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Sea Star: Newly renovated cozy beachfront cottage, view dolphins from the porch!

Photo gallery for Sea Star: Newly renovated cozy beachfront cottage, view dolphins from the porch!

Exterior
Beach
Beach
Outdoor dining
Exterior

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 7

Popular amenities

  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Balcony

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

3 Twin Beds

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony

About this property

Sea Star: Newly renovated cozy beachfront cottage, view dolphins from the porch!

Summary:

Leave your car and your cares at the marina because Little Gasparilla is accessible only by water taxi! That means our beaches are uncrowded and tourists and traffic are just a mainland memory. If you are looking for a quiet tropical island to relax and unplug, Little Gasparilla is your dream vacation spot. Our "nightlife" consists of giant sea turtles laying their eggs -- our only bar is the sand bar where you can find sand dollars and shells!



The Space:

Please note that Little Gasparilla Island is a barrier island accessible only by boat; we provide water taxi information when you book. You cannot drive your vehicle to the island; you park at the marina on the mainland where you catch the water taxi. There are no stores, bars or restaurants on Little Gasparilla which means it has retained much of its "old Florida" ambiance and pristine beauty. For years Little Gasparilla was visited only by locals who would come on weekends to fish, go to the beach and enjoy the privacy, peace and quiet. Now, even though it has been discovered, the lack of commercial establishments means that the island appeals to those who want to get away from crowds, tourists, traffic and technology.



Sea Star Beach House is a newly renovated 3-bedroom home located directly on the beach. Enjoy days on the beautiful beach, swimming in warm gulf waters and evenings watching the sunset across sweeping views of the horizon.



An open concept kitchen, with island seating, and living room looks out sliding glass doors to the 180 degree view of the Gulf of Mexico and 7 miles of white sand beaches. Also on the main floor is the master bedroom; with a king bed, half-bath and sliding door access to the front deck facing the beach and ocean. You can fall asleep to the sound of the waves. There is also a second bedroom on this floor with a queen size bed as well as the main bathroom. The home features fresh new beachy decor, and the Gulf views are among the best on the island!



On the second floor of the home, accessed by a spiral staircase, there are two twins perfect for kids or teenagers who want their privacy!



The kitchen features a stove, trash compactor, and full size refrigerator. (NOTE: there is no dishwasher.) The kitchen is fully stocked for any type of food preparation you want to make. The home also has a full size washer and dryer.



There is a small dining table in the living area (seats 4) and there is also a 6-person dining table on the screened-in porch. Extras with this rental include free use of a dock slip, wi-fi...and the services of our island concierge who will meet you at the dock and help transport luggage and groceries to the house for you.



WiFi - Included.



Pet Policy - pet-friendly with $100 non-refundable fee (per pet)



Minimum Renter Age - 25



Damage Protection - The $59 charge listed as a "management fee" on your quote covers your purchase of $2500 of “all risk” damage protection coverage on your rental property. This protection is purchased in lieu of a cash damage deposit. Coverage details are spelled out in your contract.



Dock slip - included on dock 48 (this is also where the water taxi drops you off)



Complimentary Concierge- will meet you at the dock with a golf cart to assist with transporting your luggage and groceries to the home



Satellite TV - yes



Grill Type - charcoal



Coffe maker- Drip (filters provided)



Parking - $9/night ($11/night if you have a boat trailer) at Eldred's Marina where you meet the boat taxi



Getting Around:

Access to the island is by water taxi only. They prefer a reservation a week in advance but of course can be flexible if you book last minute. It costs more very early in the morning or after dark to please try to plan your trips for daylight hours. You can bring your dogs and your groceries on the water taxi with you. Please understand this is NOT a ferry; you cannot drive your vehicle to the house. As you are driving to the area, DO NOT be confused by the sign for the Palm Island ferry....that goes to a DIFFERENT ISLAND!



Other Things to Note:

Please evaluate your expectations before booking a stay on Little Gasparilla Island. If you are expecting a polished "resort" atmosphere, Little Gasparilla is decidedly more rustic. During periods of heavy rain or tropical storms, there may be standing water on the roadways, at the dock and around the house. This is a tropical environment with mosquitos, rust, power outages and other minor inconveniences. If you are expecting resort amenities and services, the island might not be for you.



HOLIDAY RATES: Please note that all there will be holiday rates applied to quotes for Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.



PLEASE NOTE: We do require that two members of each group must be over 25 years of age. We apologize, but we can NOT rent to college groups as a courtesy to the homeowners and our island neighbors. Guests will be evicted if found not to meet age requirements upon check in. Additionally, we can not exceed capacity in island homes due to the fragile septic systems.



Interaction with Guests:

Our Guest Services Manager lives on island and is your go-to person for immediate needs.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

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About the neighborhood

Placida

Placida is home to this vacation home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Venice Beach and Englewood Beach, while Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum and Lemon Bay Playhouse are cultural highlights.
View more Vacation Homes in PlacidaOpens in a new window
Map
Placida, FL

What's nearby

  • Little Gasparilla Island Beach - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Don Pedro Island State Park - 18 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Boca Grande Beach - 42 min drive - 15.6 km
  • Gasparilla Island State Park - 43 min drive - 16.7 km
  • Englewood Beach - 51 min drive - 26.2 km

Getting around

  • Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) - 70 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Steamers Oyster Bar - ‬37 min drive
  • ‪Cool Pickle In Paradise - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪The Lighthouse Grill - ‬37 min drive
  • ‪Rotonda Elks - ‬37 min drive
  • ‪The Pink Elephant - ‬39 min drive

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 15 out of 26 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 26 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 26 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 26 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 26 reviews

6.8/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

7.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

2/10 Terrible

Michelle M.

Liked: Communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Listing does not specify on a private island. Isolated and tricky to get to

Below average
Stayed 6 nights in May 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 31, 2020
We are so sorry that you found your stay less than ideal. But the very first line of our listing does indeed specify that we are an island accessible only by boat. The listing is very clear that Little Gasparilla is a bridgeless barrier island...this is also spelled out clearly in our contract, which you signed, and it is part of the stipulation that you must agree to prior to booking....that you understand that the home is on an island and is only accessible by boat. OF COURSE it is isolated and tricky to get to...that is the point of a bridge-less barrier island! No crowds, no traffic, no tourists. I think it is somewhat unfair to grace this lovely beachfront home with a very negative review simply because you failed to read the property description, your signed contract or ANY of the information we provided to you. Again, we are sorry that you did not enjoy the rare peace and tranquility of our island.
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Maryann L.

Perfect Location for a Peaceful Getaway

You couldn’t ask for a better location for a perfect beach location. We especially loved the screened in porch. However it seems that the owners don’t spend any money to spruce up the place regularly. It definitely needs new carpets and floors, paint, bedding and decorations from this century. It would not take a lot to make this place more fresh and appealing to renters. We did of course have a wonderful time.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2018
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 31, 2020
I am glad you had a wonderful time and enjoyed the island. We appreciate your constructive comments. However, the owners DO spend money on their home, but perhaps not in ways that might be easily evident. The entire home was repainted last Fall....there are new bed linens and new curtains in the master bedroom...there is a new flat screen TV, there is a brand new fully enclosed outdoor shower that was just completed, there is a new trash compactor, they have made repairs to the downstairs deck and -- following Hurricane Irma last fall -- they spent several THOUSAND of dollars making repairs to the siding. New bedroom flooring and new furniture is next on their list, but the maintenance on the island is continual and on-going...so you can always find SOMETHING that is not perfect if you try hard enough! The owners are prioritizing the maintenance items and the upgrades and are making improvements in between rentals. We are glad that you had a wonderful time!
Verified

8/10 Good

April H.

Wonderful location. Perfect layout for my family. Owners could put some work into upkeep

Housekeeping did a poor job with cleaning before we arrived. And we were a bit disappointed that the tv in the master didn’t work and the living room tv only got a couple channels. We like to watch tv late at night. Also, some lights were not working in the kitchen, there was an odd smell in the main bathroom, and the screens in the porch need to be fixed. On the positive, the longer we stayed, the more we grew to love the house. We loved the privacy, the space and the views. Terry from guest services was helpful. We saw dolphins from the porch and loved the outdoor shower. It was used often, since it got hot and the house shower didn’t. Grateful to have that option. We plan to return to the island and absolutely loved our stay. Some TLC put into the house would make it a perfect place to stay time and time again!!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 31, 2020
We are sorry that the house did not live up to your expectations. During the extremely busy months of March and April, the house is rented almost constantly, so there is little time between guests to take care of routine maintenance. However, kitchen lights have been repaired, the TV is working fine but has a limited programming package, and the porch screens have been repaired. We also repaired the mixing valve in the shower. We did not notice any "odd smell" in the bathroom when the house was checked...either before your arrival or following your departure. We are just sorry that you arrived at a time when we had not been able to catch up with routine maintenance. Hopefully the lovely weather, beautiful beach views and perfect beachfront location helped make up for a less than perfect cottage.
Verified

6/10 Okay

Scott K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Disliked: Listing accuracy

On the other hand.....

Overall, we enjoyed our visit to the Sea Star Beach House on Little Gasparilla Island. But, while there were many things we enjoyed about the stay, we also seems to come up with some "on the other hand" reasons why we did not enjoy our stay. Firstly, the outside picture is not accurate. They are buildling a home on the south side of the property and construction was ongoing from 7:45 a.,m. to around 3:30 p.m. each day. It was loud enough to wake the family and disturbe the tranquil island setting we'd envisioned, as the new building is going up within spitting distance of the Sea Star house. On the north side of the property, there was a rowdy group staying at that adjacent property and we had to go out after 1am one night and 11pm the 2nd night to ask them to move their party inside (there is no security or police on the island). So, we were woken up both late and early, which honestly made for an unrestful vacation. I'm not sure the Sea Star management had much control over these variables, but you might want to inquire about what is going on with your neighbors prior to scheduling. We have stayed at six beach houses on the west and east coasts of Florida over the past many years. We stayed at the property in mid-July and this area had the worst mosquito and biting fly problem we've experienced compared to any of the other summer beach houses. Each time we would go out, each person would come back with 2 or 3 big whelts from these insects. We sprayed insect repellant, both the Deep Woods and Skin-So-Soft varieties, but it honestly did very little to abate the bites. Perhaps not visiting during the summer rainy season would be better, as far as insects irritations go. Property was clean and provisioned well with pots, pans, plates, etc. (although the fabric on the furniture could use a good cleaning). There are plenty of condiments and Brita water filters in the fridge. We left a lot of our groceries behind so we would not have to cart them off the island & others had done the same. Management is great at resolving any issues and helping logistically with getting on and off the island, if needed. Can't see enough about how pleased we were with them.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 31, 2020
We are sorry that you were unable to fully enjoy your stay at Sea Star. We have had many complaints about the house under construction. Quite frankly, it was supposed to be finished last December....then a completion date of March was given. In late July, they are still working on it. We really had no idea that there would still be construction ongoing at this late date. We envisioned that worst case scenario, they might be doing less intrusive finish work indoors --but that is not the case. Delays with both the barge and back-ordered materials apparently were the culprit. No one is more upset than the owners about the delay. We have spoken to the builder and asked him to delay starting until later in the morning....to no avail. So at this point, all we can hope is that it is finished soon! As for bugs.....because we are not a municipality, we often get overlooked with mosquito control. Residents actually have to call the county and ask them come out and spray. They used to do aerial spraying, but it harms the estuaries and the delicate marine life....so the only option is ground spraying which is a more ecological approach -- but not as effective. Some people are much more sensitive to insect bites than others, and I am truly sorry that you found them so bothersome. (We do include insect repellant wipes in our welcome package for just this reason.) We appreciate your positive comments about our staff and we are glad that we could help make your stay as pleasant as possible under the circumstances.
Archival

8/10 Good

Laura S.

Wish I could give it 3 1/2 stars, actually, but I'm am optimist

We stayed here, my husband and I and 3 children. The owners were very accommodating, as far as adding on additional time to our stay, etc. The location was great. Let me say that a map, when arriving, would have been extremely helpful. We got off the water taxi and had absolutely no clue how to walk to the house, but luckily there was a friendly man who owned a place near the dock and was able to help us determine where we needed to go. If it wasn't for him, we would have been lost! We rented a boat while we were there and the owners were very helpful with lots of information to help us get that all set before our stay. It was great to have the boat so that we weren't trapped there or forced to pay the water taxi whenever we needed to go somewhere for food or toilet paper even! There is absolutely nothing on the island to buy other than ice, from what I could tell! There was a shipwrecked sailboat right in front of the unit. I'm not sure how long it had been there. It was kind of cool that it was there and was kind of neat to be able to take pictures of, etc. It was quite a tourist attraction. I think if it wasn't for the shipwrecked sailboat that we wouldn't have had nearly as many people in front of the house as we did. Additionally, it was nice that people did leave some canned goods, etc., in the pantry. That helped from time to time in a pinch. One thing that wasn't so wonderful is that the furniture on the deck, the hammock and the cushions for the lounge chairs, etc., were extremely dirty. We actually washed them and, thanks to us, whoever came after us didn't have to worry about it. I think that could use a lot more attention. When they say that you'll be responsible for your own garbage, wow, that's for sure! As I said, luckily we had the boat we rented to take our garbage away ourselves, but it was something like $15 a big bag full just to have someone else take our garbage for us. We were able to avoid that expense. The kayak that was there my daughter was excited to use and then once she got out into the water the makeshift fix to the hole gave way and luckily a neighbor and my husband ran out to save her from dying. I think there could be a little more caution with that. All that having been said, you will either hate it on the island or love it. I personally loved being secluded, while my husband kind of didn't like that part about it a whole lot. Be ready when you get there!!
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 31, 2020
I am so sorry that you did not use our concierge service! We provide this complimentary service so that you don't have to wander around looking for for the house. But you DO need to contact him with your arrival time so that he knows when to meet you at the dock. And, we do also provide detailed directions to the house in your Arrival Letter which is sent a couple weeks prior to your check-in date. Trash removal on the island is an on-going issue but until Charlotte County decides to offer trash pick-up, the options are limited. We hate to ask our guests to take it back to the marina but sometimes that is the only option. Some people prefer to pay more to have it hauled away; others prefer to take it to the marina themselves. That is just one of the things we deal with on a barrier island....but we think the island offers a lot of benefits that make up for not having weekly trash removal! As you say, the island is not for everyone but we think the inconveniences are outweighed by the unique aspects of island living!
Verified

8/10 Good

Mark C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful place

We really enjoyed our stay.....but had a few issues, but they were taken care of. The HVAC filter was absolutely beyond it's lifetime...... causing the unit to struggle, but Terry got us a filter quickly. The boardwalk needs replaced, and almost caused a major accident, but thankfully my Father in law is okay. And someone came out to fix the part that fell in. But it still needs work. Overall it was a beautiful and peaceful stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marybeth S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing view

Description is accurate - comfortable, great views. We very much enjoyed our stay at Sea Star.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Laurie A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ultimate beach getaway

Takes a little effort, but well worth it. Access limited to boat only means uncrowded paradise for making memories!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 7, 2020
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. We think the isolation is part of the charm!
Verified

6/10 Okay

Jessica R.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beach and location was amazing! House needs help

The location and beach is always amazing. This is our 4th time here. House is so out dated it didn’t seem clean. We mopped again within four 2nd day there but it didn’t get any cleaner, lots of lights burnt out, furniture outdated, child burnt chin on lamp upstairs because there was no shade. Towel holder in shower wouldn’t stay in, and poor cookware. Other than that we were in the beach and that all that mattered.
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Jane H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent location!

What a great spot! Very dog friendly!
Stayed 13 nights in Dec 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Terry T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous beachfront location!

We loved the location, the views, the front porch and the peace and quiet. The island is a magic spot for a family vacation and it is so convenient to just be able to walk a few steps down the boardwalk to the beach. There IS a house under construction next door, but we did not find it offensive. Beds were comfortable, house was clean, and when we go to the beach, that's about all we care about! Furniture was older, but comfortable, and nothing beats sitting on the screened porch listening to the waves! We were not disappointed!
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location

Vacation at SeaStar lil gasparilla island

The house overall is charming. It had beautiful views of the ocean from inside the living room, kitchen and main bedroom. It was very clean inside the home upon arrival. The ocean and sunsets were gorgeous and we enjoyed it immensely. We enjoyed being able to go back and forth to the beach effortlessly multiple times during the day. The difficulty of getting to the island when staying 7 nights with all your belonging's and food is a lot unless you have your own boat. The water taxi will not help you carry your luggage to the boat. So you have to carry it yourself down the ramp. They will only help you to lift it onto the boat. When you have kids and a pet with your groceries and luggage that is a lot. Then the grounds of the property were not properly maintained. The sand under the house was black, the hammock and grass not taken care of. The advertisement stated that there were Kayaks on the property for use as well as a ton of beach toys. There were no Kayaks on the property and when we inquired we were told that we could rent them. The other beach toys which included mostly buckets and tiny shovels were old and unkept. There were a couple of half inflated water rafts and snorkeling equipment hanging in the shed that had caked on sand, salt water. They did have a beach umbrella which was very old but functional. They also failed to mention to us that there was construction going on next door every day m-f. Even though the workers were considerate these conditions should not demand top dollar. The outside furniture was very comfortable although we did notice what looked to be like mold on one of the pillows which had a pillow covering. The property manager did also let us leave our garbage to be picked up the next day which was a Saturday. Which is a plus since you have to remove the garbage yourself upon departure if you leave before Saturday. Overall we did enjoy our vacation just a few things as mentioned would have made it better. Thank you.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 31, 2020
I am glad you enjoyed the house but sorry that you encountered some issues. First of all, no where in our listing do we offer kayaks or say that they are on the property. I am sorry if you misunderstood....we have a kayak rental service on the island, but we never promised free kayaks on the property. Beach toys are sort of catch as catch can on the island....what is available varies depending on what previous guests leave. To avoid disappointment, we offer a wide range of beach toys, from goggles and inflatable rafts to sand toys and boogie boards. These are described in the literature left in the house for you. And, I am sorry that the water taxi was not more helpful with your luggage. They get you to the dock safely. but they do not routinely carry your luggage for you. That is why we offer a concierge who will pick you up and the dock and take you back for departure IF you contact him and make a reservation. All in all, I am sorry that a few misunderstandings impacted your stay.
Verified

4/10 Poor

Patricia p.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Very disappointed

The online pictures of the property were completely misleading. Many things were broken railings, screens, furniture, owners closet was open the lock had been broken and we had children and there was alcohol in there. We called so they did not think we had broken it. The shower had no hot water, there was so much food left in the unit there was hardly room to put our supplies. Exposed outdoor plugs. So Much growth (weeds) around fire pit (which was a very full rusted out barrel). The bathroom you could not get out the door going to the outside because it is blocked by a palmetto trees. Based on the pictures is why we booked this place. There is also a house under construction (which I know they have no control over) but we were not made aware of ) and they working on it at 7:30 and 8:00 AM. These are just a few of the problems. We did take photos so we could make the property manager aware. I did talk with the property manager and she told me thank you for bringing it to her attention and she would make the owner aware of the problems. I know this a is a barrier Island and getting things done is much harder, but this was my third trip to the Island and never had problems. We felt very duped based on the listing. It was Overpriced for the condition of the property even though it is on the beach. There is no way you could tell if we damaged anything because it was so damaged before. However we did not let it ruin our vacation we enjoyed the Island so much. I would not recommend this listing at this time
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 31, 2020
Thank you for your comments. We are terribly sorry that you did not enjoy your stay and found so much wrong with the home. The home was checked thoroughly following your stay, and we found no broken railings, no broken furniture and no broken screens. We also checked the shower and there was warm water -- but not super hot water. A plumber was called immediately and the shower valve has since been replaced. (However, there was another shower that had very hot water so you were not without hot water during your stay.) I am also not sure what you meant about food left...there are condiments left in the refrigerator and spices in the cupboard, but there are very few food items in the home. (Because of our remote location, we do tend to leave unopened canned goods, spices, etc. in the house for use by other guests.) As for the owner's closet, the home recently had new flooring installed, and the lock was removed to facilitate installation of the flooring inside that closet. We apologize that the closet was not relocked prior to your arrival. There is a burn barrel in the front yard that is used for burning yard debris, but it is not a "fire pit" for guest's use and was not advertised as such..( It is for use by the owners and the yard crew only.) We do have several properties that are much newer and have more updated amenities and you might have been happier in a newer, more modern home. We are very sorry that this property was not a good fit for your family.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gale F.

Relaxing island vibe

My friends and I had a wonderful 5 day stay. The home was clean and comfortable. We had everything we needed. The locals were very friendly and welcoming. The beach was beautiful I love the natural feel of the island We will be back.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Jon G.

Location, Location, Location

We enjoyed our one week stay at the Sea Star Beach House on Little Gasparilla Island. It was wonderful to come down the steps from the screened in front porch and walk out to the beach. We enjoyed the use of the Adirondack chairs to see the awesome sunsets each night. Since the master bedroom connects to the front porch by a slider we did not hesitate to come out to watch the moon over the water in the middle of the night. The bedrooms had very supportive and comfortable mattresses. The upstairs loft is more suitable for young children than adults but that met our needs with two grandkids who enjoyed it. The interior may be a bit dated for some but that did not bother us as the house had all the comforts that we desired. We certainly enjoyed our stay on Little Gasparilla Island. A magical place.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

Perfect vacation spot

Enjoyed the proximity to the beach.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dawn M.

Great place, upstairs only good for younger people.

Loved the cottage on the beach. House needed touch up cleaning but overall very nice.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Natalie P.

Very clean and welcoming

With beach front property you can't go wrong! Lovely porch with a hammock. Lots of meals eaten out on the porch with the ocean as our backdrop. The kids loved the spiral stair case. Just feet from the beach.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Susan H.

We only stayed one night at the Seastar beach house.

We were scheduled to spend five nights at the Seastar Beachhouse. However the master shower was not working. So Mr. and Mrs. Gaines offered us the hibiscus house. This house was amazing. The stay on the island was everything we hoped it would be. Everyone was so friendly and the beach was beautiful. The seashells were amazing. We actually saw a group of manatee. I would like to thank Mr and Mrs. Gaines for being so hospitable and seeing to out every need. The hibiscus beach house was so clean and comfortable. It was so well-stocked. If you truly want to get away from it all and feel like you're the only people on the island then I suggest you visit here. I only hope the island does not sustain damage from the hurricane Irma that is approaching. And I hope the people that are electing to stay there with the hurricane approaching remain safe. We had beautiful weather the entire time. Phillip and Susan from Roanoke Virginia
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

The Perfect Getaway

We sought a place of beauty and quiet to celebrate our 30th anniversary and were very excited to find LGI. We planned meals carefully with the thought that we might not want to return to the mainland until we had to depart, which turned out to be the case. There are only two things to do on LGI: relax and watch sunset - and that's exactly what we did for the entire week. We saw dolphins, a small ray, and about 85 billion shells; a manatee swam close enough to touch...about 15 feet from shore! The darkness is stunning as are the stars that seek to break it. The Sea Star house was perfect for us - the decor was charming, the beds comfortable, and the kitchen well-equipped. It would have been great to kayak had the house still had it, but there are ways to rent. If we could offer one suggestion it would be that the porch would be a perfect place for a couple of ceiling fans. In the end, we were disappointed only that we did have to return to real life from this magical place. We find ourselves slightly torn - we want to urge friends and family to experience the island, but it also feels like something to keep secret.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Denise G.

lovely cottage that feels like home

This is an excellent cottage to rent, that had all the space and comforts of home. We loved the screened in porch, it had lots of room for us to enjoy in the evenings. We had perfect weather that added to a great vacation. I would definitely rent this cottage again, thanks for the wonderful accommodations.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Abbey A.

Spectacular Family Time

Thank you Laurie and especially you Tracy for making our family vacation an absolute joy to remember for years to come. We arrived after a hurricane and a majority of the island was flooded, yet we still had no trouble getting to Seastar. It was close to the docks and the complimentary concierge service, Bret's golf cart taxi was superb and a real treat considering we were ready to relax and tired of lugging our belongings. Bret helped us out for several days while the golf cart rentals were closed due to the storm, getting family and friends around the island. We tipped him extremely well.  The Seastar house was beautiful and had everything we could want or need. Cooking utensils were well stocked and conveniently placed for indoor and outdoor cooking. When they say there are beach toys, they weren’t kidding. There were fishing poles, 5 boogie boards, sun umbrellas, beach chairs and numerous sand castle toys- the kids were in heaven! Considering we had two families in the home and children under the age of 5, the house had plenty of space. We didn't even use the third bedroom located upstairs, but it does seem like the perfect little getaway for older children. I don’t know of a more relaxing setting. We woke up looking at the beach, played all day and eat dinner on the patio watching the sunset. And I must say for as calm as the beach was most of the week, a day or two of waves after the storm was quite fun and then the rest of the week was so calm that our toddler felt comfortable entering the water independently (supervised of course). To management, I feel like we are friends- you were just so good to us. Thank you for going above and beyond, especially when it came to the storm and making sure we were safe, even if that meant modifying our travel dates. I knew at that very moment we were in good hands and your biggest concern was to make sure we had an amazing trip. Also, thank you for allowing us to venture over to your personal cottage and borrow things that we forgot to bring. Anytime we had a question, you were right there responding to texts within minutes and you never seemed to be bothered by it. Thank you for the wonderful hospitality. We will undoubtedly be back next year, and every year thereafter.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Kim E.

Perfect location, nice house!!!

This was a practically last minute booking during Spring Break..... What a find!! Our party consisted of 2 adults, 2 teenagers, and 2 small children (4 & 5). We had stayed on LGI twice before, once inland and once on the bay. This was our first ocean front rental. With 4 children - this was the way to go. We were able to spend as much time on the beach swimming, fishing, shelling, relaxing as we wanted - while knowing our children could walk back to the at house anytime. We did rent a golf cart for the week, as we like to explore at times. If you have never been to LGI it is a great way to tour the island. Every single time we have been we have met the most AMAZING people. What a wonderful get away to just get in touch with nature and yourself. We did have one issue - upon arrival we noticed the washing machine was full of water and not operational at all. One call to the property managers solved that within 24 hours. Pretty good for an island inaccessible by anything other than boats! Also - I love that concierge and trash removal is included with this particular property manager. Amazing experience. Do not hesitate to stay at Sea Star!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

The most beautiful beaches ever!!! Cute house, beautiful sunsets, we will be back again

Little Gaspirella Island is quite the gem - we brought our flats boat saw lots of porpoise, stunning sunsets - Beach was beautiful , people super friendly - perfect for families and their dogs. Loved our family vacation and we WILL be back-
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Doris M.

Perfect place to get away from the stressful lives we live!

My family and I discovered Little Gasparilla about 9 years ago and we can't find anywhere that compares to its beauty and serenity We've stayed at a different home each time because that's part of the fun to us. I have to say that Sea Star is at the top of our list! It was so clean and the kitchen has EVERYTHING you need! We loved the little room at the top. Me and my grandchildren would lay there at night looking at the stars talking. You only have neighbors on one side of you but they were very nice and quiet. We ate all of our meals outside watching the incredible sunsets. The view from the Sea Star is beautiful. I found lots of sharks teeth too. If you can rent a boat it makes it so much easier since you have your own boat dock. Make sure you visit Cayo Casta State Park if you enjoy shelling! The one thing that I would suggest to make the Sea Star even better would be ceiling fans on the screened porch. Laurie was great to work with and I have NO complaints. We will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2016
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