Vacation Rentals by Owner

A family from London

Guest: Bert (UK)
Date of Stay: 04/14/12 Review Submitted: 05/14/12

We had been to Anna Maria 10 years ago and we were looking forward to returning. We were not disappointed at all. The location and condition of the apartment was perfect. The wonderful views from the terrace, the closeness of the fabulous beach and the well-maintained clean home made our week relaxing and very enjoyable. Thanks to Stephanie and Mike for being great hosts.

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

Charming accommodations next to Gulf beach access.

Guest: Tricia R. (Winona Lake, Indiana)
Date of Stay: 03/31/12 Review Submitted: 04/09/12

My family of four and our good friends (a family of five) rented both units of Seaside Sanctuary for Spring break week. I have been coming to Anna Maria Island for over 15 years and found the accommodations provided by our lovely hostess Stephanie to be very satisfying! Both units are extremely clean, cozy and beachy comfortable. The access to the beach is convenient. Some may complain about a bit of a trek through the dunes and sea oats to reach the water, but wait a year or two and Mother Nature will move that extra sand up to Bean Point. The coastline is always changing! The island was busy as usual during spring break, so the bikes (and we rented extras for our big group) were extremely useful. The owners work very hard to keep their little slice of paradise available for your enjoyment. Can't go wrong staying at Seaside Sanctuary! Thanks, Stephanie!

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

Wonderful place to stay!

Guest: Bill, Lisa and Emily (Clinton, WI)
Date of Stay: 03/24/12 Review Submitted: 04/14/12

We spent a wonderful and relaxing week at Seaside Sanctuary. The house was spotlessly clean and adorably decorated in a beach style, without being overly "beachy". The entire house, including the beds, was extremely comfortable. The deck on the front has a great view of the gulf and was a favorite place to sit and have coffee in the morning. Stephanie was great to work with - very helpful and pleasant.

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

Truly a Sancturary

Guest: Emojonation (Grand Rapids, MI)
Date of Stay: 03/03/12 Review Submitted: 03/15/12

Great place to kick back and relax. Loved the unhurried pace, bike rides, beautiful beach and sunsets. The North end of Anna Maria Island is quiet but located close to the fishing piers/restaurants and downtown area which is more like a village than a city. The Trolly is a must...take a ride down to Coquina Beach or Bridge St area. You can even connect to the other keys if so desired. Ospreys, herons and parrots nest in the area providing plenty of photo ops. Check out the historic museum just down the street. We would definitely consider staying here again.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great family house

Guest: Megan B (Nantucket, MA)
Date of Stay: 01/29/12 Review Submitted: 02/09/12

We had a fantastic week at this beach condo. Loved the walks to the pier, walks on the beach, riding the trolley to buy souvenirs. Stayed with our two babies--2 year old and 3 month old. We were all very comfotable. House was perfectly clean, plenty of clean linens. Great sunset views. Owner went above and beyond to accommodate our needs. Thanks for everything! We hope to be back soon!

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway.

PERFECT...Exactly what we were looking for.

Guest: Ken (Pittsburgh, PA)
Date of Stay: 01/08/12 Review Submitted: 01/26/12

What Stephanie and Mike present in the owner's property profile is understated. This rental was more than we had hoped for. My short comments: Beautiful beach in view and a few minutes from the door. Sunsets that will put you in awe of what nature offers. Quiet and peaceful. Friendly and helpful folks all around us. Easy walk to great eating places. I took my Boston Terrier for walks twice a day and found myself wanting to keep walking to enjoy the scenery. We fell in love with the Sarasota area, driving there often and visiting the Ringling compound. The shopping and dining at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota was terrific. You have to drive to Apollo beach, a short trip to view hundreds of Manatee's. Wow what a sight! Take a boat ride and watch the dolphins follow you, jumping out of the water as you speed ahead. Really cool. Probably most important however is the fact that for three weeks my wife and I felt that we were at home. The rental is bright, clean, well appointed and just plain comfortable. Stephanie and Mike were always available to offer area information. We had never been to Anna Maria and found it by accident. I am really happy that we found it. Ken and Linda

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

Best stay yet!

Guest: Susan (Burlington, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 12/31/11 Review Submitted: 02/19/12

This was our fourth trip to Anna Maria, and the Seaside Sanctuary was the perfect place to stay. Clean, well-equipped (the bicycles were a bonus!), and great hosts. With the beach a minute's walk away, we headed down every night to enjoy the sunset - something that we didn't do when we were a few blocks further away in past years. We enjoyed our morning coffee out on the deck, where we could enjoy watching the ocean. We hope to be back one day!

Recommended for:Families with young children

Thanksgiving

Guest: zachtown (Ridgway, CO)
Date of Stay: 11/19/11 Review Submitted: 11/28/11

We had a fabulous time - everything worked well and without a hitch. The house is perfect for a family gathering like ours. The location on the beach was amazing: we were greeted by a pod of dolphins in the morning, found the best shells on our part of the beach, and everyone could come and go between the beach and the house easily. We used the grill to cook perfect burgers one night, and we prepared an entire Thanksgiving feast in the kitchen without difficulty. The living room was perfect, and on our one rainy day (afternoon) everyone had a great time playing hearts and watching movies. The kids stayed up late in the living room while we went to bed and we never heard them. My mother & father in-law slept comfortably in the spare bedroom - that fold-out bed works well! The washer and dryer is a great addition. Even dealing with the kayak folks went well! Everyone loved your house, and we hope we can return many times in the future!

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

Sweet home

Guest: Christina K.
Date of Stay: 08/20/11 Review Submitted: 09/05/11

This is such a cozy cottage. We stept in and feel home from the first moment. It's also very nice furnished and convinient. A minute walk to the marvelous beach and you can enjoy and relax. Mostly we were alone, except several arts of birds. We did'nt get tired of watching them. Anna Maria is has really a great nature. We loved it so much and we can absolutely recommend this accomadation. Thanks to Stephanie an Mike for this great vacation and their kindness.

Recommended for:

Great Location

Guest: Andrew (Orlando FL)
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/23/11

Initial thoughts are how clean and nicely decorated the house was. Very warm and inviting. There is a great view of the beach from 2 sides of the house. Very short walk from the property to the beach with no traffic or roads to cross, so very safe for children. Only a short 5 minute walk down the beach is the Sandbar restaurant, which is very good. Nice large flat screen for those rainy Florida days. Also plenty of parking on the property for 2 cars. This is located in the north part of Anna Maria so it is very quiet and peaceful. It is approximately a 15 minute walk down to the town center and the the pier. Highly recommended.

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

Charming, well appointed rental with lovely scenic views

Guest: Beachlovingfamily (Raleigh, NC)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11 Review Submitted: 07/11/11

This charming rental has relaxing, comfortable furnishings and a spacious, breezy feel in the main living areas. The kitchen is well-appointed with pots, pans, etc., and even an espresso machine. The beach is spectacularly pristine with sea oats, beach sunflowers, and plenty of marine life, shells and sand dollars to collect, particularly near the sand bars. The accommodations are indeed steps from the soft sand. It is a slightly longer trek to get to the warm blue-green water itself, weaving through plants and around a protected areas for nesting birds. A cart (shared with the downstairs renters) allows for convenient transportation of the nice selection of sand toys, chairs and beach umbrellas. The property is located on the northern tip of the island, a little paradise with appeal that has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by the active construction/remodeling going on in neighboring properties. Overall, we were very pleased with the convenience, comfort, fantastic views and amazing, pristine beach and would highly recommend this property to families with small or school age children and pets.

Recommended for:Families with young children, pet owners.

Perfect Vacation Spot

Guest: Shelly (Denver, CO)
Date of Stay: 05/24/11 Review Submitted: 07/07/11

My family of 4 stayed for 10 days. This was our first time to Anna Maria and we will definitely be back! The location of the property was perfect, steps to the beach, walking/trolley distance to restaurants, park and pier. The property was just like the photos, simple, nicely decorated and clean. We loved having a washer/dryer and all the beach gear to use. The owner was helpful and very easy to work with. The best part was the beach - warm shallow water and cool soft sand, perfect for my young children. Our only slight dissatisfaction would be that we didnt realize how wide the beach is. Wonderful in that it wasn't crowded at all, but somewhat difficult lugging all the gear back and forth through deep sand. However, this is no reflection on the property, just a note. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect vacation spot!

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

Flawless!

Guest: Graeme H.
Date of Stay: 04/23/11 Review Submitted: 06/28/11

This was our sixth holiday on the island we love. The property is far, far better than anything we have stayed in before and the availability calendar is a clear testament to that. The beach is steps away, the neighbours are friendly and the setting is simply perfect. It is far enough from the restaurants to be tranquil, but close enough to wander down to them for the essential evening mojito! You will find yourself inexorably drawn to the beach each night to witness stunning sunsets. Our highlights were witnessing a school of 35-45 rays in just a few feet of water at the City Pier, and kayaking with a group of 5 manatees about half a mile out, directly opposite the house. Slim's Bar is great and they welcome kids too. Don't feel the need to go as far as Venice for fossilised shark teeth, we found a few just poking around at low tide between the piers on the bay side. Like all impressionable Brits, we went to the restaurants featured in the Man v Food Sarasota episode, of which Yoders is the clear winner, the pies are extraordinary! Nothing is too much trouble for Steph the owner, and we cannot wait to return.

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

Wonderful

Guest: Buckeye (Ohio)
Date of Stay: 02/04/11 Review Submitted: 02/20/11

Very much enjoyed our week stay. Nice and clean with cozy, beach feel. Our only concern, for our time was several locations of construction around us, which made for a lot of noise. Not home owners fault. We loved the easy beach access, and spent most of our time there. Great place to stay.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Great Stay at Seaside Sanctuary!

Guest: MN Beach Girl (Detroit Lakes, MN)
Date of Stay: 12/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/05/11

The listing description and photos are very accurate in describing this property. In fact, the beach views are even better than described. We were pleasantly surprised with our view from both the livingroom and master bedroom windows. It is truly a very short walk to a wide sandy beach. You can walk as far as you want in either direction. We were able to walk to several restaurants and shops. This property was immaculate. Both my husband and I are "neat freaks" and we were quite pleased with the cleanliness and maintenance of Seaside Sanctuary. It is decorated with a cute beach decor and you immediately feel comfortable and at home. The kitchen had everything we needed and more. My son and husband loved the big screen and surround sound. I can't think of anything negative to say about this property or Anna Maria Island. I would definitely recommend this property and wouldn't hesitate to rent again. This is a wonderful place to stay!

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

Perfect Location!!

Guest: Vicki S. (Columbus Ohio USA)
Date of Stay: 11/23/10 Review Submitted: 12/01/10

Seaside Sanctuary was a wonderful, relaxing get away for my husband, daughter and I. The house is decorated in bright cheerful colors and everything was clean and organized. The kitchen was well equipped and clean. The ocean views from the house and the deck are great! The gorgeous white sand beach is just footsteps away from the house. The beach is beautiful! We saw dolphins swimming almost every day and the sunsets every night are a real treat. The restaurants on Anna Maria are so much fun and the food is delicious. The owner, Stephanie, is very friendly as well as helpful. we really enjoyed our stay on Anna Maria and want to return in the Spring. We would definately recommend Seaside Sanctuary!

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

Paradise in our own backyard

Guest: Jannon (Bradenton, FL)
Date of Stay: 11/10/10 Review Submitted: 11/14/10

What our family needed was a long relaxing and restful week-end away from home and we got so much more! This home and surrounding area has it all...it is located on a quiet little street yet it's just a few blocks away from shopping, eateries and the arts. The bikes included in our stay was our main mode of transportation around the island even though we had our car - we had a blast exploring the whole island. The beach gear also included in the stay left room to bring our dogs. We all loved hanging out on the balcony overlooking the gulf while enjoying breakfast, taking naps and watching the sunset. The beach is wide and has the most beautiful white sparkling sand. It is a haven for birds and dolphins and we even saw a manatee on our trip. We hope to visit again very soon!

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

Beautiful location!

Guest: Cheryl (Twinsburg, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 09/16/10 Review Submitted: 10/16/10

Want to come back. Very clean and bright. Friendly owners. Beautiful beach just steps away. Enjoyed resturant on city pier and, of course, the Sandbar. Would recommend to anyone who wants to visit paradise.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

A Piece Of Heaven

Guest: Terri&Doug (Lakeland,Fl)
Date of Stay: 09/01/10 Review Submitted: 09/07/10

This is by far the best place to stay on the island for Perfect Peace and Total Relaxation! The beach was beautiful and the sunsets were amazing!!!! They have everything on the property that you could ever want or need for your trip such as... bikes to ride, a beautiful large sun umbrella, chairs, floats, a grill, there was even a cooler to carry your beverages in to the beach. The inside was decorated so cute and the entire place was VERY CLEAN! :-) The owners are VERY nice and are always happy to help you with any questions you may have. We enjoyed this little piece of Heaven and will be back for sure!

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

Beautiful views and accomodations!

Guest: Dawn (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

Seaside Sanctuary was wonderful: clean, bright and cheerful, relaxing, and perfect for a beach vacation. The owners were very accomodating and went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. I loved the proximity to the best part of the island- the north end with the wide beach and bird sanctuary. We also enjoyed Sign of the Mermaid and The Waterfront restaurants. I would recommend it to anyone needing a getaway from it all. My only regret was that we were there for only a few days!

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

Definitely A Beautiful Seaside Sanctuary!

Guest: Steelers Fans (Canonsburg, PA)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/21/10

This home has a great location on the northern, QUIET end of Anna Maria with beautiful views of the turquoise Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes we (my husband, two boys and I) felt like we had the whole beach to ourselves! However, the amenities don't stop with the home's location. The home is beautifully decorated, very clean, and the owners are wonderful. It was nice to have the owners available rather than renting from a real estate agency. The owners were more than willing to do anything they could to make our stay enjoyable, and were very knowledgeable about the island. They really went the extra mile! (From telling my boys the closest places to get fishing bait, to the most affordable places for family dining, to things to do on or near the island). That's the nice thing about renting from owners who live near their vacation rental-- they make sure that their guests are comfortable and happy. If we could change anything, it would be that we never had to leave! We would definitely recommend it to others and would stay at this beautiful seaside sanctuary again!

Recommended for:Families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Simply Amazing! We Didn't Want To Leave!

Guest: Erika (Parrish, FL)
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 07/04/10

We are local to the county and wanted to stay close to home for our vacation. We visit Anna Maria Island often and know the most perfectly serene beaches are on the north end. We chose this house and location because it is the best. Our stay was simply amazing! The house is perfect and the beach is stunning. Both are like something from a postcard. The photos of the house are a perfect representation of what you get and it is wonderfully clean. We plan to make this an annual affair and the plans for 2011 are in motion! Stephanie, thank you for making our vacation perfect! We cannot wait to return!

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

SEASIDE SANCTUARY -- FIVE STARS!!!!

Guest: Dianne C (Palmetto, FL USA)
Date of Stay: 05/31/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

A charming beach house, lovely furnishings, clean and comfortable. Great location -- on quiet north end of Anna Maria, only a short walk to the beach, and within walking distance to several restaurants and shops. The owners are nice people and very accommodating. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

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

Ideal Spring Getaway

Guest: RoseC (Maryland)
Date of Stay: 04/29/10 Review Submitted: 05/11/10

Our family couldn't have been more thrilled with the location and cleanliness of our accommodations as well as the graciousness of the owner, Stephanie. Just a few steps from the beach, you will not find a more serene spot on the island. The impeccable accommodations makes one want to redecorate their own home after a stay at this gorgeous house. This spot would be first on our list as the ideal place to stay again or to recommend to our friends.

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

Clean, Cozy & Cute!

Guest: SarahVTgirl (Vermont)
Date of Stay: 04/19/10 Review Submitted: 05/18/10

My husband and I have traveled with our young children to Anna Maria for 3 years now. This was by far the best place we have stayed. The location on the island is perfect, the beach is spectacular and just a short walk. We loved hearing the waves as we slept. The house was even more charming than the pictures let on. After a long trip from Vermont, it was so nice to arrive to such a clean and comfortable space. We felt very much at home and will likely return to this incredibly cute home. Stephanie and her family were so friendly and accommodating without being intrusive. They were very quiet and kept to themselves but were readily available and eager to answer any questions we had about the island. We highly recommend staying here for a relaxing getaway!

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

wonderful beach house in fantastic location

Guest: Corinna & Peter (Frankfurt, Germany)
Date of Stay: 03/27/10 Review Submitted: 04/26/10

We had a perfect time in this wonderful beach house. It was in an excellent condition, exceptionally clean, tastefully appointed and offered many amenities (everything worked!). But for us even more importantly, the location is maybe the best spot on Anna-Maria. It is close to the beautiful north tip of the island on a very wide und uncrowded stretch of beach. Although the house seems a bit hidden from the beach behind trees, there are still spectacular views of the beach from the living room, master bath / bedroom and the patio. Last but not least, the owners themselves were very charming, helpful, and knowledgeable about the area. (And no - they sure didn't have to pay anything for this review ;-)

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

A fabulous week!

Guest: Yinz (Pittsburgh)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 04/16/10

This house and rental is a real gem! We loved the views, the quietude, and serenity. Thanks for a fabulous week!

Recommended for:

Guest: L Ross (Toronto, ON)
Date of Stay: 03/08/10 Review Submitted: 03/08/10

This is truly a piece of paradise! In spite of colder weather than we hoped for,this perfect spot exceeded all of our expectations.The home is spotless and beautifully decorated with great attention to detail. Owners are wonderfully informative and helpful. The location is second to none - beach, beach, views, more views and spectacular sunsets. It could not have been better!!

Recommended for:

Beautiful, Clean and Accommodating

Guest: John and Betsy (Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 03/06/10 Review Submitted: 04/05/10

We enjoyed our stay here very much even though the weather was not cooperating. The owners were most accommodating in any way to make our stay enjoyable. I have stayed on Anna Maria for 7 years and found this property to have many more amenities than most other rentals in this price range, including comfortable deck furniture, gas grill, and nice beach equipment. We highly recommend this property and we will personally stay here again. We wish we could have stayed here the entire month!!

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

Guest: b wilson (charlotte nc)
Date of Stay: 01/18/10 Review Submitted: 01/18/10

The rental unit was what we expected and more. Sometimes you get fooled by internet pictures. It was also immaculate which made us feel more at home. Stephanie, the owner , was also nice and easy to work with. We give it a " Thumbs Up ".

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Paradise in the Dunes

Guest: stimpycessy (Palmetto, FL/U.S.A.)
Date of Stay: 08/21/09 Review Submitted: 04/21/10

Thank you for providing the perfect retreat on lovely Anna Maria Island. This northern end is beautiful and peaceful. The views from your vacation rental are amazing. Rain or shine it is the perfect place to stay. My daughter and I love our getaways here and plan to come again and again. Your home (and all its extras) is calming and cozy. Thank you again for such great hospitality in paradise. Debbie and Demi - FL

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