Sea Shells

Guest: Oly (Cambridgeshire UK)
Date of Stay: 09/14/11 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

I just had a wonderful relaxing ten day holiday (14th to 24th September) and can't thank the owners enough. The condo is everything you could wish for and more. Fabulous pool & very friendly neighbours. The white sandy beach is only a couple of minutes walk and the sunsets are quite spectacular. I will definitely be back for another holiday. The property was clean, well maintained and all the descriptions and photos we accurate. I would say that it was better than I had expected and would not hesitate in highly recommending the property. I must also add I loved the shopping at the Ellenton Premium Outlets.

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

Kathy

Guest: Kathy (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/09/11

Thanks so much for a very enjoyable and laidback vacation and the use of your condo! Your unit was awesome - close to pool, easy beach access, great view from screened balcony. All the comforts of home are available in your unit. We appreciated the beach toys, chairs, patio bistro grill, etc. Thanks so much - we plan on returning soon! Highly recommend! Dusty was great!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with young children, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers.

A relaxing location

Guest: Ronnie (Melbourne, Australia)
Date of Stay: 05/15/11 Review Submitted: 06/29/11

My partner and I enjoyed our recent two week visit to Seashells in Indian Shores in May. The town house was clean on arrival and in an ideal location. It was a good sized unit with a nice water view. We had the beach across the road for swimming, walking, jogging and watching sunsets. We had the pool right next to us and the saw dolphins in the inter-coastal waterway from the pier. We also had the food mart out front for all of those little things we needed. The unit was in a very quiet place with virtually no noise at all to disturb my sleep, which was a big plus. Overall it is great value for what is offered and I would happily stay here again.

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

This unit has its negatives

Guest: Sandra & Richard (Bluffton, SC 29909)
Date of Stay: 05/07/11 Review Submitted: 06/22/11

We did not realize the bedrooms were on the 2nd floor; our fault, we should have checked. Two flights of stairs to get to the front door & once inside, one is faced with a very steep staircase like a ladder with inadequate railings. It was constantly UP & DOWN, DOWN & UP. The wood flooring must have been coated with a clear solution because it was extremely slippery! Our little dog could not even get traction - like she was on an ice rink! We have hardwood flooring at home so we know what we're talking about. This makes that awful staircase slippery too. We finally left our tennis shoes on for safety. The leather furniture in the living area is totally shot; should have been replaced years ago. The carpeting in the upstairs bedrooms are obviously original; threadbare, spotted & dirty. We initially took our shoes off but then soon discovered the bottoms of our feet were filthy! Yuck. We doubt that carpeting has been cleaned in a very long time. To continue, there was NOT an extra roll of toilet paper - not a teeny box of kleenex-type tissues - not a lousy paper napkin. OH! There was a half-roll of paper toweling in the kitchen. The coffee maker didn't even have an auto shut-off (make sure you pull the plug) & there was no toaster oven; so if you needed to heat something up (like pizza) you had to heat up the big oven. And bring your own ice guys; you get 2 plastic trays in the freezer. We are giving this "experience" a 2 Star rating because the exterior of the main complex is well maintained; pool, patio, etc. & the air conditioner worked well in the unit & the lanai was screened. We used to live in the area & visit yearly (staying at different properties) so we know what we're talking about. Don't waste your time.

Owner response:We were disappointed this guest did not enjoy their stay and nothing was mentioned during the intial welcome call and the mid week call our local manager made to them and then they post such a negative review. He was not told of any of the things that had concerned these guests. To address specific issues: Staircase: The unit is on two levels and it is unfortunate that this couple clearly had mobility issues which soured their experience at the property. Dec 2011, post this stay, we actually replaced the hand railings on the staircase and carpets. Icemaking Facilities: Under amenities VRBO asks 'does this unit have icemaking facilities' we selected no. We have had waterlines leak in the past so we deliberatly have a fridge with no icemaker. Ice can be purchased at the onsite foodmart and there are a few trays for convenience to make your own. Lack of supplies: We supply toilet paper initially but as this is self catering we do not supply any other items. We are $275 cheaper than the other unit listed on VRBO on the same complex (and we have waterview and they dont), and we try and keep our rate cheap and affordable. Toaster Oven/coffee pot: The microwave oven has an oven option and does have a button for heating 'pizza'. The coffee pot was replaced the following week. Had we been told during one of the phone calls it was an issue, we would have replaced during their stay. Dirty Floors: The floors are cleaned during each changeover and carpets cleaned when pets stay. However, the unit faces onto the intercoastal water, and may guests leave the patio doors open to enjoy the seabreeze and this can increase the grime up the inside. We offer a clean affordable unit, mostly used by pet owners due to the onsite dog walk, so the hardwood floors throughout work well for the majority of guests. No one has ever commented that the floors are 'slippery' as they are standard laminante wood floors. It seems that the mobility issues soured this guest to the rest of the amenities, and I note they make no mention of the rate as we offer competitive accommodation for a very good price. The unit is clean, the complex well maintained, and the furniture is only 5 years old there are no rips or tears. Given they did not communicate these issues during the 2 phone calls our property manager made we are dissapointed with this review.

Recommended for:

Relaxing and stress free holiday

Guest: John H (Bansted Surrey UK )
Date of Stay: 05/01/10 Review Submitted: 03/31/11

This is a spacious and well and well maintained property well equipped with all you need for a stress free holiday,a good pool with shower and toilets and an outside area for barbecuing, a fishing pier equipped with rod holders and water tap.We have been renting in Florida for 25 years and one of the beneficial things was the ease of booking, this was made easy by Fiona who was only too pleased to help with any questions.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.