We reserved the Pelican House at Manasota Beach Club months in advance for our 20th wedding…read moreanniversary. Leading up to the trip, we made repeated efforts to communicate with the property about details and amenities. At one point, we were told their system had been hacked and that we should not accept emails from them for a period of time. Then, shortly before our trip, we received what they described as an "app," which appeared incomplete and contained little to no useful information. Taken together, the communication issues raised concerns early on. The day before our cross-country flight, we received a call from Charles, who identified himself as the head sales manager and said he was "the boss" when asked about a supervisor. He informed us that the Pelican House was no longer available due to a reported bedbug issue. Regardless of the reason, the timing left us with virtually no ability to make alternative plans. The replacement options offered were, in our view, not comparable. We specifically chose this property for a quiet, intimate beachfront experience with access to amenities like kayaks, canoes, and bikes. The suggested alternatives were larger, more traditional resort-style properties without the same privacy, beach access, or features we had planned around. While these were described as "nicer," the focus was on things like interior finishes rather than the experience we had intentionally booked. What made this especially difficult is that just the day before, we had conversations with staff where we shared that this trip was for our 20th anniversary during a period of repeated family tragedies. At that time, the tone was empathetic and understanding. However, once the cancellation was communicated, that empathy disappeared. The interaction shifted to a rigid, take-it-or-leave-it approach with no meaningful acknowledgment of the impact. We were given two options: accept a replacement that did not meet our needs or take a refund at the last minute--leaving us with non-refundable flights, a car rental, and no place to stay. There was no effort to provide a comparable solution or to help mitigate the disruption. After the call, I attempted to reach Charles again, but did not receive a return call. My wife later received an automated refund email. When I contacted Susan, the house manager, to confirm what had happened, the response was brief and, in our view, lacked empathy--stating only that they "couldn't risk it" because of bedbugs. From our perspective, this experience was deeply disruptive and disappointing. It left us with significant unexpected costs, no accommodations, and a milestone anniversary trip that had been planned for months effectively undone at the last minute.

If you are looking for an "Old Florida Experience", historic, rustic, charming, classic vintage,…read moreand serene, this is your place. It is NOT a modern beach side 5 star hotel experience but is a wonderful good for the soul hideaway that is working diligently on hurricane recovery. Conveniently located on Manasota Key Beach Road it is in a quiet stretch of private homes away from the Public Beach but within 5 miles of multiple Tiki Bars & 2 upscale restaurants. 1960's-70's accommodations (Owl Building) that open to a semi private beachside deck are a blast to the past. They are obviously still recovering from devastating hurricane damage but are clean, comfortable, full of vintage furniture, reading materials and a flat screen Roku TV. Free WiFi is available. Beachside they have lots of shared toys, chairs, Paddleboards and shell/shark tooth hunting scoops. Be sure to bring water shoes, diving masks & snorkels as the hurricane has uncovered lots of large rocks and debris making it more of a beach entry reef dive than a swimming beach. The abundance of fish varieties is astounding! Small children & seniors, due to a steep drop off and rocks, may find the pool more enjoyable which also comes with many toys available. Location, location, location and a love for historic Florida experiences drives the price. But the first shark tooth you find walking along the beach, as you marvel at the colors of sunset, you'll feel all that tension leave your body and understand why people keep coming back time after time to Manasota Beach Club. If you know you know.

Absolutely stunning, beautiful sunset, and the water is see through clear as far as you can walk…read more There is many seashells for keepsakes, and white sand. It's a must see, a hidden gem! I recommend it!

From the owner: We are a fully equipped vacation rental open all year on the beautiful Island of Manasota Key.read more

We have spent two wonderful seasons at Mermaid Cove. Each time finds new amenities and the same…read moregreat attention to detail....as in immaculately clean bungalows. Besides the peace and serenity of the setting, we are drawn back each year by the proximity to Old Dearborn Street with its cafes and weekly farmer's market. This is old Florida renovated for the new traveler. Don't tell anyone that we love it....try to find a date to be there yourself!

From the owner: Mermaid Cove Bungalows is my vacation rental business; located in the lovely artist community of…read moreOlde Englewood Village. We are within walking distance, or an easy bike ride to lovely waterfront parks on Lemon Bay. Just a short drive away are Englewood's beautiful beaches,rivaled by none! Just a ten minute drive, across the bridge to Mannasota Key, you'll have access to Stump Pass Beach, Englewood Beach, Middle Beach and the North-end Mannasota Key Beach! And about a half hour away is Boca Grande's wonderful beaches, also a must do! Golfers have numerous golf courses to choose from in the area and fisherman enjoy free public boat ramps and marinas close by. As you can see, I can't say enough about beautiful Englewood! Come see for yourself!

Our room did not have a view but is literally a thirty-second walk to a beautiful beach that was…read morenot overly crowded like you'd find at huge resorts. Small 2 bedroom with kitchenette was stocked with everything we needed, the owner told us, just bring your toothbrush, and he wasn't wrong. Contactless check-in. Propane grills, laundry, small pool area (across the street), and boat dock (also across street) available for guests. Walking distance from about five restaurants. If they were looking to upgrade I'd suggest a hot tub, bikes and kayaks to borrow, and faster internet (I clocked ours at about 22 mbps and is shared by three units.) Overall, great value. Photos posted on Air B&B are accurate depictions.

We had a mini family reunion here last summer! The condos were awesome, very clean! Sue was also…read moreawesome. She was very helpful and friendly. When we got home, we decided we wanted to return and booked our rooms immediately!

WannaB Inn is located at the southern tip of Manasota Key Beach just before you enter into Stump…read morePass Beach State Park. The area that stretches from WannaB Inn to Stump Pass is known for its shells, sharks teeth and breathtaking sunsets. The beach front to this hotel is private. Nice! This vacation was a Christmas present for my daughter & myself -- we literally booked this trip in December of 2020 and by April of 2021 the hotel was 95% sold out. June 2021 was a terrible time to travel. The people traveling for vacation (demand) was more than what the airlines/ car rental companies (supply) could keep up with, and we got caught in that drama. We planned to arrive in Ft. Myers by mid day but numerous cancelations plus problems with Enterprise put us at WannaB at 2am. We stayed connected with Meggie about our trip. The communication was great. She made arrangements to put a lock box on our door, and text us the code so we could have keys to our room after hours. We really appreciated the customer service!!! Our ten day trip was pretty cool. We got five star service at this two star hotel. There were a few issues along the way, but when we expressed our concerns, WannaB Inn fixed them to our satisfaction. We stayed in the Sea Star, by the pool, king sized bed, spacious living space and a kitchenette. I have a few tips to share that made our experience spectacular: TIP: Native Charter Company, family owned, native to the area, sunset cruise, leaves from Lemon Bay, $25.pp for one hour. Best deal on the island and I promise you it's a wonderful experience! Read my Yelp review for more details. TIP: Stumpys Free Shuttle Service. Super sized golf carts will pick you up a designated spots -- one is at WannaB Inn. Parking is a beast on the island. Read my Yelp review. TIP: Rob's Pizzeria. Don't let a 10 minute drive keep you from getting great pizza. Family owned, aimed to please, made from scratch menu, much cheaper than pizza on Manasota Key. They are not open for lunch. Read my Yelp review. TIP: Nokomis Drum Circle, local tribe, music for all ages. Wonderful experience, free event and free parking. Read my Yelp review for details. TIP: Off The Wagon Brewery & Kitchen in Venice, FL -- worth the 15 minute drive!!! Best of Venice 2020 Winner of "Best Craft Beer" and "Live Entertainment". The food is fresh (never brought in frozen). We ordered hamburgers, fresh catch of the day, Nashville chicken bowl and everything was delicious every time. I hope my information helps you make a decision about your trip here.

Very disappointed! Paid $400 a night for a Gulf waterfront room and management has a CREW of…read morecarpenters outside our room everyday building "PLANTERS" out of lumber. They start at 7:30am and quit at 6:00pm. Hammers Pounding, playing LOUD music, Workers yelling, saws running, nail guns all day long. With all the buildings this resort has lost to hurricane Milton (massive damage to this Resort) they could easily build these planters somewhere else and not next to their remaining guests rooms. Very inconsiderate! Rude! They offer No housekeeping service, and you must empty all garbage cans and remove from your unit or they will charge you a fee! They text you this message the night before you checkout. They treat you like it's a VRBO, when it is a resort!! Manasota Key Resort. No fiber optics on the island since hurricane Milton, even local TV and internet is sketchy. They are barely open here. I recommend staying at the Pink Shell Resort or Margaritaville at Fort Myers Beach, about the same price with housekeeping service, dining on site, internet and you are treated as a valued guest.

Location is the best Booking through Gulf realty is the best option for value and their…read moreaccessibility. On the beach walk to restaurants, play ground if you have kids two blocks from party store no car needed

We had a blast at Castaways. We had a gorgeous balcony view, the common spaces were well kept…read more Great location with beach access. We worked with Gulf Realty 941-475-1036 to find a great rate!

This island home is amazing! Located on the Gulf of Mexico on Florida's sun-drenched southwest…read morecoastline. Steps from the water near unique shops, and restaurants. Small pets are allowed. Covered decks with barbeques on the front and the back of the house. Great for family reunions or large family gatherings. The house is set up as 3 separate living spaces (up and down stairs). The units have full size kitchens and each can sleep up to 4. The upstairs Captains Quarters is elegant with a fresh beach feeling. The down stairs in the first mates is bright with tropical colors with a wonderful patio terrace. The deck hands is a private room that can be joined too the first mates. The Deck hands is ideal for those on a budget. Find your self napping on the hammock is a must! Ideal for sophisticated friends or a family atmosphere.

From the owner: Hi open for winter season. 941 468 7800read more

Great place to stay especially for a long week..rooms are old fashion but nice and cold lol. Each…read moreunit has its own balcony, private dock is great for fishing and we were even able to launch our kayaks from the dock as well.. only reason not for 5 stars would be how bad the parking is..very crammed and no room for more than one car a room..also the walk to the beach isn't bad but it's hard with loads of beach stuff.

From the owner: We are a condominium development of 8 units - four separate buildings with an upper and lower…read morecondo. Vacation Rentals from one night to as long as you'd like but no annual rentals. All condos are fully furnished including your own washer & dryer. We have a beautiful pool that is heated year round, a private dock for your fishing or boating pleasure and an easement across the road to the beach. Each condo has it's own modem for free wi-fi with a great signal.

The agency was great. The property owner was great. The rental unit needed a few touches, but was…read morepretty great even so. We're happy.

Don't rent from these people! Just moved in and nothing but trouble. Mold all over the…read morehouse..garbage disposal doesn't work not owner removing instead of fixing. Ice Maker broken. Place was supposed to be cleaned but was not. Patricia Wisel do not rent from her

They have closed their office and are not responding to phone calls or emails. We stayed at…read moreSunburst Condos for sixteen years and dealt with Manasota Key Realty for rentals for many of those years. Now they have disappeared with our deposit money for February 2026 rental.

Can't get ahold of anyone and they have my money for deposit on rental. I had no problem with…read morethis business in prior years.