The Historic Volante Hotel was completely refurbished and updated inside but retains its old Southern Charm from the 1890's. It is now a private residence and available to rent only to one party at a time. Spend your holiday in a true southern mansion. Historic oak trees with Spanish moss grace the extensive gardens planted to attract hummingbirds. There are wrap around verandas on both the first and second levels. The house has 3 levels and 6 large bedrooms. There are 4 bathrooms all complete with shower facilities. Relax on the veranda and sip your mint julep. The property has beach access and a 300+ ft private pier with a large boathouse. The property is on a private street and is very quiet despite being less than 5 minutes drive from the center of Fairhope. The beach is sandy and good for walking, swimming or boating. It is a wonderful house for family reunions, or to just step back in time and get away from it all. The furnishings have been carefully selected to provide comfort and charm.
Property manager
Margaret Hildick-Pytte
Languages
English, Spanish
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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The Tenants are to use the stairs leading down to the beach, the terraces, the pier, the dock, and the boathouse at their own risk.
Owner and Rental Agent reserve the right to make repairs as necessary, and to enter the property with reasonable notice, or without notice.
NO REFUNDS will be made for appliance(s) or mechanical failures or breakdowns. The Rental Agent shall have the right to arrange, inspect and repairs.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No weddings. Only with prior approval by owner.
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property
About the area
Fairhope
Located in Fairhope, this holiday home is on the beach. Windmill Market and Fairhope Avenue are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Village Point Park Preserve and 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Al Trione Sports Park or J.D.Sellars Stadiumm. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Fairhope, AL
What's nearby
Eastern Shore Art Center - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
Fairhope Avenue - 3 min drive - 1.8 km
Fairhope Municipal Pier - 4 min drive - 1.8 km
Fresenius Medical Care at Thomas Hospital - 5 min drive - 2.5 km
Magnolia Beach - 5 min drive - 2.9 km
Getting around
Mobile, AL (BFM-Downtown Airport) - 32 min drive
Restaurants
Wingfingers - Fairhope - 6 min drive
Sandra's Place - 3 min drive
The Coffee Loft - 8 min walk
Agave - 5 min drive
Cactus Cantina Mexican Grill of Fairhope - 18 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Spend Your Vacation In A Real Southern Hotel pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Spend Your Vacation In A Real Southern Hotel?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Spend Your Vacation In A Real Southern Hotel?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Spend Your Vacation In A Real Southern Hotel located?
Nestled on the beach, this Fairhope holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Mobile Bay, Eastern Shore Art Center and Windmill Market. Fairhope Avenue and Fairhope Museum of History are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This was our third annual yearend stay and the place is still a marvel and a delight. A fine home offered by fine people who make sure everything is just right.
The property was even better then listed. Location Location Location, and what a view and great place to relax after playing the RTJ trail or walking around Fairhope. Felt like home.
This is our third year in a row staying at the property. It is absolutely magical with the most amazing sunsets and views. We love walking out to the pier and walking on the beach. The house is amazing and very spacious as well. We will be back again for sure!!
I can’t begin to say enough great things about this property!!! Our family had the best time. We will be returning every summer to this home. The house, porches, grounds, wharf and location was perfection!!!
Our family had a great Thanksgiving at this beautiful home on the bluff in Fairhope. The weather was not very cooperative, but we did brave trips down to the wharf and enjoyed having our big Thanksgiving meal at the beautiful dining room table. Cozy beds, and plenty of room to spread out. Thanks for a lovely trip!
The house was/is as advertised. We stayed as a family (three generations) and were able to spread out across the three floors. It is a private location and we did not have to deal with crowds. The porches were great (as was the rest of the house) and we enjoyed our stay.
The home was absolutely beautiful and beaming with authentic southern charm while providing all the needed amenities for our family gathering. The pier and boathouse were great for relaxing and fishing which allowed for a few teaching moments with some of our youngest. The only downside was that we arrived post tropical rain storm so the beach was not too enticing, but the close proximity to local sites and beaches kept everyone busy. Melissa was prompt and helpful with all communications and made us feel welcome. I would highly recommend this beautiful home for a relaxing vacation.
We had a grandson graduate from Auburn on one Saturday and another one get married the next one. We choose one day to celebrate both of these events and Christmas. We started at 10 and went to 10! The place was perfect for this. We never felt cramped. Our host graciously provided many lovely dishes and accessories that we used. We would recommend it to others and hope to visit again in a few years.
Mary M.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2021
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
Kathy B., Foley, Minnesota
9 Jan 2017
Such a Beautiful Home!
Our family was visiting Fairhope for a family wedding in December and had the privilege of staying in this amazing house. So cozy and comfortable, plenty of room for our group of 12. Everything was perfect, beginning with our arrival, we were given a complete tour of the house and everything was thoroughly explained to us. I was amazed at the stock in the kitchen, any utensil you could possibly need was in this kitchen! We spent a lot of mornings having coffee on the porches, and in the evenings enjoying the view of Mobile Bay. So peaceful, yet so close to Fairhope where we found so many things to do in this unique town. We have stayed in vacation rentals many times before, but this one was exceptional! Margaret was so helpful and so easy to correspond with during the entire rental process. The house was even better than the pictures! I would love to come back to this unique property some day, and would highly recommend this house on the bay! Thanks for a memorable stay!
We stayed at the house for a month and it was such an enjoyable experience. The house is beautiful, comfortable and overall amazing. We will be back for another stay!
We loved your porch. You could see the water and all your plants. We loved your back yard. Your home was beautiful and we so admired your beautiful furniture. I think I could have stayed for the summer. Thank you for allowing us to spend time in your home. Thank you for furnishing coffee, shampoo & others. That was so nice of you. You are a dear lady.
We loved the wrap-around porches! The house was large enough for plenty of together time and private time. The kitchen had ample dishes for our group size. The fishing off of the pier was great for little kids with many small varieties biting frequently. However, our dreams of kids playing on the beach and swimming were dashed when we saw an alligator on our first day and spoke with locals about the water quality. We also had to move a substantial amount of fragile items from table surfaces with little kids in the house. We had a great visit!
House was great for a crowd. Boys loved fishing from dock! Kitchen wAs so well equipped. Great stay!!
James H.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2020
About the host
Hosted by Margaret Hildick-Pytte
Tony and Margaret are residents of Australia. We have another property on VRBO in New Hampshire. We are US citizens but have been living and working in Australia since 1995. This property is near Margaret's mother who lives in the Pascagoula area. We found the house and fell in love with it's original southern charm. Margaret was born in Biloxi, Mississippi and is a southern girl at heart. This is the perfect place for escaping the harsh periods of the northern US Winter.
Why they chose this property
This property has been lovingly restored to accent the 1800's in the south but completely updated with modern accents and appliances. It is a historic hotel that catered to the genteel society of the day. Oak floors, period furnishings, large wood burning fireplace and spectacular views are only the beginning. The graceful gardens flower all year long with large camellias, azaleas, perennials, and oaks bearing Spanish moss. The gardens were planted to attract hummingbirds. The house is great for family gatherings.
What makes this property unique
There are two levels of wrap-around verandahs complete with furniture in both the front and back of the house. Many private areas for relaxing and contemplation. The area is so quiet and is like stepping back in time some 100+ years. Yet the town of Fairhope is just some 4-5 minutes drive away. Access to the beach is by stair, with landing. The beach is sandy and is suitable for daily walks and the Yacht club is just a short walk some 300 ft from the private pier. The property has a private pier with a grand boathouse complete with electric jet ski lift and power and water. There is a dock at the end of the boathouse for swimming, crabbing, and fishing. The gardens are spectacular with flowers blooming all seasons.