Knee Deep Beachhouse: Direct beachfront with the best views on the island!

Summary:
This family-friendly beach house is located in one of the best spots on Little Gasparilla Island. Now pet friendly as well! No trudging over hot sand or dragging your beach chairs down a long boardwalk....the beach is literally your front yard! Knee Deep is located on an island with no bridge. So leave your car and cares behind at the marina! There are no stores, restaurants, or crowds. Escape to paradise right on the gulf!

The Space:
Knee Deep is back! After three years of renovations, it is back on the rental market and ready to welcome guests to its fantastic "right on the water" location.

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.

The house was recently remodeled with a brand new septic system, new stairs, new roof, new appliances, new AC system, new flooring, all new beds and bedding, new furnishings and decorative items. This face lift means that not only are you as close as possible to the beach, but you are enjoying it in style! You are literally "knee deep" in the beachfront lifestyle when you vacation at KneeDeep Beach House! Note that the downstairs deck under the house was removed for renovations and will not be replaced for at least a year.

The home is comfortable and well appointed, with an open kitchen, dining and living area so everyone can enjoy each other's company after a day at the beach while enjoying the fabulous view. The breakfast bar seats 4 and the dining table overlooking the ocean seats six. Even the kitchen has dramatic ocean views....cooking every day is not so bad when you have views of the Gulf of Mexico!

From the front porch and the living room, you feel as though you are on the deck of an ocean liner, as your only views are of the Gulf of Mexico.....beautiful azure water. Some days the water is turquoise, other days a deep, brilliant dark blue....every day it is ever-changing, and on display for you to enjoy!

The master bedroom has beautiful ocean views as well, with sliding doors that open to the front porch. It has a king bed. The master bath has twin sinks, a large linen closet, a shower and a soaking tub.

The second bedroom is adjacent to the master and has a twin and a set of bunkbeds.. The third bedroom is on the opposite side of the house with a queen size bed. So you effectively have two master suites if coming with two couples. The second bathroom also has double sinks and it has a shower that can be accessed when you return from the beach so you can rinse off without tracking sand into the house. A large utility room has a full-size washer and dryer.

The house is well stocked with all pots and pans, basic pantry items, and all linens including beach towels. Our game closet will provide hours of entertainment for the rare rainy day. And the home has both satellite wi-fi and a 60" Smart TV.

Please understand that wi-fi may not be ideal for entertainment...you should probably download movies and books to your i-pad or tablet before arriving and speeds may not be adequate for gaming. (There is no wired internet on the island.) We offer the services of our island concierge who will meet you at the dock upon arrival and help transport luggage and groceries to the house for you.

WiFi - satellite
Pet Policy - pet-friendly with $100 non-refundable fee per pet. The following breeds are NOT permitted: Akita, American Bull Dog, Beaucerons, Caucasian Mountain Dog, Chow Chow, Doberman Pinchers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Keeshounds, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terriers, Presa Canarios or Rottweilers.
Vacation Rental 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.
Minimum Renter Age - 25
Dock slip - included on dock 26 (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
Coffee Maker- Keurig
Parking - Paid parking at Eldred's Marina where you meet the boat taxi
Holiday surcharges- applied for reservations for Independence Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day,Thanksgiving, and Christmas/New Years timeframes. PLEASE NOTE THAT MINIMUM NIGHTLY STAYS MAY BE INCREASED FOR THESE DATES AS WELL.

Guest Access:
You have access to the entire home.

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:
The only access to the island is via water taxi: Pirate's Water Taxi, Englewood. You must make a reservation at least a week in advance. The water taxi runs roughly 8-5 on demand, and will run early in the morning or after dark but it is much more expensive. IF you make your booking at the last minute, contact Capt. Emmett immediately and let him know you are a last minute booking. Water taxi fare to the island is $10 per person each way. (cash only...there is an ATM at the marina.) You park your vehicle at Eldred's Marina at the Boca Grande Causeway. Be sure to pay for parking and display your parking pass in the windshield of your vehicle before boarding the water taxi!

Other Things to Note:
There are no restaurants or grocery stores on Little Gasparilla Island....all groceries must be brought to the island with you on the water taxi. The water taxi requests a reservation about a week in advance for your initial arrival. Last minute reservations are challenging... but not impossible. You should contact Pirates Water Taxi for reservations to get to the island immediately upon making your booking.

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.

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 have a home on the island, and another home on the mainland 10 minutes away. 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 housekeeper 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".