. You'll find unique attractions, incredible dining experiences, fantastic lodging options,and adventure on and off the water.

There are more than 17,000 vacation condos, hotel rooms and beach houses in south Baldwin County. Orange Beach alone will have more than 9,000 of the almost 16,000 condos with Gulf Shores having about 4,500 and Fort Morgan about 1,600.

The revenue is up from $89.5 million in 2018, according to Airbnb's release. There are 60,000 Airbnb vacation rental hosts throughout the state. The Florida rental hosts earned a total of $1.2 billion in supplemental income through the platform.

Orange Beach is much less crowded in the fall. Despite the hot, humid weather, summer is still peak season for Orange Beach. June, July, and August are all super busy times to visit. In the fall, it might feel like you have the beach to yourself!

According to U.S. News, the prettiest beaches in Alabama are Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Gulf State Park, Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan, West Beach, Fairhope, and Robinson Island.

Per the City of Orange Beach: "Drinking alcohol is allowed on the beach but glass containers are strictly prohibited."

There is no alcohol allowed on state beaches in Orange Beach, and glass is prohibited on all beaches. However, beaches that are owned by condos allow alcohol in Orange Beach.

The beach is fun at night, too.

At night, you'll see people taking flashlights to the beach. They're out there because you can spot crabs making their way across the sand. However, the light from your flashlight may confuse sea turtles who think it's moonlight, causing them to head in the wrong direction.

Orange Beach ranks as one of Alabama's cities with the most expensive homes: Report | WKRG.

Is it expensive to live in Orange Beach Alabama? ›

The total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities for a single adult in Orange Beach is $39,425 a year — greater than the annual cost of living for Alabama of $35,317 and roughly in line with the national figure of $38,433.

The gulf and the land under the water are held by the state in trust for the public under the Public Trust Doctrine. In Alabama, except where designated on zoning maps as public beach, the property boundary line extends to the mean high tide line.

The Poconos, Pennsylvania

The Poconos has been rated as one of the most popular Airbnb destinations for a number of years running. One of its major attractions is that it's very accessible to travelers from multiple states which helps to ensure great occupancy rates throughout the year.

Florida: Airbnb's Hot Spot

1 with more than 3,400 Airbnb listings per 50,000 people.

#1: London, United Kingdom. London is one of the most visited cities in the world, receiving over 20 million international visitors a year and even more domestic travelers. It is no surprise that it houses a large number of Airbnbs, currently the most in any city at 71,000.

Hurricane season is June 1st through November 30th. Peak of hurricane season occurs in August and Septem- ber for interior southeast Mississippi, southwest Alabama and the western Florida panhandle. Keep in mind, hurricanes can strike any month during hurricane season.

The coldest month of the year in Gulf Shores is January, with an average low of 45°F and high of 62°F.

Orange Beach Weather

During the months of December and January, temperatures in Orange Beach are pleasurably warm, with average highs around 62 degrees, providing a nice springtime feel. While the water temperature is warmer than it should be for this time of year, (51 to 56 degrees), it's not warm enough to swim in.

Fort Morgan Beach is a hidden beach with the clearest water in Alabama.

Home to 32 miles of white sand beaches, Gulf Shores is one of Alabama's most popular coastal getaways thanks to the Gulf of Mexico's balmy waters.

What is Orange Beach known for? ›

What is Orange Beach best known for? Orange Beach, Alabama, is best known for its white sandy beaches and family-friendly activities. Orange Beach is one of the most popular getaways in the South.

Gulf Shores City Council plans to ban alcohol on city beaches during the 2023 spring break in March and April. GULF SHORES — Alcohol will be prohibited again on public beaches in Gulf Shores during spring break in an effort to discourage rowdy behavior by visiting students.

Orange Beach and Dauphin Island

He said that some locations ban smoking on their own grounds and near swimming pools. The city manages most of the beaches within its jurisdiction, even though access is through privately-owned condos and not via a public beach.

Gulf Shores' beach smoking ban is the first by an Alabama city; other coastal venues like Orange Beach and Dauphin Island aren't following suit at present.

According to gulfshoresal.gov, alcohol is NOT permitted on the beaches. There are plenty of other prohibited items to make sure you are aware of ahead of your beach trip. One other interesting thing not permitted in Gulf Shores are beach weddings. Weddings are NOT allowed on the Gulf Shores Public Beaches.

Smuggling booze onto the beach is easy if you're bringing snacks. Get a cooking syringe, citrus fruit (oranges work best) and inject your alcohol right in there. Make sure you evenly distribute the liquor across as much of the orange as possible.

You can buy alcohol on Sundays down there and there are liquor stores everywhere. Publix and the other grocery stores sell beer and wine, too.

As it turns out, a lot of people hunt for sea life on the beach, and small little creatures like crabs, sand fleas, and sand dollars show up and nighttime is the perfect time to catch them. Ghost crabs make their way to the surface of the sand as the air cools off.

Utilizing long wavelength light at 560 nanometers or longer, which appears amber or red, will prevent sea turtle disorientations and protect human health.

Gulf Shores Police Department's post

The curfew is now 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. immediately. Are Non-residents allowed in yet ?

What is the ethnicity of Orange Beach Alabama? ›

Race & Ethnicity

The largest Orange Beach racial/ethnic groups are White (96.4%) followed by Two or More (1.7%) and Asian (1.2%).

Inspired by Southern small towns, Downtown OWA's pedestrian-only streets are a destination for shopping, dining and entertainment! From big names like Paula Deen's Family Kitchen and Legends in Concert to coastal favorites, there's something for everyone in Downtown OWA.

The beaches are arguably nicer, the water is calmer, and the nightlife more energetic, but it can get very busy. In contrast, Orange Beach tends to be quieter, is better for low-key water sports like paddleboarding and kayaking, and is often seen as the better option for families with younger kids.

Top Retirement Destinations in Alabama

In the southern region, Orange Beach, Fairhope, and Gulf Shores offer beachfront living with affordable amenities. They were among the top three places where people over 65 were moving in 2022.

Roughly similar to the national average, our analysis shows that your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Orange Beach is one in 596. NeighborhoodScout's analysis also reveals that Orange Beach's rate for property crime is 22 per one thousand population.

The coldest month of the year in Orange Beach is January, with an average low of 44°F and high of 62°F.

The voice of so many film and TV shows, Morgan Freeman has a house in Gulf Shores, Alabama. He even helped pick the police chief a couple years ago. Now that is dedication to your community.

Prohibited Items and Actions

PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED on any of the sand beaches in Gulf Shores. Pets are welcome at Gulf Place, but they may not travel on the sand beaches. No glass or breakable containers. No alcoholic beverages.

The Alabama Gulf Coast offers more than 32 miles of beaches for visitors to explore. The sand here is made of quartz that came from the Appalachian Mountains thousands of years ago and has since been filtered down to create the gorgeous white beaches we see today!

You can earn up to $1,000 every month on average. This number can vary depending on your location, property, and hosting abilities. If you can present your visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience. Then you might be able to make a six-figure income from your side hustle and become an Airbnb millionaire.

Where do Airbnb hosts make the most money? ›

North America is the region with the highest revenue. The average Airbnb host in North America earned $41,026 in revenue. Asia-Pacific is the second highest earning region, with an average of $14,629 in 2021. In Europe, the average host earned $13,567 on Airbnb in 2021.

Tipalti, an accounting software company, just released data about the average annual earnings that Airbnb hosts make around the world, and the US is at the top of the list. With an average of $44,235 per year, US hosts flaunt the highest average annual earnings.

In terms of age demographics, 36% Airbnb guests are between 25 and 34 years old. 15% are teenagers aged 18 to 24, while only 13% of all Airbnb guests are 55 years or older.

Some localities have outlawed or put restrictions on Airbnb hosting for several reasons. One is that it takes away tax revenues normally paid to lodgers (although now Airbnb works with cities to collect such taxes), or takes away business from traditional hotels or bed-and-breakfast inns.

What is a good Airbnb booking rate? The average Airbnb occupancy rate varies for different regions. Several variable factors also come into play to decide the average booking rate. Based on hosts' responses on the Airbnb community and other forums, anywhere between 2% and 2.5% is a good booking rate for your property.

The most expensive Airbnb is located at Copperfield Bay, in the Bahamas. Musha Cay will cost guests an easy $60,000 each night. In exchange for that large chunk of change, guests will get to stay in a 12-bedroom villa located on Exuma Cay.

For your Airbnb occupancy, aim to be fully booked out 2-3 weeks out and at most 50% booked from 4-8 weeks out. Leave room for your schedule to capitalize on last minute travelers. But make sure to leave nice chucks of days so that you aren't left trying to fill odd 1-2 night gaps last minute.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are located approximately 6 miles from each other and are separated by Gulf State Park.

The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area is a tranquil region with a moderate climate (that means warm temperatures and sun-soaked skies year-round) and crystal clear blue-green water.

The City of Gulf Shores provides seasonal lifeguard services between March and September and encourages the public to swim at the protected public swimming areas (Gulf Place, West 6th Street, and Lagoon Pass) when lifeguards are present.

Can you swim at Orange Beach Alabama? ›

There are many white sandy beaches in the southern part of the state. Waters are usually warm enough to spend the day swimming at the beach. Popular destinations include Gulf Shores Beach and Orange Beach.

Fort Morgan Beach in Alabama

Bypass Gulf Shores and the crowds for quiet Fort Morgan at the inlet to Mobile Bay. Visit the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge to witness the beauty of an untouched barrier island habitat; three sea turtle species and migratory tropical songbirds stopover here.

The best times to visit Gulf Shores are March through May and September through November. Travelers can take advantage of these sweet spots outside the busy (and more expensive) summertime and enjoy swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, which still offers pleasant temperatures in the late spring and early fall.

Per the City of Orange Beach: "Drinking alcohol is allowed on the beach but glass containers are strictly prohibited." Releasing Balloons: The City of Orange Beach does not have an ordinance that prohibits the release of helium balloons on the beach.

This popular swimming hole, which is named “Blue Hole,” is located within the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, in Pinson, Alabama—just 15 miles from Birmingham. Hands down, the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve is one of Alabama's most beautiful areas.

The beaches are arguably nicer, the water is calmer, and the nightlife more energetic, but it can get very busy. In contrast, Orange Beach tends to be quieter, is better for low-key water sports like paddleboarding and kayaking, and is often seen as the better option for families with younger kids.

Prohibited Items and Actions

PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED on any of the sand beaches in Gulf Shores. Pets are welcome at Gulf Place, but they may not travel on the sand beaches. No glass or breakable containers. No alcoholic beverages.

The beach is fun at night, too.

At night, you'll see people taking flashlights to the beach. They're out there because you can spot crabs making their way across the sand. However, the light from your flashlight may confuse sea turtles who think it's moonlight, causing them to head in the wrong direction.

Like the rest of the southeastern U.S., the only alligator species in Gulf Shores is the American alligator, which is only one of two species worldwide. The other gator species is the Chinese alligator, which is becoming extinct due to the overdevelopment of its habitat.

If you are in Orange Beach or Gulf Shores, AL and have not yet had the opportunity to enjoy a dolphin cruise and watch tour, we urge you to book your first trip today. You will experience incredible dolphin sightings up close – we guarantee it.

What's the best time of day to swim in the ocean? ›

Daytime is the safest time for ocean swimming. Visibility is low in early morning hours and at dusk, and predatory animals in the water tend to move closer to shore at night.