Great Place for a Wedding!

Guest: SRQKate (Sarasota)
Date of Stay: 11/11/09 Review Submitted: 12/08/09

We live in Sarasota, but rented this house to host our wedding. The wedding party stayed in the house in the days leading up to and just after the wedding. Everything was perfect, we had a great time & Brian (owner) is really accommodating and made things super easy. We had the wedding in the large grassy side yard (80 ppl) and the reception in the back patio area & inside. The house has a lot of character and it came stocked with all that we needed (utensils, towels, washer, etc.). If you're thinking about renting this house for an event or large group vacation, I'd definitely recommend it!

Owner response:This was a lovely occasion. The house is suited to many types of receptions. The spaciousness allows for friends and family to ' spread out ' and make the most of a relaxing stay.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Lovely place with its own charm.

Guest: Gene K.
Date of Stay: 10/05/11 Review Submitted: 10/18/11

Very spacious and unique place! Ornaments, woodwork, craftsmanship and waning glitter of the prewar era. The place with its own charm! The ballroom was large enough to comfortably accommodate a party of 20+ guest at our wedding. And the spirit of history in the walls made it ever so more romantic. Those few problems that arose during our stay were promptly resolved by the owner, who went above and beyond to make our vacation pleasant and memorable. This place will stay forever in our memory. Thank you, Gene and Alia.

Owner response:I'm very grateful to these guests, they were delightful and patient .. We have just carried out some very major plumbing changes and Gene and Alia's party were our second arrivals, we had some fine tuning to deal with ..!! It was lovely to see a happy occasion, go off well ! We in the meantime will continue to integrate sympathetically modern expectations with memories of the past.

Recommended for:

Disappointing

Guest: Jaime P.
Date of Stay: 06/08/10 Review Submitted: 07/06/11

I so badly wanted to love this house. We had a large group that would love to get together in Florida every summer and hoped this could be where we would do it. Unfortunately it wasn't. The airconditioning in the kitchen was broken when we got there and took 3 days to get fixed. The day it was fixed, someone needed to stay at the house while they were there, which was disappointing to be trapped. Brian did not return our phone calls about it. However, the worst part were the fleas. We had several bites on our ankles and were trying to figure out what they were from. I figured it out when one jumped on my 9 month old baby's face. I thought it was a crumb, but as I brushed it away, it didn't come off because it was a flea. Then I proceeded to check the beds and found fleas in them. We had to bag up all of our luggage and immediately wash it when we got home, for fear of bringing fleas into our own homes. Because of having family in Florida, I know that you need to exterminate regularly or else you run into fleas. I hope he has since had this taken care of! Also, we found a pair of dirty underwear in one of the upstairs bedrooms (this bedroom was unusable because it was so hot--the air conditioning repair man told us that it's impossible for the air to get up there) with a dead roach laying next to it. The dead roach was better than the live ones that visited us, though. There were towels and sheets in the dryer that we had to fold, and dishes in the dishwasher that we didn't know if they were clean or dirty. My brother in law had to figure out how to get the pool filter working because Brian didn't respond to that either. It was very disappointing. The house has such amazing potential to be a great gathering place. But the fleas, roaches, lack of air conditioning, put a huge damper on it.

Owner response:This is a curious review.. !!! submitted a year later. I would point to reviews since then and not written or coerced by me. Never the less I'm saddened by the disappointment felt. We have pest control in place. Last summer we replaced the five zones of individually controlled a/c. Also installing two further units in the upstairs bedrooms. The pool is maintained by a prof. co. There have been times that due to turnover time, linens have been left to dry in the washer, generally with a note explaining this. We take our guest stays and comments to heart and will continue to try our best to make each and every stay a memorable experience.

Recommended for:

A Writer's Paradise

Guest: John Arlington and Miss Georgia (Gosnell, Arkansas)
Date of Stay: 05/18/11 Review Submitted: 06/06/11

Georgia and I are writers from Arkansas and are absolutely in love with everything about Sarasota. My family had a condo on Lido for thirty years. It has always been my second home. Georgia, a California girl wondered why she would ever go to Florida. Well, she’s hooked. We seek out gracious, historic properties for our stays and we nailed it with the House of Ringling. This is an elegant property, well appointed and very comfortable and quiet. We value our privacy and like to welcome guests on our own terms. We could do that in this beautiful house, or hold a graduation or wedding. And at a very reasonable rate. Brian O’Donnell is more than accommodating, he was available for everything we needed. Peaceful, inspirational, restful, serene, you bet. Whether you come for the beach, the wonderful food, horseback swimming in the bay this is the place to come home to. Thanks, Brian, we hope to see you next May.

Owner response:It was a pleasure and delight to have John and Miss Georgia stay. I thank them for their kind words and look forward to their next Sarasota sojourn.... ' HASTE YE BACK "

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Best Place to stay.

Guest: Susan (Chesterfield, MI)
Date of Stay: 05/11/11 Review Submitted: 05/19/11

We just got back from our trip yesterday and still can't stop talking about what a wonderful place this home is. We went to Florida for our daughter' s wedding. Our entire family came down for the wedding and stayed at the 3 homes that Brain owns. The Ringling Home is amazing. It was large enough to have the rehersal dinner and all our guest there. The home is so charming. It makes you feel you are back in time. Brain and Lori were amazing also. Anything we needed they had. We had arranged to rent this house and the Chauffers home next door. Brian called us the day we were flying in to tell me we could also have the house across the street for the weekend free of charge. He knew we were coming down for a wedding and since he didn't have it rented out he wanted to make sure we all had enough bathrooms to get dressed in. I would recommend this home or any of the homes Brian ownes in a heartbeat. I can't wait to go back. We will never stay in a hotel again after this wonderful experience we had. Thanks again Brain and Lori.

Owner response:Well... Susan, John, Kathy and not forgetting Grace ( if you ever want a job ??... ) were a pleasure to meet. They certainly made everything go like clockwork.. It was lovely to see such a happy family. The wedding I believe was outdoors on the water, it can rain in Fl. ... but like so many things about their trip.. the elements decided to work with them... choosing the time to downpour !! There was no need for housekeeping on their departure.. And all round.. they'll be remembered with fondness and a smile...

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

SPACIOUS, UNIQUE, COMFORTABLE

Guest: Sharon (Wasaga Beach, Ontario Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/01/11 Review Submitted: 04/18/11

My husband and I spent all of March at the Ringling House, a truly unique home. We were visited by friends and family during our stay and everyone agreed that the space was amazing. We all had our favourite rooms. The light filled, large, comfortable front porch had two separate areas for reading or playing family games. The ballroom, now a living area, was scenic. Look up and admire the architecture and the perimeter of the second floor with railing bordering the hallway, leading to three bedrooms. The dining room, just off the fully stocked kitchen, with its very large table was impressive. The two large ensuite bedrooms on the first floor, with walk-in closets, large dressers, and sofas, just four stairs up, were very convenient and comfortable. Doors from one of these bedrooms lead to a private balcony and ramp to the fenced pool/patio areas. The pool is heated, at no extra charge to the renters. All the beds are comfy with brand new bedding. Close by is Tamiami Trail which offers great dining, grocery & mall shopping, mini golf, etc. (north & south) The beautiful beaches are a short drive away. Lots of touristy things to do for all ages. Brian, the owner, is congenial and thoughtful; he was very attentive and ensured that we had everything we needed. I would recommend this vacation spot for anyone who truly appreciates a charming, spacious, older home with character and warmth.

Owner response:These were the most accommodating guests. They shared the love for the property I do !! During their stay I valued the suggestions from both. We set out to ' tweak ' things and had a team effort, choosing new soft furnishings, outside patio furniture and new pool loungers. Sharon's interior design experience was put to great use !! Barry did his bit on the do it yourself..lol... A truly wonderful couple and hopefully new friends ! Haste ye back !!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

HAD A FANTASTIC TIME!! THE HOUSE WAS GREAT!!

Guest: Ashleys mom (Flagler Beach)
Date of Stay: 04/01/11 Review Submitted: 04/07/11

My family and I spent a wonderful 5 days and 4 nights at the House of Ringling!! It was GREAT!! The house was beautiful and very well kept!! It was so homey!! The wedding rehearsal was on the back patio and as everyone walked thru and took tours of the fantastic vintage house, they were amazed!! If I ever have to make a trip back to Sarasota, I will definitely check to see if this house is available.......it would be like returning home! It was sooo comfortable and the owner was amazing to work with! I would definitely recommend this as a must see and a must-stay-in to anyone who visits the Sarasota!!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

A Family Celebration - with room to spare

Guest: Cindy (Watertown, CT)
Date of Stay: 01/27/11 Review Submitted: 02/28/11

My family gathered at the House of Ringling in January 2011 for a family celebration of milestone birthdays - my father's 80th, my daughters' 30th, and my sister's 50th with assorted other milestones included. The House of Ringling proved to be a charming and spacious place for all of us to spend four days together as well as allowing us to also host a small reception for the birthday boy and girls for friends and family in the area. We came from as far away as Los Angeles, CA and Buffalo, NY and as close as Osprey, FL and each of us had a comfortable room with adequate amenities; and we had many other rooms to gather together or go off on our own, which happened frequently as we had an age range of 20-somethings to the aforementioned 80 year old. In fact, my parents, who live in the area, were so comfortable there that they stayed with us and didn't return to their own home until the day we all had to leave. I feel compelled to say a word about the provisions in the home; not all the towels matched, neither did the bedsheets and there was no way we could put together a matching set of silverware or dinnerware for our entire group. We also experienced a little bump in the road when the electricity in the kitchen went out (but not in the rest of the house) on the day of our reception. All things that might disappoint someone who was expecting an impeccably appointed showcase. But here's the thing: None of those little things mattered because there was so much more to appreciate - our family laughed, celebrated, ate, sunned, read and relaxed together in coziness and comfort. The one thing that the owner, Brian, needed to take care of was the electricity (obviously!) and he was attentive and innovative. When the electricity was unable to be repaired, he showed up immediately with enough lamps to light up the kitchen and save our party! And he did it all with a sense of humor and a real consideration for our comfort. All in all, the most important part of our reunion at the House of Ringling was that the house lent itself to a warm and loving gathering of family and friends. With inherent charm and history, it is comfortably furnished, spotlessly clean and perfectly family oriented and it met all of our needs. As we all departed for home, the one thing that we kept saying to each other was – “Let’s come back again – soon!”

Owner response:This group were delightful and multi generational..!! I witnessed a very happy family reunion. We indeed had a minor lighting crisis.. with one end of the kitchen out !! thankfully we averted a cooking by candle light scenario, All turned out well... It was a challenge to the kitchenware supplies.. I'm happy to report that we have added a healthy back up of linens, crockery and cuttlery.... The house sleeps twelve, but I swear by daytime the numbers can double...!! It's a very spacious home and it almost invites large gatherings. We have hosted recently weddings, rehearsals, reunions, graduations, birthdays inc. 80th, 90th, thanks giving and xmas...Phew it certainly puts us through tha paces and oh.. some people just come to stay and relax !! Whatever the reason or occasion we try to provide a welcoming enviroment and informal setting for every one.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

What a great place to stay and entertain!!!!

Guest: Phil (Lasalle, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/03/10 Review Submitted: 01/10/11

I want to start off by saying how awful I feel about posting this review 8 months after renting this home. My wife and I rented the home the week of our Sarasota destination wedding. The home is dated and rustic and made all the more charming for those reasons. To start off, this home is huge. We had planned a beach wedding but had the peace of mind knowing that if the weather was awful we could easily accommodate an indoor wedding for 50-60 people (the weather was great). The night before the wedding we hosted a large BBQ for 52 guests and the house/patio easily accommodated our numbers with plenty of room to spare. The same number of people showed up the morning after the wedding for brunch. Everybody who saw this home loved it, our guests, our photographer. The home is beautiful and Brian is a great host who will take care of your every need or concern. I love this place and look forward to spending more time here in the future. . Thanks to Brian for making our special week so memorable.

Owner response:I have fond memories of the wedding party ( occupants ) it was a very happy event. The house was a hive of activity and everyone seemed to be enjoying the nuptuals. I also recollect the return/arrival the following day for brunch... I'm delighted that the house was a success.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

What a great place to stay and entertain!!!!

Guest: Phil (Lasalle, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/03/10 Review Submitted: 01/10/11

I want to start off by saying how awful I feel about posting this review 8 months after renting this home. My wife and I rented the home the week of our Sarasota destination wedding. The home is dated and rustic and made all the more charming for those reasons. To start off, this home is huge. We had planned a beach wedding but had the peace of mind knowing that if the weather was awful we could easily accommodate an indoor wedding for 50-60 people (the weather was great). The night before the wedding we hosted a large BBQ for 52 guests and the house/patio easily accommodated our numbers with plenty of room to spare. The same number of people showed up the morning after the wedding for brunch. Everybody who saw this home loved it, our guests, our photographer. The home is beautiful and Brian is a great host who will take care of your every need or concern. I love this place and look forward to spending more time here in the future. . Thanks to Brian for making our special week so memorable.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.