We are going to gulf shores for the first time this June, too! I spent hours looking at different condos. Usually you can get a pretty good deal using vrbo but I ended up getting a condo at Sunrise Village thru meyer realty. With taxes, cleaning, fees for the week was 1055. That was about as cheap as I could find. There is no balcony but it is directly on the beach. Of course I haven't been there but it looks like a decent condo for the price.