A littel piece of paradise!

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/31/11 Review Submitted: 11/17/11

Our family of four (including two children age 2 and 4) had a wonderful, relaxing week at Villa Frangipani. The house is even better than the pictures! It was very clean and well maintained. Since the house was so well equipped, we had everything we needed for a great vacation. We used the kitchen and grill to cook wounderful meals that we enjoyed outside on the comfortable, screened lanai. The pool was great for the afternoons and our kids absolutely loved it (our daughter even learned how to swim here!). We slept wonderfully in the very comfortable beds. The washer and dryer were new and worked perfectly. The location couldn't be better, only steps away from the fantastic finest white sand beach. When we visited we enjoyed wonderful weather and very few people on the beach. Instead we were accompanied by beautiful egrets, several pelicans, lots of other birds and dolphins came to visit every other day. Thank you so much Jana for a wonderful and relaxing week. We are definately coming back back!

Owner response:Thank you for your wonderful comments about your stay. I'm so happy that your daughter learned to swim!!! We welcome you back any time!

Recommended for:

A perfect getaway

Guest: Ann (Cincinnati)
Date of Stay: 06/15/11 Review Submitted: 07/01/11

My family absolutely loved our time spent at this lovely Anna Maria home! The location is perfect if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle and we spent every day lounging in the huge pool, when not walking the oh so close beach! What a beautifully decorated and comfortable home and Jana, the owner, could not have been more accomadating! A great find on a great island!!!

Owner response:I'm so glad you had a great time, Ann. You're welcome back anytime. You were ideal clients.

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

Terrific location - steps from the beach

Guest: Michelle from Denver (denver)
Date of Stay: 05/28/11 Review Submitted: 06/07/11

This was a terrific place in a great location. Steps from the beach and on what I would consider a quieter end of the beach. We even saw a dolphin about 10 feet from shore! I thought we'd never use the pool since we were so close to the beach (and the water is sooooo warm!), but because it was so hot in the afternoon, we ended up in the pool every afternoon. The house was well equipped with everything that we needed - from coffee maker to grilling tools to a beach umbrella. The beds were super comfortable and there were more than enough towels (including a bunch for the beach). And, with 2 small kids, the washing machine and dryer were lifesavers. My only negative comment is that the house doesn't have many overhead lights so it seemed dark at night. I also wished there had been a list of recommended restaurants or things to do, although I'm positive the owner would have sent if we asked.

Owner response:Hi Michelle, There is HUGE basket in the kitchen with brochures and suggestions of things to do from Sarasota to Orlando. There are also restaurant menus and suggestions. I'm sorry if you missed it. Hopefully, you did strike out on your own and explore the area. The cottage was built in 1954 and is a craftsman style. We use lamps instead of overhead lighting to stay within the integrity of the style. I will take your suggestions to heart and maybe add some more lamps. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, age 55+, families with young children.

Relaxing place to stay...

Guest: Todd & Kelly (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 01/31/11 Review Submitted: 02/06/11

My husband and I spent 5 days here and hated to leave! The house is perfectly depicted in the photos. It has a lot of character and is very quaint in the way the owner has decorated it. It feels like home instead of just a place to stay. The house is not directly on the beach but about 30 steps out the back gate and you are there! The beach is beautiful we enjoyed it each day... The enclosed pool area is also a wonderful place to spend time. The island was a great place to relax! We enjoyed it very much...especially enjoyed the Sandbar restaurant which is on the beach and just down the road from the house. The owner is wonderful to work with, we enjoyed great communication and she was there for any questions we had. Thank you!

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

Perfect Family Getaway!

Guest: Higginbotham Clan (Spartanburg, SC)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/04/10

Our family is having an absolute wonderful stay at Frangipani! We are having a family reunion and staying at three different houses all within a two block area...one other is the sister property on Jacaranda, Caribbean Sol. What a fabulous place! So far, we have swam, fished, biked, gone to the pier and walked in town...and it has rained the first two days we are here! We are still having a blast. We truly thank the owners for making it so easy for us to coordinate and be so welcoming! We are looking forward to coming back next year for a 'Let's Do Anna Maria Again' Reunion...can we book now?

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

Perfect Family Getaway!

Guest: Higginbotham Clan (Spartanburg, SC)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/04/10

Our family is having an absolute wonderful stay at Frangipani! We are having a family reunion and staying at three different houses all within a two block area...one other is the sister property on Jacaranda, Caribbean Sol. What a fabulous place! So far, we have swam, fished, biked, gone to the pier and walked in town...and it has rained the first two days we are here! We are still having a blast. We truly thank the owners for making it so easy for us to coordinate and be so welcoming! We are looking forward to coming back next year for a 'Let's Do Anna Maria Again' Reunion...can we book now?

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

Wonderful!!!

Guest: Razorback in Florida (Arkansas)
Date of Stay: 05/24/10 Review Submitted: 06/11/10

My family, along with my in-laws spent a week at this lovely home in May 2010. We have a 3 month old so we were looking for a quiet place on the beach with all the conveniences a home can offer. This place was perfect! The gorgeous white sand beach was just steps beyond the back gate. We enjoyed the privacy of the pool and lanai. The house was well appointed, clean, and comfortable. The owners were helpful and prompt with communications. My deposit was returned within 2 weeks. I have only positive things to say and hope to be able to return soon. Thank you!!!

Recommended for:Families with young children.

Perfect Place For Rest and Relaxation!

Guest: Steven Butterfield (Lithia, Florida)
Date of Stay: 04/10/10 Review Submitted: 04/23/10

I am a LTC in the Army and finally had a chance to take a break with my wife and two children for some rest and relaxation after a deployment. We live only one hour North on the other side of Tampa Bay. We were looking for a place to stay for 7 days (10 - 16 April 10) that was on the beach but was also private with all the amenities of home. We found it in this stunning home! It sits on Anna Maria Island on the Gulf side of the island just a few steps from the Beach. What this means is you open a privacy fence in the back yard and walk 15-20 steps down a public access to the beach. You do not have a view of the water from the property, but we were so close it did not matter. We loved the privacy the property offered by being fenced. This is not the case here but you have to be careful with some of the listings because they will say they are on the water but are not. As an aside: The Gulf side of Anna Maria Island is much calmer than the choppy and windy Tampa Bay side. Additionally, the Gulf side beach by the cottage is protected by a long sand bar and more conducive to swimming, kayaking, other water sports. There is plenty to do for all in the family. We have a teenage girl and 4th grade boy that were always busy having fun. The beautiful white sands, calm water, and perfect weather kept us at the beach several hours a day. We brought bikes and rode all over the island in the afternoons stopping to shop or eat in the many wonderful shops, restaurants, or stop for ice cream. When we finally decided to eat at home we grilled on a spotless BBQ and swam in the pristine pool under a screened lanai that kept all the bugs out. The backyard is simply gorgeous! Make sure you bring sandals when you leave the lanai because the white-shelled gravel can cut your feet in the backyard. Inside the home the bedrooms were spacious and clean. The two bathrooms were very clean and recently remodeled. The kitchen had all the amenities of home. We brought a laptop with WIFI capability and were quickly able to access the INTERNET without any bandwidth issues. If you really wanted too, you could turn on the TV and get all the channels you would want (We tried to keep them off). The owner was very accommodating and polite: She called and emailed to ensure we had everything we need. There are so many attractions and activities in the area you will never get bored. On the flipside, this property is so beautiful you can just remain there and be content!

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

Week on Anna Maria

Guest: E & M H (Des Moines, IA)
Date of Stay: 02/27/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

The house was very nice. The pictures depict the property perfectly. It was very clean and comfortable. The owner called to make sure everything was as expected. Our only problem was the keyholder, which was just a matter of understanding how it worked. Unfortunately for us the weather was not condusive to swimming, but there is a very large pool along with being right at the beach. If the temperature had been where it usually is, I'm sure it would have been perfect!

Recommended for:

Guest: Todd & Kelly (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 02/10/10 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

The owner of this property was wonderful to work with. Very prompt communication through emails or phone calls,and she went above and beyond what was required. Looking forward to our stay!

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