Sand Dollar Cottage: Cozy"Old-Florida" beachfront cottage with private dock!

Summary:
This charming "old Florida" cottage offers a glimpse of what a vacation at the beach used to mean before theme parks, high rises and bars took over Florida's beaches. Access is by private boat or water taxi only, which means our beaches are uncrowded, our fishing is great, and our island is unspoiled. Stroll the sandy pathways to the beach, enjoy evening meals watching the sunset over the Gulf, and head down to the private dock for some evening fishing.

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.

This family-friendly cottage is cozy and rustic with knotty pine paneling that is both warm and welcoming. It has been newly renovated to update the amenities while retaining the charm of the original paneling and hardwood floors. The kitchen has been updated with new cabinets and countertops, an island work space/indoor dining area, and all new appliances, including a dishwasher. There are two comfortable bedrooms upstairs, one with a king bed and a second with two twin beds so the home sleeps four on the main floor comfortably. There is also a very private bedroom downstairs with a king bed and another TV. Sand Dollar is also pet friendly so all family members can enjoy a beach getaway! There is one newly renovated bath upstairs with a walk in shower and a newly renovated half-bath downstairs adjacent to the downstairs bedroom. There is also a downstairs outdoor shower perfect for rinsing off after boating or an afternoon at the beach. The porch has a locking gate to secure small children.

The living room has a comfortable seating area and flat screen TV and there is free wi-fi available if you need to stay connected or watch your favorite Netflix movie. But the real living area is the front porch with its new decking and railings, outdoor dining, comfortable seating area, and outstanding view of the Gulf of Mexico. You will want to spend all your time on the front porch just drinking in the view. You have a front-row seat for the nightly LGI sunset!

The owners have provided three kayaks -- two singles and one tandem -- so you can explore the bay or the sand bar up close.

There is also an open air porch on the south side of the house, perfect for grilling and relaxing in the sunshine during cooler winter months.

You will find the Sand Dollar Cottage a simple and unpretentious cottage for an absolutely perfect beach vacation!

WiFi - available via Starlink with no data limitations

Kayaks- two single kayaks and one tandem kayak available (waiver signature required)

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.

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

Minimum Renter Age - 25

Private dock - dock number 130 included in your rental (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 - not available, but there is excellent wi-fi

Grill Type - charcoal

Coffee- Drip (filters provided)

Parking - $8/night ($10/night if you have a boat trailer) at Eldred's Marina where you meet the boat taxi

The Neighborhood:
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!

Getting Around:
You park your vehicle at Eldred's Marina on the Boca Grande Causeway. Parking is $8 a day, $10 if you have a boat trailer. There you catch Pirate's Water Taxi which will drop you right at the dock where our concierge will meet you with his golf cart and take you and your luggage and groceries to the house.

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.

INTERNET: There is no wired internet service on the island but Sand Dollar offers cellular wi-fi. Just keep in mind that it is NOT the internet you are used to on the mainland. (It is especially helpful to remind kids and teenagers who are used to higher speeds!) We usually suggest that people download books and movies to their tablets or e-readers BEFORE coming to the island.


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:
We value your privacy so we will not bother you or be intrusive, but we can get to the home quickly if you have issues. Our Guest Services Manager lives on the island 10 minutes away and we have a local handyman that we can send out if there are maintenance issues. Please note, however, that the handyman is subject to the same problems getting to the island that you were. If something breaks after 4 PM chances are almost 100% that it will not be repaired until the following day. This is a remote barrier island and our mantra is "go with the flow".