OT - looking for vacation rental in the area

bues0022

bues0022

New member
This is a bit off-topic, but I'm hoping you guys can help me out. My wife and I are going to take a vacation to the Tampa area this summer (late July/Early August). We'd like to stay in a condo/rental/time share etc. but the problem is we don't have a clue how to start looking for this. We're also young and both in grad school and don't want to get ripped off and pay too much. We'd like to be on the beach or near it. If there's anyway that it won't cost an arm and a leg, semi-private would be great if possible. (we're basically taking a delayed honeymoon) I've never been to Florida, so I don't know much about where rentals are, how much they cost or anything like that. Do you have any handles on where to go, what it will cost? and most importantly what reef stores to visit! (I'll have to bring everything on a plane though :( ) Any advice or if you have a place or know of a place that would be really great. Thanks for the help!
 
My wife and I are doing the exact same thing bues. I'm going to be scheduling our flight/hotel reservations tomorrow. I did a good amount of researching and we decided to stay here:

http://www.sandpearl.com/

It's not really a time share or anything like that, but I think it will be nice. We are going down on August 14 and returning the 18th. I was visiting this forum to ask a couple questions myself about reef club activities over that time period, great reef stores to visit, and if anyone had some frags to sell.
 
In the past 4 years during the Memorial Day holiday our Faminly has been going to Longboat key and stay at Turtle Crawl Inn. It is on the beach and basically a private beach. This is the Gulf side so much warmer water. There are other beaches along this coast which are great. Siesta Beach is a little further south and has better sand but more public. I have a friend that sent me information about a place in Captiva Island which I will be trying out hopefully later this year, the resort is called Tween-Waters Inn

Price ranges from under $200 a night to water ever you want in some of these places. granted I prefer the gulf side and anything south of Bradenton


Good luck on your vacation

Brian
 
Thanks for the info. I'll start looking this stuff up today. Does anyone else have any suggestions for a first-time Florida visitor?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12826306#post12826306 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bues0022
Thanks for the info. I'll start looking this stuff up today. Does anyone else have any suggestions for a first-time Florida visitor?
Click to expand...

lots of sunscreen for morning/early/mid afternoon blazing sun, umbrellas/bungee cords/life raft for the daily late afternoon "OMG run for your life" intense thunderstorms, and gatorade/water for all day long sweating (IV preferred). and since yer coming down in the middle of hurricane season, a generator isn't a bad idea either :P
 
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eBay

People dump their timeshares dirt cheap - especially summer with high gas prices. I can't even tell you how often we go to the beach for a week and stay at nice places. Often the rooms end up being less than $50 a night. Just check the sellers rating first, and read about any deposits and fees.

My dad actually buys timeshares this way at about 10% of the price it's being sold at the actual condo.
 
So what areas are good to visit? There are lots of places at that vrbo.con site, and I don't know one from the next really. I think we'd like to be around Tampa (that's where we're able to get tickets to fly in to) or south from there. Thoughts?

Acolin- thanks for the heads up! I'm at work right now, but I'll be calling you later for specifics.

A question for those near the ocean....does it matter much to be bay-side vs. ocean side? I'm from the upper midwest, so I don't have a good feel for staying near the ocean. Any tips?
 
Bues,
If you fly into Tampa your closest places to stay are St.Petersburg and Clearwater, now if you go South which is when it usually gets better you have many Bradenton/Sarasota sites. There are many along here and for one day stays/weekend/ or even week stays you have many options. The drive from Tampa Airport to these sites are from 20 minutes to just around an hour or so and many beaches along the way. By all means I haven't been to all the beaches but I have been through most the areas. If you like the night life of clubing then Clearwater and St Pete area may be some better choices. further South like the Bradenton/ Sarasota areas are older type communities, don't get me wrong there are young folks everywhere but these are slower type areas. For me and the family we take the the further drive to the Bradenton/Sarasota areas as apposed to to Clearwater and St.Pete areas.

There are Bed and Breakfast's in those areas, Bradenton/Sarasota, I actually put my parents up in one once just north of Siesta Key and they loved it. I can't for the life of me remember the name but they were right on the beach and they were able to do activities with others or do their own thing when they wanted.

Another angle you could try is call up a rental company and explain what your looking for and they can give more specific information. Many of the rental companies rent all over the coast and not just one beach area.

I have only been to other coast a couple times, Daytona and Miami but I have always like the gulf side. I think the Gulf temp is in the mid to upper 80's right now so it is very pleasant. The Ocean side of course is 10-20 degrees cooler.


On a side note, though I have never been further north in the pan handle is Destin I hear that this area is very nice but again I know nothing abut it really.

Again Good luck
 
I think from talking with my wife, we'd like a slower place rather than clubs and nightlife. I don't even know if it exists, but someplace somewhat private, where we aren't on top of everyone else??? We don't mind going a little further south. What about Sanibel Island, or Captiva Island? Anywhere else more secluded? (that won't cost us an arm and a leg?)
 
july 4th weekend i'll be down on ft myers beach. never have spent time there but hear it's awesome...where i'm staying, sanibel is not far, but will probably go thru there and take a gander.
 
july 4th weekend i'll be down on ft myers beach. never have spent time there but hear it's awesome...where i'm staying, sanibel is not far, but will probably go thru there and take a gander.
 
if you want some real nice secluded beaches id suggest Boca Grande.it is a small island with NO nightlife other than a marina/resturant.loaded with million+dollar homes and nice condos for rent.prices will be high due to its lack of people and....it is the the tarpon capitol of the world.but it is secluded and off the beaten track,kind of a Keys feel with no people,lots of bike riders and golf carts.
 
Here is a personal fav of my family that we have been vacationing the past 3-4 years. South Seas resort on Captiva island is really nice or Sundial resort on Sanibel island. Sundial is a little more resonably priced.
 
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