Vacation Rentals by Owner

Captiva Vacation Home: 300 Steps from Beach, with Pool & Dock [#297972] | View Property

Captiva Island
House, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths (Sleeps 6)
$1900 - 3500/wk
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Traveler Reviews (16)

• The Perfect and Relaxing Vacation Home

  The Perfect and Relaxing Vacation Home

  • Guest Erin
  • Date of stay 04/27/13
  • Review Submitted 05/09/13
  Each year the women of my family select a vacation spot to relax, play and laugh!!! Captiva was the perfect location and this was the perfect home. The home was spacious, clean and exactly as you see in the photos. The newly remodeled kitchen was equipped with everything you need and actually more than you find with most vacation homes. I have to mention the kitchen cabinets. We loved the cabinets. The private pool was amazing. What a difference it makes when it is your own! Our second favorite spot of the home was the screened-in lanai. We found ourselves out there every evening enjoying the Captiva night air and good conversation. The beach was a very short distance and yes, it felt like our own private beach. I would highly recommend this vacation home. Margarethe and Rene were welcoming and very accommodating. Oh and their little dog Lulu was absolutely precious…

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

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• A Little Bit of Heaven

  A Little Bit of Heaven

  • Guest Chicago Jen
  • Date of stay 03/23/13
  • Review Submitted 04/15/13
  My family & I stayed for Spring Break week at the Captiva Vacation Home. Everything on the listing was an accurate reflection of what the property was really like. It was very well maintained, comfortable and spacious and had everything we needed. Beach towels were available and VERY comfortable beach chairs too. Margarethe was very attentive and answered questions I had very promptly. We loved the location as it was very peaceful and away from the crowds of Spring breakers! A few steps took you down to the beautiful beach which was so quiet it felt like our own private beach. A great place for shelling, Dolphin watching and general relaxing. The pool at the house was also fantastic and big enough to swim in. A 5 min walk took you to Santiva where there were 3 restaurants and a small grocery store and a short drive north took you to the many restaurants of Captiva or a drive South to the restaurants/shops of Sanibel. Pleanty of choice. I would definitely recommend this property to anyone and hope we can visit again soon!

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

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• Perfect Vacation!

  Perfect Vacation!

  • Guest Michelle
  • Date of stay 08/18/12
  • Review Submitted 09/13/12
  We have been vacationing in Sanibel and Captiva Island for many years, and as always this was a wonderful trip. This was our first time staying in the Captiva Vacation Home and we absolutely loved it!!!! It was in the perfect location, the beach was great, and the pool was great for our children. It was also great because we could bring our entire family - our two dogs loved it as well. The house was clean and fit our needs perfectly! We will definetley stay again!!!!

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

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• Our Return to Paradise!

  Our Return to Paradise!

  • Guest Mary and Bill
  • Date of stay 05/05/12
  • Review Submitted 06/12/12
  We returned to the beautiful island of Captiva after moving away 20 years ago. This was a beautiful home to revisit our Paradise! We loved the house, the pool was so refreshing, the beach was gorgeous as ever and we LOVED the fishing! Rene and Margarethe were so gracious and welcoming, Thank you so much for your hospitatility. Rene was so great to our "kids" sharing with them the fantastic fishing from the dock and our grandkids loved the beach and pool and toys provided. Thank you for allowing us to share your wonderful piece of heaven. Mary and Bill and family

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

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• Vacation in Paradise

  Vacation in Paradise

  • Guest KC native
  • Date of stay 04/28/12
  • Review Submitted 05/15/12
  There really isn't much to say that other reviews haven't already said so "ditto" all of them. The property was clean and secluded. We found the pool refreshing. We did fix a couple of meals and found everything we needed in the kitchen. The master bedroom is separated from the other bedrooms by the main living quarters which gave ample privacy. The landlords were available if/when needed but were not intrusive in any way. Very good layout for a family or two couples travelling together. We love Captiva island and the location was good and not in the most congested area. You can walk to restaurants and a little convenient store should you desire. Can't wait to return to Captiva!

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

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• Great beach, great fishing

  Great beach, great fishing

  • Guest Fred
  • Date of stay 01/21/12
  • Review Submitted 03/11/12
  The location of this home was perfect. Our family ( ranging in age from one to seventy one) used it as a base for gatherings and it easily accomodated nine of us. We enjoyed so many activities the area had to offer ( shopping, shelling, parasailing, biking, shell museum) Fishing off the dock was very popular. So many birds and fish to watch. One of the nicest features was to be able to pull into the driveway of our rental and not worry about parking. From the house it was an easy walk to the beach and nearby store and restaurants. We loved kayaking in the Ding Ding Refuge and boating to Cayo Costa State Park. The Muddy Duck in Captiva had good food. The home was most comfortable and convenient. We loved the beautiful lush yard with all the plants we don't see in the north. Thanks to our hosts, Margarethe and Rene. You made us feel so welcome. We had a most memorable two weeks. We'll be back.

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

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• Our perfect "second home"

  Our perfect "second home"

  • Guest Kathryn H.
  • Date of stay 12/29/11
  • Review Submitted 01/31/12
  We have been coming to Captiva for five years, and this is our favorite "home away from home". What can one say - everything is perfect. We just returned from 3 1/2 weeks in the house. The house is architecturally beautiful with 3 bedrooms, soaring ceilings, a very large master bedroom, kitchen equipped with everything you would want, and washer and dryer. The pool is heated and very beautiful. The property is a botanical garden with blooming plants and fruit trees, which keeps it private and quiet from the road. Margarethe has thought of everything - including beach toys, pool toys, beach chairs, a cooler, and even a wagon to take your things to the beach. The house is well suited for adults or also for kids. The screened lanai has a table and chairs and gas grill. There were even "dog bowls" for our dog in the house. The house is directly across the road from beach and has a deeded access. The beach is very quiet, and on many days we were usually the only ones there. There are abundant shells, as well as pods of dolphins traversing along the shore in the mornings and afternoons. The sunrises are incredible on the dock, and sunsets magnificent on the beach. Although there are several restaurants within close walking distance, the house is right on the bike trail with an easy pedal to Captiva, to Ding Darling, or to Sanibel. Margarethe and Rene are always available and attend to any needs immediately. I was a bit hesitant to write a good review of this property, wanting to keep it to ourselves. However, we have already booked our 3 weeks for next year, so i will share this most beautiful property. The pictures of the house on the website does not do it justice- the feeling of the property and house must be experienced!

  Owner response: Thank you, Katie and George, for a stunning, beautifully written review! Captiva is a part of paradise, we are lucky to live here, and it is a true pleasure to share it and be inspired at the same time through guests like you.

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• Quiet in Paradise

  Quiet in Paradise

  • Guest Todd P.
  • Date of stay 07/31/11
  • Review Submitted 08/16/11
  For those of you that are looking for a nice quiet vacation in paradise, this is it. The house is fantastic! The three bedrooms are perfect for those that have kids, or even those who don't have kids. The master bedroom is huge, as is the second bedroom - our daughter enjoyed that, and the third bedroom is perfect for 2 kids (already had toys for them to place with). Plus there are plenty of other areas for people to sleep. Having the two family room areas and the nice kitchen made life that much easier. The house sits right across the road from the beach and it was pretty much a private beach the whole week we were there. When the kids were done with the beach, in the middle of the afternoon, we then enjoyed the beautiful private pool. After 2 PM the pool was pretty much in the shade - making it wonderful for having lunch there. When it comes time for dinner there are two restaurants within walking distance (back over the bridge) or an extremely quick car ride to downtown Captiva. We are extremely delighted to find such a wonderful vacation house. Our kids already made plans for what they are going to do next year. Plus, we will have a wonderful tea shop to visit in downtown Fort Myers. I can't thank Margarethe and Rene enough. We can't wait to see you and Lulu next year. The Paauwe Family

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• A Truly Fantastic Rental Home

  A Truly Fantastic Rental Home

  • Guest lynnemorr1
  • Date of stay 07/02/11
  • Review Submitted 07/24/11
  It was my family's first time on Captiva and we had an amazing time. The beach is only a 30 second walk from the house and once you're there you never want to leave! The sand is super clean and the water is crystal clear! Fishing off the dock was incredible we caught lots of good size sea trout (night time is best.) The home is spotless and it has everything you could need to maker your stay feel as if you are still at home. We have only been away from Captiva for a couple of weeks and have already begun making plans to return. Thank you for allowing us into your home we will certainly be back.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Knee deep in the water somewhere...

  Knee deep in the water somewhere...

  • Guest Gail
  • Date of stay 06/25/11
  • Review Submitted 07/11/11
  “It's a sweet sweet life, living by the salty sea!” Your home is just the right setting to stage the perfect vacation, with the bay on one side – for fishing, the ocean on the other - for sun, shelling and sunsets with the pool in the middle of it all. The lush tropical foliage put us in the mood for carefree days, filled with bicycle rides to Captiva for dinner or drinks or to check out the Manatees. Fishing from the Dock exceeded our expectations with the lights at night and the running tides - caught snook and trout! We kayaked through the wildlife refuge and took in the beauty of nature at its best. We read, relaxed on the beach, and cooked meals to share – this house allowed us to just enjoy being IN Captiva with family; I think our favorite day was spent renting a boat at the Marina. We headed to Cayo Costa (reported a fresh turtle nest), shelled, road the tram through the state park, took a short ride back to Cabbage Key for burgers and to soak up the spirit of the island; then our own Cap'n Kurt set a bearing toward North Cap for a cool beverage and a dip in the pool, before we headed back to our slice of paradise for sunset! So, you too can be knee deep in the water somewhere - but we enjoyed our week here. The house had everything we thought we needed and more. Thanks for your hospitality ---we've rented many times through VRBO, but your personal touches made us feel at home. You certainly set a high standard for rentals by owner! Margarethe and Rene, you were gracious, available and easy to work with. We’ll be back, so leave the light on for us. Gail, July 2011

  Owner response: We will leave the lights on and look forward to for your return, thank you, Gail and Russel!

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

• Welcome to Retirement!

  Welcome to Retirement!

  • Guest Debi
  • Date of stay 06/04/11
  • Review Submitted 07/07/11
  What a great place to begin celebrating my retirement! Along with six friends, I spent a wonderful and relaxing week in this home. The house was spacious, clean, and everything we could ask for. The owners were very friendly and available to answer questions about Captiva Island and area attractions. The photos of the home accurately reflect the accommodations. We loved the private feel with all of the lush vegetation. The beach was just as described, often we were the only ones there and an easy access for the wagon full of beach chairs. The private pool was wonderful. After a morning at the beach it was the perfect place to relax. There was always some shade for those of us that needed it. The listing says the house can sleep six but it could sleep 8 easily if you use the futon. I would definitely recommend this property and hope to go back sometime soon. Thank you, Margarthe!

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

  Owner response: Thank you for choosing the Captiva Vacation Home and for the review. We are blessed living in on this gorgeous island and meeting wonderful visitors, like your group. I felt I wanted to join in. Hope to have you back, Margarethe

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Paradise FOUND!

  Paradise FOUND!

  • Guest Heather
  • Date of stay 04/30/11
  • Review Submitted 05/19/11
  This vacation home was perfect in every aspect. The only downside is that I wish we would have spent two weeks here. There was a total of 6 of us that traveled to Captiva. The owners are so hospitable and accommodating in every way. They are very knowledgable about the island and things to do. The home had everything we could have wanted or dreamed of. Three GREAT spacious bedrooms and a private heated pool all to ourselves. Our daily routine consisted of getting up early and going to the beach (across the street) to do some early shelling...after a few hours in the sun we would retreat to our private backyard pool with a relaxing waterfall. After spending a few more hours floating in the pool and talking about what we would do for the day we would get ready and head into either Captiva or Sanibel. We never left the islands of Sanibel or Capitva in the entire week we were there. Everything is so laid back! The food at all the resturants were absolutely delicious and prices were fairly reasonable. Favorite resturant was probably RC otters in downtown Captiva as the atmosphere and staff were hard to beat. I was able to take advantage of the fishing off the dock (night time is best) and caught myself some snook, trout and a catfish. Really fun experience! I'm already trying to schedule my vacation time to return in early 2012. You WILL not be disappointed if you stay here. The owners again are so friendly and prompt with any request. Hardest part is leaving. I'm a travel agent and would highly recommend this propety to any of my clients. Best regards, Heather from Minnesota

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• 50th Birthday Celebration

  50th Birthday Celebration

  • Guest 50 Rocks
  • Date of stay 04/23/11
  • Review Submitted 05/11/11
  I could not have picked a better place to celebrate my 50th birthday. The house is exceptionally clean and spacious with many windows which gives the impression that you are living in the treetops. The beach is within close proximity and the private pool is a slice of heaven. The owners are gracious hosts with a wealth of area information to share, all you need do is ask.

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

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• Home away from home

  Home away from home

  • Guest Leigh
  • Date of stay 12/18/10
  • Review Submitted 01/04/11
  The Captiva Vacation home was cozy, comfortable and very relaxed. It was in a great spot, just steps from the beach as promised. The owners were incredibly friendly and volunteered some great "islander" tips that we were happy we checked out. Lulu is the perfect addition to this little slice of paradise, but really it is all a great package. Seeing all the different fruit trees on the property completed the tropical hide away feel. The house was clean and fairly well supplied. We would certainly go back.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• A Perfect Week on Captiva

  A Perfect Week on Captiva

  • Guest Rose
  • Date of stay 11/05/10
  • Review Submitted 11/24/10
  This was the perfect house for the reunion of 4 "Sisters of the Travelling Butterflies"; 2 from Montreal, 1 from Toronto and1 from Vancouver. The house is even lovelier than it appears on the website. Plenty of space, full of light and an amazingly well-equipped kitchen. There's even 2 futons, so an additonal 2 or 3 people could sleep there. For the beach, there's beach towels, umbrellas, chairs, a cooler and even a wagon to transport everything there. The house was very clean and well maintained. We loved having the pool at the back, very private and sheltered; perfect for the first couple of days when the wind made it difficult to sit on the beach. Also enjoyed sitting on the front, screened deck - perfect place to sort the shells we collected from the beach! The dock was also a lovely place to enjoy the views - unbelievable amount of fish. The house was set back from the road and surrounded with beautiful trees and lush foliage. Cross over the road, walk down a short path and there's miles of semi-deserted beach - we sat in the sun, walked, collected shells and watched the dolphins playing in the water. We loved to watch the beautiful sunsets every night. The owner couldn't have been more helpful and informative and her obvious love and knowledge of Captiva made our visit even more enjoyable. When we arrived, the phone wasn't working properly, but she had it fixed the following day and even called to make sure that everything was okay. Having WiFi was also a great plus. Our group had to 2 adventurers and 2 beach people! The adventurers had fun kayaking at Ding Darling Reserve, took lots of long walks, etc. Bikes can be rented in town. It's a wonderful place for fishing and boating. Like I mentioned, the shelling on the beach is fantastic. The Village is tiny and so charming and we ate excellent food wherever we went. We loved Key Lime Bistro, The Green Flash(great views), Traders, Sunshine Seafood Cafe, Doc Fords & Island Cow (last 2 on Sanibel). Oh, don't miss The Shell Museum - well worth the visit. There's also an excellent Farmers Market on Sunday mornings I would highly recommend this lovely house and hope to return one day. The Sisters of the Travelling Butterflies thank you Margarethe.

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

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

• Let the Fun Begin

  Let the Fun Begin

  • Guest Dee
  • Date of stay 09/28/10
  • Review Submitted 10/14/10
  Great-spacious, clean, private, and close to beach. Owners were very helpful and willing to give information on things to do and see. House was well equiped with everything. Will go again and again- hated to leave. Beach was private, found lots of beautiful shells, and met a few locals while walking beach. Will recommend this property to all my friends and relatives.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/2