West Palm Beach: A guide to short-term rentals
West Palm Beach is more than palms and beaches, and it’s just a mile west of the ocean. A short-term rental is the best way to explore all that this humming vacation destination has to offer.
Kasa's short-term rentals in West Palm Beach
With short-term rentals in the city’s most exciting neighborhoods, Kasa offers comfortable and convenient accommodations no matter what brings you to West Palm Beach or where you need to go.
Kasa's short-term rentals in West Palm Beach
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Apartment
Kasa Wellington South Florida
- BBQ
- Outdoor pool
- Fitness center
Nestled in the relaxed atmosphere of Wellington, FL and beside the beautiful Lake Lisbet lies this tranquil, sunny property. It’s just 30 minutes...
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Discover West Palm Beach
After booking your short-term rental in West Palm Beach, here's everything you need to know for your trip.
A city of over 100,000, West Palm Beach is a popular vacation destination known for its warm weather and beautiful beaches. It’s located 70 miles north of Miami and is considered part of Miami’s greater metropolitan area, which includes over six million people along the Atlantic coast.
West Palm Beach is separated from the smaller Palm Beach community by Lake Worth Lagoon, a narrow waterbody that runs parallel to the coast between the mainland and barrier islands that include Palm Beach Island. To the city’s west, there is extensive marshland, which has forced the city’s development to expand north and south, rather than inland.
Before the arrival of the Spanish, the area that now includes West Palm Beach was inhabited by the Mayaimi, Jaega, and Ais tribes. By the time the English took control of Florida, these populations had been significantly diminished by war and disease. The Seminole and Miccosukee Native Americans, originally from farther north, moved into the area. But they were in constant conflict with settlers and the government.
In 1894, West Palm Beach was formally incorporated, making it the first municipality in south Florida, ahead of Miami. The city’s first industries were tropical fruits and tourism. The Florida land boom in the 1920s, the state’s first real estate bubble, led to rapid growth and a quadrupling of the local population. In 1928, a hurricane destroyed the city, and the Great Depression followed, which hurt the city’s prospects. But during World War II, a local Air Force base was constructed, and military personnel flooded in. Because of the city’s latitude, the base provided excellent access to North Africa, just across the Atlantic, making it an important strategic location.
After World War II, many veterans decided to make West Palm Beach their home, and further population growth was encouraged by the rise of air conditioning, which made Florida’s climate more enjoyable year-round. Today, West Palm Beach has a revitalized downtown with excellent shops, restaurants, and entertainment, and there are great short-term rental options near it all.
West Palm Beach is served by Palm Beach International Airport, a busy airport just a few miles southwest of downtown. And if you’re flying in and out of PBI, there’s good news: the airport has won numerous awards from travel magazines thanks to its traveler-friendly design and consistently low wait times.
If you’re staying near downtown West Palm Beach, you can easily take a taxi or a rideshare from the airport into the city center. However, most visitors to the area, especially those interested in exploring nearby cities like Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami, choose to rent a car for the duration of their stay.
The city's West Palm Beach Trolley and Palm Tran buses can get you to a variety of local destinations once you’re in the city, but their routes are limited. And taxis and rideshare services are always available, although for long-distance travel fares can rack up. The easiest place to rent a car is right at the airport. Pick it up when you land, then drop it off before your departing flight.
For a fascinating slice of local life, head to Clematis Street in the city’s downtown. Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shops, and live music venues line the street alongside historical landmarks. If you’re in town on a Thursday, Clematis Street is especially lively between 6 and 9pm.
Another great option for eating, shopping, and entertainment is The Square, not far from Clematis Street. The architecture is a throwback, with European-style sidewalk cafes and fountains.
The Norton Museum of Art is known for its distinguished collection of American and global art through the centuries, and Cox Science Center and Aquarium is a family-friendly way to get in touch with marine diversity, thanks to its interactive exhibits.
Animal enthusiasts will also enjoy Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society, where hundreds of animal species live in a shady, tropical setting.
If antiquing is part of your agenda, make your way to Antique Row, a famous strip of shops with eclectic treasures.
Some of the best restaurants in and around West Palm Beach are actually in Palm Beach, just across the lagoon on the barrier island that separates West Palm Beach from the ocean. There are clusters of terrific restaurants around Palm Beach’s County Road, especially where it intersects with the two roads leading back to the mainland: Royal Poinciana Way and Royal Palm Way. You can find a range of cuisines and a range of moods, from casual to formal. New Yorkers should also keep an eye out for West Palm Beach outposts of upscale institutions like Saint Ambroeus and La Goulue.
The number one outdoor activity that draws visitors to West Palm Beach is, of course, going to the beach. This is a delightful place to find a patch of sand, plant an umbrella (or not), unfold a chair, and enjoy the sight and sound of the ocean. However, not all beaches are created equal. The beaches right around West Palm Beach’s downtown can feel touristy and dominated by hotel crowds. For a quieter experience with more natural beauty, go to John D Macarthur Beach, slightly north of downtown. There are no lifeguards here, but on calm days swimming is lovely. Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, and Juno Beach are also loved by locals.
During World War II, West Palm Beach and the surrounding area were home to a large number of military personnel, who flooded in to staff and train at a new Air Force base. This base formed an important part of America’s global strategy, since it provided a straight shot to North Africa. This was not lost on Germany’s Nazi regime, which patrolled the coast in U-boats and repeatedly sank American merchant ships and oil tankers. To prevent German U-boats from having visibility at night, Palm Beach blacked out its lights after the sun went down.