Vacation Rentals by Owner

Wonderful week!

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/19/11 Review Submitted: 02/12/12

My family spent Thanksgiving week here with my 4 yr old golden retriever. It was a great week for all of us. The dog was dry very few days, everyone was able to surf and I got to sit on the beach and enjoy the sun and a good book The beach is close enough that carrying the boards ect isn't a hassle. It was also great to get in the hot tub afterwards. The owners were more than accommodating with our reservations. Only negative was the kitchen needs a little more such as a hand mixer, some plasticware for leftovers and more serving bowls ect. These were all VERY minor. Location is great for shops, restaurants and not to far to St Augustine Outlets for Black Fri shopping. I even found a heated outdoor 25 meter pool for lap swimming 10 min away. Thanks for such a great week!

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

Beautiful, as advertised

Guest: Dave (Jacksonville, FL)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/01/11

Sunburst Cottage has a great location (about 300 feet or so to the beach), and was just as the photos depicted. It was equipped with everything needed for a comfortable stay and provides a lot of privacy despite being so close to the beach and a number of restaurants. Renting was performed very professionally with a minimum of paperwork, and the property was clean with everything in working order. This really was a great place for a week and I expect to return - maybe next July. If you are there in the Summer, don't miss the Wednesday evening concert and inexpensive/great dinner provided at the pavilion just a few blocks north - nice vibe. If you like soft sand, beautiful sunrises, quiet, and comfort, then this is the place. Just don't tell everybody.

Owner response:Thanks Dave, we hope to see you again.

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

St Augustine Beach 2011

Guest: Tami (Tifton)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 01/06/12

We stayed here the week AFTER July 4th in 2011. My family had a wonderful time at this property. The location is not oceanfront but is steps from the beach. The property was clean and well maintained, The owner met us there upon arrival and was able to provide us with some local information regarding dining options etc. We liked the fact that there was plenty of space within the home, since it is an older home we thought that the rooms may have been small but that was not the case. This property is in an ideal location. Having an enclosed garage was also nice so we could drag all of our beach chairs,etc in and not worry about them setting outside the door. The street this house is on is very quiet and little if any traffic. The property was as described and the pictures were accurate...if I were to add any info to the listing it would be that this is as close as you get to being oceanfront with out actulally facing the ocean. The only things I didn't like was that there is a 3 story home next door and at the time we stayed here our full glass patio doors did not have any blinds,etc on them so at night I had to hang bed sheets over them so the house next door didn't have a full view in the living room. I also would have liked the doors to have had a little better security as far as the locks, the prior guest didn't return the keys so more had to be made. Maybe an electronic lock with codes would be a better choice for property that is rented on a regular basis-or at least I would have been more comfortable knowing there wasn't extra keys out there somewhere. Overall, we had a great time, the owner was great to work with and we would recommend this property. We hope to get back this summer!

Owner response:Thanks for the review. I am always looking for ways to make Sunburst Cottage better. I wish you had complained about your discomfort about the keys. I would have put your mind at ease. All the doors have deadbolts. I take my security very seriously and I do not allow keys to float around. The people before you (who I know very well) forgot to hand in one of the keys and they put it in the mail to me the next day. If keys are lost I change the locks. Also some people use the outside hurricane shutters on the east side glass doors at night for greater privacy at night. All the windows have blinds. I will put that in my house instructions for future guests. Come back and see us again.

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

Sign Me Up For Next Year!

Guest: Dahlonega Shug (Dahlonega, GA)
Date of Stay: 06/11/11 Review Submitted: 08/02/11

I hesitate to say how much we enjoyed this house in fear that others will fill up the weeks. I found it a bit impossible for that tiny little house to have all 5 stars until I lived there myself. I never met the owner, but he was certainly cooperative over the phone. We have been to St. Augustine at least 55 times. We know the city well. This area of the beach is the prime place to be because it is a no drive beach and has mainly residences...thus no large crowds. The description of the house is understated. The photos make the house look tiny. It has very spacious rooms. The floor plan and terrazo floors make it perfect for children. The house is not plush, but very beachy and extremely comfortable. The air conditioner was excellent. In fact, one of the best things about this house was that everything was in such good working order...especially the fabulous outdoor shower and hot tub. It was too hot in June to use the private walled deck during the day, but at night and early morning it was wonderful. We enjoyed using their three beach chairs, but the umbrella was missing a part. We all loved the short walk to the beach, flat and only involves two steps up. We all want to go back next year. The only negative would be that the garage 1/2 bath was so hot, but we still used it regularly. There is no street noise at night, I'm too short to have seen over the deck walls or the high dunes to see a view, but my 6' 2" husband could. We've stayed in many places over the years, but this one was really a generous deal. I really appreciated all of the condiments that they keep in the kitchen pantry. It saved us a lot of money! Take some washable mats for the side of your bed to shake the sand off of your feet. I hope we can go back in the Fall!

Owner response:Thanks for the great review. I'll work on that umbrella. I've stayed in quite a few Vacation rentals myself down through the years and I have tried to use my experience to make my property user friendly. Please come and see us again.

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

I LOVE THIS PLACE

Guest: melody w. (bradyville, tn)
Date of Stay: 04/30/11 Review Submitted: 05/08/11

I love this home. Very clean and close to everything. The owners are very helpful without being intrusive. The beds are the most comfortable of any place I've stayed. Be prepared for sleep when falling between these sheets because that is where you are headed. This home has everything you need for a great stay. The kitchen and bathrooms are completely stocked. The deck is a great place to sit, drink coffee, listen to the ocean and just feel the great breeze accompanying the sound. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, sightseeing.

Lisa

Guest: Lisa (Atlanta)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 04/23/11

What a treat to stay at this fantastic beach house! We walked miles daily at the shore (lots of surfers!) --there is beach access only three houses away so you can walk barefoot down to the sand. The house is comfortable and has every amenity you can think of---the tiled floors make it dog friendly and the outdoor shower is ideal for hosing off sandy feet and paws before going inside. Sophie also loved the dog-friendly beach and made a few four-legged friends. We loved the private patio and the layout of the Sunburst beach house----it is so rare to feel like you are getting away from it all, while located in the middle of everything. The pictures represent the house exactly---but a bonus is having a private driveway and two-car garage away from the street. I can't wait to visit again!

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

Sunburst Cottage is a Wonderful Beach Hide Away!

Guest: AM (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 04/02/11 Review Submitted: 04/14/11

My family had a fabulous stay in St. Augustine and the convenience of Sunburst Cottage added to the enjoyment of our spring break. The location is ideal. The home is immaculately maintained and we felt at home immediately. We were able to walk to the beach in about a minute! Everything you could want to take to the beach, i.e. chairs, umbrella, boogie boards, is in the garage. The cottage is cozy yet spacious and the added bonus of being pet friendly. The gas grill was clean and had fuel which made cooking out on the deck pleasant. Running was very convenient on the beach as well as on the sidewalk of the A1A. Additionally, having the wireless Internet made it easy to keep up with work, even if we didn’t do very much :) St. Augustine has so much history and there are all kinds of things to see and do! There was a helpful book filled with the names of restaurants and other brochures to help us plan our outings on the days we were not at the beach. One other benefit is the cottage has a garage! We had a strong thunderstorm move through one morning and it was so nice to have the car inside the garage! We had a great stay at Sunburst Cottage and would definitely go back again! I highly recommend this cottage!!

Owner response:Thanks for the kind words Anna Marie and thanks for staying with us. We look forward to your return. Michael & Pam

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

Absolutely Wonderful Vacation!

Guest: Jody (Knoxville, TN)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/09/10

Our vacation couldn't have been any better! The home was lovely and it's proximity to the beach was wonderful. We are "beach people" so we spent every day there. It was an easy and short walk down the street and across the dune...approximately 1 minute walk so it was very convenient to return to the house for lunch or forgotten items. The kitchen is very functional and the beds are really comfortable. The 1/2 bath is adjacent to the garage so it is great for an extra toilet, but don't count on it for makeup application or extended visits as it is not air conditioned. Michael is a great host and is eager to answer any St. Augustine questions.

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

Bryan Family, visited 7-17-2010 thru 7-24-2010 and Fell in Love! Planning to return.

Guest: Bryan Family (Greenville, GA 30222 USA)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 07/24/10

Four of us enjoyed the best vacation imaginable. The house, the location, and access to a fantastic beach (30 to 45 seconds depending on your pace), the most family friendly beach, and great new people we've ever experienced. St. Augustine shined for us due to the fact that we knew we had a "home" to go back to when we were through with our daily activities. Access to Publix and Winn Dixie (enhanced a fantastic functional kitchen) and great dining was in walking or very short drives were great discoveries. Yes, I'm writing this in the after-glow of an exceptional experience, but Mr. Pounds didn't pay me a dime for these true words. He was so helpful when we asked advice on dining and directions and has a pretty neat shop just across the street from the house. The garage is a big plus located so close to the beach. For you deck people, I'm one, the enclosed deck, hot tub, spaciousness, and sea breeze are just bonuses. Burns Lovic Bryan

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

Susan Anton and family (Asheville, N.C. & Ocala, Fl.)

Guest: Susie (Ocala, Fl.)
Date of Stay: 06/19/10 Review Submitted: 06/27/10

this was our second year coming to this cottage and as before we had a great week. The decor is beautiful, and several things had been added from last year such as a table and chairs and loungers on the deck. You are only a few steps from the ocean and your patio is private for using the hot tub. Everything is furnished for you..there are plenty of restaurants and a farmers market close by. Sunburst gift shop is just across the highway and has beautiful pottery and gifts. I purchased some great jewlrey while there. We will definately be back again next year...this is a relaxing and peaceful get away..If you have pets they can go to the beach with you (on a leash) & will be safe as the patio is completely enclosed. and the floors inside are terrazo so they are cool and easy to clean.....My 2 1/2 yr. old grandson could play on the patio and we didn't need to worry about him going out into the road...Thanks Mr. Pounds for making this great place available to us to enjoy year after year......?

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

A TOUCH OF PARADISE

Guest: BAMACUSE (NORTHWEST ALABAMA)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/15/10

The location is great. You feel secluded on the back deck to start your morning off, until you step out side the back gate. The location could not be better, near the beach and in the middle of great resturants. Late night walks are great when you end them at Rita's Ice Cream Custard. You will not be disappointed with the house and the owners have made you feel like you are in your own home.

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

Great vacation cottage & host

Guest: Rob & Patty (Western New York)
Date of Stay: 04/17/10 Review Submitted: 05/06/10

We stayed at Michael's Sunburst Cottage in late April for a week and my wife and daughter and I had a wonderful time; the house is perfect--clean and well-equipped; and the beach? A 30-second walk to the beach entrance and we were on one of the nicest family-friendly beaches you could want; on Wednesday we walked down the beach to the Farmer's Market at the pier; as another reviewer stated, the cottage is within easy walking distance of some good restaurants, with a Publix market down the street; the cottage location makes it ideal for access (by bike or car) to Old St. Augustine, St. Augustine Lighthouse, Alligator Farm, as well as other attractions. And Michael was a super and responsive host. Enjoyed the gas BBQ, the hot tub, and the private deck area. We would heartily recommend Sunburst Cottage to anyone looking for a relaxing and worry-free vacation in a cool cottage.

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

Home - away from home!

Guest: JaxCan (Mindemoya, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/01/10 Review Submitted: 05/02/10

Exactly as described. Close to beach (140 steps by my pace) and many attractions and restaurants. Our stay was for two weeks and the close proximity of a Super ***Mart made shopping for food etc. easy and affordable. Liquor store was close by also. We took "ownership" of the house after someone who had been there for three months and did not give much cleaning time for the owner. Other than that however, our stay was quit enjoyable. Amenities such as a Jacuzzi on the back deck along with a BBQ grill made life a bit more enjoyable. I was thinking privacy (on the deck) was going to be an issue and it wasn't. Loved the decor and the floor is concrete - so on hot days it was cool on the bare feet. Having a garage was nice, along with a bike to go on short jaunts. Washer and Dryer was useful, although older than dirt - however they served us well. We should have taken inventory of items that were already included or already there though. We ended up buying a lot of items that we found out later were in stock. Gift shop next door was surprisingly affordable! (I've never said this about Any gift shop!) Not having wireless internet was a deal breaker for me when we were looking around - so having it made for a perfect fit with my business communications. Filtered water from the kitchen sink was also great as I'm a pure water fanatic. Quite area despite it's location. My dad lives in Jacksonville (South Mandarin) and that was the real reason for our visit - travel time to his place was approx. 45 min., making it easy to have several enjoyable visits with him and other family. Being familiar with the area (Lived in Jax for 18 Yrs.) made shopping and going to different attractions easy. I still enjoy *****s fish camp and going to the iMax theater nearby. We hope to stay again in the upcoming years!

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/12/09 Review Submitted: 09/12/09

What a fantastic week at this comfortable and convenient cottage by the sea. Our entire family (and animals) were able to gather for Labor Day week 2009 and enjoy not only the wonderful cottage but also one of the finest beaches in St. Augustine. We hope to repeat again next year for the July 4th week.

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Guest: Angela Williams1 (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 08/01/09 Review Submitted: 08/01/09

Our family just spent a week at this home and we loved it. The location was wonderful; close to restaurants and so close to the beach. The beach is perfect for families and is very dog friendly. The house had everything we needed and the kids loved the hot tub. We would recommend this place to anyone.

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Guest: Sue Yost (Palm City, FL)
Date of Stay: 07/16/09 Review Submitted: 07/16/09

Positively loved the place and could not have asked for a more perfect vacation. We, my husband, parents and our dog, stayed there in mid June and can not wait to get back again. The house is so tastefully decorated and has everything you could ever need. ONLY thing I would add is a table and chairs on the deck. We recommend it to all who are thinking about heading to St Augustine.

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Guest: bruce11 (lilburn, ga)
Date of Stay: 07/08/09 Review Submitted: 07/08/09

My girlfriend and I had an absolute blast. The beach was very nice and everything was so close by. I would definately rent this house again. Michael was very helpful and kind.

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Guest: susan anton1 (asheville, n.c./ocala,fl.)
Date of Stay: 06/28/09 Review Submitted: 06/28/09

our family chose the sunburst cottage by the location and the pictures presented in vrbo. we were not disappointed. in fact, it was more than described by the web site, and very clean and fresh. we had a wonderful week at the beach. the house is beautifully decorated and our dogs as well as my grandbaby was able to be there also.everything we could possibly want was there and we were in walking distance to some great restaurants and the farmers market on wednesday.the beach is just a few short steps from your door. we could not ask for a better week and will use this cottage again and again.

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