Vacation Rentals by Owner

GOING BACK

Guest: Greg G.
Date of Stay: 02/04/12 Review Submitted: 04/09/12

Great spot. Far enough from Estero Blvd. so it’s quiet; close enough that it is a short walk to restaurants, shops and the beach. Don't want to explore Estero Blvd., hang-out back by the pool, read a book drink a beer. It’s close enough to the Montanza Pass bridge that we walked over it (great view) to “Doc Ford’s”. Great “Bay Boiled Shrimp”. Our car sat in the drive most of our stay. To us the cottage is larger than what appears in the pictures. Very comfortable. Kitchen is fully stocked; only need food. Comes with charcoal grill; great for steaks or burgers. Convenient laundry room downstairs. We were very satisfied. We are going back.

Owner response:Greg....you hit it right on the head! What Barby and I love most about staying at Our Island House is leaving the car in the driveway. Most of our lives are spent driving everywhere we go and when we get to Fort Myers Beach we walk, ride bikes or take the boat. With over 15 restaurants, outside bars and live music within 2 blocks...it's hard to beat. The beach is just across the street and the shops are all along Estero Blvd. We look forward to seeing you and Dawn again next year. Thanks, Jeff and Barby

Recommended for:

Wonderful !!!

Guest: Bob P.
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/13/11

This is our second, but not last, stay at the wonderful Primo location on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The property is ideal for those seeking a beach vacation. It has a pool and is less than one hundred yards from the Gulf of Mexico. Walking to most things are easy. Bikes are provided for those few things at a further distance. The home overlooks a canal that accesses the back bay and onward to the Gulf. Beach walks to the public beach and food venues are a mere ten minutes. The layout is ideal for my family. We stayed in the downstairs unit while be daughter's family stayed in the upstairs unit. Both were fully appointed with linens, appliances, heating/cooling, and services. The decor was well done in a tropical touch and appointed with personal items that felt like you knew Jeff and Barby and were a guest in their home away from home. I recommend this property without reservation and would welcome the opportunity to speak further in it's behalf should the occasion arise.

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

Wow! Location, Location, Location!

Guest: Richard B.
Date of Stay: 06/11/11 Review Submitted: 06/27/11

Wow, that's just about all I can say! We just spent a week at the house and it was perfect. The house was very clean and had everything we needed. The pool was crystal clear and the tropical feel of the deck area was wonderful. The kids loved swimming in the pool and fishing off the dock. The location was perfect-close enough to everything, but far enough away to still feel secluded. We walked everywhere (beach, shops, restaurants...). Being so close to The Beached Whale (a few yards) was both a blessing and a curse (to my waistline). We ate there 3 times and enjoyed every bite. Jeff and Barby can't tell you enough how much fun we had. We are already planning for next summer. Thanks for everything.

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

"Primo" Vacation House!!

Guest: Tony (Lehigh FL)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/13/10

Great House! We loved it and are looking forward to rebooking this house again. It was very relaxing and renting the space below was a good idea it gave us so much more room and on those lazy days when you just want to sit back and catch up on some tv or movies it was so comfortable down there. I really enjoyed sitting by the pool at night and just listening to the sounds of beach life. Location is great not even 4min. to the beach just cross the street to the beach access and you're there and endless places to eat all walking distance. This property is very well stocked kitchen/towels/movies and the beds you wont want to get out of, my back loved the bed. Overall I really enjoyed this stay and hated to see it come to an end, I live local and and love the beach so I will be wanting to come back the sooner the better! Just somethings to do: Walks on the beach is a must, Bobbys Roast Beef which you can see from the back yard across the canal is a really good place for some unexpected good food dont let its looks fool you. The Lani Kai Roof Top for food and sights. 7-11 right around the corner has a Redbox for DVD Rental which we used, there is too much to list. For the first time visitor's you will find this house very convenient since you can walk to so much its so much better than having to use a car this alone make this house a must! you wont regret it, I cant wait to return. So Book your stay at this property and get a taste of beach living. You Will Be Happy You Did :)

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Perfect stay

Guest: DieterJ (Germany)
Date of Stay: 05/29/10 Review Submitted: 06/09/10

The Island house is lovely decorated, very good equipped (kitchen, towels, bicycles, water toys, washing machine / dryer,..) and is perfect located (just 5 min to beach by foot). Our children enjoyed the pool very much. It was clean and well-maintained, so we would recommend this house to our friends.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car.

Perfect Location, lots of little extras

Guest: Kevin & Sunshine Brusse (Kohler, WI)
Date of Stay: 05/02/10 Review Submitted: 05/15/10

We have stayed on FMB in the past and this was probably our best trip. The location makes it ideal for walking to everything. The home is comfortable and well decorated. If I come to FLA I want to feel the beach vibe.... and this home does that. Lots of little extras around the house like books to read, movies for the kids (I think we watched Kung Fu Panda 10x's), pool toys, beach chairs, etc. The pool was ideal for our kids ages 6,5,3 and was the perfect temperature especially at the end of the day. (Incidentally the couple that come to clean the pool are extremely friendly and interesting to talk to). We always spend a couple of days at Sannibel and Captiva and the shelling never lets us down. If you get a chance go to the Island Cow on Sannibel for breakfast, but I still prefer all the restaurants on the beach. Thanks Jeff and Barby for sharing your home. I have a feeling we'll be back.

Owner response:Barby and I love to get your reviews about how much you enjoyed our house...we love to spend as much time as we can in FMB. You don't have to go Sanibel for The Island Cow food anymore....you can walk to Nervous Nellies on the water under the bridge(formerly Snug Harbor) it's the same owner and menu! I will pass your compliment on to our pool people...they are a nice couple. Hope to see you next year....Jeff

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

1 word: HAMMOCK

Guest: natalie s. (Deerfield Beach, FL)
Date of Stay: 04/23/10 Review Submitted: 06/02/10

This place is amazing! It looks exactly like the pictures, but the best part is a little hard to see: the hammock. I barely left it the entire time I was there! The pool area is so nice I only went to the beach twice the whole week I was there. A blender, a book and a hammock under a palm tree...what more do you need? The layout of the house is really nice as I had friends in on the weekend and was by myself most of the week, and it was big enough for 6 to feel comfortable, but small enough that I didn't feel lost when I was alone. The house is very clean and well maintained. Pretty much everything you need is within walking distance, I made a WalMart run the day I got there and didn't get back in my car. There are great restaurants nearby (breakfast at the Heavenly Biscuit is well worth the walk and dinner at Bobby's Roast Beef is a must) and a 7-11 around the corner. Times Square is less than a 5 minute walk, and public access to the beach is maybe 2 minutes. Looking at the pictures now reminds me of how much I want to go back!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

Great Memories

Guest: H. Evans (Valparaiso, IN)
Date of Stay: 03/20/10 Review Submitted: 04/12/10

There's a reason this listing is under "featured listings" when you search Ft. Myers Beach locations. The property was clean and bright. Spacious enough for 8 adults and a baby. You had everything you could possibly need right at your fingertips. Walking distance to Times Square and the Beach. The owners were on site and very hospitable. The pool was an added bonus as we had our 10 month old with us. We could relax by the pool if it was too chilly for the beach or during nap times. We would definately consider this property again.

Owner response:We really enjoy keeping The Island House in tip top shape for our clients to enjoy. If you arrive for your vacation and something is missing or in need of repair, we will do everything within our power to correct it. We enjoy meeting the families that come down to relax and spend time together. Fort Myers Beach has lot to offer and we are happy to recommend local places to eat, shop and listen to music. We have 3 other rentals in FMB and 3 in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay. We have been in the vacation rental business since 1998. I am an engineer/contractor and Barby is the interior designer....we make a great team for creating vacation rental properties and love what we do. Hope to see you soon! Jeff and Barby

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

Good Times

Guest: C. K. Evans (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 03/20/10 Review Submitted: 04/01/10

This property's reviews speak for themselves! Very good location! Within short walking distance to everything! Spacious main living area. Large well-equipped kitchen. Sunny and bright upper level Florida Room. The two bedrooms and baths are very nice and comfortable. The owner's being on-site is a plus! Thanks for keeping a well-maintained, clean and safe property. The pool was an especially nice bonus with our little 10 month-old grand-daughter. We will stay again when we get the opportunity.

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

Great location and homey feel!

Guest: MNAJ (Lusby,MD)
Date of Stay: 11/12/09 Review Submitted: 11/18/09

My husband and I, with another couple friend, stayed for a long weekend in early November. We were pleasantly surprised with the location--easy walking distance to all the highlights at Ft. Myers Beach. The condo itself was very clean, and we really enjoyed the modern kitchen. We also loved having the pool overlooking the canal--we watched a few sunsets while soaking in the pool--would have loved to see a manatee, but settled for the beautiful birds that stopped by!

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

chillaxin...

Guest: nan (coral springs florida)
Date of Stay: 07/25/09 Review Submitted: 07/24/10

Just wanted to drop a quick line to let you know we totally enjoyed our stay at the house... The location was great ..the beds were beyond...and we were blessed with a week of sun..Teenagers had a great time and we look forward to renting this home again... Barby what type of beds are those? slept better there than at home!!!

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

A Piece of Heaven on Earth

Guest: Sarah Strecker
Date of Stay: 04/18/09 Review Submitted: 12/30/09

Sarah...I couldn't have asked for a better review. Barby and I are so glad you had such a great stay at The Island house. We put alot of effort and love into renovating the house last year and Barby adding her beachy, colorful touches thruout. Having our guests enjoy themselves makes it all worthwhile. We love sharing our local knowledge of the Island with our guests ....favorite restaurants, beaches for swimming,golf courses or secret places to shell. We hope you will come back again. Barby and Jeff

Recommended for:

A piece of heaven on earth

Guest: spencers mom (Canton Ct.)
Date of Stay: 04/18/09 Review Submitted: 05/08/09

The Island house is beautiful inside and out. The location is perfect!! You have privacy in your own back yard yet are so close to everything. If this house could talk it would say, "Welcome to Paradise, come in and relax! " Every room is so nicely decorated. Our 16 year old son especially loved the surf board on the wall above his bed!! We thoroughly enjoyed the pool and all of the tropical foliage that surrounds it. It is perfect for cooling off on a hot day.The decorative touches and colorful pottery add to this tropical backyard paradise. It was fun watching the pelicans dive into the canal for fish!! We enjoyed having such a well equipped kitchen. The grill just outside the door was also great for grilling up the fresh grouper and delicious gulf jumbo shrimp which we purchased at the local farmers market. Just a short walk away. We did not need a car for anything. We rode the trolley to lovers key for 50 cents and found a ton of beautiful seashells. Stopped at Publix grocery store on the way home and stocked up on groceries for the week. It was hard to leave such a wonderful place. We will cherish the great memories of the island house and hopefully create new ones in the future. Three cheers to Barby and Jeff for creating this little piece of heaven on earth!! It was just perfect in every way. Thank You so much. The pictures of this house are great...but being there in person is even better!! I would highly reccommend it to anyone looking for an extra special get away!!

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

Ft. Myers Cottage

Guest: Zetamm (Tipton)
Date of Stay: 04/04/09 Review Submitted: 04/18/09

House was very clean and very well decorated, Pool was small but clean and perfect for cooling off. Easy walk to beach and to get to everything in the Times Square area. Easy drive to grocery store. Pictures are true to what we found when we got there. 5 older teens I chaperoned on Spring Break thought it was better than a hotel. Kitchen was well stocked with utensils, plates, etc. to make do for a vacation. Beds and futon were comfy. Having 2 baths was wonderful!! They were roomy and nice. Liked having beach towels, chairs, umbrellas, bikes, pool floats to use. Washer and dryer were great to have on site. Owners were very friendly and helpful. Would rent this place again!

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

WOW! What a great time!

Guest: LaniKai Man (Calvert County)
Date of Stay: 03/12/09 Review Submitted: 03/18/09

Dear Jeff and Barbie- Just a short note to express how much I loved my stay at the Island House. When I got there and saw how close it was to all the "action", I got excited. The house is beautifully renovated and was very clean. Do you know that for my whole stay, I never got in my car! I would walk to all the hot spots, ride the beach cruisers to the store and kayak the beautiful canals of FM Beach. This was my first visit to the Gulf coast, so experiencing it at the Island House was wonderful. Jeff, thanks for taking me harbor/mangrove kayaking and going out for stone crabs on the boat. Regards Robert G.

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

Fun in the Sun

Guest: Sun Lady (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 03/07/09 Review Submitted: 09/01/09

The Island house was perfect in every way! Stayed almost the whole month of March 2009- the house was so close to the beach, walked right across the street and we were on the beach. No need to haul your beach accessories- they have everything- chairs, towels, umbrella! The house was very clean and decorated in a cute beachy decor. The beds were comfy! Very convenient to have 2 bathrooms. Kitchen was well equipped with everything you need to make meals at home. As others have noted- the house is located so close to Times Square and many other restautants and night life, you can have breakfast and lunch at home and go out at night! We loved the Cottage up on the beach- good food, reasonably priced, live music every night and right on the beach! Beached Whale restaurant right up the street has great Happy Hours and the Lanai Kai is a great spot to watch the sunset! The house has a lovely back yard on the canal with a small but very clean pool. Chairs to lounge around pool were nice. It was great to come home from beach and relax by the pool watching the boaters explore the canal. Watch the pelicans dive for fish and watch the flying fish jump around. The owners, Jeff and Barby were very nice and accomadating. It is apparent that the owners take pride in their home! You will not be sorry that you choose the Island house for your stay in Fort Myers!

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

Great Location, Charming home

Guest: lvm (St. Leonard, MD)
Date of Stay: 02/28/09 Review Submitted: 04/07/09

I had the good fortune to spend the month of February at the Island House. The location was great----a short walk to the beach and to Times Square. The location was convenient to everything I enjoyed. The furnishings and amenities in the home were great---the kitchen was particularly well appointed it you chose to cook. However, the cottage is located close to so many great restaurants and beach bars that it is easy to stock the fridge with fruit and eat meals out. The Beached Whale is about 100 yards away with great food, a great happy hour, and friendly staff. The house has plenty of room, the bedrooms were a good size and there was plenty of closet space. You really don't need to bring anything but your clothes and personal items. The home is stocked with beach towels, beach bags, and chairs. Everything you need is there. The house was spic and span---and the appliances were new. If the weather is a bit windy---use the pool. It was particularly nice on some of the early February days when the beach breeze was a bit cold. The pool area was sheltered from the wind and was pleasant and quiet for a nice place to read a book. Barby and Jeff also gave me some great suggestions for activities on and near the island. I would also recommend a quick walk over to the Farmers' Market on Friday mornings. There was plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and seafood. The Island House is a great place to say---I highly recommend it.

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