Sea Star: Cozy beachfront cottage, outdoor dining, 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 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.

The ground floor of the house features a deck, with a storage room with beach toys, snorkeling gear, and a surf board. Take advantage of the charcoal grill and table for outdoor dining.

Upstairs is an open concept kitchen, with island seating, and living room looking out sliding glass doors to the 180 degree view of the Gulf of Mexico and 7 miles of white sand beaches. Also on the first 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 tropical, 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 with a trundle perfect for kids or teenagers who want their privacy!

Please note that while there are beds for 7, the upstairs room has virtually no floor space at all with the trundle pulled out, so it would be quite crowded if planning sleeping space upstairs for adults. (The upstairs is more suitable for 2 adults or children only.)

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. The deck also features a hammock and comfortable chaise lounge from which to view the beach. The living room has satellite TV and a dvd player. We have a small selection of dvds and games for your entertainment. Extras with this rental include free use of a dock slip, wi-fi, boogie boards and beach toys...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.

This home features a private boardwalk to the beach and an outdoor shower at the base of the stairs for rinsing off before coming indoors.

Please note that this is an older home, with older appliances and the kitchen and bathrooms have not been updated recently. A word about "budget-friendly" homes: These are our most economical rentals and the rental prices reflect the age of the home. We try to take care of maintenance issues immediately, but our remote location and salt water environment make repairs not only frequent, but more difficult. We ask you to understand the nature of island living and bear with us if repairs are needed. To offset potential inconvenience, we offer a “go with the flow” discount, recognizing that our older homes often have more frequent maintenance issues that might require attention during your stay. Your quote reflects this discounted rate.

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

Complimentary Wi-fi via satellite is provided, but please understand that wi-fi is not for entertainment...you should download movies and books to your i-pad or tablet before arriving. (There is no wired internet on the island.)

Guest Access:
You have access to the entire home, include a storage shed downstairs full of beach toys, boogie boards and noodles. There are beach chairs and an umbrella.

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:
We have a home on the mainland and we try not to be intrusive but we are available if you have problems. Our Guest Services Manager lives on island and is your go-to person for immediate needs. We also have handymen, a housekeeper who is on-island and we can get to the island fairly quickly during the day if you have issues.