Sarasota's Only Retro Vacation Experience! Pool and Hot Tub!

• Great for my little dog, fenced yard check their website!

  Great for my little dog, fenced yard check their website!

  • Guest Mary
  • Date of stay 04/08/11
  • Review Submitted 05/14/11
  I am not sure what to say here, I've never done a review before. The owners allow pets and our little chihuahua had a blast too. If you have not looked ather website...I think it is halfmoonsouth.com then that is the best review I can leave. It is not a luxury palace. It is however very comfortable and private and the 50's decor is simply amazing. Thanks for a great stay!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/2

• This place belongs in the movies!!! It's lioke a movie set!

  This place belongs in the movies!!! It's lioke a movie set!

  • Guest Adrian
  • Date of stay 03/25/11
  • Review Submitted 05/08/11
  I work in the film industry and it felt like walking onto a set for a 60's period piece. I do set design and will actually make thisplace known to my colleagues if the need for such a location comes up. Just think Craig & Heather, your place may end up on the big screen some day. Thanks again for eveything!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1

• The worst thing was having to go home!!! Great family get together!!! Highly recommended!!

  The worst thing was having to go home!!! Great family get together!!! Highly recommended!!

  • Guest Shell
  • Date of stay 03/18/11
  • Review Submitted 05/08/11
  Besides the awesome furnishings and retro decor, we loved the pool area. It was a great place fo me and my brothers to do a get together. Life gets so busy you forget what it is like to relax. We had a ball! I swear some of the stuff on the walls looked like home, growing up in New York in the 60's. The nearby beach is spectacular. We also did Busch Gardens and Universal. Thanks again for a wonderful time. I have already toild my friends all about it so expect a few more New Yorkers here.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1

• GREAT LOCATION! COOL CONCEPT! PRIVACY PLUS!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAA+++++++++++!!!!!!!

  GREAT LOCATION! COOL CONCEPT! PRIVACY PLUS!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAA+++++++++++!!!!!!!

  • Guest Roger
  • Date of stay 03/04/11
  • Review Submitted 05/08/11
  From the moment we walked into the place we felt totally relaxed. Free internet and long distance helped with business needs. Midnight skinny dip within the privacy of the backyard. Loved the neon lights! Right near lots of great shopping and restaurants and they had great suggestions of hole in the wall dining places. Thanks so much! We'll be back!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1

• Very disappointed

  Very disappointed

  • Guest S.
  • Date of stay 02/11/11
  • Review Submitted 04/29/11
  My original review on April 7 was more detailed, but I have revised it based on the owner’s subsequent behavior. On the day I left the property after a 4-week stay, I sent him a letter outlining the concerns listed below, but received no helpful reply. A month later he refunded two thirds of my original deposit; it was short due to an admitted error on his part and I was promised a check for the balance. However, upon seeing my review, he 1) added his own positive “reviews”; 2) posted lies about my stay; 3) berated me on the phone and hung up on me; and 4) refused to refund the balance. I have email threads and a photo proving my claim. I had 6 guests who can attest to the issues, but they can’t post reviews here (only one per contract). I have filed a complaint with the Fla. Div. of Consumer Svcs. The worst problems were the inadequate plumbing and the property manager’s slow response and lack of follow-up. The half-bath toilet stopped working the first weekend and feces, including toilet paper, were coming out an open pipe just outside the screened porch and 10 ft. from the kitchen and barbecue grill. The kitchen sink clogged and we had no use of the sink or dishwasher for 3 days. In both plumbing cases, the PM (owner’s sister) was, IMO, slow to respond in order to save money on weekend plumbers. Other problems included, but were not limited to: the property was dirty (my feet turned black if I went barefoot in the house); the pool, including the bottom of it, was choked with leaves and there was no pool service during the 4 weeks; the pool vacuum was unusable due to missing pieces; the original ad claimed “2.5 baths,” but one is in the shed outside and has no hot water; the window in one of the back bedrooms is bolted shut (the owner later claimed for safety reasons, but the bedroom next to it has a working window); a raccoon was nesting in the attic and the owner falsely tried to blame the resulting fleas on my dog (only one, contrary to his reply). He claimed that I had a $250 electricity overage, but I used NO a/c or heat and only used the pool for 5 of the 28 days. I broke nothing, and left the house in better shape than when I arrived. The PM did no inspection on my arrival but the guest before me was not charged for items I allegedly damaged, if their “review” is to be believed. This place has potential, but I feel that the owner has behaved unscrupulously by withholding my deposit and lying about the true reason: he didn’t like my review.

  Owner response: Hi there, this is Craig, the owner of Halfmoon South. I really feel the need to respond to this review. The renter's cash deposit was withheld because of a number of issues with damage & breach of contract, plain & simple & that is why she is upset. In the last 7years we have NEVER had to charge ANY renter, even one cent for damages, or breach of contract except this one. The renter that left this review left the home in a totally unacceptable state. The screen door was broken. The screen itself was pushed out. Barbecue equipment was broken. Trash and bottles were left everywhere. We allowed her dogs to stay and then had to pay an exterminator to get rid of the fleas. She allowed her dogs on the furniture & we even had to remove dog nose prints from the window glass above the couch. She left the house filthy, & even admits in her review to exceeding the number of guests allowed! Yes the pool does get leaves, it is a private outdoor pool. This is the first renter to complain that they have to skim the leaves off the pool. To have a daily pool service do this would cost almost as much as the rental, & we never claimed to provide such service. Pool vacuum & equipment work fine. THEY ARE NEW! The cabana, (not a shed) has a shower for rinse off & does not have hot water. I am not sure why she expected otherwise. We did have a raccoon enter the attic. It was immediately & professionally trapped & humanely removed. The "kid's room" window that faces the pool is indeed bolted shut. This is so kids do not have any opportunity to leave via window to the backyard pool area unsupervised. It is a safety issue. Normal people open the lanai doors & use the air conditioning.There was a plumbing issue while this guest stayed there. It was unfortunate, and unforseeable but we took care if it asap and had plumbers address the situation AS SOON AS WE COULD GET THEM TO! The problem was caused by a blockage of NON-FLUSHABLE MATERIAL. We could not prove it was her fault but we have our suspicions. The plumbing is more than adequate. Because of the inconvenience of the plumbing issue, we did refund part of her deposit. I wish now we had not, yet still wanted to try to be fair and put myself in the renter's shoes, and it was an inconvenience. We have been very lucky with the people we have rented to. They have been courteous & responsible. (I feel for the owner of HER next rental.) l know you can't please everyone ( we do try to) but this guest was just something else.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/3

• IT'S LIKE GOING BACK TO THE 50'S & 60'S

  IT'S LIKE GOING BACK TO THE 50'S & 60'S

  • Guest bob
  • Date of stay 09/20/10
  • Review Submitted 04/26/11
  First off if you are expecting 20 foot ceilings and marble counters, this is not for you, but it is a very comfortable place. I felt at home within minutes. A lot of the decor reminded me of my childhood and of better times. Close to all the shopping and restaurants you could imagine and about 5 minutes from Crescent Beach. definietly a one of a kind stay. We would reccomend! ( actually I am going to take my photos to my next car show, as the vintage car buffs would love this place.)

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway.

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

• Never stayed anywhere like HALFMOON SOUTH!

  Never stayed anywhere like HALFMOON SOUTH!

  • Guest Ster
  • Date of stay 10/24/10
  • Review Submitted 04/26/11
  Sorry for the delay in leaving a review Craig & Heather but we just forgot. We had a great time, We lucked out on the weather and it was our first stay in Sarasota and we loved it. I especilly liked the privacy of the backyard and private pool, amazing under the stars at night, also enjoyed the hot tub and Siesta key is simply gorgeous. Everything we needed here.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, families with young children, girls getaway.

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

• GREAT EXPERIENCE private pool and cabana were awesome

  GREAT EXPERIENCE private pool and cabana were awesome

  • Guest Lil
  • Date of stay 12/05/10
  • Review Submitted 04/26/11
  We had a fantastic time, just like what the website shows. Awesome retro experience. Too close to to shopping ( just klidding) I spent a bunch but saved a ton. We would love to come back with some friends!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway.

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

• Guest comment entered by owner

  • Guest The Rat Pack Girls
  • Date of stay 01/02/11
  • Review Submitted 04/20/11
  SOOOOOOO COOOOLL!! private pol allows for nude sunbathing and skinny dipping. They let us bring our dogs and told us about a bunch of great restaurants. This is not a 5 star resort by any means but it is absolutely amazing...just check out the photos on their site!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1

• Guest comment entered by owner

  • Guest Ryan & Dorothy
  • Date of stay 02/06/11
  • Review Submitted 04/20/11
  These people go way out of their way to ensure you have a good time. The retro decor is simply amazing. we have never stayed at a place as cool as this...EVER!! Thank you also for the wine...it was a super nice touch!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1

Rates for season:
$300/night for Single night.
$250/night, weekend package.
$1350/week.
$2450/2 weeks.
$2950/month.
Additional fees and deposits for pets.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.