Vacation Rentals by Owner

Little Slice of Paradise

Guest: Gary M.
Date of Stay: 04/14/12 Review Submitted: 05/07/12

The property was everything we thought it would be, private and secluded but still less than 30 minutes to anything you needed. Very clean and modern, and all the amenities you might require to make your holiday effortless and enjoyable. The best meals we had were cooked in the beautiful backyard BBQ area in the lanai. The lighting, pool and hot tub, surrounded by royal palms and other local foliage created a terrific atmosphere for our holiday festivities. Just a terrific rental property!

Owner response:Many thanks for this review. What a great description of the property! It makes me want to stay at my own house. We are glad you had enjoyed your vacation. Thank you very much for sharing your experience. Isabella

Recommended for:

Over and Above

Guest: Donna C.
Date of Stay: 02/21/12 Review Submitted: 03/06/12

We rented Captain Kidd for family travelling from another country. Trying to find accommodations for guests from another country may be stressful, especially when you are not certain of their likes/dislikes. These concerns were completely dispelled when we saw this beautiful home. We were looking for just the right combination of elegance, amenities, cleanliness, and location; and all of our expectations were surpassed in Captain Kidd! The family, who had never vacationed in Florida, had a first rate experience, due in large part not only to the beauty of house and grounds themselves, but to the personal and professional care and attention given to every detail by its owners. We would definitely rent here again, no hesitation.

Owner response:Donna, I wanted to sincerely thank you for such a nice review. It was a real pleasure to be able to host your family visiting Sarasota during such an important event as your daughter's wedding. Congratulations to you and the young couple. The best part of having the vacation rental is being able to turn the customers into friends. Isabella

Recommended for:

The perfect house in a perfect location

Guest: Katie M. (Calgary, ab)
Date of Stay: 10/22/11 Review Submitted: 11/03/11

What a beautiful home! The photos did not do the home or property justice. When we drove up to it the first time we could hardly believe our eyes and checked and rechecked the address! We vacationed with a group (one couple, three singles) There was lots of space in the home and the three seperate suites for each of us to get away for privacy or quiet. The pool is the perfect size as was the hot tub was used many times a day. It is not tricky if you have the owners explain how it works. The only thing that may confuse people is that the heat is not on all the time like the hot tubs I have owned. It just needed to be turned on when we wanted to use it and needed a bit of time to warm up. Not a big deal at all. The location was perfect if you have a car...a quick 5-10 minute to everything you could need. Siesta Beach is breathtaking! The owners were warm and very attentive! We were greatful for their pride in their home and attention to their guests. We were in Sarasota for a wedding and were too busy to meet with them to go over the 'orientation' about the spa, feeding fish, TV's, etc and they were accomidating and met us when we could squeeze them in. I can hardly wait for my next trip!!!! See you again (hopefully soon). It is going to snow here tomorrow EEEK!

Owner response:Many thanks for posting your review so quickly and all your nice complements. They give us even more motivation for maintaining the perfection and guests satisfaction. I am sorry I did not get to meet you in person, but looking forward to your return to our home soon. I am very happy you enjoyed your stay in Sarasota and liked our beautiful Siesta Beach. We had the most spectacular sunsets recently. I hope you had a chance to see some of them. Stay warm. Isabella

Recommended for:

Luxury and Paradise!!

Guest: Simon D.
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 09/25/11

Well what can we say about this villa except it was absolute paradise! As soon as you walk into the villa it takes your breath away. There is so much space you don't know to do with yourself, and the villa is decorated to a very high standard!! The outside area is just amazing and the pool and jacuzzi are so welcoming. Isabella and Marian were very welcoming and if you needed anything would always be a phone call call away. Found a fantastic restaurant called Carabba's which was recommended by the owners and it was incredible! We all wish we were back there now!! Will definately come back again!! Many thanks!!

Owner response:Simon, Thank you so much for sharing your Sarasota vacation experience and your description of the house. We are very happy that you enjoyed your stay. It was very nice to meet all of you here and looking forward to your return again soon. Isabella

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Beautiful Home in a Beautiful Place

Guest: Jennifer S.
Date of Stay: 08/27/11 Review Submitted: 09/24/11

Thank You so much for allowing us to stay in your home. The house is beyond Beautiful. We couldn't have asked for a better place for our family to stay. The home so much nicer than the pictures allow. The pool was incredible and it was so close to everything. It really made our stay very special. Thank You for being such great people and for all of your assistance with our many questions. The menu list was great along with the book of information was also a great help. We will recommend your home to any of our friends looking for a retreat in paradise.

Owner response:I am so happy to find out that our house met or even exceeded your expectations. Thank you very much for sharing your vacation experience and posting this review, as well as showing such a great care and respect. It is a real pleasure to open a door when someone checks out and see that you treated someone else's house like if it was your own. We are looking forward to your or one of your firends visit again.

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

Beautiful House but needs attention in areas

Guest: Sarah W.
Date of Stay: 07/25/11 Review Submitted: 08/24/11

This house is a very large and is finished to a very high standard throughout. There is everything you could wish for in the property including plenty of beach towels, toys for the pool and lots of bathroom products etc. The pool area is lovely and is really quiet and relaxing with the added bonus of an outside toilet. We did however experience a few problems during our stay. Firstly the airconditioning did not work, we did speak to the owner who told us she had had problems with it before we arrived with the last two lots of customers who had rented the house. The owner said they had it on too low and it had frozen up. We did not have it on too low and apparently it still froze up, which meant a very hot house for us. Secondly the house is not very secure, the lock on the patio door into the main house just does not work and needs attention. We were told it was very safe area , but hey being english we like to know that our doors lock and that we and are valuables are safe. The pool area as I said is beautiful however it is extremely slippy which was not ideal with young children and grandma in tow, also they have no pool guard and a very deep pool which again with a none locking door lead to a very stressful time for mum. They pool was ok when we arrived but did go very cold and also sent my hair green, which has never happened before. It also seemed to set off my sons eczema which he has not had for about 2.5years. The owner did say that because of the warm weather there was also an issue with the pool. Being that we were only at the house for 5 nights we did not keep ringing the owner to sort things because well to be frank we did not want the interuption to our break, if we had of done, she does live very close and would of come out at the drop of a hat. We did have a good time at the house but do feel that all these problems should have been sorted before our arrival. We have rented houses all over the states and have never had green hair or airconditioning that does not work. We do feel that considering this we should of been offered some kind of refund to compensate for our troubles but none was offered. Think our troubles may have been a one off so would still recommend this home to people but a few things do need looking at beforehand

Owner response:While every review is very much appreciated and helps us understand the needs of our guest, I do need to share some of my thoughts: Lock - you reported the lock issue towards the end of your short stay and the new lock had to be ordered and was replaced within few days. I did make a comment that the area was safe, (which in fact it is) and in the meantime you could make sure to lock the entrance to the cage of the pool. I am sorry that there was no faster remedy to the problem, as perhaps the previous guests did not report this issue to us on time, just like you did not report the AC problem the day you checked out and we had to call an emergency service on Saturday to make sure the next guests was assured a full comfort. The system needed more freon in this case and would had been the AC company responsibility as we have an annual AC maintenance contract with them. All it would take would be a quick courtesy call or a short e-mail to us notifying us that the AC was not working. As you had mentioned we were always available at "a drop of a hat". There is nothing more important to us than our guest’s full satisfaction. Pool - We had a new, ionization system installed and therefore were checking the pool chemistry twice a week. There was a lot of rain at that time as well and the air temperature was very high. However, the greenish tone was not related to algae or impurity of the pool. I checked with our pool guy and he told me that the copper produced by ionization pools might give your hair a light green tone if you are a blond. However, this type of water purification uses about 80% less chlorine and is very safe on your skin. I am very sorry about your son's eczema. If he has such a sensitive skin, very likely he might be reacting to any chemicals and there is no such a thing as totally chemicals free pool. As far as the comment that the pool was cold - honestly I have never had a request from any guests in Sarasota to heat the pool in July. Having this issue addressed, we could have had the heater on for you, if requested. I really wish you had communicated with us, as all the items in question could be resolved quickly and as a result of this you would have a nice memory of your stay at our house. By the way, not being aware and not being able to guess, we could not offer you any compensation for what you call was your trouble. We do appreciate your nice comments as well.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Family Vacation

Guest: Rich (Dubuque, IA)
Date of Stay: 06/12/11 Review Submitted: 06/21/11

This was our 2nd stay and it was just like the 1st stay...AWESOME!!! We have stayed at other vacation homes and nothing even compares to this one! The house has everything you need...including tons of bath and beach towels. The screened in pool area is unbelievable. We spent most of our time enjoying the pool and the jacuzzi and the outdoor kitchen...and the jacuzzi started up every time that we pushed the button. Siesta Key beach was wonderful and so was our favorite place to eat...Carrabba's! Isabella and Marian are the most gracious hosts you could ask for. They always make sure everything is in working order and if you ever need them they are only a phone call away!! We will be staying there again on our next trip to Sarasota!!

Owner response:Richard, I need to tell you that you are an unbelivable family. It was a real pleasure to walk into our house just after you had left and find everything in such a great, neat shape. Your two boys are so well behaved and respectful. All your nice comments are greatly appreciated and your family will always be welcome in our house. We are very happy you had a good time in Sarasota and enjoyed the house for the second time. Isabella

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

Daughters Wedding

Guest: DC (USA)
Date of Stay: 06/01/11 Review Submitted: 06/17/11

Our overall stay was very nice we enjoyed the house it was very comfortable for having a group stay together in one house. We were sold on the tropical pool area which we enjoyed, except for the fact that the jacuzzi was very temperamental even the owner was having a hard time getting it to work when showing us instructions to operate. I would suggest bring more bath towels didn't seem to have plenty. We did inform the owner but she seemed not concerned and rude.Maybe we caught her on a bad day!!

Owner response:We appreciate your review and sharing your thoughts. However, I need to correct some points. You did notify us by e-mail about having some trouble with the pool jacuzzi. Here is what you had written exactly: "Hi Isabella: We are in and everything seems fine.But,I did get the jacuzzi going and it worked fine but the water level dropped quick so I turned it off.Does it fill it self back up or should i throw a hose in it? Dave" I responded immediately with an advice what to do and offered that you call my husband for further instruction.You did not call, so I had written you another e-mail with detailed instructions. We were out of town for few days and immediately when we returned to Sarasota we came to see you at the house. You came out of the garage with another guest and your wife assuring us many times how great everything was. When I asked you if you had a chance to read my e-mail, you had answered that you were too busy with your daughter's wedding. But if you do not communicate the problem further with me, I assumed everything was fine. You did not ask us to come to the house to check the jacuzzi and we did not want to intrude your privacy. As a matter of fact you told us that you got the jacuzzi to work. I asked you if you had enough towels since I had some extra in a car from the laundry and you had mentioned that everything was under control and you did not need them. I told you that in case you did, there were many more in the studio and one of your guests admitted. If you were in fact short of the towels, why didn't you ask me to leave them? I realize that you had a very large group and maybe needed special treatment and attention but after you checked out there were still many towels that were never used. I am afraid that your irritation is related to $ 250 cleaning fee that we deducted according to the contract. You called me after your deposit was mailed back questioning the deduction and I explained to you politely that we always deduct the cleaning fee from the deposit. At which point was I not concerned, rude or had a bad day? Your needs were accommodated every step all the way including your request to see the house twice before it was rented. It is sad to admit that you are the first guest that expressed his unhappiness. Is is even more sad, becasue it was your daughter's wedding and it should leave you with happy memories of that special moment and not memories of a jacuzzi or towels. By the way, jacuzzi was checked and is fine.

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

Joyful House...Peaceful Surroundings

Guest: Peace F.
Date of Stay: 03/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

We were blessed to stay in this beautiful home for the month of March 2011. It looked just like the pictures supplied on the site. The house was fully supplied with what one might need and was extremely comfortable. Both Marian and Isabella were gracious, accessible, and helpful in all areas of addressing any questions and/or needs. We had a wonderful time.

Owner response:What a nice surprise to see your review. Your warm thoughts are greatly appreciated. It is very rewarding to get the reviews. We understand they are time consuming and the fact that our guests take that extra time to share their oppinion means so much to us. We are also blessed to have nice people like you stay our house. Isabella

Recommended for:

Great location + great amenties + great owners = perfect family vacation

Guest: aaron (Frederick, MD)
Date of Stay: 01/16/11 Review Submitted: 12/19/11

I've refrained from writing for the past couple years as I wanted to keep this gem under the radar, but seeing as the word is out and we weren't able to come this January, I might as well share... The house is clean, beautifully appointed with marble and tile everywhere, and well laid-out. The pool is clean, warm, and inviting and the patio is very comfortable with nice furniture. The kitchen is well-equipped, the bedrooms all clean and comgy, and the living areas are great - nice couches, tvs, etc. The location really can't be beat -- the neighborhood is quiet, yet you can ride your bike over the bridge to siesta key or hop in your car and be at the beach in under five minutes. Downtown Sarasota is only a quick 15 minute drive up Tamiami Trail. The owners are very helpful and readily available to assist if anything needs attention, yet they respect your privacy during your stay. I've stayed in enough rental homes to say with confidence that this is one of the best rental homes available in Sarasota. Hopefully we'll be back soon!

Owner response:After reading this very well written review from the "secret property admirer", I was very curious who the author was? First of all our big apology for not having the property available for you in January 2012'. It must be very disappointing and I wish we were able to accommodate your request. Thank you so much for posting such a great review. I think it could not had been written any better. We are constantly working on improving our Sarasota home and I hope your next visit will be even more memorable than the previous one. Hope to see you back soon. Isabella

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

Sarasota's Best Kept Secret

Guest: Dr. and Mrs. Carl. Kellan (Wallingford, CT.)
Date of Stay: 11/19/10 Review Submitted: 12/13/10

Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us once again. When we vacation in Sarasota, your home is always our first choice. It is everything that is advertized on the web site and much more. We appreciate your spacious, well maintained and well stocked home, the lavish landscaping, the large caged in pool, patio and hot tub, and the exquisite stone and tile work throughout the house. The house is located in a quiet residential neighborhood that is so convenient to 41, shopping and Siesta Key. The best feature of the house is that the owners live near by. Isabella and Marion are always available to answer any questions or concerns that you might have plus to give advice on local attractions. You arrive at the house as strangers but leave as friends. With the 3 large master suites and open floor plan, this house would be ideal for couples or families.

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

Sarasota's Best Kept Secret!

Guest: Dr. and Mrs. Carl. Kellan (Wallingford, CT.)
Date of Stay: 11/19/10 Review Submitted: 12/12/10

Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us once again. When we vacation in Sarasota, your home will always be our first choice. It is everything that is advertized on the website and much more. We appreciate your spacious, well maintained and well stocked home, the lavish landscaping, the large caged in pool, patio and hot tub and the exquisite stone and tile work throughout the house. The house is located in a quiet residential neighborhood that is convienent to 41, shopping and Siesta Key. The owners live nearby and are always available to answer any questions or concerns that you might have plus to give advice on local attractions. You arrive at the house as strangers but leave as friends. With the 3 large master suites and open floor plan, this house would be ideal for couples or families.

Owner response:After your first visit at our house we were very happy to find out that you are coming back again after just few months. Returning guests are very valuable and we wanted to thank you one more time for choosing our home for your vacation. You are a very special couple and we are looking forward to your visit again in Sarasota.

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

Best holliday ever!

Guest: Nick (Uppsala, Sweden)
Date of Stay: 10/30/10 Review Submitted: 02/15/11

We stayed in Wierzchos beautiful home för 9 days in the beginning of november 2010. It was a great pleasure to discover that we had rent an amazing home in a beautiful area of Sarasota. We were two families who came all the way from Sweden, totally 10 people. Both parents and children loved the house, especially the poolarea. The house is beatiful, the Wierzchos was an outstanding family to meet. I would go back anytime and we all strongly recommend anyone to rent this beautiful home. Sarasota and Wierzchos we´ll meet again

Owner response:Niclas, We miss your group a lot!!! It was such a great surprise to see you review. Some of our guests remain good friends forever and you are among them. Thank you for staying at our house. It was a pleasure to host your group at our home and we hope to see you soon again. Sweden is getting closer to Florida because of nice people like you. Isabella and Marian

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

SUCH A GREAT HOLIDAY

Guest: Yas (Winchester)
Date of Stay: 08/22/10 Review Submitted: 09/16/10

We spent the last week in August and first week in September in this wonderful villa, it was outstanding value. Isabella and Marian were wonderful hosts, they ensured our stay was stress free and we did not want for anything. Our 2 teenage girls said it was the best holiday they had ever had - wonderful accommodation and a beautiful beach (siesta key). The layout of the villa was perfect for us, the 2 teenagers had the upstairs to themselves whilst we had the huge master bedroom suit downstairs. The pool and BBQ area were perfect. This is an outstanding holiday property and we would love to stay there again.

Owner response:It was such a nice surprise to receive your review. Thank you so much for taking the time to write all these nice things and share you vacation experience with other potential renters. I am really glad that your girls had a good time and we do hope you will come back again to Sarasota in the near future. Since you had left we added 2 new fish to the aquarium and need the girls to name them. Isabella

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

Tropical Paradise

Guest: GulfCoasters (Maryland)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 08/26/10

What a wonderful, tropical retreat! We had a wonderful time at this lovely vacation home, very spacious and clean. The pool area was great with shady and sunny areas around the clock surrounded by very nice landscaping. Many fruit trees around the house, lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits. Watching and feeding the fish in the big fish tank was very peaceful. Although not directly on the water, you can see the bay, and we were less than 10 minutes to Siesta Beach. The sand there is very fine, almost like baby powder, and cool to the touch even in the mid afternoon sun. At this time of year, the beach was not crowded during the week and provided amazing sunsets. Took advantage of many Sarasota attractions and restaurants all within a short drive of the house. What a great, relaxing vacation!

Owner response:Thank you very much for all your warm words. Your description of the house reflects our own thoughts and feelings. We are very happy you had a nice weather and enjoyed your vacation. We also hope you will come back again to Sarasota in the future. Sorry we did not get a chance to meet your family in person. Isabella

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

Tropical Retreat

Guest: GulfCoasters (Maryland)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 08/26/10

What a wonderful, tropical retreat! We had a wonderful time at this lovely vacation home, very spacious and clean. The pool area was great with shady and sunny areas around the clock surrounded by very nice landscaping. Many fruit trees around the house, lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits. Watching and feeding the fish in the big fish tank was very peaceful. Although not directly on the water, you can see the bay, and we were less than 10 minutes to Siesta Beach. The sand there is very fine, almost like baby powder, and cool to the touch even in the mid afternoon sun. At this time of year, the beach was not crowded during the week and provided amazing sunsets. Took advantage of many Sarasota attractions and restaurants all within a short drive of the house. What a great, relaxing vacation!

Owner response:Thank you very much for all your warm words. Your description of the house reflects our own thoughts and feelings. We are very happy you had a nice weather and enjoyed your vacation. We also hope you will come back again to Sarasota in the future. Sorry we did not get a chance to meet your family in person. Isabella

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

Beautiful Vacation Home

Guest: eyelandeyes (orlando)
Date of Stay: 05/27/10 Review Submitted: 06/09/10

We rented this property for a quick family getaway and boy were we pleased! The home was very spacious and offered plenty of room for our entire family. There were many nights we sat around the kitchen table playing cards, while some of our family members enjoyed the jucuzzi under the stars. This is a great home to rent! The pool area is a large screened in area that is great for entertaining. This home looks exactly like it does in the pictures. The homeowner has the kitchen fully stocked with appliances, utlensils, plates, etc. The wonderful thing about this house is that each bedroom had a connecting bathroom. This home is located very close to Siesta Key Beach. It's a quick 10 minute drive.

Owner response:Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a nice review. You were great guests and we are very happy that you had a great time while visiting Sarasota and enjoyed the amenities of our house. Please come back any time. Your family will always be welcome. Isabella

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Buccaneer Bay Review- May 2010

Guest: Blue Moon 55 (Manchester, England)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 05/28/10

The property is in a lovely location, less than ten minutes drive to the beach and less than five minutes to excellent restaurants and a good supermarket. Our family really enjoyed staying at the property and my husband loved the outside kitchen and bbq area where we spent most of our time! The property was very clean and well maintained – well stocked with towels and beach equipment-and Isabella was really helpful in showing us how everything worked and going above and beyond to assist us. We would certainly stay here again and would recommend it to our family and friends. A great vacation.

Owner response:Thank you very much for taking the time to write a review. Your comments are greatly apreciated. It was a real pleasure to meet your family in Sarasota. You were wonderful guests.

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