Vacation Rentals by Owner

Wow - Spectacular Reno !! - Directly on the Beach !! [#203547] | View Property

Sandcastle I
Condo, 2 Bedrooms + Den, 2 Baths (Sleeps 6)
$875-$1839/wk
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Traveler Reviews (14)

• Amazing Condo!

  Amazing Condo!

  • Guest Miss Alice
  • Date of stay 09/09/12
  • Review Submitted 09/18/12
  As a VRBO renter for the last 15 years, Ian's and Michelle's condo ranks #1 for all the right reasons: cleanliness, comfort, design and decoration, functionality and last but not least..... location!!! This was a combo work and play trip for me and I just cannot praise the owner's enough for the home they've put together for travelers. Perfection!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Hi Alice, thanks so much for your kind comments! We are happy when our guests are happy - glad you enjoyed your vacation and look forward to having you back again!! Ian & Michelle

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• 2012 Vacation

  2012 Vacation

  • Guest Peggy
  • Date of stay 04/14/12
  • Review Submitted 05/05/12
  We had a wonderful two weeks at Sandcastle 1 unit 402 ,the condo was beautiful ,very modern ,my husband LOVED the flat screen TV's. The sunsets from the balcony were absolutley breathtaking,lots of great shopping and good food. Would DEFINITLY recommend this condo to friends and family. Ian was great to deal with...and a maritimer :)

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thanks for your review Peggy, glad you folks enjoyed your stay! Look forward to having you back, and thanks for not holding the Maritimer thing against me!! Cheers Ian

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• I miss it already.

  I miss it already.

  • Guest Art
  • Date of stay 08/13/11
  • Review Submitted 09/06/11
  We've stayed at a few condos at Sandcastle, and this one was by far the best. Ian was easy to deal with and very accommodating. I look forward to many years at this beautiful place.

  Recommended for: Families with young children

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Truly Paradise!!!!

  Truly Paradise!!!!

  • Guest Victor and Amalia
  • Date of stay 06/25/11
  • Review Submitted 07/05/11
  Thank you, Ian and Michelle for letting us share your little piece of paradise. Your condo is gorgeous and even better in person than the pictures. Your place is spotless and smelt so clean as soon as we walked in. We had a fabulous time and truly enjoyed the sunsets every evening. It was so nice to have all the comforts of home with the gorgeous views of the Gulf of Mexico. We also appreciated your help answering our questions regarding free wireless internet. You guys are awesome!!! We hope to go back and stay in your condo in the near future!! We will definetly keep in touch and always recommend your place to friends and family. Thanks again for everything!!! The Arruda Family

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thanks again Victor and Amalia, appreciate your comments! Glad you enjoyed the condo as much as we do! Cheers, Ian & Michelle

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• What a beautiful home on the beach!!!

  What a beautiful home on the beach!!!

  • Guest Bill & Darlene
  • Date of stay 06/18/11
  • Review Submitted 07/07/11
  Ian & Michelle, Thank you for sharing your paradise on the beach. Such a beautiful condo that has been redone from top to bottom. We love Indian Shores as it is a little "slower" than other beaches in the area. If you are looking for a place to stay, this is the standard you should use when looking for a condo. Very few in the area are this nice. Very clean and well maintained. I will be recommending this property to everyone I know. I grew up here so I am going to suggest a few places where locals go to eat. The restaurant across the street is... well.... I am a little picky about my seafood so I wont go there. It is a great bar and I'll leave it at that. It's not bad, just not exceptional. Now, Don't forget to try the Conch Republic Grill in North Redington Beach. Great Floribbean menu with a Key West appeal, has something for everyone. It's an old Howard Johnson's Restaurant, but you would never know it. Salt Rock is just down the street. Crabby Bills in Indian Rocks Beach is good to for more casual, basic dining. Guppies and Keegan's in IRB should make your list too. We love to shop on Johns Pass. If you are looking for a place to eat on the Pass, go to Waltz Fish Shack. Nothing else on the pass compares. If you are looking for a good steak, try Spoto's 131 Grill, just over the Park Blvd. bridge in Seminole. Not a place for kids though and it can be a little spendy. If you are looking for a good pizza, Delosa's on John's pass or East Bay Dr. in Largo is the best in the area (NY style, always good). Finally, You would never know it, but the VIP Lounge has amazing mexican food. It's next to Ricky T's in Treasure Island. Another local hang out and it's been there for 25 years. These are just a few, go.. explore.. enjoy!!!

  Recommended for: People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Wow, lots of great info to add to my restaurant list! Thanks for your kind remarks and great info, look forward to seeing you again! Ian & Michelle

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• A Tropical Paradise :)

  A Tropical Paradise :)

  • Guest Kari & Family
  • Date of stay 06/04/11
  • Review Submitted 06/12/11
  I just wanted to let anyone interested in your condo know the following: I would highly recommend this condo! It's like you are in your own little tropical paradise. Condo is decorated to the tee, exceptionally clean, has all the luxuries of home, but even better. The view is stunning!! I could sit there every night. This is our first night home and I already miss the place, everything about it. The landscaping is great, up keep of property, pool area clean & nicely kept. This was our first trip to Indian Shores, it's an awesome town!! The restaurants - each one better than the next!! Ian & Michelle, Thanks for a wonderful vacation!! We will be back next year, and with our extending family & friends to share the beauty of the condo & town. So nice of you to give us a list and brief description of all the restaurants and things in the area to do!!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Hi Kari & Marty, glad you and the boys enjoyed your week! Thanks for the kind words, we really appreciate the feedback and look forward to hearing from you again! Glad the info packs were helpful, and yes, it's the sunsets & view that sold us on Sandcastle, it's hard to find a better view on the beach! Thanks again for staying with us! Ian & Michelle

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Wonderful vacation

  Wonderful vacation

  • Guest Terry
  • Date of stay 05/21/11
  • Review Submitted 06/09/11
  We've been to the Indian Shores/Indian Rocks area many times, and your condo was the nicest one we've ever rented. We took advantage of all the beach chairs and toys as well as the games in the condo. Everything was clean and top notch. We appreciated the phone call to check on us and make sure everything was fine. Having wireless internet was great as we had several people who needed to be online. We hope to return again next year, if not before!

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

  Owner response: Thanks Terry, appreciate your review! Glad you and your family enjoyed the condo, would be glad to have you back anytime! Ian & Michelle

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• The vacation we keep talking about...

  The vacation we keep talking about...

  • Guest Sarah
  • Date of stay 04/23/11
  • Review Submitted 12/31/11
  My husband and I stayed in April of 2011 for a babymoon... hardly left the condo complex and beach. The area is really quiet, but more action is only a short drive away. We've travel frequently for both work and pleasure, and this was our best vacation. The interior is well-appointed and bright. Gorgeous kitchen, although a few of the items listed in the description had disappeared, like waffle maker. Condos are older (though building/grounds are clean and well-maintained), but this unit and the newer pool/spa area makes you feel like it's brand new. Be aware that the third bedroom is pretty small; an adult would probably not find the daybed mattresses comfortable. Master suite and other bedroom were comfortable and spacious. We ran into another family staying a few floors up who had stayed in this unit last year and said they'll return to Craig and Michelle's unit in the future. We had one small maintenance issue, and property management (conveniently across the street) took care of it within an hour. Craig and Michelle were also lovely to work with on the reservations, and emailed during our trip to make sure everything was OK. Beach is clean and relatively shell-free. The highlight of our trip... a lucky encounter swimming with wild manatees right in front of the condo. Also loved watching the dolphins and sunsets from our balcony. This is the perfect spot for a family or couple to kick back and relax as if at home without the stresses of your own house!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Lovely beach and condo

  Lovely beach and condo

  • Guest Kim
  • Date of stay 04/11/11
  • Review Submitted 04/20/11
  Our family (myself, husband, and 5 year old, 3 year old, and 1 year old) just spent 5 nights at this condo. PROS: 1. The owner, Ian, is so nice to work with. Even though he is not on site, he is available and responsive. We found out the internet and phone were not working when we arrived in the evening. Ian had the cable provider there the next day by noon to replace the modem. 2. The condo is in great shape. It's clean and well-appointed. It has it's own washer and dryer which is so helpful with young kids. There is also a Pack-and-Play available, which we used for our 1 year old. 3. As advertised, the condo is directly on the beach. There is a deck off of the living room and master bedroom that overlooks the beach and ocean. You can fall asleep to the sound of the ocean waves. 4. There is a gulf front pool which is great for the kids. There were many families hanging at the pool, eating lunch and dinner there and alternating between the pool and the beach/ocean. 5. Collection of sand toys is available for all to share. 6. Indian Shores Beach is beautiful. Not too crowded, soft sand, though there are crushed shells on some parts. 7. Indian Shores Coffee Company. Great coffee and amazing bran muffins and a general good vibe. We ate there everyday. CONS: 1. You have to bring your own beach towels. Since we flew from Seattle, this meant that we had to buy ones just to use during the week. 2. We couldn't get the DVD player in the 3rd bedroom or the VCR player in the 2nd bedroom to work. We didn't try too hard and we didn't bother to ask how to do it. But it would be nice if the operating instructions were printed somewhere as I suspect they do work as there was a small collection of children's DVDs/VHS tapes.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Thanks for your review and for staying with us! Good suggestion re DVD instructions, we are going to update our information package with this info as well as channel listings (since there are over 200 channels, it can be confusing!) With regards to beach towels, we buy new ones each visit but they tend not stay around long as they get mixed in with the regular bath towels and bedding which are removed and replaced weekly by the linen service/cleaners, so we would recommend our guests bring their own. Of course regular linens and bath towels are provided.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Great condo and vacation area

  Great condo and vacation area

  • Guest Dolfan
  • Date of stay 06/19/10
  • Review Submitted 06/28/10
  We enjoyed staying in your beautiful and clean condo!! It was just as shown in the pictues. The grounds were kept up beautifully. It was nice to have such great, updated, and quiet place to stay. The beach was uncrowded and the dolphins swam by each morning and evening. There was lots of wildlife in the area. The sunsets were gorgeous. A nice area to vacation. Ian was very helpful and responded quickly to emails when we were reserving the condo and gathering information about the area.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thank you for your kind words, it was a pleasure dealing with you and we would welcome you back anytime! Ian & Michelle

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Incredible Place!

  Incredible Place!

  • Guest Duane
  • Date of stay 05/29/10
  • Review Submitted 02/25/11
  My family and I stayed at this property and were overwhelmed with the amenities and the cleanliness of the place. We have booked again for the same time next year. Great memories and look forward to more.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thanks for your review! Glad you enjoyed the condo and more than happy to have you back! Cheers, Ian & Michelle

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• • Guest Denise Brinker
  • Date of stay 09/27/09
  • Review Submitted 09/27/09
  we just returned from your place. It was everything thing you promised and more. The condo was clean and you did an awsome job with the renovations. The view was breathtaking. Listening to the ocean, the sunsets, the dolphins, and even turtles were fantastic. I would highly recommend your condo for anyone wanting a retreat. Not in the heart of things so extremely relaxing

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• • Guest Jacob Spoor
  • Date of stay 09/18/09
  • Review Submitted 09/18/09
  My wife and I have been renting condos on the beach for many years in the summer. We find your unit (402) to be the nicest we have ever rented. It is in such good condition and clean. However, I must add we had trouble with the TV. It looks like a new TV but for some reason it would lock up. We got past this by just leaving it on. I'm sure we will be contacting you for next summer. The whole Castle 1 complex appeared to be in excellent condition. We thank you for our stay. Jake & Sonya Spoor

  Owner response: Thanks for your comment! Brighthouse has replaced the faulty HD Box. Cheers!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• • Guest Wayne Dutchak
  • Date of stay 11/25/08
  • Review Submitted 11/25/08
  Your place is absolutely beautiful Ian and Michelle. I am staying in the same complex and seen it Nov 25th. Very tastefully decorated and the tile and kitchen and master bed room ...wow. It is a great condo and great complex to stay at. You will enjoy your stay.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0