Few Summer Weeks Left!

• Love this place!

  Love this place!

  • Guest Julie R.
  • Date of stay 11/05/12
  • Review Submitted 04/01/13
  I stayed at Shells by the Beach for around 5 weeks in Nov/Dec. 2012 with my dog. As a long time renter on Manasota Key (28 years) I can honestly say this was my best rental yet. The location, house, weather, owners, price...everything was great. I wanted to be back sooner but it's been booked when I've been free. Don't miss out if it's available when you need it.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Wonderful week

  Wonderful week

  • Guest Di
  • Date of stay 11/05/12
  • Review Submitted 02/10/13
  We so enjoyed our week at Shells. What a great location! There is a wide range of things to do so everyone had huge smiles all week long. The cottage was in wonderful condition with everything one could want or need. It was very clean and had high end bedding, sheets, and towels. We could relax and enjoy it all from the moment we entered. We will be back!!!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• ONE OF THE BEST VACATIONS EVER!

  ONE OF THE BEST VACATIONS EVER!

  • Guest Beverly
  • Date of stay 08/25/12
  • Review Submitted 10/16/12
  What a wonderful place to stay during our vacation in Florida! The house is very charming....and the owners have really thought of everything. We went to the beach almost every day and really did bring home bucketfuls of shells! The restaurants were wonderful - and very close. The neighborhood was lovely....we went for long walks and took beautiful pictures of the sunset. We enjoyed ourselves so much we booked another week next year......before our stay was even done. I would definitely recommend this property to anyone who loves to stay at a place that feels like "home away from home". Very relaxing atmosphere if you want it - and tons of things to do if you want that too. A+++

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

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

• Month of Memories

  Month of Memories

  • Guest Bobbi G.
  • Date of stay 07/01/12
  • Review Submitted 08/21/12
  My husband and I rented the cottage for the entire month of July. It was a wonderful and relaxing vacation. Everything was just as described. We stay on Manasota Key every summer but had never stayed on this end before. We brought our chihuahua with us and the property was perfect for her. There is a dog park 10 minutes away and a dog beach in Venice that she really enjoyed going to. The weather was prefect and the walk to the beach was short and simple. The cottage is fully stocked with everything you would need. Since we stayed so long we brought our own chairs, towels and umbrella etc. although you will find these things at the cottage. The one thing I would suggest bringing if you drive here is a beach cart. We brought ours and it made the daily trip to the beach a breeze. Our favorite thing about the cottage was definitely the outdoor heated shower. We never showered indoors! The only negatives to coming in July would be that you really can't use the sunroom, as it is too hot but we didn't need it anyway. The wildlife is unmatched. We saw and touched Manatees every day and even got to see 14 to 15 of them mating in the surf. Of course we also saw dolphins up close, lots of sting rays including a giant one at the Weston's dock. Hammerhead sharks and even a loggerhead turtle. We collected hundreds of amazing shells and sharkteeth including several perfect sand dollars. We rented bikes, jet skis and kayaks. The worst part of our vacation was having to come home. We are hoping to be able to spend another month at Shells next summer ;)

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

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

• Detailed Property Listing #74134

  Detailed Property Listing #74134

  • Guest amhenderson13
  • Date of stay 05/14/12
  • Review Submitted 05/22/12
  WONDERFUL!!! This property was clean and very comfortable. We brought our dog and it was very comfortable for her as well! The neighborhood was quiet and relaxing which made our vacation there excellent. Property manager was pleasant to work with. Thank you!

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

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

• Loved it, loved it!!

  Loved it, loved it!!

  • Guest Dawn
  • Date of stay 03/10/12
  • Review Submitted 05/16/12
  This is the first time we have rented a cottage from a private party. We were so nervous after hearing of other people's experiences at various rentals, but we sure got lucky! The cottage had everything we needed and more, the location was so convenient and quiet and the weather was perfect. We brought bikes down with us and biked Manasota Key daily & also went to two state parks to bike through. We rented a boat and went exploring with our dog and found lots of sand bars for her to run on. We had so much fun collecting shells & sharks teeth walking the beach early a.m. & late evenings. We saw manatee, dolphins, sharks, armadillo, and various species of nesting birds. This wonderful location and cottage offered us one of the most relaxing vacations we have ever taken. We found Old Englewood and it's Farmers Market, shops & restaurants fun to explore too. After talking to some local residents went to some great restaurants, dog parks, Drum Circle in Nokomis and yoga on the beach. We had to come home and look for the frosty mugs we enjoyed every day at the cottage. We'll have a frosty beverage now and clink our glasses to the memories we shared at "Shells by the Beach". Unfortunately you were already booked for the weeks we needed for 2013. We'll be back again though. Thank you for sharing this wonderful cottage!!

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

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

• Wonderful week on Manasota Key

  Wonderful week on Manasota Key

  • Guest Karen
  • Date of stay 04/28/12
  • Review Submitted 05/12/12
  We recently spent a week at "Shells by the Beach" and enjoyed every minute we were there. The house was spotless and we loved the decor. It is decorated so tastefully-from the high-end linens to the cheerful colors throughout the house. The owners have thought of everything to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable. You can find whatever you need to spend a day at the beach. Beach chairs, beach towels, umbrellas, water toys, a cooler, etc. The outdoor hot shower definitely came in handy. The kitchen is well stocked with all the items you need if you prefer staying "home" and cooking meals-pots and pans, cute dishes, even frosted glasses in the freezer for the beverage of your choice. We loved eating dinner out on the carport/patio each night so we could listen to the waves crashing on the shore. Another favorite feature of the house for us was the screened in back porch/sunroom. The sun shining in all the windows makes that room so bright and cheerful. We loved having our morning coffee out there. The house is only steps away from the beach. We enjoy walking so we spent a lot of our time walking along the shore looking for shells. The beach is beautiful and we liked the fact that it was uncrowded. Having Stump Pass State Park just a block south was an added bonus. The hiking trails through the park are great. Our favorite part of the day was watching the sunset each night. They were breathtaking! We took lots of pictures! We went on a boat cruise through Lemon Bay and saw eagles, Osprey, a Great Blue Heron, and lots of dolphins! The dock where we got on the boat is just minutes away from the house on Beach Road. The owners have lots of literature on attractions in the area (including the cruise we took) and nearby places to eat. Like we said-they have thought of everything! Our week on Manasota Key is one we will never forget-we will definitely go back again!

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

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

• Shells by the Beach, Vacation in Paradise

  Shells by the Beach, Vacation in Paradise

  • Guest Stephen S.
  • Date of stay 12/01/11
  • Review Submitted 02/07/12
  My wife and I spent two glorious months on Manasota Key at Shells by the Beach and could not have been more pleased with the accomodations. The house was immaculate and beautifully decorate and we felt at home from the moment we arrived. The owners were very attentive to our needs and attention to detail was evident from the kitchen appliances and utensils to the beach chairs and umbrellas in the shed. We spent our mornings in the lanai watching the sunrise and each evening on the beach watching the sunset. We observed an incredible amount of wildlife including dolphin, ospreys, herons, tortoises and even a wood stork, which is on the endangered species list. We went kayaking, golfing, biking and shelling as well as enjoying the wonderful restaurants on the key. Our favorite amenity had to be the hot outdoor shower...we never used the shower inside. We would highly recommend this property and hope to return someday.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

• A Wonderful Cottage

  A Wonderful Cottage

  • Guest John & Maggie
  • Date of stay 11/19/11
  • Review Submitted 01/22/12
  This little cottage has everything you could ever ask for. A well stocked kitchen, comfortable beds, great dining options inside and out. Plus a nice stock of beach chairs, umbrellas, etc. The back parch/sunroom area is absolutely delightful. We have rented a number of beach houses, and this was probably the nicest we have come across. Access to the beach is pretty convenient. You do have to cross the road and take the designated access through the Weston, but it is no more than a 1 minute walk. We were there in the offseason (November) and the Weston was very quiet as was the street crossing. The State Park is an easy walk down the road and has some wonderful hiking trails.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/7

• Perfect!

  Perfect!

  • Guest Lindy
  • Date of stay 08/13/11
  • Review Submitted 09/14/11
  "Shells by the Beach" is perfect! As lovely as the pictures are on the listing, the reality is even better. The property is clean as a pin (kudos to the folks who take care of "Shells"), the decor is very pleasing and even the linens are first-rate. The kitchen is extremely well-appointed - there was not a single amenity overlooked. To get to the beach you cross a very quiet residential street and you are there! We had such a good time beach-combing - beautiful intact shells and oh so many sharks teeth. Everything you need for a fun day at the beach is available - sand chairs, umbrellas, beach toys, and even a dedicated picnic cooler. If you are not inclined to set up camp, it is easy to come "home" for a snack or a short break from the sun. We were not much inclined to leave "Shells" for any reason, but we did have a very enjoyable meal one evening at "Mi Pueblo" - tasy Mexican food and delightful ambience - only seven miles away in Venice. During the week we also made a couple of brief trips to Publix, about one and half miles away. The owner made us feel quite welcome - she called on Sunday to see how we were settling in and to be sure that everything was to our liking (I'll say!). Not only do we think the house is perfect, we enjoyed the quiet, off-the-beaten-path feel in Manasota Key. There isn't even a traffice light on the island! I highly recommend "Shells by the Beach" for an unforgettable beach get-away - we look forward to visiting again sometime soon.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/7

Weekly rentals or Monthly
Winter High Season Dec. 15,2012-April 30,2013 $1250/wk-$3750/mo
Summer May 1,2013-Sept 31,2012 $700/wk-$2350/mo
Fall Oct. 1, 2012-Dec. 15,2012 $700/wk-$2350/mo

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.