Magnificent Pool Home in Tropical Paradise

• Never had to leave the property

  Never had to leave the property

  • Guest Z
  • Date of stay 05/22/11
  • Review Submitted 08/29/11
  This home was a good value. We visited in May and fell in love with Pine Island. Once you had supplies, food drink etc. you never had to leave. The house was clean and well laid out. Lots of open space with a nice lani and pool. The property is spacious and doesn't back to other homes. There's a large pad to park an RV or boat out back. Fishing was great, we went with a guide out of St. James one time and rented a boat on our own once. There is a kayak launch into the bay about 6 blocks away. There are several good restaurants on either end on the island if you don't feel like cooking. Next time we go, biking and kayak fishing are on my list.We recommend this place.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, adventure seekers, people with disabilities.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Excellent vacation home had a blast!

  Excellent vacation home had a blast!

  • Guest Ryan
  • Date of stay 07/02/11
  • Review Submitted 08/29/11
  This house has it all. There is a pool in the back heated and wonderful to swim in. Especially loved the turtle mosaic in the floor of the pool. I didn't really see or hear any construction but did get to see the fireworks over the fourth of July! if you walk one street over and down to the end of that street there is the put out for the ocean! All in all it was a fantastic stay and I really loved the seclusion of this place too. there are no neighbors to speak of and its far enough back from the road the noise doesn't travel to the house. I ended up proposing to my fiance here over the 4th of July weekend and it was just great. Nothing like having a bunch of wine by the pool at night. Definitely recommend this place to any traveler that wants to have an extended stay in Florida at a really great location!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Lovely island hideaway

  Lovely island hideaway

  • Guest Char
  • Date of stay 07/02/11
  • Review Submitted 08/29/11
  I'd recommend this rental to anyone looking for a vacation where they can operate on "island time". Everything from landscaping, to decor, to location created the perfect escape from the real world, which is precisely what me, a busy, career-oriented woman needed. I'm no stranger to Florida, having lived, worked, and vacationed in other cities before, but found that this rental and location topped them all! The house itself was very neat and clean, and has fantastic decor. The lanai and pool deck offered /great/ outdoor living spaces that offered protection from mosquitoes. We used the grill a lot. The pool was a nice size and the sea turtle mosaic on the pool's bottom is just adorable. I loved the array of palm trees on the property, some of which had ripe coconuts hanging from their branches (yum). The front entrance to the house was host to several jasmine bushes, which smell /amazing/. We rented in early July, over the 4th weekend, but did not have to contend with the typical traffic and busied, tourist-packed activities that are usually associated with summer, Florida vacation. The small town, laid-back nature of St. James city provided us with a much more relaxing atmosphere. We're very nature-loving, outdoorsy people, and this house offered us a perfect home base from which to explore the waterways and mangroves, without being too far from more manicured, sandy beaches. We loved the fishing kayaks and were able to easily transport them around the corner to a small water access. The river was very peaceful, not too overwhelmed by boater traffic, and we were able to enjoy a few romantic hours of paddling through the channel to kickoff our engagement (he proposed on board the kayak). There's lots of coastal wildlife to see - osprey, turtles, stingrays, and even a pair of dolphins paid us a visit during our water outings. The house was just a short drive away from the town of Mattlacha, where we enjoyed a day of wandering through the artistic community and shopping for some fun, locally-made items. Ladies, bring a comfortable pair of shoes, because there are LOTS of boutiques and art galleries to peruse. Aside from the shopping and strolling, there were plenty of boat-renting and fishing opportunities, great dining, easy drives to beaches, and mainland city of Ft. Meyers. For you botanists and history buffs, I'd also recommend paying a visit to the Edison estate and museum while here. Highly recommended. I know I'll be back!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Problems with deposit return, construction noise, loud workers behind home

  Problems with deposit return, construction noise, loud workers behind home

  • Guest Dissatisfied tenant
  • Date of stay 03/01/11
  • Review Submitted 04/24/11
  I didn't want to have a utility bill deducted from my deposit so I worked out a flat rate with the manager who told me that it was approved by the owner. They even noted it in the contract and told me that I wouldn't have to pay for pool heat. In the end it meant nothing as they deducted the utility bill anyways.. Be careful, make sure your contract says " tenant is not responsible for utilities" or don't plan on getting you full deposit back, I was told that it was a quiet location, however Most days there was construction noise, loud workers, and sometimes bad language.behind the tall hedge in the back of the house where the pool is located.. We had to deal with centipedes in the house. The house was well equiped, in good condition, and clean when we arrived, however the driveway entance was difficult to access because of a lot of traffic.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/7

Dec 01-Apr 30 .. $1,250/week .. $3,400/month
May 01-Nov 30 .. $ 900/week .. $2,300/month
11% tax is NOT included
$175 Cleaning fee is Not included
Refundable security deposit required
$175/month Electrical Utility Allowance

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.