Summary:
Located on a nearly deserted, tropical island, Chateau Le Mer, features four bedrooms, three of which have direct ocean views, two baths with exotic European tile, handmade Persian rugs, fancy stained glass windows and Tiffany style lamps. Access is by private boat or water taxi only, which means our beaches are uncrowded, our fishing is great, our island is unspoiled and your vacation can be exactly what you want it to be. Just steps to the beach!
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.
Full kitchen amenities include a new refrigerator with ice maker, dishwasher, trash compactor, microwave, and water purification system. Rental includes all linens, dishes and utensils, a hammock, and a free dock slip for your boat, and the services of the island concierge. One of the best features of the Chateau is its upstairs sunning porch which overlooks the beach. The two front bedrooms upstairs open to the porch for a very private spot to sunbathe, and enjoy spectacular views of the beach. The upstairs also offers a full bathroom with a large jetted soaking tub, large walk-in shower with European tile and it also has its own air conditioning unit for individualized comfort.
Downstairs, another queen bed (a Craftmatic adjustable bed) also offers gulf views and this bedroom also has a private bathroom with shower. The living room offers leather sofas, his and hers recliners, a large bamboo dining table, leaded glass windows and lamps and two large oversized doors that lead to the screened porch. The porch offers a table for outdoor dining, a sofa for reading and relaxing and two chaise lounges for reading or napping.
*WiFi - included with no data limitations. Speeds adequate for web-browsing, emails, social media, but not games or streaming.
*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.
*Boat Slip - included on dock number 48 (this is also where the water taxi drops you off)
*Complimentary concierge- meets you at the dock with a golf cart to assist with transporting your luggage and groceries to the home
*Satellite TV - yes
*Grill Type - gas
*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
*Extra occupants- Rates are based upon 6 guests. A minimum extra occupant fee of $25/night for each guest over 6 will be applied to the reservation. Groups larger than 6 will be permitted only if the home is being rented by a single family and manager pre-approval is required. Please be aware that occupant restrictions will include all children.
*Extras: The owners include use of two stand up paddle boards with your rental.
Guest Access:
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 water taxi reservations 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:
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.
Other Consideration: Please note this is the tropics and there will be noseeums. (Also known as midges or sand gnats.) Bring bug spray! For noseeums, the best product is Avon Skin-So-Soft.
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 help to the home quickly if you have issues. Our housekeeper lives on the island 10 minutes away and we also have an on-island Guest Services Manager. 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".
