Today Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced, beginning Monday, the state would move into a “full Phase One,” and short-term rentals can reopen if counties submit a plan for opening safely. DeSantis added, “If your plan says you’re going to accept guests from New York City, I’m probably not going to accept that.”
Throughout Florida’s shutdown, DeSantis has kept timeshares, resorts, hotels, motels, and inns open. He gave his reason for that today saying that he needed to have places to “put up” national guard if needed.
DeSantis’ message to counties: “For the vacation rentals, what we’re doing is telling counties, if you want short-term rentals—if you want them to be open—you submit your plan and you can show how they are going to be safe.”
Bars and movie theaters also remain closed, but like vacation rentals, amusement parks can submit plans to the state show they plan to reopen safely.
In addition, DeSantis further opened restaurants and retail, effective Monday to 50 percent.
If Hotels and Motels Inns And Resorts remain open there should be no restriction on short term rentals the only difference is on short term rentals we have to clean and disinfect after each guest do the hotels and motels do it? Who is going to reimburse us for all the lost revenue? Staying in a short term rental is just as safe if not safer than staying in a hotel, wear mask in elevators and common areas practice social distance but most importantly get out in the sun staying cooped up indoors only harbours the virus as soon as we get back to what normal will be like our bodies own natural immune system will start fighting the virus
I am planning on coming to Florida May 30-June 7 and feel staying in a vacation rental is a much safer and better option for me. Hopefully Lee county submits a letter to the Governor asap but this really shouldn’t have to be done. I have 3 hotels booked, 14 days to go and no idea where I will be staying. We are from Brookfield, WI and are looking forward to this first vacation in 8 years. Daughter is 16 turning 17 during the trip and has unfortunately been chronically ill with GI syndromes for 2 years. We booked a vacation rental in Cape Coral in early March before the craziness started figuring it would be a good quiet, relaxing option for her since there are many days she doesn’t feel well most days. Now I believe it is a much safer option for us as well. The Florida Governor seems reasonable in other regards but this one doesn’t make sense. Our family has already lived a nightmare with our daughters illness and over 14,000 in medical bills. Already had to reschedule vacation 3 times waiting for beach to open since our daughter has never seen the ocean. Never imagined at this point our rental would still be in jeopardy. I have emailed the governor many times but now I guess will work on the County. I will keep my fingers crossed!