Hidden Gems: Meet Dan Saunders of Third Coast Vacations

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Saunders.

Hi Dan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The short answer is, I kinda fell into it. From talking with others in this industry, I’ve learned my story is pretty common. It started when my wife (girlfriend at the time) wanted to get away from Chicago for Labor Day weekend with some friends. We booked our first vacation home, spent the weekend in Union Pier and fell in love with it.
Eventually we got engaged and planned a destination wedding here in New Buffalo. This required several trips out here and I let my future bride and her mom handle catering details while I explored the area. I soon found a townhouse for sale in downtown New Buffalo which we purchased and started renting ourselves. Thus began my vacation rental journey.

One home became two and soon people asked me to manage their second homes. A business was born and my inventory grew, but I was managing all this from Chicago. At the same time our family was growing and we decided Chicago wasn’t the right place for us to raise kids, so we moved to New Buffalo in 2009. It’s been a long road with different versions of what you see today in Third Coast Vacations. This growth has happened organically, by word of mouth and we take a lot of pride in that.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The landscape of vacation rentals has changed as has our local market. When I first started in 2004, we hosted guests for seven night stays Memorial Day to Labor Day. After Labor Day, my work was mostly done for the year. In the last 20 years Southwest Michigan has seen significant growth and exposure as a vacation destination, which is wonderful. We now have guests nearly every week of the year.

With the creation of AirBnB and other platforms, traveler dynamics have also changed. We’ve adapted to meet guests’ needs, which is an ever evolving process. This makes it crucial to have systems and the right people in place. Having a truly local team is part of our company ethos and hosting philosophy.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Third Coast Vacations?
I personally feel it is important to be truly local to the area where you’re hosting. We tell our guests that we live and breathe this community and we’re here to help. When they call to ask about homes, our team talks with them about their trip, the reason for their stay, the dynamics of their group, etc. We love suggesting great restaurants, hikes, shops, and the secret gems of our area. Calls don’t go to a call center to someone who has never stepped foot in Harbor Country, they come to us and love that.

We interact with our guests, we stop by to say hi or fix an issue. I’ve been to dinner with guests and shared drinks by the pool. Many times they ask what it’s like to live here. They see the appeal but can’t wrap their heads around living in a one stoplight town. I get it, it can be hard, especially in January and February. It’s the amazing community here that balances it out. I love the small time charm, it’s a friendly community and we support each other.

What are your plans for the future?
We’re going to continue to grow at the speed that feels right for us. Currently we’re building a new office and laundry facility in downtown New Buffalo which will be ready for Summer 2025. We also have a few ancillary businesses like gear rental and charcuterie that complement our business and provide a streamlined, one stop shop for guests.

We’re also launching a tourism site and publishing a travel guide featuring our vacation homes and other local businesses. We’re all about getting creative and spreading the word. Every new idea helps us grow and fine-tune our approach. The more people who hear about our one-of-a-kind hosting and vacation home management style, the better we can match with the right owners and guests for our brand.

Pricing:

• Homes for a couples getaway to large groups
• Locations from lakefront to country
• $150 nt to $4000 nt

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thirdcoastvacations.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdcoastvacations/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirdcoastvacations/
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@ThirdCoastVacations