Vacation Rentals by Owner

A little bit of Paradise...........

Guest: John & Colleen (Reading, England)
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 10/29/11

Right on the beach! this accomadation was clean, cool (with its new quiet airconditioning). well equiped in an ideal setting. no need to put your shoes on as its right on the beach. the setting is idillic, glorious sunsets (glass in hand), some great beach fishing and a championship standard golf course just down the road. (Lemon Bay Golf Club). Eating out is a pleasure at many local restaurants, the LOCK & KEY being our favorite. We ate in as well in the well equipt kitchen, with a large fridge freezer, it was easy to keep things fresh. It's in a flat location so walking is easy, the sea is shallow for paddling and gently gets deeper, no sudden drop and the temprature was 83 degrees (yes, 83 degrees) in September/October, wonderful!! A property for all ages with easy access, comfortable beds and a good shower. We are going back next year, that says it all really. :-) Thanks John & Sal

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

Girl's Weekend

Guest: na (Winter Park, FL)
Date of Stay: 08/27/11 Review Submitted: 09/10/11

My daughter, granddaughter, dog (Cleopatra) and I stayed there the last week of August. We had a great time. The place was perfect and the neighbors were great. Would highly recommend this place.

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

Best Beach Week!

Guest: Amy W.
Date of Stay: 08/27/11 Review Submitted: 09/03/11

I can't say enough about this property or it's location. It was fabulous! We stayed in one of the downstairs 1Br units and it was perfect for our party (2 adults & a 3yr old). The unit is well maintained and faces the beach. It felt like home away from home. We spent every morning shelling and walking the shore and evenings sitting on the lounge chairs watching the sunsets. Was the best week at the beach for everyone. the location is quiet and private. I would recommend this spot to friends and family without hesitation.

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

Relaxing Vacation !!!

Guest: Albita (Miami, FL)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

This Beach Cottage exceeded our expectations. It was so beautifully furnished and immaculately clean! We were so impressed with the views since we could look out several different windows at the ocean. Your cottage was equipped with everything we needed almost like being at home. Having things for the beach provided such as beach towels, chairs, and umbrellas was an extra added bonus. What we really enjoyed though was sitting on the beach everyday watching the dolphins and manatees, we also spend time found sharks teeth and beautiful shells. We definitely plan to come back again and would recommend your cottage to our friends. Thank you Jon and Sally for allowing us to stay in your piece of paradise.

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

just the two of us

Guest: janine (ontario,canada)
Date of Stay: 06/30/11 Review Submitted: 06/30/11

Yes we're going back ! to our perfect vacation spot and this time we are staying two weeks I wish it could be longer! I would like to thank Sally and John for opening thier vacation home for us. I am looking so forward to this vacation. Thanks again Janine

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Englewood Beach House

Guest: georgia boy/florida girl (tifton, ga)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

My wife & I spent a week here and it was a great experience. The beach house is in an "older" neighborhood that is quiet, friendly and perfect for walking or cycling without dealing with constant traffic- Yet it is convenient to stores and businesses in town. The house sits right on the beach with nothing between you and the water. This place is a great, comfortable alternative to run-of-the-mill condos. The apartment we rented is perfect for couples or a family with only 1 or 2 kids. In June the beach is quiet with only a few folks (friendly folks, too)- not crowded at all- great for swimming, fishing, snorkeling, beach combing (lots of shark teeth & shells), or just sitting. Saw manatees, dolphins, lots of shore birds, and it seemed like there was a new turtle nest nearby every morning. Real close to Stump Pass park where there is lots of undeveloped shoreline. Although off-season, there were plenty of local restaurants (good seafood at Howards and Flounders- but stick with the steak at Lock & Key) open and the location is convenient to Venice, Port Charlotte, etc. We highly recommend this rental. Also, the owners are a pleasure to deal with and respond promptly to your inquiries.

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

Fabulous Beach House

Guest: scott r.
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 07/31/11

My wife and I had a perfect vacation! The owner's were fantastic to work with and the Beach House is perfect. The location is great. The house is very clean and updated. It delivers on all it says. We would definitely return and will enthusiastically recommend the house to our family and friends. Thanks again Sal.

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

We are coming back!

Guest: Chris (Orlando/Miami)
Date of Stay: 05/07/11 Review Submitted: 05/17/11

Thank you so, so much for sharing your little piece of Heaven! This is the best vacation my children and I have ever had. Our unit was the perfect size, perfect location and beautifully stocked. We had everything we needed to do exactly what I wanted...Park the car, put our toes in the sand and not move for 7 full days. YAY! We were also blessed with the best vacation neighbors ever which gave us the opportunity to scope out the units around us, which were not updated and claustrophobically chopped up. Thank you for the open, airy, updated slice of Heaven! Keep our deposit...We will be back very soon!!!!

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

just the two of us

Guest: janine (ontario,canada)
Date of Stay: 09/11/10 Review Submitted: 09/30/10

We had our first Florida vacation at Sally and John's beach front cottage,sept11,2010,We stayed for one week.Wish we would have stayed longer.Their place was every thing they said and much,much more!! Can't wait to go back! LOVED IT! Janine

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Nature at it's best!

Guest: happy2be (Annapolis, MD)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/29/10

In the past our vacations included several day trips, shopping outings & lots of dinners out. Not this year! We spent most days on the beach (me with a bucket in hand- my hubby relaxing under the umbrella) enjoying our surroundings. The beach was unbelievable! Dolphins, heron, shorebirds & even manatees! (I was less than 10 feet away from one in the ocean!) The shelling was the best. We found 700+ sharks teeth!! A walk to Stump Pass State Park is well worth it. So much to see! (sea urchins, hermit crabs, all kinds of critters!) The cottage is sunny & bright. It was clean & comfortable. Couldn't have asked for more! Oh! the few times that we did go out to dinner we went to the Lock & Key. Great service & food for really good prices. The whole trip from start to finish was the relaxing vacation that we needed! Thank you Sal & family for sharing your home with us!! :)

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

Wonderful Week at the Beach

Guest: NMFamily (Los Alamos, New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 05/08/10 Review Submitted: 05/18/10

We were looking for a quiet beach location rather than a noisy condo to spend the week with our 3 year old. This was the perfect place! We were on the beach first thing each morning finding lots of sea shells and sharks teeth. Our son played so hard he took long naps every afternoon. It was wonderful to be able to sit out under the umbrellas and watch the water or read a book and still be only feet from where our son was napping inside. And the basket of beach toys in the laundry room was a nice bonus. The whole place was very pleasant, inside and out. It was the perfect size for the three of us. We had the bedroom while our son slept on the sofa sleeper. The sofa bed was fine for our toddler, though I can't say I would recommend it for adults to sleep on. The sunsets were fantastic every day and we enjoyed having meals on the patio. Just be sure to bring your bug spray for the evenings. We ate at a few of the local restaurants and never had a bad meal. The wildlife was awesome with dolphins and sting rays as well as numerous different kinds of birds. Our son especially loved "his bird" the blue heron who hung out on our patio a lot, and the pelicans and ospreys who would dive for fish right off the beach. We rented a small boat one morning and went fishing in the bay, which was very nice. We spent another morning at Casperson Beach (also very quiet with a nice boardwalk and no condos or restaurants) up in Venice and thoroughly enjoyed that as well! If you go to Casperson Beach wear some good beach shoes for the rocks, and bring a screen and bucket to look for even bigger sharks teeth than you can find at the beach house. I would definitely recommend this house to anyone interested in avoiding the tourist traps and looking for a quiet beach experience at a very reasonable price. I had the opportunity to look at another house up the beach and it was nice too, but Sal's place is more pleasant and is a much better value! The listing description was very accurate and it was very neat and clean. The owner was wonderful to work with. I especially recommend it for couples of any age, girl's trips, and families with small children. I would also recommend renting both of the bottom floor units if you have several older children or are traveling with another family and want to stay together.

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

Beachfront cottage

Guest: fish walker (Portland, Or)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 04/07/10

Excellent location; steps to the beach. Easy to find. View is incredible. Plenty of outdoor furniture for reclining, reading or visiting. Would stay here again.

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

Guest: Liz 6 (Key West Florida)
Date of Stay: 02/24/10 Review Submitted: 02/24/10

This is an incredible place to stay. Sally, has provided a clean, charming slice of heaven for everyone to stay in. The cottage is right on the beach with everything you would need to make your vacation comfortable. The large windows give you a view of the ocean from the moment you wake up to the moment you fall asleep. The cottage is tastefully decorated and the owners have taken the time to update furniture, kitchen etc. I have been going for the last 2 years and have found the owners a pleasure to deal with on all levels, from responding to my emails, booking, returning deposits and much more. This is the place you want to stay at, you will come back time and time again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Bdunc (Pearland, Texas)
Date of Stay: 09/28/09 Review Submitted: 09/28/09

This was the best vacation we have ever taken! The place was perfect, the beach was awesome! Loved getting up every morning and walking along the beach that is right out side the door! Sun, Sand, Birds, Sunsets - we couldn't have asked for a better vacation. We will be back as often as we can!

Recommended for:

Excellent Vacation Spot

Guest: Bdunc (Pearland, Texas)
Date of Stay: 09/05/09 Review Submitted: 09/10/09

This was our little piece of paradise! We loved everything. Walking on the beach every morning, watching the birds and dolphins. . We basically had the beach all to ourselves What a wonderful place! We will definitely be coming back!

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

Didn't Want To Leave

Guest: Pam & Doug (Illinois)
Date of Stay: 08/03/09 Review Submitted: 09/08/09

We really had a wonderful time. Quiet and relaxing. The water was warm and calm so if you have small children it would pefect. We saw dolphins and manatees right off the beach and were able to watch baby sea turtles be rescued by volunteers who patrol the shore early each morning. If you want to get away and not spend a ton of money at a resort, I would recommend staying here. We're ready to go back.

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

Guest: Lynn Jurvis (Kenosha, WI)
Date of Stay: 07/26/09 Review Submitted: 07/26/09

We loved Sal's place. It was so cool to get up and just walk out onto the sand!! Everything was clean, comfortable and homey. I would highly recommend to anyone who loves the beach!

Recommended for:

Guest: scott n tl (Rockford, MI)
Date of Stay: 06/03/09 Review Submitted: 06/03/09

We can't say enough good things about this place. We have stayed across the road from the beach in Manasota Key, and after having a taste of being just steps away from the ocean, we're hooked forever. Sally & Jon, the owners were flexible, outstanding & always available if needed. We want to come back here every year if possible & will be telling our friends/family about this place (although we are torn about spreading the word because we feel that it's our own hidden treasure). Another positive is that there are 3 units in this tri-plex & so you can have a vacation with extended family & still have privacy if desired. The screened in porch on the top unit is fabulous and we enjoyed many beautiful, sunny days, as well as evenings by candlelight with the new friends we made who stayed in that unit. Sal & Jon provide most things that you'll need, including beach chairs, a sand flea catcher & fishing poles (if you're a fisherman), charcoal grill, washer & dryer on the second floor, along with a pretty well stocked kitchen. The unit was very clean & the kitchen/living room get great sunlight & have great views of the ocean, however there are blinds on all the windows if you like more privacy & less sunlight. The only small thing that we wished was different in our unit were the twin beds, as we are a married couple. We made it work by pushing the beds together & it was well worth that sacrifice with all the other positives. My husband thought the bedroom air conditioner worked excellent. When we got home to our own bedroom, he said he missed the "perfect temperature" of our vacation bedroom :) The beach loungers & umbrellas were a great addition, especially when you wanted to bake in the sun or get a break from it. :) We enjoyed Sharkey's on the Pier restaurant (great atmosphere) & Luna restaurant in Venice. There is a Wal-Mart & a couple of grocery stores within a 10 minute drive or less. We fished right off the beach in front of our unit & enjoyed beautiful Stumps Pass Park, which is walking distance from Coconut Club II. We had a beautiful walk in the waters of Lemon Bay & heard that many people have seen Manatees in the bay. We saw many sea urchins & some live shells. Wear your water shoes if you're going to walk in the bay. My husband found his share of shark's teeth on the beach. We didn't choose to go far from our own private paradise. Thank you Sal & Jon! Terri Lynn & Scott-Michigan

Recommended for:

Guest: moonbeam (Marysville, MI)
Date of Stay: 05/29/09 Review Submitted: 05/29/09

By far the best place I have stayed at in Florida. Bright, cheerful, extremely clean with all of the amenities of my own home. To view the sunset from the bay window was breathtaking. Hope to stay there again in the future. There isn't a better place to spend a vacation.

Recommended for:

Guest: Steve T. (Oviedo, FL)
Date of Stay: 05/25/09 Review Submitted: 05/25/09

Beautiful cozy beach front cottage. Very private with all of the amenities. The owner Sally was pleasant and easy to work with. If you are looking for a relaxing getaway -this is the place!We hope to make it back again soon.

Recommended for:

We loved it!

Guest: Catherine G. (Louisville, KY)
Date of Stay: 05/23/09 Review Submitted: 06/05/09

This was by far the best vacation we have ever been on. We were just steps away from the ocean and the beaches were very private. The cottage was clean and stocked with everything we needed for our stay. We hope to visit again next year.

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

Coconut Club II is the Bomb!

Guest: scott n tl (Rockford, MI)
Date of Stay: 05/23/09 Review Submitted: 06/03/09

We can't say enough good things about this place. We have stayed across the road from the beach in Manasota Key, and after having a taste of being just steps away from the ocean, we're hooked forever. Sally & Jon, the owners were flexible, outstanding & always available if needed. We want to come back here every year if possible & will be telling our friends/family about this place (although we are torn about spreading the word because we feel that it's our own hidden treasure). Another positive is that there are 3 units in this tri-plex & so you can have a vacation with extended family & still have privacy if desired. The screened in porch on the top unit is fabulous and we enjoyed many beautiful, sunny days, as well as evenings by candlelight with the new friends we made who stayed in that unit. Sal & Jon provide most things that you'll need, including beach chairs, a sand flea catcher & fishing poles (if you're a fisherman), charcoal grill, washer & dryer on the second floor, along with a pretty well stocked kitchen. The unit was very clean & the kitchen/living room get great sunlight & have great views of the ocean, however there are blinds on all the windows if you like more privacy & less sunlight. The only small thing that we wished was different in our unit were the twin beds, as we are a married couple. We made it work by pushing the beds together & it was well worth that sacrifice with all the other positives. My husband thought the bedroom air conditioner worked excellent. When we got home to our own bedroom, he said he missed the "perfect temperature" of our vacation bedroom :) The beach loungers & umbrellas were a great addition, especially when you wanted to bake in the sun or get a break from it. :) We enjoyed Sharkey's on the Pier restaurant (great atmosphere) & Luna restaurant in Venice. There is a Wal-Mart & a couple of grocery stores within a 10 minute drive or less. We fished right off the beach in front of our unit & enjoyed beautiful Stumps Pass Park, which is walking distance from Coconut Club II. We had a beautiful walk in the waters of Lemon Bay & heard that many people have seen Manatees in the bay. We saw many sea urchins & some live shells. Wear your water shoes if you're going to walk in the bay. My husband found his share of shark's teeth on the beach. We didn't choose to go far from our own private paradise. Thank you Sal & Jon! Terri Lynn & Scott-Michigan

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

Guest: Julie Abraham (Louisville, KY)
Date of Stay: 04/28/09 Review Submitted: 04/28/09

We absolutely LOVE this rental. The kitchen is modern and complete. The furniture is comfortable. Everything is tasteful and in good working order. Best of all is the beach right outside your door with lounging chairs, tables with umbrellas, and outdoor shower. Washer, dryer, gas and charcoal grill are a big plus. The covered parking area keeps your car clean.

Recommended for:

Great location, steps to the gulf.

Guest: Scott and Tammy (Illinois)
Date of Stay: 04/18/09 Review Submitted: 05/18/09

We thoroughly enjoyed our week here. Just about every morning we would sit out by the gulf have our coffee and watch the dolphins swim by. Very relaxing vacation and that is just what we wanted. I would have given it 5 stars except for the tiny shower in unit #2, the shower head was mounted way too low for me (6'3").

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

Beachfront Home on Manasota Key

Guest: moonbeam (Marysville, MI)
Date of Stay: 03/28/09 Review Submitted: 05/31/09

By far the best place I have stayed in Florida. Bright, cheerful, extremely clean with all the amenities of my own home. To view the sunset from the bay window was breathtaking. Hope to stay there again in the future. There isn't a better place to spend a vacation. I have recommended it to my family and friends.

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.

Quiet Beach Vacation

Guest: mojito (Mascotte, Florida)
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/22/08

We had a great time at this cottage. We stayed in the 1 bedroom/1bath and found everything very clean. Just a few feet away from the water and steps from the warm sand. We loved hearing the waves at night and enjoyed the stars. Plenty of storage for all your things. I would bring extra towels or you will have to do some extra laundry. We would rent again!

Owner response:We just purchased lots of extra towels for your use!

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

Beautiful Apartment, Fabulous View

Guest: GLW (Johnsburg, Il)
Date of Stay: 04/19/08 Review Submitted: 05/08/08

Great space with comfortable beds, up-to-date furniture and modern appliances. Loved the gulf view. Could watch the sunset from inside or outside the apartment. Just a fantastic place to relax and enjoy the gulf. This is a very low key area. The locals were friendly and helpful. Take a trip to the Old Englewood downtown area (Intersection of 776 and Dearbourn, east on Dearbourn). A few unique little shops and the local proprietors provide the charm. Communication with the owners was easy and prompt. They have a great property and really keep it well maintained. I hope to visit again.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.