Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 61450 sq ft
Popular amenities
Ocean view
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Explore the area
Bonita Beach, FL
Bonita Springs Public Beach
Place, Bonita Springs Public Beach
2 min walk
Bonita Beach Park
Place, Bonita Beach Park
8 min walk
Barefoot Beach
Place, Barefoot Beach
11 min walk
Fort Myers, FL (RSW-Southwest Florida Intl.)
Airport, Fort Myers, FL (RSW-Southwest Florida Intl.)
31 min drive
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
Bedroom 3
1 King Bed
2 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Bathroom 2
Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer
Spaces
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach
Dolphin House is located on Little Hickory Island, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and halfway between Naples and Fort Myers. Private residences only are permitted in this section of the beach, and the lack of crowding testifies to this. The beach is 150 feet west of the front door and is teeming with ocean life, especially in summer. May through August is turtle nesting season, with tracks and nests dotting the shoreline. Shelling and bird watching is excellent here also with heron, egret, eagle, osprey, pelican and gull all present. The gas heated, screen enclosed saltwater pool provides a private place to relax after enjoying the beach, where the gulf water temperature in summer is 87 degrees Fahrenheit. Dolphin House is ideally located for a morning walk on the beach or taking in the evening sunsets.
Dolphin House is shown on the right side of the street just at the end of the video presentation of Bonita Beach in the photo section.
Area attractions: Many activities are available in the local area, including parasailing and jet skiing available at the beach one half mile away. Paddle board and kayak tours are available within 2 miles of Dolphin House, and pontoon boat rental is available also. Corkscrew Swamp, an 11,000 acre preserve run by the Audubon Society is a 45 minute drive east. Alligator, birds, fish and snakes are observable in their natural environment from a 2.5 mile boardwalk through the swamp. The Jay Ding Darling Wildlife refuge is 25 minutes north up the beach on Sanibel Island and offers excellent views of migratory water bird life. Naples is 15 minutes south by car with numerous restaurants, museums, a fishing pier and shops. Ft Myers is 20 minutes north up the coast and also has a fishing pier. The Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is a 25 minute drive from Dolphin House.
House details: Dolphin House has been completely remodeled and updated in 2023. Everything is brand new, spacious and comfortable. Convenience is afforded by the fact that everything is on one level. Two bedrooms in the house have glass doors facing out to the pool area. All glass in the house is hurricane rated, so this provides for a quiet interior as well as enhanced privacy. The shower in the master bath is a walk-in, and the second bathroom has a full bathtub/shower. The A/C system is new, cool and quiet. We have two televisions, a large screen in the family room and a second set in the master bedroom. All new furnishings including furniture, bedding, appliances, linens and kitchenware. For convenience, there is an attached two car garage with automatic door opener. Beach is accessed by a two minute walk across the street. We can accommodate 4 adults and 2 children in beds.
Beach details: Bonita Beach has been included in the top 10 beaches in America, and is well-suited to swimming. Sloping gently for miles into the Gulf of Mexico, the sandy bottom is comfortable and the gulf wave action is generally mild. Pelicans, terns, osprey, frigate, heron and other sea birds can be seen at the beach along with dolphin and sea turtles. Sunsets over the water are beautiful and panoramic. Bonita Beach streches for six miles along the Gulf of Mexico and is only 150 feet from the front door of Dolphin House. This area of the beach is residential and uncrowded, allowing for the ideal beach experience. Beach access #3 is located two houses north of us and makes it possible to walk to the beach in less than two minutes. Shelling is a popular activity on Bonita Beach as many beautiful specimens can be found in the clean sand.
Waterfront restaurants within a one mile radius include Coconut Jacks, Docs Beach House and The Fish House. Enzos is a fine Italian dining local tradition on Bonita Beach Road located 3 miles away.
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Minutes from the beach! Private heated pool, hot tub & dock with bikes + kayaks!
Bonita Springs
Minutes from the beach! Private heated pool, hot tub & dock with bikes + kayaks!
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Remove personal items
Lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Recycle day is Wednesday, and trash day is Thursday. The respective containers must be set out by the street the night before.
No adjustment of any pool temperature controls (solar or gas) without prior approval.
Maximum occupancy 4 adults + 2 children
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: This is a residential neighborhood
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Bonita Springs
Located in Bonita Springs, this holiday home is near the beach. Hertz Arena is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Bonita Springs Public Beach and Barefoot Beach. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Alico Arena or FastTrax Fort Myers. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Fort Myers, FL (RSW-Southwest Florida Intl.) - 28 min drive
Restaurants
Doc's Beach House - 9 min walk
Royal Scoop Homemade Ice Cream - 5 min drive
The Fish House - 2 min drive
Coconut Jack's Waterfront Grille - 15 min walk
Sneaky Petes - 5 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.
How much does it cost to stay at Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach?
As of 5 Apr, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach on 16 May, 2026 start from S$386, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach?
On-site parking is available at the property.
Where is Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach located?
Situated by the sea, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Bonita Springs Public Beach and Barefoot Beach. Bonita Beach Park and Little Hickory Island Beach Park are also within 2 miles (3 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a wonderful stay at dolphin house! The house and pool were great. The kitchen is well equipped. The beach was beautiful and not crowded at all. Communication with the hosts was easy and they were very responsive. We highly recommend it!
Julia T.
Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Dec, 2025
Thanks for sharing a review of your experience at Dolphin House! So glad to hear that you enjoyed your vacation in southwest Florida!
Highly recommend! We were a family of 4 adults and 2 kids and it was perfect. The house was clean and new! The pool was great and you are right across from the beach. They provide all beach amenities needed for you and the kids. Tim was very responsive and very helpful pre and during the trip. Bonita springs beach was beautiful and there was great food and shopping in the area
The property was clean, well kept, with easy instructions that made our stay comfortable. Our family enjoyed the warm pool and close proximity to the beach.
Eric G.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Apr, 2025
Thanks so much for leaving a review of your family's stay at Dolphin House. Glad to hear that you enjoyed the pool and the beach.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
tony p.
31 Jul, 2013
another wonderful stay
this was our 2nd stay at dolphin house.already booked for 2014 great location,great property,1st class rental.
tony p.
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Mar, 2020
Thanks Tony - very considerate of you to write a review, and we appreciate it. Glad to hear that your vacation went well.
Nice house near Bonita Beach. Easy short walk to beach access point from house. Beach chairs ,umbrella, cart all provided, we also enjoyed relaxing in the nice pool, short drive to local restaurants and shops
Gregory N.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Apr, 2025
Thanks very much for sharing a review of your stay at Dolphin House. Glad to hear that your family enjoyed Bonita Beach!
This house was in a perfect location and had everything our family of 4 needed for an awesome vacation. We love Bonita, and the quick walk to the beach, close proximity to stores and restaurants and private pool made this trip one of our favorites!
Sarah E.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Jun, 2022
Thanks so much for the review of your stay at Dolphin House! Great to hear that you and your family enjoyed Bonita beach!
Nice location, easy walk to beach, short drive to nearby stores and restaurants, nice pool. Property is in great shape even with the recent surrounding damage from the hurricane.
Gregory N.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Nov, 2024
Great to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Dolphin House! Thanks for leaving a review!
We celebrated my husband’s birthday with his family that lived in Naples. Pool was perfect temperature & location to beach across the street was great. We loved the house & hope to go back next year.
Patricia P.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Nov, 2024
Great to hear that your stay at Dolphin House was enjoyable! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
Great property. Location was great. Property was very clean. Appliances were in great condition. Pool was a real treat for the kids. Owner very responsive.
The house was perfect, great location, pool is always an added benefit with cooler gulf waters. The owners are great. Thank you for providing us with a great place to vacation, already booked to come back
Erik C.
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 22 May, 2022
Thank you very much for sharing your experience at Dolphin House, and it was a pleasure having you as a guest.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
tony p.
28 Jun, 2012
best rental ever
i can honestly say we had a great time on vacation,the property is very comfortable well possitioned and the the pool gave us hours of fun,we will return if we can.
tony p.
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Mar, 2020
Thanks for taking the time to share your review - we are glad that you enjoyed your stay.
We had an absolutely wonderful time. The proximity to the beach, the pool and the property was great. We definitely would stay here again, even talked about it being our destination for next year! Had a few questions for the manager of the property after we arrived and he got back to us with answers fairly quickly. We had excellent weather and enjoyed our stay!
Lori S.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Dec, 2024
Thanks for the kind words on our property and great to hear that your trip went well! Hope to see you return next year.
We had a really relaxing time, and enjoyed every minute of our stay. The house was a perfect location across road from the beach, and the pool was great to come back to and swim at night. The house had everything we needed and our large suv even fit in the garage. We will definitely try to stay here again.
Ben C.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Jul, 2024
Thanks for sharing a review of your stay and glad to hear that your family enjoyed Bonita Beach!
The dolphin house was perfect for our family of 5! Only a 2 minute walk to the beach, where we found tons of amazing shells! Beach chairs, towels, toys, wagon and cooler were there for us to use. The house interior was very nice and clean! The kitchen had everything we needed. Beds were very comfortable. We all loved the pool and used it everyday. If we decide to come back to Bonita Beach we will definitely stay here again!
Eryn M.
Stayed 8 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Jun, 2025
So glad to hear that you and your family enjoyed Bonita Beach and Dolphin House! Thank you for leaving a review of your stay and keep in touch if you decide to come back.
This is our 4th time renting this home. It is always a pleasure to stay. Owners are great to work with and available. Located near everything. We will be staying again.
Marie B.
Stayed 16 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Oct, 2021
Thank you for reviewing your stay and we are always happy to welcome repeat guests!
This is our second time staying at The Dolphin House. The place was just as great as the last time. There are plenty of amenities at the house that makes it so much nicer than other places we have stayed! The kids enjoyed the pool and I loved how close the beach was and that it never had a bunch of people to contend with. We had a great week away, Thanks so much!
Christina H.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Aug, 2024
Thanks Christina for your descriptive review of your stay at Dolphin House! We always appreciate return guests and feel that visiting again is the highest compliment.
About the host
Hosted by Tim and Connie Rucker
We have vacationed at Bonita Beach for over 30 years, and owned property here for over 20 years.
Why they chose this property
Proximity to the beach, which is the primary attraction for southwest Florida. Private enclosed pool. Fully renovated in 2023. 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, can accommodate 4 adults and 2 children in beds. Playpen and high chair for children.
What makes this property unique
Walk to the beach for morning fishing and evening sunsets. No car to park, no planning, just go when you feel like it.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests