Beach Cottage: Secluded, Beachfront, Honeymoon, Family-Friendly, Natural Setting

Our Beach Cottage is located on Little Gasparilla Island, a remote and bridge-less barrier island with no cars, stores, or restaurants of any kind. It is only accessible by boat and that makes for a wonderfully quiet and private vacation! If this is going to be your first visit to Little Gasparilla Island, we expect you have many questions about it, so don't hesitate to ask! This immaculate 2 bedroom/2 bath beachfront cottage boasts the most secluded spot on Little Gasparilla Island --- along with first-class amenities, wireless internet, kayaks for exploring the bay's quiet coves and keys, docks, beach gear, recreational gear, and more. 360 degrees of porches and sun decks overlook 360 degrees of un-interrupted beach, waves, dunes, lagoons, island flora and fauna! Little Gasparilla has miles of beautiful white sand beach, but this cottage is the only house that borders the protected state park, beach and lagoons --- over a mile of completely undeveloped natural beach, without any houses, lies right outside the door. Our cottage is available for weekly or long-term rental (please contact owners directly for discounts on stays of three weeks or longer.) The cottage is part of 'Osprey Point', a private bay-to-beach retreat, surrounded by the Gulf and lagoon to the west, Lemon Bay state aquatic preserve to the east, Don Pedro state nature preserve to the north, and undeveloped privately-held land to the south. It is the only house on the island that overlooks the beach and a natural lagoon (part of the pass that once connected Little Gasparilla Sound to the Gulf of Mexico). Almost an island unto itself, the cottage can only be accessed by the private boardwalks that stretch from the dock on the bay to the dunes on the beach, winding through picturesque mangroves along the way. There is a king bed in the master bedroom and two single beds in the second bedroom. A loft is suitable for an older child or teen who is capable of negotiating its tricky ‘ship’s ladder’ access (air mattress provided). The cottage is ideal for a couple with 1 or 2 children, 1 to 4 single adults, honeymooners, or 2 couples who don't mind sharing a bathroom. The cottage is built of cedar with hardwood floors, a wrap-around screened porch, and deep overhanging eaves to shade the sun. Eight sets of French doors (two sets in each bedroom, two in the living area and two in the kitchen/dining area) open onto the screen porch to take full advantage of the ocean’s sights, sounds, and breezes. Cathedral ceilings and ceiling fans in each room (complemented by central heat/air conditioning) provide year-round comfort. In addition to the wrap-around screened porch there is a large sundeck off the kitchen and main living area, and another sundeck off the master bedroom. These decks and porches offer many comfortable options for ‘al fresco’ seating, grilling and dining, or for simply enjoying the Florida sunshine. The spacious and fully-screened ground level provides a covered, shady space for hammocks and chairs, plus a second bathroom, laundry facilities, and a second refrigerator/freezer. Another sundeck, located at ground-level just behind the dunes, offers a convenient place to stash beach gear. (All gear must be removed from the beach after sundown in order to protect the nesting and hatchling sea turtles.) Showerheads and foot washing stations are also conveniently located along the boardwalk. Additional notes: Little Gasparilla is a barrier island, one of the glistening white ‘string of pearls’ that stretch almost 100 miles along Florida’s southwest coast from Tampa to Sanibel. While not far from Disney, it’s a world away from the crowds, high-rise condos, and T-shirt shops of the east coast. In fact, Little Gasparilla Island can be accessed only by boat (either water taxi or private boat ). There is no bridge or car ferry --- and therefore there are no roads or cars, no commercial services or shopping, and very few people. You’ll quickly notice that the osprey, eagles, pelicans and shore birds far outnumber humans. In fact, there are many days when you’ll see more dolphins in the bay than people on the beach. Cell and smart phone connections work great through your own subscription. While there is no cable or satellite television service, there is a TV and a “family-friendly” VHS movie library, along with traditional board games and an iPod/MP3/CD audio system. As is common in the coastal and Caribbean islands, water is provided from a cistern system which captures, filters, and treats rainwater. While this means remembering to conserve water, especially during the dry season, such systems provide water even more pure than is generally found in large municipal systems. The cottage is elevated and not handicapped-accessible. All guests must be physically capable of negotiating stairs, climbing in and out of boats, and getting on and off of docks. CONTRACT DETAILS: - Check in is 3:00 pm or after - Check out is by 10:00 am - no pets - no smoking - Up to four occupants - guests agree to hold owner harmless for any injuries or illnesses incurred while using our home, boardwalks, kayaks, grill, or other property - guests agree to remove all food items and all garbage from the property upon departure The receipt of the following payments within seven days of signing the contract will confirm your reservation: Please send two checks. The first is the security deposit (which will not be cashed, but will be returned to you as long as there is no damage to the property.) The second is for at least half of the rental amount. The remainder may be paid two weeks prior to arrival. CANCELLATION POLICY: The security deposit is fully refundable at any time if your trip is cancelled. The security deposit is also fully refundable if you depart early, provided that there is no damage to the property. Any unused portion of your rental fee is fully refundable if your cancellation or early departure is due to hurricane or Red Tide. Rent is also fully refundable if your trip is cancelled 45 days or more before check-in. Rent is 50% refundable if your trip is cancelled 30-45 days before check-in. Rent is 25% refundable 15-30 days before check-in. Rent is not refundable within 15 days of check-in. AIRPORTS/RENTAL CARS: The closest airports are Sarasota to the north of us, and Fort Myers to the south. They are each about an hour and 10 minutes drive to the marinas that serve our island. Tampa is just less than two hours away to the north. GROCERIES AND OTHER PROVISIONS: The closest grocery stores to the island are both Publix. Driving from the South toward the marinas, the Publix is located at the corner of McCall Road and Gasparilla Road, 13435 South McCall Road, Port Charlotte. Phone: 941-697-0279. Driving from the North toward the marinas, the Publix closest to the marina is located at 8725 Placida Road, Placida, phone: 941-698-1699 Remember, there are NO stores or restaurants of ANY kind on Little Gasparilla Island. You must bring all supplies other than what is listed below. Don't forget to put sun screen and bug repellent on your list! WE SUPPLY: - top quality bed linens - top quality bath towels, hand towels, and wash cloths - Q-tips and cosmetic pads - beach towels - beach chairs - beach umbrella - dish washing soap - starter roll of toilet tissue - starter roll of paper towels - salt and pepper - assortment of 16 spices - laundry detergent and fabric softener sheets - propane for the grill - garbage bags - hair dryer - ironing board INTERNET CONNECTION: Your cell phones and smart phones will work fine from our home via your own subscription regardless of which mobile provider you use. If you wish to bring a laptop and desire Internet connection, we can also provide a Verizon Wireless Jetpack by prior arrangement. PARKING and ARRIVAL : You will park your car and catch the water taxi from Eldred's Marina (which is really more of a bait shop). They are located at 6301 Boca Grande Causeway, Placida, Florida 33946 (NOTE: The marina is right BEORE the toll booth!) Their number is 941-697-1431. You will enter the little bait shop to obtain a parking pass for approximately $6.00 per day to put on your dash. The water taxi picks you up out front. WATER TAXI: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! The local water taxi service is provided by Pirate Water Taxi, with either Emmett or Bill as your captain. They can be reached at 941-697-5777. You'll want to call TWO WEEKS before you arrive for pricing from and to make pick-up arrangements. You can expect to pay about $ 35.00 during normal business hours. If the captain helps with your bags, you should tip him about $ 5.00. Please do discuss the pick-up rates as fees change seasonally and also increase EVERY HALF HOUR after 5:00 or 6:00 pm. Make sure you tell him that you are coming to Rebecca Hagelin's beach house! They know us well and will bring you directly to our dock #2, where wheelbarrows await you for use in carting your times down the boardwalks to the beach house (about 500 feet). IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU SCHEDULE THE TAXI AT LEAST TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE GOLF CART RENTAL: Some guests choose to rent a golf cart to explore the interior of the island during their stay. However, a golf cart is not at all necessary since there are no stores of any kind on the island. The only source for golf cart rentals is at 941-815-7554. Please note there is a limited supply available. You can expect to pay about $ 50.00 per day or $ 225.00 or more per week. If you wish