Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great weekend

Guest: The McLellands (Harlingen, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/11/12 Review Submitted: 05/14/12

The description of this property was accurate except that it was actually nicer than described. Waking up to the view of the ocean was breathtaking. The kitchen is well-stocked, the beds are comfortable and everything was in working order. I had a couple of questions about the condo and when I called Julie, she answered promptly and was most helpful. Since this is a pet friendly property, we were able to take our two dogs which made the weekend even more enjoyable. If the beach is not your thing, the pool is sparklling and there are lots of chairs and loungers to relax. Blackbeard's was delicious as always, U.S. Bar, not so much.

Owner response:This the second time you have rented my condo and you have always been a joy to work with. So glad you had even a better time. Julie

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Easter on the Beach

Guest: travlra2z (San Antonio, TX)
Date of Stay: 04/07/12 Review Submitted: 04/12/12

For my son's 8th birthday, he decided that instead of having a typical "party", he wanted to go on a cruise, as he is very much into the Titanic right now. After "Google-ing" I came across the Black Dragon Pirate Cruise in Port Isabel. This was perfect! Once that was taken care of, I wanted to make the birthday more memorable for him (an of course us), so I began looking into condo rentals. I came across this listing, and having never rented a condo before, inquired. Julie responded quickly and explained the process to me. I, being a very cautious and extremely nervous person, was a little concerned still about whom I was dealing with and what to expect & not expect. Julie was extremely patient throughout, and told me to "relax". I tried, but until I arrived, was still a little nervous. Upon arriving, and entering the condo, I was taken aback with the view! Amazing! It was exactly as it was pictured, and beyond our imagination! We were in love at first site, and did not want the 2 days to end! We had an Easter Egg hunt for the kiddos & celebrated my son's birthday with cake & ice cream, and building sand castles on the beach! A pool was nearby as well, so we were able to take a swim there before heading out to the cruise! Beautiful, clean, and exactly what we needed to "relax!" Initially was going to bring our dog, but decided against it, as was not sure what it would be like for him. (sent in non-refundable deposit) something that should have been thought out before we decided to not take him...a.c. did not work the first night, fine for those of us near the sliding doors, but not so for those in the back room, but again, Julie, was able to contact someone who repaired it for the second night, and everyone slept great! My son is already making plans for us to return again, as was all who joined us! Thanks so much, Julie! This experience was one we won't forget & will look forward to experiencing again, for longer!

Owner response:Thank you for a wonderful review.I know this was your first time to be a VRBO user and you were so worried. Look how great everything turned out for you. It was everything you imagined. Sorry about the AC the first night. I am glad we were able to get it fixed right a way. This unit is brand new and they ac tech said the wind blew something unpluged on the roof. I hope you will come back again. And make sure to use your $100 discount as a gift for the incomvience of the ac. Glad you had a wonderful time and it was a most memorable birthday for your son.

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

A Room with a gorgeous view

Guest: Bean (NY)
Date of Stay: 04/01/12 Review Submitted: 04/11/12

We loved staying at Julie's condo right on the beach with an awesome view of the ocean. The 2 bedrooms were perfect for our family of 4. The kitchen was clean and had all of the tools we needed to cook. So many great places to eat, kayak and fish.

Owner response:Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I love to knowing that you had a wonderful time. And since you wrote a review, enjoy a 10% discount on your next visit staying at our condo. Kind Regards, Julie

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

Great view, great beach

Guest: Dee (St Paul Park MN 55071)
Date of Stay: 01/02/12 Review Submitted: 02/01/12

My husband and I with our two shelties stayed at Bahia Mar for the month of Jan. The condo was clean and comfortable and having a walkout for the dogs was great. A glasstop stove needs to replace the older stove but otherwise we were happy.. Joe and Dee Minnesota

Recommended for:Age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Liaison for Genomic Health, a diagnostic lab which does gene expression profiling of breast ca tissu

Guest: NA (Sugar Land, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/14/11 Review Submitted: 09/26/11

Website with description, location, photos is accurate. Property clean/maintained, both suite and landscaping. Pool/spa excellent.Owner answered all questions/provided services within 1hr or less. Highly recommend to friends/relatives. Restaurants: Blackbeards and Big Donkeys. Groceries at Blue Marlin and Island Market. Liked hanging out at North Beach, last frontier beach site. Enjoyed proximity to beach, and Panama Jack umbrellas/chairs while soaking up rays. Perfect weather....95degrees and sunny, breezy too. First level w/ sliding glass doors made easy coming and going. Beach practically deserted.....felt like we had it to ourselves! Condo amenities in good working order. Square footage great, with two bedrooms/baths. Even had beach toys and surf boards and umbrellas/chairs in two closets for use. Gas Grille also in condo.

Owner response:Thank you for such a wonderful review. I am so pleased that you had a fantastic time.Your compliments are greatly appreciated! Best. Julie

Recommended for:Age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Labor Day Weekend

Guest: rick (dallas)
Date of Stay: 09/02/11 Review Submitted: 09/06/11

We just spent Labor Day weekend in South Padre and had a wonderful time. Condo was actually better than advertised (hard to believe). It was clean and well maintained and the owner was a pleasure to deal with. Everything worked like clock work-the one question we had while there, we had an immediate response. Would highly recommend, and will definitely stay there again. P.S. Check out the live entertainment at Padreritaville and have breakfast at Ted's. Also found great crab and shrimp at a place across the bridge in Port Isabel-so good we ate in that night. Had everything we needed in the kitchen to cook a great meal.

Owner response:We loved having you as our guests! Hope to have you back again. Julie and Ronnie

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

The usual summer clan

Guest: Ro (Kyle, Tx)
Date of Stay: 08/14/11 Review Submitted: 09/14/11

Okay Julie - we have been renting from Julie for 7+ years and most of the time the same condo! We came across Julie via my sister and our families go every year. We have made several referals and we are even going back for a girls weekend and we just returned from there less than month ago! Julie is very receptive, great to work with, takes our suggestions to heart (still working on the table :) and will do just about ANYTHING to make your stay comfortable & pleasant. So thanks Julie. We will continue staying at your place.................I along with my sister will continue making referrals.

Owner response:Thank you for being so loyal. I have loved having you rent from me for 7 years and getting to know you better through the years. Thank you for a great review. Hope you will have many more wonderful times to come in our condo. Julie

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

Great beach vacation condo!

Guest: Melissa Z (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/31/11 Review Submitted: 08/22/11

We had a wonderful beach vacation @ this condo this first week of August. The owner is quick to respond to calls/emails & very easy to work with. The best thing about this condo is the location- about as close to the beach as you can get & on the ground floor (so when you come back with your beach gear you can leave it on your back patio & not worry about lugging things up several floors or bringing sandy stuff into your condo). This really came in handy since we had young children & all their things to lug. Great views- from back of the condo you could see everyone at the beach. Condo was cute/well decorated. The pool was really nice and close to the condo. The AC worked great in the unit, & all the appliances were in good working order. It was nice to have a washer/dryer in the unit too. Just a few cons- the kitchen was not as well stocked as other properties I have rented from on VRBO, but there were basic necessities. The pool area- the pool itself is very nice but beware of the decking around the pool- it got so hot that it will burn a layer of skin off your feet in the summer unless you are wearing shoes! We would get out of the pool and make a dash for the lounge chairs & our towels- just a minor annoyance. None of the toilets have lids/covers- so I could not sit on a toilet seat to watch my little kids bathing in the tub & my curious one year old was constantly trying to get his hands in the toilet water- we just had to be vigilant to keep all the bathroom doors closed at all times. Just made it hard for a family with little ones (but worth the nuisance for being close to the beach!) Lastly, we were not informed until we checked in with the security guard upon arrival that we would all have to wear wristbands the entire stay (even my kiddos) & that we were not allowed to have ANY visitors- would have been nice to know things like this before hand. We had friends staying in Padre the same week as us who also have young kids, & we were planning on getting together to swim at the pool or for an evening dinner at our condo (my husband loves to cook/entertain)- but after finding out we could have NO visitors we had to tell them sorry & maybe we could just meet out for dinner one night- bummer. Security guards are uber vigilant on the grounds watching that guests have their wristbands on which felt a little like a prison, but I felt safe, & the property was quiet. Overall it was a great stay- I would recommend this condo!

Owner response:Thank you for your review. I am glad that you brought some of these things to my attention so that I may address them. I am always open for improvement, so that I can make it more enjoyable for everyone that uses our condo. Glad you had a great time and hope that you will come back. Hopefully, the little ones will have grown out of putting their little hands in the toliets. Julie

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

Bahia mar.... An excellent place to stay on SPI!

Guest: Kate (Kyle texas)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 06/25/11

Thank you Julie! Bahia mar is just what our family needed! Beautiful grounds, perfect location. The condo was very comfortable for our family of 6. The security was tight but we felt very safe. We will defiantly be back this season. My only complaint is the sprinkler system hitting the side windows at night.

Owner response:Kathleen, Thank you for your great review! Good thing your windows were'nt open at night...you would've been soaked. I will let manintance know right of way. Thanks for letting me know. Julie

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

Enjoyable Getaway!!

Guest: Yearly Visitors (Houston, Texas)
Date of Stay: 05/26/11 Review Submitted: 06/05/11

We visit South Padre Island yearly and we have stayed at many different locations over the years. I can say that the pool and beach access was fantastic. The pool was one of the best we have visited and to wake up to the ocean view was perfect. I was a little disappointed at the Bahia Mar construction that continues and hope that it is completed before our next visit. The unit was a great unit and I would consider staying here again. Thanks!!

Owner response:Thank you for your great review!!! I am glad you liked the condo. Wait till you come back.Our other pool will have been completed and you will have 2 of the best pools you will have ever visited. Come back soon! Julie

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

One Happy Weekend

Guest: Cherry T. (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 04/30/11 Review Submitted: 05/20/11

Our family enjoyed the stay very much at this comfortable condo. Julie was very helpful and accomodating to our needs, as our mom was in a wheelchair. Despite the construction going on (I'm sure they'll be done soon though!), we managed to have a good time and enjoy the direct beach access and view!

Owner response:Thank you for a great review. Come back to see us very soon! Julie

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

Clean, well-stocked, spacious, and comfortable

Guest: Lisa (San Marcos, Texas)
Date of Stay: 12/23/10 Review Submitted: 01/01/11

The condo is VERY CLEAN with an updated interior and a well-stocked kitchen of good pots/pans/dishes/utensils, etc. The master bedroom's king size bed has been replaced with two comfortable queen size beds. The new dining room table seats six people. The linens and towels are newer, another example of the attention to detail by the owner of upkeep and cleanliness of the unit. The complex is under construction at the front so don't let that scare you off when you first drive in. This is a nice place to stay and I felt at ease having on-site security personnel at the entrances and walking the complex. Most were very friendly and helpful. For location, it was great to be able to go a short distance to the pool, hot tub, and beach. This is my first time renting this unit and was referred to it by a friend. The owner was very helpful and easy to reach for questions or confirmation. It was a great referral and I would highly recommend this location for your trip.

Owner response:The best compliment for an owner from a tenant is a referrel. And then you hope it meets their expectations. So glad you liked the condo and it was everything you hoped it would be.

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

Our stay at condo

Guest: Kathie (Texas)
Date of Stay: 12/01/10 Review Submitted: 12/13/10

Beautiful and clean. Really enjoyed the ground level and being able to walk out on the grass within yards of the beach. Bed was very comfortable as were the sofa and chairs. Location is at the north end of S. Padre and our favorite area which is not so conjested as other areas. It's also located near the birding center. Really appreciated the wireless which worked great. My pets were welcome which is important to us.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, sightseeing.

Cute and Comfy Condo

Guest: Kelli (Rowlett, Texas)
Date of Stay: 09/06/10 Review Submitted: 09/16/10

My husband, our dog and I spent a week at this adorable, spotless, comfy condo. It had everything we could ask for and was located right on the beach. We enjoyed sitting on the patio listening to the ocean waves and watching the sun rise over the gulf. You never know what you are going to get when you rent something sight unseen but we were very, very pleased. The condo is very roomy, the beds are wonderful and the kitchen had all the amenities we needed. I highly recommend this condo rental. We will be back!!

Owner response:We would rent to these people anytime. They left the place spotless!!!! Thank you so much for your positive review. I am happy when my rentors leave happy!!!!

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

Guest: Cantwaittogoback (Austin,Texas,USA)
Date of Stay: 10/09/09 Review Submitted: 10/09/09

Our first impression of condo 216 was WOW it's so clean! You can tell whoever cleans is meticulous and takes pride. The condo is very bright & spacious--especially the master suite. Loved the color coordination throughout the condo--what a lovely shade of sea green/blue--loved the throw in the living room! The furniture is up to date. The bed in the master was SO comfortable. Loved watching the sunrise from the floor to ceiling doors/windows. The master suite has floor to ceiling glass on the side facing the ocean--what an incredible view! It was so awesome to wake up, look out and see the ocean with the waves rolling in and the sound was amazing. You're right on the beach with only a quick walk to the stairs that access the beach. It's very private and quiet. The only thing I should mention is that the grounds surrounding the condo need work, but if you're there for the beach like we were, then it doesn't really matter--it would just be a nice bonus! Julie was very accomodating and easy to work with. We took advantage of the dvd's that were available. The kitchen has everything that you could need--well, except for a corkscrew (smile). We really enjoyed our stay!

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Guest: Shirley Quail (Plover, WI)
Date of Stay: 09/25/09 Review Submitted: 09/25/09

What a wonderful get-away! We were there Labor Day week, and loved it. The condo was perfect for the three of us. The location is perfect distance from the water, the beach was beautiful. The view is awesome, and a terrific bonus being on ground level. We slept like babies in the comfortable beds. The gulf water was like bathwater. I have nothing negative about this rental other than being so far away from Wisconsin. Julie was phenominal to work with; thanks Julie for everything.

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Guest: Andrew Lambert (Dallas)
Date of Stay: 07/06/08 Review Submitted: 07/05/08

I am currently on day 3 of our vacation in #2-16. I'm sure my dad will write his thoughts as well, but I wanted to stop by and say that this is truly a beautiful condo! There is so much space, and so much light. The condo is literally feet from the beach, and all the windows look out on the water! The condo has a very safe feel and there is a security system that lets us feel comfortable leaving our things in the unit while we're at the beach. Parasailing, RV rental, kite stores, gift shops, and restaurants are right outside the property, and the unit itself is very clean and has extremely comfortable and up-to-date furniture. The kitchen is stocked with everything used to cook and the big TV in the living room is very enjoyable. The marbled floors are very pretty, and we really appreciated the small touches like books to read, nice decorations, and VERY VERY comfortable beds! We are already planning to come back to one of Julie's bigger condos with some more family. Thanks so much! Andrew Lambert, Plano, TX

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Guest: Leah Ryans Van Bibber (Alexandria, LA)
Date of Stay: 05/23/08 Review Submitted: 05/23/08

We can't wait to go back! We had 8 ladies in our group and the condo was extremely accomodating! Awesome view as well!

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Guest: Max Ludwig (Grand Lake, CO)
Date of Stay: 11/03/07 Review Submitted: 11/03/07

We very much enjoyed our stay at your condo on the beach! It was just what we needed before going back to Grand Lake, CO, for the long, cold winter. Thanks!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/12/07 Review Submitted: 09/12/07

Great view to the Gulf and the Condo was great! We will be back!

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Guest: Valeria1 (Laredo, Texas)
Date of Stay: 08/19/06 Review Submitted: 08/19/06

This comfy, nicely furnished unit has two a breathtaking view of the beach. You are as close as you could hope to get. Sitting on the patio, sipping coffee and watching the sunrise was priceless. We look forward to returning next year.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/18/06 Review Submitted: 06/18/06

Beautiful view-being on ground level & being able to walk right out to the beach was lovely, and perfect privacy! We really enjoyed the wood of the building - comfortable and homey. :)

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Guest: Sandra51 (San Marcos, Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/08/06 Review Submitted: 06/08/06

We really enjoyed our stay at your condo. The Bahia Mar has become our family pit stop for the last 4 summers. We had heard nightmare stories about renting on line and spoke to people who were absoulutely disappointed. NO COMPLAINTS!!!!This was our first year renting from you and hope to continue to do so for many years to come!!!! Thanks.

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