Mediterranean Style Salt Water Canal Villa, Private Setting

• Disappointing - Poor Attention to Important Details

  Disappointing - Poor Attention to Important Details

  • Guest Sid
  • Date of stay 09/16/12
  • Review Submitted 03/23/13
  The villa is wonderful and in a good location except that the design at the back is such that the sun did not shine on the pool in the late afternoon. The home is seriously let down by lack of a local maintenance company and inattentive owners. On arrival we found many of facilities not working (TV, phone, Internet, garage door opener, hot tub and, subsequently, air conditioning). The BBQ appeared not to have been cleaned in many months. The owners in Alaska were difficult to reach and then referred problems to the gardener/pool man, who had no expertise nor responsibility, to fix. Consequently we had to work directly with service suppliers and/or do work ourselves to put things right, sometimes at our own cost which was not reimbursed. The kitchen, bedroom and bathrooms were generally not as well equipped as other villas we've rented. Consequently we purchased a number of items, including bedding for the master suite, which was in particularly poor condition. Again no offer of reimbursement but rather an attitude from the owners of 'ignore the problems and get on with enjoying your holiday', We found it difficult to maintain the pool temperature at 80F without putting on the pool cover from mid-afternoon, which, due to the irregular shape, was quite a cumbersome process. We were shocked to receive a bill from the owners for almost $500 for international phone calls, even though we had used a pre-paid phone card. After discussion with the phone company it transpired a mistake had been made but we never received an apology from the owners. We left the property in a far better condition than we found it but still waited more than 2 months for return of our deposit. The owners deducted about $60 for use of gas, breakage of a vase and wax deposit on the patio, neither of which we know anything about. The owners have steadfastly ignored us since so we have now written all this off to experience. We've previously rented far better homes in this area so will return to one of those next time.

  Owner response: Dear friends, We do take great care and pride in our home. We just recently returned from an extended stay there where we were joined by four of our children. Florida is our second home! While we had the additional volunteer workforce we landscaped the foundation area and along the pool cage. We put in over 100 plants ourselves. The gardienias are my favorit as they are so fragrant. The fruit trees did show signs of neglect but are nursed back to health by the end of our stay. We plan to continue the landscaping and eventually add a dock in years to come. Since this is our home we do block time for us and our family. When we have no plans we do rent it to others so they might fall in love with Florida as we have. It is unfortunate that our client of last fall wished to return for the winter months this year. As we have plans ourselves to be at our residence in early winter. Our inability to accomodate his return request obviously caused him great distress and he choose to vent his frustration. This is unfortunate and we do truely hope he is able to locate a comperable rental for the requested time frame. I hope he can find a way to accept our apologies for the schedule conflict. Mr and Mrs Kenneth M Domke

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• vrbo

  vrbo

  • Guest doc
  • Date of stay 01/24/13
  • Review Submitted 02/03/13
  A very nice house! We would do it again.

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

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• Wonderful Place to Stay

  Wonderful Place to Stay

  • Guest Happy Canadian's
  • Date of stay 04/20/12
  • Review Submitted 05/05/12
  If your planning a trip to Florida this is a house to stay in. Close to all major needs and the best beaches in florida are just a 30-60 min drive depending on which one you would like to visit. The house is breath taking, very large :) and great for family's in a safe location. Jennifer and Ken are very quick to awnser e-mails, they are wonderful with communication.

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

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• Stella

  Stella

  • Guest John & Stella Royal
  • Date of stay 03/24/12
  • Review Submitted 04/01/12
  What a wonderful vacation. The house is beautiful. We spent a great deal of time sitting by the pool while the kids played. It was so relaxing. Everything you need is there. The location is great. It is an easy drive to several beaches and a great fresh fish market. The owners were so helpful and answered several questions prior to our trip which made planning easy. We hope to go back!

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

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• Fabulous House

  Fabulous House

  • Guest Gina
  • Date of stay 03/11/12
  • Review Submitted 03/25/12
  We really enjoyed our time on Panama Circle. The photos online did not do it justice. Beautiful home and pool with so much room. Jennifer was an absolute pleasure to rent from and we would highly recommend this home to our friends and family.

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

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• Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  • Guest Dale
  • Date of stay 02/15/12
  • Review Submitted 03/06/12
  Our family thoroughly enjoyed this spacious immaculate home. The private pool and hot tub were a big hit with our adult children. The back yard overlooking the canal made relaxing by the pool so peaceful. Grocery shopping was very convenient with it being only 10 minutes away. Paul, the cleaner/pool guy was very friendly and helpful. We would definitely return for another vacation if we had the opportunity.

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

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• Great Family Vacation!

  Great Family Vacation!

  • Guest Michelle108
  • Date of stay 01/15/12
  • Review Submitted 02/24/12
  Our family enjoyed our months stay in this spacious, immaculate home. The pool was a hit we were swimming almost every day. The canal offered a beautiful view from most rooms. The large granite island in the kitchen was great for making large meals. We used the wifi daily and watched the super bowl on the big screen TV. Paul the pool guy, who visited weekly answered any questions and was very personable. The Owners are very accommodating and easy to work with. Questions were answered promptly and I would recommend this villa for your vacation. Thanks for the wonderful getaway.

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

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Winter Escape - Jan 7 through Mar 9:  $4,000/month US
Spring Break - Mar 10 through Mar 30:  $4,150/month US
Spring Season - Mar 31 through April 27:  $3,700/month US
Outdoorsman/Fishing/Tarpon Tournament - April 28 through June 3:  $4,150/month US
Summer Special - June 4 through Sept 23:  $3,500/month US
Holiday Season - Nov 19 through Jan 6:  $3,850/month US
$500 Refundable Security Deposit and $150 Cleaning Fee 
Normal State and Local taxes as applicable

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