Garden City Beach Vacation Rental FAQs

Garden City Realty offers Red Sky Travel Insurance to guests. When a vacation is interrupted as a result of injury, sickness, death, mandatory evacuations, or certain other perils beyond control, this program will cover non-refundable payments and other identified costs. There are many benefits and advantages of purchasing trip insurance. As with any insurance policy, there are terms and conditions that apply For complete details, click here to view our Travel Insurance information page. 

We understand you may have questions about your upcoming vacation. Below are some commonly asked questions regarding cancellations and travel insurance.

I purchased Sun Trip Preserver travel insurance from Red Sky. What should I do if I need to file a claim?

Garden City Realty does not oversee travel insurance claims; however, we understand that fear of travel is not covered. You will need to reach out to Red Sky to see if your claim is covered. Click here to go to the Red Sky website.

If you choose to cancel your reservation and your claim is not covered by travel insurance, our standard cancellation policy applies.

I booked through VRBO and purchased travel insurance through them.

If you booked trip insurance through VRBO or CSA you will need to reach out to them for information about your policy. Unfortunately, we do not oversee that policy. Click here to visit the CSA trip insurance website.

I elected to not protect my trip with travel insurance. What are my options?

Should you decide to keep your existing reservation in place, please know operating hours of restaurants, retail stores, local attractions, and events may continue to be affected by COVID-19 related social distancing guidelines. Local grocery and paper product supplies may be limited as well, therefore, you may want to bring your own necessities. However, a major benefit to staying in one of our clean and spacious homes and condos is the ability to distance you and your family from others. You can control your environment by knowing no other people will be in your home while you are there, cook your own meals, and venture out in your own vehicle.

If you choose to cancel your reservation, our standard cancellation policy applies. Reservations are non-refundable. If a reservation is canceled an amount of 80% of the reservation payments will be refunded once the property is re-rented for the full amount of the original reservation. If the property is re-rented for a lesser amount the difference will be withheld from your reservation payment as well as the 20% cancellation fee.

Please submit questions pertaining to insurance to Red Sky or your insurance carrier. Click here to go to the Red Sky website.

Our office is located at 608 Atlantic Avenue in Garden City Beach, SC. Once you receive a text message that your property is ready for arrival, you may come to our main office to check-in and receive the keys for your vacation rental. For properties with keyless entry, we may still require you to check-in at our office. Instructions for entering the property along with your keyless entry code will be provided upon check-in.

Properties will have linens, pillows, bedspreads, cookware, serving utensils, dinnerware, silverware, glasses and cups, coffee pot, etc.*Effective June 5, 2021, all reservations include linens.

For the safety of our guests, items that are perishable or can become unsanitary are not kept in the properties. Guests will be responsible for bringing basic grocery ingredients, paper products, beach equipment, and more. Click here for additional information regarding your stay and a list of recommended items to bring.

Parking lots are maintained by each complex and/or HOA. Parking passes are issued in accordance with the rules and regulations set by each HOA. If bringing multiple vehicles, please verify it is permissible within the rented condo complex. Trailers and golf carts are not permitted in condominium parking lots. Parking passes and parking lot configurations vary per complex. 

Beach home parking may be restricted due to the physical limitations of the property. Campers and motor homes are not permitted on the premises of any property. Some properties are in communities which may restrict motorcycles, trailers, or golf carts on-premise. If this is of concern, please verify when booking your reservation.

Can I have an extra parking pass?

Garden City Realty is not permitted to give additional passes for condo complexes due to regulations set by each HOA.

Garden City Realty is happy to provide parking passes to our overflow lot located just behind the Garden City Car Wash on Cypress Avenue. This lot is for Garden City Realty's guests as a complementary space to park extra cars, trailers, etc. during the stay. Guests can receive a pass to our overflow parking lot at our Main Office located at 608 Atlantic Avenue, passes must be visible within the vehicle at all times.

Need help finding the overflow lot? We will provide a map that has the physical address of the overflow lot, along with pictures of the landmarks surrounding the lot.

Private pools at our rental properties are open year-round. Heated pools are limited to participating properties during defined times of the year. Heating of pools must be requested in advance and may be subject to additional fees. 

Condo complexes have a defined season for their community pools and hot tubs. Pools are typically open mid-April through September, the HOA of the complex is in charge of regulating pools. Garden City Realty does not regulate pools at condo complexes and cannot guarantee when a pool will open or close. 

Horry County | Lifeguards are required to be stationed south of the town limits of Surfside Beach through Garden City Beach to the Georgetown county line, approximately half a mile south of the Garden City Pier, from May 15 through September 15.

Surfside Beach | Lifeguard stations can be found at the following locations from May 15 through September 15: Holiday Inn at 16th Ave. North, 12th Ave. North, 6th Ave. North, 3rd Ave. North, 1st Ave. North, Days Inn at Pier, 4th Ave. South, 15th  Ave. South, 10th Ave. South, and 13th Ave. South.

Surfside Beach | Any canopy, tent, or other shading device shall not exceed a maximum size of ten feet by ten feet (10' x 10').

Horry County | Shading devices, other than circular umbrellas with a circular shade no greater than seven feet six inches (7’6”) in diameter and small pop-up/blow-up cabanas for infants and very small children, are not permitted on the beach (year-round).  This includes, but is not limited to, tents, tarps, cabanas, pavilions, sports-brellas, or similar devices.  An umbrella is defined as a collapsible circular shade consisting of a natural or synthetic fabric shade stretched over hinged ribs radiating from a central pole without grounding lines or ropes.

Georgetown County | Beach tents and cabanas are permitted.

Owners are responsible for the removal of pet waste on beaches and other public property.

Surfside Beach | Dogs or other domestic pets are NOT permitted on the public beach from May 15 – Sept. 15.

Horry County | Any animal on the beach must be on a hand-held leash not to exceed six feet in length and under the control of the person having custody of the animal. Animals are not allowed on the beach from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 1-Labor Day. It is unlawful to ride a horse or other animal on the public beach or within public marsh areas within the county limits March 1-Oct. 31.

Georgetown County | Dogs must be leashed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dogs that are not leashed during other hours must be under voice control and owners must be able to demonstrate voice control to a law enforcement officer if asked. No horses on the beach from March 1 to October 31.

Myrtle Beach is located approximately 20- 25 minutes north of Garden City Beach.

You must be at least 25 years of age to rent. Additionally, we will not allow anyone younger than the age of 25 to check-in for the reservation holder (pick up paperwork, key, etc.).

Unfortunately, our homes are designed for family vacations and are not to be used as venues or to hold events. We can offer accommodations if your event is being held locally, but the event cannot be at the property.