Family of 6 Liverpool, England, summer 2009

Guest: dartybobo (Liverpool, UK)
Date of Stay: 07/23/09 Review Submitted: 10/20/09

We had a wonderful stay at this extremely clean well maintained villa. The 3 bedrooms each with ensuite bathrooms meant that all the family had a good degree of privacy. I would wholeheartedly recommend a stay at this superbly appointed and located villa. The views from the property were amazing, the serenity of sitting with a drink relaxing looking out over the bay was second to none. The use of the bikes to access the local Robinsons Preserve were an added bonus, you must visit the preserve which extends out onto the bay. Our favourite restaurant was The Bonefish Grill, five minutes away on the corner of 75th and Cortez drive. The villa is close to many stunning beaches, our favourite was Coquina beach. However we really enjoyed chilling out at the privately shared pool that overlooks the bay, were we often glimpsed sights of dolphins swimming in the bay. There are deckchairs on the boat jetty that we spent many happy hours relaxing looking over the bay. The villa itself is so nice and comfortable it is hard to drag yourself away and go out to the many different amenities around and about.

Owner response:Thank you for your perfect 5 star rating. You were 5 star guests and I look forward to your return next summer! Cheers!

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

An incredible summer overflowing with memories that will last a lifetime!

Guest: Mrs A from Western North Carolina (The Mountains of Western North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 01/21/12

Although hesitant to book a month long holiday online, I trusted the photos and the words of Mark and Liliana. We arrived that evening and were pleasantly surprised. Immediately, the warmth of this home set in. We then headed to the market and were amazed at how conveniently located this property was to so many venues..Publix, Albertsons, Walmart.....u name it! Our 1st night was hectic but yet...after unpacking and grocery shopping...we settled in on the patio, watching the fish circle the lights in the water! How incredible it was!! Our son spent the month at IMG Baseball Academy, but had time in the evenings to join his younger brother in some fishing from the dock...IMG was a convenient 5-7 min drive. This home was so warm and welcoming, surprisingly quiet, considering our close proximity to the beach! The pictures really didn't do it the justice it deserved. We spent mornings on the patio drinking coffee, watching the dolphin frolick before us, but the best of all was the Manatee that would come right up to our dock and grunt! They are truly~Gentle Giants!! I will forward Mark a closeup we got! We wished we had brought our boat and jet skis, but ironically, we had a drawer, that contained hundreds of advertisement brochures for everything locally from shopping to dining to boat rentals.....so...we spent several days alternating rentals with a pontoon boat, speed boat and jet skis, through Bradenton Beach Marina. So we not only saw them by our dock, but they'd come up to the back of our boat in the wake! It was amazing! My boys caught tons of fish, including one exceeding large beautiful Tiger Shark! Yikes! Did I mention my boys horseback riding on the beach? They were literally walking bridle deep in the water on the horses! What an incredible summer we all had! All in all, I can recommend this vacation rental to any and all, because honestly, there was something for everyone to do....(The most incredible malls in Tampa were a 45 minute jaunt and well worth it for MOM!!) On the flip side of shopping, my boys enjoyed the indoor Red Barn flea market! Do try the Oyster Bar and Sweet Berries! We were "frequent fliers" to both! You won't be disappointed! Thanks Mark and Liliana, for opening your home and offering such opportunity for lifelong memories for my family! You covered every detail!! Thank you! Fondly, from the Mountains of Western North Carolina

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

Five stars just aren't enough!

Guest: galena7 (United States)
Date of Stay: 12/16/11 Review Submitted: 01/04/12

About May of 2011 we decided to spend Christmas in Florida to avoid the cold of the Midwest. We had no idea what part of Florida, or what type of vacation rental we were looking for. After searching for a few weeks I came across a listing for "Luxury Bay Front Villa on Palma Sola Bay". I contacted the owner via email with a list of questions and his response was very prompt and detailed. Over the next few weeks I sent more emails asking yet more questions (this trip was important to me and I wanted to make sure I was making the right decision). Again, he answered all of my questions promptly and without hesitation. After carefully reviewing the area and pictures of the property I decided to take the plunge. We flew into St. Pete/Clearwater airport in mid December/2011, the airport was a breeze and the villa was very easy to find. Once we walked into the villa our first impression was that we were headed for trouble....there was no way that we were going to want to leave! My husband, who didn't even want to take a vacation was now thanking me for finding such a wonderful place to spend our Christmas. Everything about the villa exceeded our expectations. Favorite villa memories.... Waking up every morning in time to see the beautiful sunrise from the balcony Relaxing every night with my loved ones while watching the sun set over the bay Watching my son and grandson fishing (literally just steps away from the door) Favorite vacation memories... Long walks in the nature preserve (literally across the street) Saturday morning farmers market in downtown Sarasota The Dali museum In a nutshell... Location: Perfect! Short drive to Sarasota, St. Pete, shopping, dining, and all of the fabulous beaches. Villa: Perfect! Everything looks brand new, plenty of room for the whole family, light, bright, comfy. Value: Perfect! There is just not a better deal out there. Owners: Perfect! Honest, reliable, helpful, a pure pleasure to deal with. We can't wait to go back, and wouldn't think of staying anywhere else!

Owner response:We appreciate your kind words. A review like this is the best reward for our effort to make our vacation rental the most special and memorable vacation package possible. Thanks again for all the time you took to write such a thorough review! Come back soon!

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

A Family Vacation

Guest: beverly s. (Tampa, Florida)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 08/08/10

We just returned from our stay at your beautiful Villa and we can't thank you both enough for an incredible stay. The Villa is very large and roomy and in perfect condition. We had friends and family coming in and out our entire stay and we never felt cramped at all. The kitchen was the main topic of converstion and a few of our visitors were taking pictures of their "Dream Kitchen." The bedrooms were very comfortable and it was great that each one had it's own bathroom. The Bay is beautiful and the kids, and some of the adults, spent their evenings fishing off the dock directly off the back door of the Villa. We had a manatee come and visit with us one day for about an hour and the dolphins came each day. We took our boat on the trip and were able to launch it right next door and had many great days traveling around the bay and into the Gulf. My family enjoyed our time together and it just made it better to do so in such a lovey home. We hope to stay with you again next year.

Owner response:Thanks for your nice comments. We are glad you were able to celebrate your birthday with your entire family at our grand villa. It is our pleasure to have such wonderful guests as you and we look forward to your return visit!

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

Guest: Sarah & Julian (-)
Date of Stay: 11/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/19/10

"I've been vacationing with families and friends since 1995 and I have to say, without a doubt, this was the best time we have had. A large part was due to all of us staying in such a beautiful and spacious home. We all agree that we want to return! The pool on the Bay by the palm trees and private Jacuzzi was a godsend at the end of the day. So Peaceful and relaxing! Being able to make fabulous meals in the Chefs kitchen was fabulous. We never saw a kitchen as incredible as yours! Staying at the house really gave us total flexibility during our vacation.The huge Villa allowed our entire family to be together, yet with private bedroom suites we all had our own privacy."

Recommended for:

Florida Spring Vacation-2010

Guest: Upstate NY Family (Syracuse, New York)
Date of Stay: 04/01/10 Review Submitted: 04/15/10

The villa is exceptionally spacious and very comfortable. It is located in close proximity to numerous amenities and outdoor activities; restaurants, shops, beaches, nature preserves, fishing (too may to list) compared to other locations we have stayed at on the Florida Gulf Coast.

Owner response:Thanks for your PERFECT 5 STAR review. Our 1.3 million dollar luxury bay front villa is one of a kind and like no other beach vacation rental. Our rates are all inclusive. I.e., no hidden fees for all amenities and extras such as UNLIMITED CALLING ANYWHERE IN USA AND CANADA. HIGH SPEED WI-FI INTERNET. PREMIUM HI-DEF CABLE. HDTV, CD, DVD, MP3 HOOK UP, ENTERTAINMENT WITH BIG VIDEO COLLECTION. GRILL. KAYAK. MOUNTAIN BIKES. JACUZZI. FISHING GEAR. Bi-WEEKLY GARBAGE PICK-UP. FULLY STOCKED CHEF'S KITCHEN RIGHT DOWN TO VIRGIN OLIVE OILS AND SPICES. MANICURED LANDSCAPING. POOL BY THE BAY AND PALMS. OUTDOOR DINING ON COVERED BALCONY. LOUNGE CHAIRS ON MASTER BALCONY. BEACH CHAIRS AND UMBRELLA. DESIGNER APPOINTMENTS AND PROFESSIONALLY DECORATED. ETC. ETC. We even provide extra King size bed in Loft bedroom, if needed, at no extra charge. With all the local activities I hope you had time to use our bikes or Kayak to tour the miles of marked trails at Robinsons Nature Preserve that borders our property. Watch for Manatee, Bald eagles, Dolphins along the way. Climb the 5 story Nature tower for best 360 degree nature views in Florida. Pack a lunch and use the picnic areas nestled deep inside the mangroves or along the white Bermuda sand shores. Bike on the miles of paved nature trails. If you ran out of time we hope you will return as most of our other guests have. You may even want to try going Horseback on our beach next time you visit. It's a once in a life time experience. Thanks again for your PERFECT 5 STAR RATING!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

Guest: Bob & Rita (-)
Date of Stay: 01/01/10 Review Submitted: 04/12/10

Rating 5 out of 5 Wonderful Stay for 3 months Bob & Rita Lakeville MN USA Review Submitted: April 1, 2010 Date of Stay: January 2010 My wife and I stayed at Mark & Liliana's Villa for the months of Jan, Feb, and March 2010. The villa was as advertised on Palma Sola Bay. It is located next to the beach on Palma Sola Bay. It is without a doubt one of the best locations in the Bradenton area. Everything is located very close, grocery and restaurants. The villa is beautiful with ceramic tile on the main level and carpet on the second level. The kitchen is "A Martha Stewart's dream. The fishing, off the back of the villa, was plentiful with trout and sheephead. The neighbors were friendly and the villa was quiet with no street noise. The view across the bay especially at sunrise is spectacular. The villa is located about 3 miles from more beaches on the gulf with sugar white sand. All the furnishings are new and give that new house feeling . Anyone, staying at this villa, either long or short term is sure to enjoy the stay. Thank you, Bob & Rita Owner's Response: Thanks for your 5 star rating. We have a high level of gratification every time we receive praise from our guests. It means even more to us when we receive a 5 star rating from those who rent for 3 months. It shows us that we are meeting our goal, 100% customer satisfaction. Thanks for your commenting that our Villa "is without a doubt one of the best locations in the Bradenton area. Everything is located very close, grocery and restaurants.." We chose to invest here after vacationing all over the world because we liked this area best! Beach borders property. Top rated Robinson's Preserve on other side of street. We offer bikes & Kayak to ride or paddle the miles of marked trails to see all the rare species. We especially enjoy watching for Manatee & Bald Eagles that nest by the 5 story nature tower. From top of tower you get what may be the best 360 degree nature view of all Florida. You can even see the Skyway bridge about 35miles away. From the long pier over Perico Bayou it's great to watch Osprey show awesome skills. More great beaches just down the road. Close proximately to all the shopping & restaurants make this the epitome of the meaning behind, "Location, Location, Location."

Recommended for:

Wonderful Stay for 3 months

Guest: Bob & Rita (Lakeville MN USA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/10 Review Submitted: 04/01/10

My wife and I stayed at Mark & Liliana's Villa for the months of Jan, Feb, and March 2010. The villa was as advertised on Palma Sola Bay. It is located next to the beach on Palma Sola Bay. It is without a doubt one of the best locations in the Bradenton area. Everything is located very close, grocery and restaurants. The villa is beautiful with ceramic tile on the main level and carpet on the second level. The kitchen is "A Martha Stewart's dream. The fishing, off the back of the villa, was plentiful with trout and sheephead. The neighbors were friendly and the villa was quiet with no street noise. The view across the bay especially at sunrise is spectacular. The villa is located about 3 miles from more beaches on the gulf with sugar white sand. All the furnishings are new and give that new house feeling . Anyone, staying at this villa, either long or short term is sure to enjoy the stay. Thank you, Bob & Rita

Owner response:Thanks for your 5 star rating. We have a high level of gratification every time we receive praise from our guests. It means even more to us when we receive a 5 star rating from those who rent for 3 months. It shows us that we are meeting our goal, 100% customer satisfaction. Thanks for your commenting that our Villa "is without a doubt one of the best locations in the Bradenton area. Everything is located very close, grocery and restaurants.." We chose to invest here after vacationing all over the world because we liked this area best! Beach borders property. Top rated Robinson's Preserve on other side of street. We offer bikes & Kayak to ride or paddle the miles of marked trails to see all the rare species. We especially enjoy watching for Manatee & Bald Eagles that nest by the 5 story nature tower. From top of tower you get what may be the best 360 degree nature view of all Florida. You can even see the Skyway bridge about 35miles away. From the long pier over Perico Bayou it's great to watch Osprey show awesome skills. More great beaches just down the road. Close proximately to all the shopping & restaurants make this the epitome of the meaning behind, "Location, Location, Location." Regarding your kind words about our kitchen. With $150K invested in the professional grade appliances, 2 granite islands, a granite breakfast bar, & open concept so chef doesn't miss out on anything, you're right, it is a Martha Stewart's Dream kitchen! I'm glad you had good results fishing off private docks. There's nothing like barbecuing freshly caught fish on our large covered balcony & feasting right there on our balcony dining set. Glad you appreciated the southern exposure location of our Villa. It does make for spectacular sunrises & sets. There's nothing like a sunrise over the Bay! The Villa is always nice & bright. Your are also right that besides the white sand beach bordering our property on the shores of Palm Sola, just down the road are more white powder sand & turquoise beaches. You may not know that the closest beach was voted top 10 in the USA by NY Times! Thanks for noting the furnishings. My wife and I furnished with no expense spared on fine designer appointments & special decor. For instance the Living room is Cindy Crawford design. All bed sets are constructed of premium woods. I'm sure you noticed the premium Serta mattresses, with memory foam tops. We realize that a better night sleep means that you get to enjoy more quality time during the day.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

*****PERFECT 5 STAR RATING

Guest: H. Carver (-)
Date of Stay: 12/02/09 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

"Your vacation Villa was fabulous. The decorations were beautiful, the amenities were perfect and I could have easily made it my permanent home." - H. Carver, Maryland

Recommended for:

Perfect spot!

Guest: striper (Cape Cod)
Date of Stay: 03/18/09 Review Submitted: 04/11/09

We recently returned from a trip to this gorgeous villa that is literally right on Palma Sola bay and a 3 minute drive to Anna Maria beaches. Everything about the villa as described in the ad was dead on the money....in fact, we all commented that the place was much bigger than it actually appeared in the ad! You can lie in the master bed and watch the sun rise over the bay and see the dophins swim by....not bad living! We even saw a Manatee come up the canal in front of the unit one morning! You can walk for 1 minute and be right on the beach at Palma Sola where there is great jet skiing, swimming and fishing. Heck, there is even space to dock your own boat if you have one! All of the bedrooms were gorgeous and mint, mint, mint as were all the bathrooms. All of the bedrooms are upstairs so please keep that in mind. The kitchen is simply spectacular and we easily accomodated all guests with plates, cooking, etc. If you're looking for restaurants, stores, etc they are only a 3 minute drive away as well. Mark, we really enjoyed our stay at the villa and you can be sure that when we're back down, and we will be, we will be coming back to this gorgeous place! By the way, if you've never been to Anna Maria, it simply is the best place to vacation on the west coast of Florida....gorgeous beaches, funky low key character....you will love it!!! And by all means go to the Sandbar restaurant on the North end of the Island for a sunset drink and bite to eat.....you will not be disappointed!

Owner response:Thanks for the 5 star rating. If my guests are more happy with my grand luxury Villa than they have been with any other vacation rental, I have met my goal. I look forward to return visits from all my guests to my piece of paradise where you enjoy the sandy beach, free use of my intra-coastal docks for fishing or boating, swimming in my pool beneath the palms, and a view like no other of beautiful Palma Sola Bay, all from my property. Thanks, Mark

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.