Vacation Rentals by Owner

nice name

Guest: stew (plattsburgh, n.y./northcv east)
Date of Stay: 04/07/12 Review Submitted: 05/09/12

Was very nice. Bathroom floors showed alot of built up grime, and tub upstairs needed cleaning. Also jets in upstairs tub didn't work. Talked to person who rented the cottage the year before and they said that the jets didn't work then either. Beoutiful location, nice dock, excellent resturants nearby. Fishing on the beach was great in the morning and i swam every day in the gulf. A very restfull place to stay. Thanks for letting us stay at paridise cottage.

Owner response:We take great pride in providing a clean and comfortable home for our guests. We always encourage our guests to let us know immediately if there is anything whatsoever that is needing attention and we respond immediately. Our island property managers, Suzie & Stu do an excellent job taking care of our guests. The tub jets do work, but they can be tricky to operate. We will be sure to check to see if our instructions for the tub jets are clear enough.

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

The Canadians

Guest: Tut (Barrie, ON, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/01/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

This was our second trip to Paradise Cottage and we look forward to returning next year. We thoroughly enjoy all the amenities that are offered. The living area is very ample and allows for various activities from watching tv, quiet reading, computer time, games etc for the individual or the group. The kitchen is nicely laid out and well equipped. The decks allow for a quiet place to read or just to have a chat. The bedrooms are spacious and the beds are very comfortable. The beach, pool and tennis courts are close by and easily accessible. The guardian of the premises, a Gopher Tortoise, resides in the garden at the front and it's comings and goings are very entertaining. We even named it Gophy. Look after it, please! The couple who look after the property, Suzie and Stu, are easily accessible and accommodating in the owner's absence. We totally enjoy Paradise Cottage and our grand daughter is looking forward to returning again next year. Thank you for sharing Paradise Cottage with us.

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Wonderful experience at Paradise Cottage

Guest: Adele T.
Date of Stay: 02/01/12 Review Submitted: 03/02/12

This trip exceeded our expectations (which were already high!). The house and the island, itself, are charming, beautiful, and peaceful. The cottage was so comfortable and tastefully furnished that we felt completely at home and did not want to leave. All of the furnishings are of high quality, and we especially enjoyed the well stocked kitchen. The property managers, Suzie and Stu, added much to our visit by going beyond their duties to help us and make us feel at home. This was the best house rental experience we've ever had. I give this cottage the highest recommendation.

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

Paradise Cottage

Guest: Sim (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 12/24/11 Review Submitted: 01/23/12

This property was very well represented in the listing. We had a wonderful time on the beach. The neighbors could not have been any more friendly. We had a wonderful time and would definitely recommend Paradise Cottage for anyone who would like a very relaxing, private beach location.

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

A week in paradise!

Guest: Louanne (Brandon, Fl)
Date of Stay: 10/16/11 Review Submitted: 10/23/11

I have been visiting Palm Island/Don Pedro Island for the last 25 years. The week spent at Paradise Cottage far surpasses any prior visits to the island! Beach access is accross from the cottage with a dock directly out the back door. The bed was heavenly, the view was even better. The cottage was extremely clean, comfortable, and decorated to make you feel as if your were visiting someones home, not a hotel. The property managers, Stu and Suzie, are incredibly nice people. I highly reccommend this property!

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

Love this place!

Guest: Wistfully Gone (Richmond, KY)
Date of Stay: 09/22/11 Review Submitted: 10/26/11

This was my second stay at Paradise Cottage and I must say that I would definitely return again. The house is lovely, well equipped (the kitchen is amazing!), very clean, well-maintained and beautifully decorated. Don Pedro Island is delightfully secluded and relaxing. Because the cottage is close to the beach and the pool we found ourselves alternating between the two. The owners were responsive and very helpful with great suggestions on planning and activities. The island is quiet enough that morning runs were pleasant and undisturbed. The perfect place for an island vacation.

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

Wanna Really Relax and Enjoy a True Beach Vacation?!

Guest: David (Carlisle, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 09/03/11 Review Submitted: 09/07/11

What a great island! This has to be one of the best kept secrets of Florida! We loved feeling like the beach was practically ours alone. The water was perfect, shelling was extraordinary and shark's teeth were there for the picking. Our friends like the Disney scene but we much prefer this true beach paradise any day! The owners of this home have gone to great efforts to make the place welcoming and beautiful. It was very clean and had everything we needed and more! Great book selections at the house and internet and electronics to amuse you if needed, but we spent our time outdoors fishing, swimming, playing tennis, shelling, wildlife watching, etc. The wireless internet was 100% reliable and very helpful. The owners and the property manager were great—gave us everything we needed and more. We used the pool a lot, and were often the only ones there. I don’t think I’ve ever fully relaxed like I did on this trip. I would highly recommend the island and this home for your next vacation.

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

Great Cottage!

Guest: Elizabeth (Ohio)
Date of Stay: 08/28/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

This is not your typical vacation rental, especially for the price! Paradise Cottage is lovely and very comfortable. It has every convenience and is decorated with care. Our family enjoys cooking and we made a competition out of our meals in this well-equipped kitchen. We thought the proximity to the beach, pool, and tennis courts was great! There is a nice path leading to the beach just across the street and made access very convenient. We loved the availability of the beach umbrellas and beach chairs. We could just set up camp for the day on the beach, lay back and enjoy! We also had a great time renting some kayaks and touring around the lagoons. Saw manatees and porpoises and caught lots of fish. We’ll definitely be returning to the island and staying again at Paradise Cottage!

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

A little bit of paradise

Guest: Sarah (Louisiana)
Date of Stay: 08/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/30/11

Paradise Cottage on Don Pedro Island was really a little piece of paradise. Our family had a wonderful vacation in the clean and very cute beach cottage. It was even better than the description. This was our first rental through VRBO and the owners answered all of our questions. Also, the island contacts were perfectly charming! We spent our days hunting for rare shells and swimming in the crystal, clear water; the shelling on Don Pedro was much better than Captiva! My son even found a large part of a Junonia. We also fished with Another Keeper Charters catching Goliath Grouper and even a shark. We plan to schedule another trip as soon as possible!

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

Renter Beware!! INVENTORY EVERY SMALL IMPERFECTION BEFORE RENTING!!

Guest: David (Vidalia, Georgia)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/29/11

Upon our arrival, we found many small aspects of the cabin that were not in excellent shape. Upon moving in, we noticed that the bottom of the refrigerator kept falling onto the floor as we placed our items into the fridge. Furthermore, we had to also keep replacing the inside side drawer in the freezer as we tried to place our frozen foods into the fridge. The veggie drawer also kept sticking. Never did we think that we would be blamed for these aspects. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED! There were other small problems with the property that we noticed, and to our amazement, when we returned, the owner informed us that we would be charged our deposit for repairs as well as others that we never even saw! The owner said she would keep the deposit to include the fridge repairs, a hole she said was found in a comforter (where an adult slept), and for a pull in a rattan bench that no one even sat on during the trip. (It was not comfortable and no one even used it!) We were appalled since we teach our children to respect others' property, and because after years of using VRBO, we have never lost a deposit. We soon found out that the owner had just begun using a new cleaning service and new property management who possibly had not properly inventoried the condition of all aspects of the cottage before our arrival. We were the SECOND renters since the change in management. WHEN WE EXPLAINED THAT WE CERTAINLY HAD NOT DAMAGED ANY PART OF THE COTTAGE, THE OWNER SAID, "YOU SHOULD HAVE NOTED THE FRIDGE AND ANYTHING WRONG IN THE COTTAGE TO PROTECT YOURSELF FOR THE FUTURE." THEREFORE, RENTERS PROTECT YOURSELVES! If you rent this cottage, be sure to document every little thing you can find that is imperfect because you may be blamed for anything that has not been noticed before! Let me help you now with this: In addition to the faulty fridge drawers and bottom and inside freezer drawer that fall out of the fridge during use, the garden tub jets will not work. The outside upholstery on the screened porch has holes and the chairs are well-used. There is a scratch on the sliding glass door in the living room, and the rattan chair on the left side of the couch has a broken bottom section that pops out. Just that we noticed these details shows how we paid attention to our use. Listing imperfections on a property is not a vacation activity I enjoy. It is unfortunate that this is necessary. What was a beautiful trip is now a bad memory for us.

Owner response:Anyone who has stayed in our home, Paradise Cottage on Don Pedro/Palm Island, will recognize the pride we take in maintaining and improving it….we invite you to come and see for yourself. These renters are retaliating because we were forced to retain a portion of their security deposit because of damages to the home. Specifically, there was a significant tear in a custom-made comforter cover, a broken refrigerator shelf, and damages to a new piece of living room furniture. Repairs will exceed the cost of the $500 deposit, yet we agreed to refund $250 of the deposit. Our property manager, along with her staff, personally inspects the home after each guest departs. She and her team have managed the property for years and are completely familiar with each detail of the home. We trust her judgment and professionalism entirely. In over 20 years of renting, this is the first time we have had to keep any portion of a damage deposit and we did not take it lightly. We always promptly and professionally repair any damages to the home that we hear about or find. We’ll maintain our faith in people, knowing that the vast majority of renters are caring and respectful.

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Nice House

Guest: Jeremy (Plant City, FL)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

We had a really nice time at the cottage. Nice and clean and close to the beach very relaxing place to be

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

Guest: Elizabeth
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 05/04/11

From On-Site Property Manager Survey: "Our vacation at Island Paradise was wonderful. The house was great (although we never could get the jets on the tub to work!). It was comfortable, great sleeping arrangements, plenty of room. I loved the dock in the back and the closeness to the beach. We come to this island every year and may very well be back to this particular house next April! Thanks for all of your help. Elizabeth"

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Priceless !

Guest: Francesca (South Tampa)
Date of Stay: 04/02/11 Review Submitted: 04/12/11

The vacation was absolutely priceless. What can I say - the Paradise Cottage was well appointed there was no need for anything other than food and flip flops. Two adults and 4 children ages 7 - 2 all stayed at this wonderful house and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. Lovely home, plush towels, plenty of sunlight, a dock for fishing and great sleeping quarters for everyone and more. Perfect !!! We will absolutely do again !!!

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

it was Paradise Cottage in Heaven

Guest: Tut (Barrie, ON, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/01/11 Review Submitted: 04/03/11

My wife and I spent the month of March 2011 at Paradise Cottage. We must say it is truly PARADISE!! The cottage is well-equipped and easily accessible once you get the legs for climbing the stairs. Its location is fantastic as it is only a very short walk to a sandy 7-mile long beach where one can find shells and sharks teeth as they paddle along in the water. There are few people on the beach. Behind the Cottage is a very quiet lagoon with a wooden dock jutting out into the waters. It is a great spot to take a book and read. The Cottage has very comfortable beds, an excellent entertainment unit and is well supplied with needs for a family. We totally enjoyed our stay there and are planning on coming back in 2012. As we have heard and concur with others on the Island it is a quiet, tranquil paradise and a great spot to holiday. The owners are excellent people and have been very accommodating. Paradise Cottage a "Peace in Heaven"!!!

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

Paradise Cottage

Guest: raye (Crosswicks, NJ)
Date of Stay: 02/01/11 Review Submitted: 02/20/11

The location of this property and its appearance were accurately described. The in property was clean and well maintained, including all amenities neccessary for everyday living. The kitchen was very well appointed, including all amenities. The owner was extremely helpful and easily accessible through emails. We have already recommended this property to friends for future rental opportunities. Activities nearby that we would recommend are visiting: Sarasota, Venice, Engelwood(Dearborn Street), Boca Grande and Punta Gorda. Looking in the local paper for ongoing events was helpful. We found this cottage to be in the perfect location for beach, pool and tennis access. We have appreciated your tastefully appointed comfortable, decorated island theme throught the house. The original art work throughout the house lends itself to creating a very pleasing island atmosphere. The front and back porches allow for sun or shade depending on your mood. The addition of ferry tickets was most helpful when renting on Don Pedro especially when shopping off the island is a neccessity. The serenity of this island with the dolphins and pelicans is so relaxing.

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

Paradise cottage

Guest: RK (Buffalo)
Date of Stay: 12/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/04/11

Absolutely beautiful cottage! We had the most wonderful and relaxing vacation here at Paradise Cottage. The cottage was truly lovely! Very clean and beautifully decorated! We stayed very comfortably with our 3 teenage kids and they, too, had an amazing time. We are excited to return next year!

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

Wonderful Stay at Paradise Cottage

Guest: Shannon2010 (Kentucky)
Date of Stay: 10/21/10 Review Submitted: 10/18/11

Thanks for a delightful stay at Paradise Cottage during my recent visit to Palm Island. My overall experience was superb. This beach home was so charming and very well maintained. I enjoyed the very easy access to the beach, the pool, and the tennis courts. The home is also equipped with nice "extras", including a full array of kitchen/cooking supplies and a state of the art tv and audio entertainment system. I highly recommend Palm Island and Paradise Cottage to anyone looking for a beautiful and secluded beach vacation and a pleasant stay at a charming vacation home. The owners of Paradise Cottage are quick to respond and accurate in everything they convey about this property.

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

Guest: Summer H.
Date of Stay: 06/18/10 Review Submitted: 07/12/10

I wanted to thank you for the wonderful weekend we had at your cottage--it was absolutely amazing. Everything was perfect! We will definitely booking with you again soon. Thank you again we had such a great time!!!!!! Everyone was wonderful and very helpful during are stay from the time we made are reservation to the day of check out. Thanks Again, Summer and Family

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Cozy, comfortable and oh-so-cute!

Guest: Terry and Mark (Charlotte, NC)
Date of Stay: 05/24/10 Review Submitted: 05/30/10

What a charmer! Paradise Cottage lives up to its name for sure! Top-notch linens and flat screen TV's in every bedroom for those snuggle-in times. Well-appointed kitchen with plenty of counter space/bar stools for social cooking. Solid wood dining table, great for games after dinner! Gulf-side screened-in porch just right for lounging as is the full-length deck lagoon-side with grill. Great fishing off the pier, shady and peaceful. Stunning pristine beach, so beautiful and convenient, offers incredible swimming. High quality chairs, umbrellas make beach-time relaxing and restful. Bikes available for tooling around the island. Wrap-around sound and large flat screen TV in casual living room, plenty of soft-seating. Bathrooms are immaculate, roomy and amply stocked with fluffy towels and washcloths - perfect after a long day of fun in the sun. Don't miss the chance to stay here - it's a real deal, nicely-maintained, you are ready to relax the moment you arrive!

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

Recent visit to Palm Island and property #244048

Guest: Shannon2010 (Kentucky)
Date of Stay: 05/18/10 Review Submitted: 06/01/10

I recently stayed at this lovely beach home and had a delightful experience. The home offers all the amenities attractive to families, groups of friends, romantic getaways, etc. It was the prettiest beach I've ever visited....very quiet, peaceful ocean waves, and lots of opportunities to see marine wildlife. I would definitely recommnend this beach home and the location of Palm Island to any family member or friend seeking pristine beaches, a quiet (non-touristy) setting, a cozy beach home, and beautiful sunsets! Thanks to the owners for making it available and for the immaculate condition of the home.

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

Wonderful!

Guest: Wistfully Gone (Richmond, KY)
Date of Stay: 05/18/10 Review Submitted: 06/01/10

Palm Island is delightfully quiet, relaxing and beautiful. This home is very clean, attractive, comfortable and well appointed. The kitchen has the best set of equipment I've ever experienced in a beach rental. There is only one house between you and the beach, great! Highly recommend.

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

Guest: CBHNashville
Date of Stay: 07/20/09 Review Submitted: 06/12/10

"Excellent Vacation Spot!" "My family and I have been coming to Paradise cottage for 16 years. It is beautifully decorated with comfort privacy. The kitchen, bathrooms and bed rooms are just wonderful. We rent a golf cart every year and bring our tennis rackets. My children range in age of 23 to 9 and we all have a great time here year after year and have made many memories here. My middle child and my sister got to swim with a baby mante and it's mother right out side in the back of the house! The sunsets are just spectacular. There is a pool right down from the cottage and the beaches are wonderfully relaxing. I think Paradise cottage is one of the best kept secret get aways ever. It would be wonderful for a couples get away, a girls trip or just to bond and relax with your family. I give paradise cottage 5 stars!!"

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Excellent Vacation Spot!

Guest: CBHNashville (Nashville, TN)
Date of Stay: 07/20/09 Review Submitted: 06/09/10

My family and I have been coming to Paradise cottage for 16 years. It is beautifully decorated with comfort privacy. The kitchen, bathrooms and bed rooms are just wonderful. We rent a golf cart every year and bring our tennis rackets. My children range in age of 23 to 9 and we all have a great time here year after year and have made many memories here. My middle child and my sister got to swim with a baby mante and it's mother right out side in the back of the house! The sunsets are just spectacular. There is a pool right down from the cottage and the beaches are wonderfully relaxing. I think Paradise cottage is one of the best kept secret get aways ever. It would be wonderful for a couples get away, a girls trip or just to bond and relax with your family. I give paradise cottage 5 stars!!

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

One of Florida's Best Kept Secrets!

Guest: John (Miama, FL)
Date of Stay: 06/13/09 Review Submitted: 06/21/10

Don Pedro/Palm Island/Little Gasperilla is one of Florida’s best kept secrets. Perhaps the reason for this is the welcomed inconvenience that you must endure involving a five minute ferry boat ride from the mainland to the island. Consequently unlike most Florida beaches, this beautiful beach is only shared with a handful of people, not thousands as is the case on nearby beaches that are not strategically separated by a water barrier. If you are in to eco-tourism like me, this is the place to come. Where to begin? The shelling is outstanding especially near the inlet. Bird watching is second to none. By far the most famous residents are the huge land tortoises and giant sea turtles. The tortoises can be encountered year-round while the sea turtles can only be encountered during the five month nesting season beginning in April. On almost any night during this time, you can walk along the beach at the water’s edge from 10:00 PM until 1:00 PM and can encounter one of these prehistoric, gentle giants nesting in the sand. Warning! Please be respectful because the turtles can be easily disturbed by human encounters and will return to the water without nesting. The fishing is some of the best in Florida and doesn’t require a boat or an expensive guide. On any night, you can walk along the road looking for a lighted dock. Once a dock is found, throw out a hook baited with a shrimp and moments later, you will have either a snook or redfish on the end of your line. Fishing is also excellent at the inlet at high tide during early morning or late afternoon hours. You can travel anywhere on the island with one of the bicycles that is provided for free at the office. Also there are tennis courts and a wonderful, Olympic sized swimming pool that is seldom used but always maintained to perfect, crystal clear standards. Paradise Cottage is charming home built high above the ground on stilts. It’s elevation allows it to take advantage of the gentle and cooling sea breeze that commonly occur especially during the later afternoon and early evening. The cottage boasts a “beaching” décor and a gourmet kitchen, perfect for cooking freshly caught sea food. It has a wonderful screened porch in the front that’s ideally suited for cocktail hour and for re-reading a favorite book. In the back is another porch that looks out to a private dock and a secluded bay. The only down side to Paradise Cottage and the island is having to leave!

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

Ultimate relaxation and tranquility!

Guest: Lovin Paradise Cottage (Kentucky)
Date of Stay: 05/09/09 Review Submitted: 03/27/10

My family has visited this home many times over the last several years. It is a very comfortable and charming home, decorated beautifully and tastefully. The front porch is a great place to watch the sunset, with a cool drink, if you are not already on the beach and the back deck is especially peaceful overlooking the canal and boat dock. It is not beach front, but in my opinion is better because you have the option of the back boat dock on the canal. It is a great place to sit and watch the fish jump or to cast a line. We have enjoyed many a meal of fresh caught mangrove snapper caught right out back. The kitchen is great for preparing full gourmet meals or simply warming up a quick snack or meal. The master is glorious, overlooking the beach in the front and the canal from the master bath & jacuzzi tub. The real treasure here is the secluded beach, unlike any other I have visited. This is where we escape to truly (truly!) relax and re-energize. Try it, you'll like it!

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

Fantastic Vacation spot

Guest: Adam Cahill (Richmond Kentucky)
Date of Stay: 07/16/99 Review Submitted: 06/12/10

An amazing beach getaway! The beach is across the street and the neighborhood is secluded and peaceful. Whether you want to stay by the pool or walk on the beach, everything just out the door. If I had the money, I'd buy it in a second. The home itself is perfect for long weekends or month long stays no matter if you're by yourself or have a group of friends with you. I stayed there years ago and still consider it the best vacation I've ever been on.

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