Sunset Margarita Vacation Rental: E-X-C-E-P-T-I-O-N-A-L - that defines, Sunset Margarita, vacation rental! Outstanding 2 Bed/ 2 bath unit on Anna Maria Sound. Easy access to the best of Anna Maria Island (AMI) Cortez, Longboat Key, and Sarasota. Sarasota airport is 25 minutes away and you are only 50 minutes from Tampa International. We arrived in a rental car through the gated entrance and parked in a well-appointed covered spot. We were surprised to find luggage carts easily accessible and when we arrived at the unit and opened the door...WOW! Simply amazing. The owners thought of everything. The decor was refreshing and the layout of the unit extraordinary. With two main suites on opposite sides of the unit, the central main, open living area and well-appointed kitchen looked and functioned as a featured home in Coastal Living! Everything we needed we found. Top of the line appliances and a bar area that made me jealous (a real Margarita machine)! The comfortable living room with large screen TV, impressive games table with games and great reading options available. If you must access cable and high-speed internet/ Wi-Fi they have got you covered. The dining area could be casual or elegant with everything to make your evening special, placemats, napkins, table settings and best of all, they even thought of safe candles for ambience. The Lanai was designed as a mini-studio, relaxing lounge and conversation area and table for four, screened with a view and cooling fan too. The full-sized washer and dryer made a mid-week laundry cycle easy as could be. The bathrooms were designed and maintained like a top-of-the-line resort. Quiet as can be, lay back, relax, and let your dreams begin in the super-comfortable king-beds with out of this world mattresses and closets with storage galore. When it is time to explore and have fun take the two, included bikes for a ride around the area or pack up the cooler and beach chairs and head to a local beach. Not ready to end your day? A visit to the pool or Floriday's Tiki Bar is steps from this unit. The information book provided details on EVERYTHING you might need. Nothing was forgotten. Some of our favorites were: Skinny's burgers, Waterfront for a cocktail on the water, Harry's, Freckled Fin and Vinny's, you must go to Vinny's! We explored Bean Point, Holmes, Coquina and Manatee beaches and enjoyed everything the area offered. The unit, the island, the area, the atmosphere, and the comfortable and safe surroundings make this our new home away from home. We will be back and often! We were a couple (40-50 years old) traveling for a leisure vacation. Having a car rental made everything easy. read more

We just spent two beautiful weeks at "Beachy Villa Vista" on Anna Maria Island. Our family of 10 had the most wonderful memorable time there. Working with Mike & Nikki was a pleasure and so very easy. They are very attentive and could not be more kind. The house and grounds are beautiful and its just steps to white soft sand and a beautiful clear ocean. For the home, all essential items are present in the kitchen, large enjoyable t.v. in the living room, the bedrooms were comfortable and large, the pool area is perfect with; wet bar, television, comfortable furniture, and the hot tub was wonderful to relax in after a day at the beach. It was also great fun having the ping pong table available in the garage which also has extra floats and boogy boards for the ocean. Having the washer/dryer was also a plus when needed!! The area is most enjoyable and quaint with small shops and restaurants and is very laid back. The public beach is within walking distance to the home, there is a grocery store, drug stores, and many places to shop very close. My family used the workout facility that was just down the street 5 min., we visited the Clearwater Marine Aquarium with Winter & Hope, took a day adventure to NASA Kennedy space center, and a short drive to Sarasota for shopping and dinner and enjoyed The Mote Aquarium. We rented a golf cart with so many of us but transportation from the Monkey Bus was also perfect and right there. The Sarasota/Bradenton Airport is in perfect location to the house within a half hour drive so that was a bonus. Our entire vacation was just perfect. Thank you Nikki & Mike for sharing your beautiful home with us. We made wonderful memories because of you!! We hope to visit this wonderful home & island again!!! read more

Stayed at newly renovated Cozy Cabana East last week! It was a beautifully decorated and maintained space with two large bedrooms and each bedroom having their own full bath. It was spacious for my husband and I, but would have been roomy enough if we would have brought our two kids or another couple. The outside space is super cute, the new owners have put much thought into making the house comfortable and current. We had tropical storm Nestor come through during our stay, so didn't get to use the pool as much as we planned, but it was still a nice option to have. There is a washer & dryer in the unit as well, and a small garage. Once Upon a Beach was a wonderful management company to work with & made the check in very easy. Nikki also reached out to us regarding the tropical storm and letting us know what to expect. We are from the PNW, and while we have lots of experience with snow and floods during the spring, this type of storm and flooding was new to us. Nikki also responded to my emailed questions very quickly! The location of the duplex was very convenient as well, it was a very short drive to that area and a short drive to the restaurants on the south part of the island and Publix. It was also a short walk to the beach from the unit. (there was a wagon provided to haul chairs, toys etc.) We will rent again, either this unit, or any other house with Once Upon A Beach without hesitation when we visit in the future! read more

Arrived for the week with my husband, two teen boys and my father in law. This house was PERFECT for our family! My father in law has some mobility issues and he was very comfortable. The home was beautifully decorated and wonderfully cozy. It was sparkling clean, contained plenty of good quality linens and had all the amenities to make us feel at home. The back yard and pool area are just incredible. We felt like we had our own private resort and spent almost all of our time outside. The entire home has been thoughtfully designed and the outdoor shower and bar area with outdoor TV's are a plus! The kitchen was well stocked and we enjoyed daily daiquiris poolside and grilled burgers and hot dogs. We rented a golf cart from Once Upon a Beach and it too was perfect. The house is situated in a location that allowed us to explore the gorgeous island and enjoy many of the local restaurants. Slim's is a hidden gem that we Philly natives enjoyed. The cheesesteaks and Philly Tots were to die for! The pulled pork was fantastic too. Pizza Social was another hit as was Harry's and the Ugly Grouper. Nikki and Mike were very welcoming and got us into our home quickly and efficiently. We passed by many of the properties they manage on the island and one was prettier than the next. Coconut Lagoon was won our hearts and we'll be back for sure. Thanks for an amazing time!!! read more

Once Upon a Beach Rentals is the BEST RENTAL company we've ever rented from. Their helpfulness and responsiveness was outstanding from the first call in February until the checkout email from them on May13. The Acqualuxe house with its location on the canal and walking distance to the beach was perfect for my family. The amenities were as advertised .. beach chairs, beach umbrella, beach cart, kayaks, pool table and more. All the sitting areas inside and outside were ideal for the family to gather. The refrigerator/wine coolers on the first floor kept our beverages cold. The only thing the house didn't have was an ice maker other than the small one with the refrigerator in kitchen. The house was clean, the kitchen stocked with Tervis cups and of course cooking ware, utensils, storage containers etc. Even though no one needed an elevator, it was great to use for moving suitcases and groceries. Once Upon a Beach promptly responded to my text concerning squeaky doors and dryer issue. What Service! Thank you ONCE UPON A BEACH for providing us with a much needed and memorable vacation week!! read more

We vacationed at Anna Maria Island (AMI) and stayed at "Pineapple Cottage" by Once Upon A Beach. The beach cottage was cozy, exceptionaly clean, and the interior woodwork was absolutely lovely! The private partially shaded inground pool was perfect for a refreashing afternoon swim and lighted during the evening. There was plenty of outdoor seating areas including a covered and shaded dining area. The location on Pine Ave was within walking distance of many local shops, eating establishments, Two Scoops Ice Cream (which has the best ice cream on the island), and the island pier. The owners of Once Upon A Beach are very attentive to their occupant's needs and add "special touches" such as a welcome gift bag. The cottage was stocked with everything we needed for a beach day such as chairs, umbrella, water floats, boogie boards, and even a wagon to carry them. We will definately be back to the tranquil and relaxing AMI. I highly recommend staying at one of Once Upon A Beach's lovely homes! read more

One of the best decisions we have made. We stayed at the 'Once upon a beach' house and this house was great. Clean and equipped with everything needed including an awesome pool and spa in the back. The beach was also amazing and this house is literally across the street from the beach. We recommend renting a car and or golf cart to see the entire island but would definitely stay here again. The only issue was that upstairs where the bedrooms are located, does get hot at night as the AC does not seem to flow as well upstairs. The middle floor is nice and cool but does not have any of the king size rooms on the middle floor. Other than that, no complaints. Would stay here again, but would also ask that AC issues be looked into so it is not so hot at night or get a discounted price as $500 a night is a bit pricey to be hot when sleeping. read more

We stayed at the Tiki, as well as Palm Tree Paradises A & B in July 2018. It was perfection! The homes were clean, well equipped and beautifully decorated. The "big pool" and "little pool", as the kids called them, were heaven on Earth with palms and sand nearby to make us feel as though we were truly in our own little paradise. The tiki bar was a fantastic place for lunches and dinners. We cooked in most nights using the grills and high grade kitchen appliances. Nikki and Mike were a pleasure to work with and were readily available for all our needs. Our large family has vacationed together every summer for decades. This was the most relaxing, easy trip would could have wished for thanks to the awesome location and attention to detail. Thank you Once Upon a Beach! read more

Can't say enough how perfect Once Upon a Beach was for our family vacation! We stayed at "Salty Pirate" in mid October and it was phenomenal in every aspect. My wife and I love to travel and this was arguably the best family vacation we've ever had. Gorgeous beaches everywhere - including a 30-second walk which was perfect for our little kids. Great fishing from our backyard - caught fresh fish for dinner multiple days from our backyard. Kids loved the pool. A dozen different conveniences like keyless entry, outdoor shower, fridge in the basement/garage. We also really enjoyed the bikes, kayak and stand-up paddle boards. My mom joined us, and this was just ideal for all 3 generations. We hope to return in 2020! read more

We just returned from Fins Up. What a wonderful property! Private, quiet street that's an easy two block walk straight down to the beach. The pool was on the smaller size, but totally doable for our family of four (and the sun shelf feature was a "parent trying to relax on vacation, but still be near the kids in the pool" dream!). The outdoor family room area was our favorite feature with clean, quality outdoor furniture and large television. The decor inside was outstanding--high quality finishes and styling. Everything felt clean and updated. Tons of beach toys and equipment in the garage was an added bonus! We would absolutely rent with Once Upon a Beach again! read more

Our family stayed a week at Sandy Pants. First of all, the location couldn't be better. Only a short walk to the beautiful beaches of Anna Marie Island with included beach chairs, umbrella and a cart with big wheels to haul all our beach stuff. The house has a true beach vibe with its tropical decor and colors. The heated pool was great! A large pool deck with table and chairs, umbrella, lounge chairs, Yeti cooler, gas grill all surrounded by thick plants and palm trees gave it a private, tropical feel. We ate dinner nearby at The Ugly Grouper and Ginny and Jane E's Cafe (a must for breakfast). We would definitely stay here again when returning to Anna Marie. read more

Such a great boutique rental company. They make you feel like you are their priority and they offer fast & specialized service. Nikki & Mike are a great team and a pleasure to do business with. We stayed at 2 separate rentals and both places were so clean (Covid clean!) - with clean bed coverings in addition to sheets. Also had 2 minor problems - a broken blender and a faucet problem and both situations were resolved within hours! I highly recommend their properties as they have high standards for the properties they represent and their level of care for those properties. read more

Just returned from an incredible visit to Anna Maria Island. My family stayed at 'A Shore Thing', and I can't say enough about this amazing home, it had everything!! The house looked as if we were the first to have stayed there, meticulously decorated and maintained; this after a hurricane hit the area just a day before our arrival. We were worried what damage if any the storm may have caused, only to see the home looked like it was preserved in bubble wrap; a testament to the hard work put forth by the management team at 'Once Upon a Beach'. Thank you!! John Shearns read more

Amazing last minute get away for us. We chose Points Hideaway which sleeps 8. Only needed 2 But Nikki was accommodating. The house was an amazing backdrop to a tropical getaway from Atlanta. We could have just packed our clothes and needed to bring nothing else because the house was fully supplied with everything you would need to live at the beach! Beautiful tropical decor, pool area, fun game room leading out to pool, romantic roof top views of the sunset, bay and full moon during our visit! And the screened in porch off the kitchen and family room is perfect! read more

We stayed with Once Upon a Beach on Anna Maria Island over Spring Break this past year (4/19). It was our first time on the island and I am very picky with accommodations. The unit was spacious, perfectly decorated and nicely furnished. When we had a little issue in the beginning, Nikki was so quick to respond and get it resolved asap. It was wonderful. The location near Pine Avenue was absolutely perfect and the heated pool was a hit with our children. We loved our stay on the island and would not hesitate to book with Once Upon A Beach in the future! read more

We stay at As Far As The Eye Can Sea in Bradenton Beach. The home is spectacular. It is modern, very clean, and comfortable. We love everything about a house. For a big house like that we wish it had a couple more bigger pots and pans, but that is minor since we ate out a lot. We arrived there during the Red tide outbreak, and it was pretty bad seeing a lot of dead fish and an almost empty town. We had to drive to St Pete Beach to swim. Still, the next time we are in the area we would definitely look up Once upon a Beach properties to stay. read more

Sunset dreams was everything we could have hoped for and more. We spent a lot of our time moving our son into his house on the island, however, it was great coming home every evening to Sunset Dreams. It is such a beautiful property and my favorite part was sitting on the balcony every morning and every evening watching the waves. We will definitely return to this property. It had everything we needed to include beach towels and beach chairs. It was just a wonderful place. read more

Our decision to rent Casa Mariposa with Once Upon A Beach was the reason our trip was so successful! Everything was perfect...clean and maintained. In fact, the photos and descriptions provided didn't do justice! Things were even nicer...when does that happen! It was pure pleasure working with this management company. Nikki was prompt, responsive and very pleasant. I will definitely rent a home from Once Upon A Beach again and recommend them whole heartedly! read more

Great place to stay. 90 second walk to beach made the beach a greater pleasure with a 9 month and 6 year old. Nicole went above and beyond all my concerns. I rented 2 units and had to cancel one unit as my father had a medical emergency and she was able to rent it out to someone else. This was just 2 weeks before arrival and refunded my dad the entire amount! The upstairs unit even had a baby gate! Thanks Nicole for a great time!! read more