Well, cabin fever has set in and my wife and I needed to GET OUT!!! Only problem, was this whole COVID 19 thing. So what to do? Last May, there was an article in the Herald talking about IVC in Sebastian FL, right on the Indian River. It sounded too good to be true and when I looked closer online, there were nothing but 5 star reviews! This immediately set off alarms like buying on Amazon and you look at the reviews, all 5 stars, yet all on the same date and within the same hour! Hmmm, but when checking out IVC, these appeared legit! So I got on the phone and spoke with Beth. She was very cordial and explained how careful they all were and each Cottage (while sharing neighboring walls), had their own A/C unit and separate entrance. There were sanitized with Ozone/UV light and sealed with no entry for days before your arrival. Each cottage is different (there are 12), but for us the 7 units that are pet friendly was one of best conveniences. As a dog owner, one knows that a pet can and will have an odor (no matter how hard one tries). But with the Ozone/UV cleaning, the smells are eliminated as well as COVID free, talk about win-win! The cottages vary from single rooms with kitchenette, to multi-rooms with sun porches. They all have either a full or mini fridge and microwave. Best part, you can park right outside your unit and unload, no steps or elevators to deal with! We made reservations and prayed that no Tropical Storm would ruin our Labor Day Weekend at IVC. I can't describe them all, but do check out their website, it is a perfect overview. They are small rustic cottages so keep that in mind. Upon arrival we were met by Tim and Beth, our hosts (from PA), why do I say that? Well there is just something about folks from PA, they just good people (of course I'm one too, so maybe I just recognized a good background when I see it). Tim and Beth both remained at a respectable 10 feet away (yes, it was hard not to shake hands, but sadly our new normal). They gave us the "lay of the land" and informed us that the cancelled July 4th Fireworks were rescheduled to this evening and we had prime seating on the dock! NICE! Our unit (4), was at the end, which normally I would be concern due to road noise (found out later that there were railroad tracks further west, but hardly heard the train at all), the A/C unit which needs to run constantly to keep it cool in the 90+ temps outside, masks any road and train noise. We had a dog bed and doggie towels, along with two small bowls, awaiting for our pup and best of all no old pet smells!!! Even our dog couldn't smell another dog! We unloaded the car (we always bring too much), which required leaving the door open for a long period. This left the unit warm and we were concerned that the small A/C wouldn't cool it off, but a few hours later it was good. We ordered dinner (was hoping for delivery, but the locals don't have that perfected yet, so we did pickup). Food can be a challenge during the age of COVID, but Sebastion has (as of this writing) less than 300 cases, so they don't worry too much about all that. The restaurants, while practicing safety with masks and distancing, don't do much in takeout and delivery. But the food was good and the staff was so nice and friendly and helpful. Can't wait to go back and enjoy eating in just for the atmosphere. After diner it was Fireworks time and the show didn't disappoint! Tim and Beth were there too and offered a free beverage to enjoy the show. It did rain at the end, but it was a quick retreat back to our cottage. Next day I got up early, they had local ground coffee in our unit and a pot was brewed. Time for a walk to the dock with coffee and the pup. Ended up sitting there for two hours, just enjoying the river and birds. Dolphins even came by to say hello. A trip to the nearby Inlet (which also had limited entrance due to COVID) was a great way to spend the day. Could have also stayed and borrow a canoe or kayak and paddle out to the barrier island (no charge), but maybe next time. Next day was a nice walk to the local Riverview Park (just up the road). Folks were friendly and respectful of distance. What a wonderful walk with the dog and such a beautiful setting. We had to leave the next day, but not before thanking our hosts Tim and Beth. They were so warm and friendly, it made the trip feel more like visiting family, thanks so much. WE SHALL RETURN!!! read more

See all

Magnificent stay! A shot of my old South Florida home-state nostalgia of the 50s and 60s with some modern updates, comforts and conveniences. This exquisitely refurbished property, along with its manicured landscape, draped in Palm Trees and local well maintained natural flora, and its tranquility well keeps the aura, prestige and Art Deco-ish persona and spirit of the era and the location. The cottage was fabulous. The accommodations are superbly comfortable (the bed was super comfortable) and pleasant with full kitchen - and tools of a full kitchen trade (i.e., coffee maker, silverware, plates - and they offer creamer, coffee, sweetener, and then some... who does that?), a full bath (albeit small by today's standards - not a complaint mind you - leaving more room for comfort and convenience), clean, colorful and beautifully appointed throughout, nice and quiet, and the living area with plenty of room to lounge out and relax after a long day of leisure! The folks here have done a brilliant and thoughtful job of renovation and accommodation! You get your own little patio table and chairs, a small cascading water feature... and a Grill if wish the hassle - not me! Also the property offers its own sandy beach rendezvous area, a nice long dock to stroll, fish in and/or for docking your boat, the place also offers grills, and canoes and kayaks too. They state in their intro "enjoy the old Florida lifestyle" and they're absolutely right and on target. This fabulous hideaway on the Indian River (the intracoastal to the Atlantic) is a marvelous retreat locale for anyone, especially if you're a beach bum or lounger. Peaceful, tranquil and relaxing. Luckily, my daughter lives nearby, so from now on when we visit the family, we have a new place to stay. We fully recommend anyone to stay at the relaxing, leisurely and fabulous Island View Cottages in the exquisitely beautiful Florida Town of Sebastian! It's superb! read more

See all

My family and I came for a little staycation and it was a true getaway. All of our rooms included comfortable accommodations and our pup loved it too- very pet friendly! The staff was fantastic and I really enjoyed being able to take out the kayaks on the water and fishing off the pier. You can see the special care that the owners and staff put into making this a great experience for my family and I. read more

Island View Cottages - Hotels Near Me - Sebastian, Florida

Tired of Covid pandemic in Miami and seek a safe isolated weekend getaway. Island View Cottages checked all of our boxes. Pet friendly and the innkeepers became instant family. We have been back 6 weekends in 3 months. There are 12 cottages, all uniquely decorated. Cottage 12 is the biggest with 2 bedrooms. Our favorite is cottage 1. The only cottage with 1.5 bath, bunk beds and no shared wall. read more

See all

Just spent my birthday and NYE week in Cottage 12. Was there with 11 of my closest friends and family. All staying in separate cottages. I was able to see 5 different cottages and they were all beautifully and uniquely decorated. When I say that our time there was great, it's an understatement. I've never stayed anywhere and felt so relaxed, perfectly accommodated and taken care of. Even prior to checking in, I spoke to Carmen and she was incredibly sweet and thoughtful. When I checked in she had a sweet birthday surprise waiting for me in my cottage. My friends and I cooked meals in our cottages, went kayaking, explored the islands, fished off the dock, went bike riding, sat by the fire pit every evening and had the most amazing time. We saw dolphins every day right off of our dock. I never wanted to leave. It was by far the best birthday celebration/vacation/getaway that I've ever had in Florida. Our group is already planning the next visit. Thank you to Christy, Carmen and Barbara. I will never forget the way you made me and my friends feel while we were there. We left feeling like family. read more

Awesome place !!! Fabulous owners that have updated & work really hard at making it the beautiful place that it is ! They go above & beyond for their guest . Very comfortable, safe , fun , pet friendly place to stay . Lots of activities , a common room with games to play ...etc . They have a beautiful boat dock , canoes & kayaks , a large fire place , a few Hammocks , benches , swinging chairs to chill $ relax maybe take a nap , read a book . Lots of islands to paddle to go exploring. I recommend staying for as long as you can . Lots to explore . The kindness and peacefulness of this property & owners makes you want to stay forever . It was hard to go home !!! Fresh made fish dip in the fridge for your arrival . Coffee hanging from your door every morning .....(not just any coffee you can buy) . They treat you like you live there / like family . Definitely going back soon !! read more

See all

We just ended a two night stay. We do not want to leave. Angie is in the hammock as I write this. Stay here. You will love it.

I cannot say enough about how friendly and accommodating the staff is here. We found Island View Cottages while looking for a short COVID getaway for the two of us and our 70 lb dog. While many hotels say they are pet friendly most have size restrictions that leave you with few choices. Not only does Island View allow larger dogs; they provide dog beds, toys, dishes, etc on request! We opted for a cabin with a small fenced in area that he could roam around in and a shaded seating area that we all enjoyed. The COVID measures taken were well beyond my expectations making my neurotic packing of disinfecting supplies unnecessary. We did go in January and it was cool at night so we made the most of it and had a very relaxing evening around their furnished fire pit while watching the water. The next time we stay we will definitely take their kayaks out and explore a few of the islands seen from their shoreline. We were told that people in Sebastian were friendly and we found that to be the rule. I'm talking waving at you when they drive by you walking down the street friendly. The other benefit of traveling with our larger dog is that it takes you a bit off of the beaten tourist path. We found the dog friendly restaurant internet searches in Sebastian took us to where locals congregated, where everyone was...friendly. Go. Take your four legged furry friend where they are more than tolerated. Relax and enjoy. read more

The cottages look so gorgeous after being renovated! Cannot wait to stay in one of the rooms for a future get away where I need to unplug from the daily grind and just relax by the water. I have my eyes on Cottage 10 and 11 but I would be happy to stay in any of them. I think one of my favorite parts about IVC is how unique each room is. If I wanted to stay on separate occasions, I could book a different room for a completely different feel. Also, the management at IVC is wonderful, every person I have spoken to has been so helpful and excited to assist me in learning more about the cottages and how to book my next stay. 5 stars well deserved. read more

Island View Cottages - Hotels Near Me - Sebastian, Florida

See all

My husband and I come up to this area every several months from Ft. Lauderdale and stay in either Melbourne or Vero Beach for the weekend after I do an event at the ashram. We were debating on staying this time since it was suppose to rain. But we wanted to celebrate valentines early and saw these cottages were redone and look really nice. We figured since they have kitchens we could cook and just hang out for two nights. We went to book online and there were two cottages available and said call to book. Well we call at 9am and the guy on the phone tells us they don't take same day reservations. I ask them why does it say call to book if you do not take same day? Wouldn't you just put occupied on all? We have never heard of inns or hotels not booking the day of. He couldn't even give us a reason why and then in the next breath was like he didn't even know if any rooms were available. Then tells me it's two night minimum. So which is it? No rooms available or you just do not want to rent the two nights that I wanted to reserve. How do you run an inn this way? Especially when you just renovated and are new? Not the best customer service. The owner forgot to add to their reply back to me in private message, "Another reason is we are so close to bars that sometimes we get people (always same day) who want to "sleep it off" and that is not what we want" Wow! Yea we want to sleep it off for two nights Unbelievable read more

I stayed in the 'Pelican Cottage' during the Christmas holiday. Wow. Compared to area hotels, well, there is no comparison. This place blows all of them out of the water. It's less expensive, immaculate, bright, and cheery. My cottage had beautiful light grey hard wood floors with a decor of designer chic, yet a homey feel. They even offered a firm, as well as a fluffy, pillow!!! WHO does that except really sophisticated people who entertain!? AND, It had one of the most powerful hot showers I've ever experienced, plus top of the line appliances and kitchen supplies. Did I mention immaculately clean? And, how great to have a kitchen! (I could have easily just moved in permanently.) The heater/ A/C was modern and worked great. And, this is a BIG one: I could open all the many windows! No stale hotel air! Windows everywhere! The air so fresh, the neighborhood just great; and you're right on the Indian River. I'll say, the cottages seemed to attract friendly active types (surfers, cyclists, etc.). And, this is the best part - the hospitality is superb. It was apparent that Beth and Tim sincerely care about each and every person staying there. You felt it. It's personal. They remind me of a top notch Bed and Breakfast, welcoming you with thoughtful supplies, and goodies, including fresh squeezed Florida orange juice, organic fruit and local specialty foods. Fresh coffee beans are delivered to your door every morning! While I was there, they had an evening party/ cook out, and a breakfast gathering, where you could meet the other guests, who seemed very cool. This place is amazing. I highly, HIGHLY recommend River View Cottages. It will make your vacation SOOOO much better than staying at a dumb, alienating, stuffy hotel. read more

I have been in the Hospitality Business on The Resort, Hotel and Tour Operator side of things for 30+ years. When I say we have found a Very Special, Very Fresh, Very Unique stay you can count on it! Every Cottage is uniquely designed. We booked Cottage # 5 "Waterfront Welcome" and got to see 2 others. Each were amazing, fresh and totally different. The property is incredibly clean and well maintained. This is a tranquil retreat with tons of common relaxation space right on the Indian River Lagoon. The Only thing better than the Cottages are The Innkeepers Tim and Beth!! So accommodating and their service and attention to detail was Fabulous. We used their Marina to dock our Pontoon overnight and Tim was their to help tie up coming in and going out! I highly recommend you try this little Piece of Old Florida Paradise. Bring your boat, bring your pet, bring sandals and a good book. We will be back many times! read more

This place is absolutely amazing!! Everything from the property and the newly renovated rooms, to the wonderful staff!! Highly recommend staying here- you won't be mad you did! read more