Vacation Rentals by Owner

March 2012 Two Week Holiday

Guest: Betty Anne G.
Date of Stay: 03/03/12 Review Submitted: 03/31/12

My husband and myself usually escape two weeks of the winter and head down to Florida. We have been in about 6 different areas of Florida and this time we were hoping to land a home on the Gulf Side of Florida. We are relatively new to renting homes through the owner, so were kind of sceptical at first. Well John made the process so easy, I must say that it is really nice to have the owner closeby. John sent us as much info. ahead of time, so were able to look forward to our holiday. We are golfers and love to fish, this was the location for us. There are about 28 golf courses within 30 minutes of the home, they were all in pretty good shape and the mainstay were under a cost of $50. each which included cart. We enjoyed the pool and the relaxation of the waterway closeby. There is always something going on in the canal and all you have to do is sit back and enjoy. We rented a plontoon boat and ventured off with the assistance of the easy to follow water markers. The pool is in the perfect location for the afternoon sun. As well there is an area whereby you are able to sit out of the direct sun. They house if very well laid out and really clean. The beds were really comfortable which is a must with us. The area has a small town feel to it, safe and people that we met were very friendly. We really enjoyed ourselves and had a most relaxing time. We had never travelled to the Tampa airport, it was really easy to fly in rent a car and find the home. John was a really good host and was found to suggest or answer any of our questions. We would rent this home again without question. thanks for you hospitality John.

Owner response:Thank you for the kind words........ We do our best to make all our guest feel comfortable and do everything possible to help them make the most of their vacation. To us their comfort and enjoyment while they are in in Hernando Beach is very important. Now that you know how special Hernando Beach is, please come back again! John

Recommended for:

clean

Guest: booge (michigan)
Date of Stay: 12/23/11 Review Submitted: 01/10/12

Great place, John truly has any ammenity at the home you could think of. Peaceful, relaxing, clean. We really enjoyed our stay. The town is close enough to all the box stores...yet far enough not to bebothered with all of the traffic if you don't want it. Definetly would reccommend if you are looking for some peace and quiet.

Owner response:Thanks, I am very pleased you enjoyed your time in our home. Please come back again! John

Recommended for:Families with young children, pet owners.

Wow, this place is GREAT!

Guest: Fred B.
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 08/29/11

This was our first time renting a home. I am so sorry we did not do this sooner! No more hotels for us if there is an option like this. We had a wonderful time, spent less money than in a hotel and were more comfortable. The home is VERY clean, nice and has everything you can imagine you would need. The kitchen is super, just perfect and looks overlooks the water and pool. Bob and I enjoyed the table at the window for our coffee in the mornings we did not have our coffee by the pool by the pool before the children began their day. It was great for me as I put my laptop on it and it became my "place". Do take the time to explore there are so many nearby places to explore. We rented a canoe and did the Weeki Wachee River float. It was more than you can image... I saw my first Manatee and there were 5 of them including a baby one. We liked the beach at Pine Island, but get there early for the best parking... it fills up fast. The kids loved the playground but not as much as the pool at this home..... I don't think you could wear out a pool, but my children tried. The area is so quiet, but shopping is 10-minutes away... nice big Super Wal-mart was our place.... Fred chartered a fishing boat and had a ball. You can also take the "Thunder" out fishing or just fish from the dock... We used the crab traps and caught some beautiful Blue Crabs....YUM! The owners live in Hernando Beach, that is a big plus and they are more than helpful. We will recommend this home to our friends and will be back for our next family vacation.... I just wish we could have stayed longer. Cathy

Owner response:Thanks, I know the week went fast for you and I hope you will come back again. You learned what we did, staying in a nice clean well set up home gives you so much more than a hotel. And you don't have to share the pool with others! Please come back again. John

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

Guest: Tabitha4 (Virginia Beach, VA)
Date of Stay: 01/31/10 Review Submitted: 01/31/10

John- First I want to apologize for it taking so long to write a comment about our trip last April. My husband and I along with our 3 daughters absolutely loved our stay!! What a completely relaxing and comfortable home. The girls loved fishing and using the pool. The suggestion book for entertainment and places to eat you have at the home was very helpful. We did end up swimming with the Manatee's and kayaking down the Wiki Wachee River and made wonderful family vacation memories. I am quite sure we will be back and would love to stay at your home again.

Owner response:Tabitha, thank you and I hope all of you are doing well. Please do come back we would love to have you as our guest again. John

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Guest: Tammy & Al (Loganville, Ga.)
Date of Stay: 08/18/09 Review Submitted: 08/18/09

I hesitated about entering a comment in your guest book-why?-it will never be freed up again!!! My husband and I have never returned from vacation as relaxed as we were after our stay at your place. That feeling lasted at least a couple of weeks afterwards. Great weather, QUIET, private, scenic, & yet close to everything. We enjoyed meeting the two of you, and your home (inside & out) had everything we needed to make our stay very comfortable. Need I say more? We loved our vacation!!!!!!!!!!

Owner response:Thank You and please be our guest again. Now you know why we live in Hernando Beach!!! John

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everything you could want!

Guest: Annie (UK)
Date of Stay: 08/15/09 Review Submitted: 09/01/09

The description and amenities are spot on - the house really had everything we could possibly need.It's clean and well equipped, and the owner was very helpful. The whole family had a fantastic time - pool and fishing kept them busy a lot of the time,and we saw manatee, dolphins, stingray and sharks ( small ones..) and birds of all sorts. I guess that's why it's called the nature coast. There was heaps to do and see locally, and although we had envisaged trips to Tampa & St Petersburg, we decided there were better things to do closer to home. Pine Island beach is a beautiful place to watch dolphins as the sun sets. Homosassa Springs is a good day out ( take bug spray!), and the mermaids at Weeki Watchee are worth it for their novelty value! A really peaceful place, and we'd recommend it to anyone. Hopefully we'll return one day!

Owner response:Thank you for being our guest. You found out what others have told us, they had grand plans to go to the theme parks but after they found out what was available locally they did not want to leave! You only had time for some of the local parks, rivers and other attractions so you have some very fun and interesting things for your next trip to Hernando Beach! We work had to make the home a real "home away from home" and it is nice to know our efforts are truly appreciated! Thank you very much! Please do come back again! John

Recommended for:People with disabilities, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Guest: Auenyrs (Gloucester, Virginia, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/05/09 Review Submitted: 07/05/09

Hello, I need to explain a few things about our vacation in this home. Our recent stay was a true pleasure from beginning to end. The owner of this property is a delight to work with. The house was perfect for our family (6); not too fussy and cluttered, but yet everything nice; a relaxing atmosphere and everything you could need for a great vacation. We felt completely at home. Three words describe this house: Location; Location: Location! 10 min. from shopping and supermarkets. On deep water canal 5 min. to Gulf. Saw several porpoise rolling up and down the canal, and the fishing was great from the dock. One of the best benefits from the migratory Snow Birds to Florida is the selection of great northern chefs, tired of cold winters and large restaurants. The restaurants around Hernando Beach are fantastic. John was easy to book with and he returned the deposit in a very timely manner. Go ahead and book this home today! We promise that you won’t be disappointed. Thanks John for a wonderful vacation. We most defiantly would like to return..Thanks again; Roger, Verda & family

Owner response:Our efforts are rewarded when you and others enjoy the little paradise we have found called Hernando Beach.... PLEASE do come back and be our guest again!! John

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This place is how you spell vacation!

Guest: Cindy's Mom (Houston, Texas)
Date of Stay: 05/23/09 Review Submitted: 06/04/09

This place is ideal for a vacation if you want to relax and unwind. The home was very clean and nice. The home has tile throughout so it is perfect for someone with a pet. We had a tough time getting our children to out of the pool (it is solar heated and screened) or to stop fishing from the dock to go check out some of the local sights. Don’t miss these: The Homosassa Springs – the park tour it is great. Crystal River – The Manatee experience or the beach at Pine Island. The Sunday of our arrival we rented a pontoon boat from a local marina and spent the day on what the locals call the flats. This is an area of shallow water the dozens of people anchor in and party, visit, swim, shell or just get some sun. The water is crystal clear and we got some nice shells. Another day we went to the local county park and swam in the Weeki Wachee River. The water was about 74 and wonderful. The next day we rented a small boat from the marina there and spend the day on the Weeki Wachee River and it was superior (don’t forget the bug spray). This is a real natural river. We saw Otter and a Manatee up close. Next time we are going to rent canoes or kayaks and go down the entire river. It was our plan to stay here and do Disney, Wet & Wild, and Bush Gardens on day trips. The cost of the home is far less than staying in a hotel, clean, large, on the water and has a pool. We like the privacy and yet having anything you want close. We ended up not going to the theme parks and had a far better time for a great deal less money. The way things are today (we just got back) we added the trip up and we spent way less than we planned and had a much better time. We asked the children if they wanted to go to the theme parks or come back here…the vote was here. My husband is already getting his fishing gear ready for next year…. Oh, the owner has fishing gear in the home for guest to use too! Local places to eat… the Upper Deck is great anytime… and the view from the decks is super. Bare to the Bones… this is your place for fish. Brian’s for breakfast or lunch! Shopping is easy as a super Wal-Mart is 10 minutes from the house! Anything you would want is 15-minutes from the home. Penny’s, Target, 3-grocery stores, Home Depot, Sports Authority, Best Buy, etc. It is all nearby. Do you get the idea we had a wonderful time? You have no idea how much we enjoyed ourselves. We will be back! . The owner is great and lives nearby.

Owner response:Thanks for the kind words. We are not only owners but we are guests of other owners and it makes us smile when our efforts to make your stay a great one! Others have done the same for us. I am glad you discovered our little paradise! Do come back again! John

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.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/19/09 Review Submitted: 04/19/09

Our stay in this home was everything we had hoped for and more. We had a fantastic vacation, and hated to have to leave. The owner of this property is extremely nice, even gives you his cell number and tells you to call him for anything day or night.Fishing off the dock was awesome (rods and gear included); the kids caught more fish than we could count, and we got several types; including amber jack, a few catfish, and even a sting ray! A couple catches broke the lines!The house comes with linens, beach towels, fishing gear, BBQ grill etc, so packing was a lot easier for this trip than usual. Having a washer and dryer meant packing less too, and taking home clean clothes!This property is pet friendly, and our little pooch couldn’t get enough of chasing the little lizards around the yard. Although most of the birds were bigger than she is, she took her chances going after a couple pelicans and herons as well.Recommend in area: Weeki Watchee park, the beach at Pine Island, any seafood restaurant around, and mostly hanging out on the dock or deck with your favorite drink and watching the boats go by. And if you have a boat, the sunset over the gulf is hard to beat.Thanks John! We had a blast and are talking about our next visit already.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/18/09

Our stay in this home was everything we had hoped for and more. We had a fantastic vacation, and hated to have to leave. The owner of this property is extremely nice, even gives you his cell number and tells you to call him for anything day or night. Fishing off the dock was awesome (rods and gear included); the kids caught more fish than we could count, and we got several types; including amber jack, a few catfish, and even a sting ray! A couple catches broke the lines! The house comes with linens, beach towels, fishing gear, BBQ grill etc, so packing was a lot easier for this trip than usual. Having a washer and dryer meant packing less too, and taking home clean clothes! This property is pet friendly, and our little pooch couldn’t get enough of chasing the little lizards around the yard. Although most of the birds were bigger than she is, she took her chances going after a couple pelicans and herons as well. Recommend in area: Weeki Watchee park, the beach at Pine Island, any seafood restaurant around, and mostly hanging out on the dock or deck with your favorite drink and watching the boats go by. And if you have a boat, the sunset over the gulf is hard to beat. Thanks John! We had a blast and are talking about our next visit already.

Owner response:One of the nice things about having guest in your home is you have a chance to meet nice people! Please do come back!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/04/09

This is the first time we had ever rented a house to stay in while on vacation (we always stayed in hotels) and I have to say that out of all the choices/options we were very very lucky at what we chose. A week is not enough time to spend here. Our kids loved fishing off the dock while watching the porpoise and stingray swim past. The setting is ideal for a real vacation away from the hustle and bustle of your typical spring break chaos. The owner was more than helpful and went out of his way to make sure we had a good time and everything we needed. We miss being there already and can't wait to come back! =)

Owner response:Tammy, I am very happy you enjoyed our home. Please do come back again soon. It was great to have you as a guest and I must say you left the home VERY clean. To any other VRO landlord, these are the guest you dream about! John

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Location, Location, Location

Guest: Victor-1 (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 06/21/08 Review Submitted: 06/14/10

If we could have stayed another week we would, but I had to go back to work. This home is a great vacation home, on the water, nice dock for fishing and a boat, very pet friendly (we have a small dog and a cat), super for the children and it has relax written all over it! I am not sure where to start… The owner was super and lives in Hernando Beach so you will not face out of town owner issues if there were ever a problem. The house is all tile and set up perfect. The covered Lanai and solar heated screened pool overlooking the canal to the Gulf was our favorite for sure. We spend almost all our time there. Do go to the local restaurants you will be glad you did the seafood is excellent. The area is just what the Homeaway site says, waterfront community. The shrimp boats, crab and other commercial fishing boats go past the home on the way to the gulf. The gulf is a 5-minutes ride at idle by boat, no kidding it is that close. We did not bring our boat but we will next time. Shopping is very close, 10-minutes to a Wal-Mart Super Center and 15-minutes to anything else you can name (Target, Publix Super Market, etc). The “things to do list” is a long list just in the area you will not be bored or lack things to do. We did not do 10% of what is around you close (under 1-hour). My wife and I played golf at several local courses in the morning… super courses (and there are more than 20 just local). If this was not a family vacation my wife and I could have done that every day. Our children (boy and girl) are teens so they were happy to sleep in and play in the pool while we played early golf. We went to Pine Island beach several days and had a picnic using the grills and picnic shelters. This is a super family beach and the facilities are better than any other beach hands down. If you have little ones you will like this beach. Late one morning we went to Rogers Park on the Weeki Wachee River. We swam in the crystal clear river water, had a picnic, grilled hot dogs and just got some sun. We planned to do a Disney day but after a vote none wanted to do it. We rented a pontoon boat for two days for less than one day at Disney. We went up the Weeki Wachee River from the Gulf of Mexico and saw Manatee and all sorts of wild life instead. That was a smart move, we enjoyed the boat (If you have one bring it!). Do your self a favor, book this place for your family vacation! See you next year. The Jensen Family

Owner response:Thanks for the kind words. We are happy you enjoyed your time in Hernando Beach and your stay at our home met your expectations.... please come back again and join the others that make us part of their vacation plans year after year. John

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