Secluded Beachfront Island Home with Hammocks and Tiki Hut on Little Gasparilla Island, Florida

Description

Our Caribbean-inspired home sits directly on the beach! It features high ceilings, hardwood floors, two screened porches, and an ideal beachfront location. From the restful handmade hammocks to our tropical tiki hut surrounded by sea grapes, coconut palms, and beach plums, it has been created to offer the ultimate island experience. The home offers a variety of sleeping options with two king beds and a queen, plus two small daybeds suitable for toddlers.

Please note that it 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, which means it has retained much of its "old Florida" ambiance and pristine beauty. For years, it 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 a bridge and commercial establishments means that the island appeals to those who want to get away from crowds, tourists, traffic, and technology.

It is full of souvenirs from travels abroad and antiques that the owners have collected over the years. It was designed in the Caribbean style to best capture the cooling breezes from the Gulf of Mexico, with soaring 17-ft. ceilings and broad overhangs to keep the house cooler. There are comfortable handmade hammocks to relax in, a piano, and the house is fully stocked with everything you need for a fabulous beach vacation....games and puzzles, beach towels and sunscreen, crock pot and ice cream maker. Just bring your groceries, your flip flops, and a tropical attitude!

The kitchen is a galley-style kitchen with a microwave, toaster oven, dishwasher, large, well-stocked pantry, toaster, coffee grinder, Keurig coffee maker (plus a regular drip coffee maker and Nespresso), blender, electric fry pan, crock pot, and a full complement of cookware. The refrigerator offers an ice maker, and there is also a second refrigerator on the back porch for extra drinks.

The front porch offers dramatic views of the beautiful beach and offers the perfect spot for outdoor dining...it also has a comfortable hammock, chaise lounges, and is everyone's favorite spot for relaxing and enjoying gulf breezes. The back porch has a comfortable seating area.

The master bedroom is on the main floor, adjacent to the main bathroom. It features a king bed plus a small daybed suitable for a toddler. The washer/dryer is in the master bedroom walk-in closet, plus an iron and a small ironing board. The upstairs "loft" bedroom also has a king bed and another daybed. A small enclosed room on the back porch has a queen bed and a window AC unit. (This is a very small room and is accessed from the back porch.)

NOTE: The island is accessible by water taxi or private boat only. We have a dock slip if you choose to rent a boat. Boat size is limited at this dock to boats under 24 ft. We also offer beach chairs and an umbrella, a selection of sand toys, and an island concierge who can meet you at the dock and help transport luggage and groceries to the house for you.

If you are looking for sleek, modern, or updated, this home is probably not for you. The kitchen cabinets come from a c. 1900s pharmacy, the TV stand is a 19th-century wrapping table, most of the cupboards date to the 1800s, and much of the furniture in the home is over 100 years old. If you are comfortable with the warmth and patina of much-loved antiques, you will feel at home here.

Wifi- complimentary with no data limitations; keep in mind this is not the wi-fi you may be used to on the mainland, but it is just about the best available on the island.

Pet Policy - pet-friendly with $100 non-refundable fee per pet; some breeds may be excluded due to insurance restrictions.

Cleaning Fee - minimum $350 cleaning fee

Minimum Renter Age - 25

Boat Slip - included on dock number 51 with maximum boat length 24 feet (this is also where the water taxi drops you off). If you bring or rent a boat, a placard is provided in the house that must be displayed on your boat. Please make sure you have sufficient ropes.

Damage Protection - The $59 charge listed 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.

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 - electric, gas

Coffee- drip (filters provided) and Keurig

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

The entire house is yours to enjoy. There is also space to dock a boat or jet ski if you wish to rent one during your stay. (Boats may not exceed 24 ft in length, including motor.)

The island is peaceful, tropical, tranquil, and secluded. While it is just a short boat ride away from the mainland, it is miles apart in attitude. The island is old Florida at its best....before high rises and seawalls and tourists and theme parks became the norm. Fishing is superb off the beach or the dock, and the water is usually calm and clear....you can swim with dolphins and manatees right in our front yard. Leave your car and your cares at the marina because it 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, it 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!

You park at Eldred's Marina on the mainland and catch the water taxi there. On the island, you can rent a golf cart from LGI Carts for the duration of your stay. If the LGI carts are sold out, the owner may offer their golf cart for a fee.

Please evaluate your expectations before booking a stay. If you are expecting a polished "resort" atmosphere, it 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 mosquitoes, 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 Year's.

There are no restaurants or grocery stores on the island, so all groceries need to be brought over with you on the water taxi. Water taxi should be reserved about two weeks in advance.

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.

Pets are welcome with the payment of a $100 pet fee per pet; pets must be current on their vaccinations and must be on preventative flea and tick control. Pets are not allowed on the beds or furniture. Please rinse sand from your pet before allowing him/her back into the house, and police the yard and beach of pet waste. The following breeds are NOT permitted: Akita, American Bulldog, Beaucerons, Caucasian Mountain Dog, Chow Chow, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Great Danes, Keeshounds, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terriers, Presa Canarios, or Rottweilers.

Each booking guest agrees to provide a list of all occupants and other contact info, and agrees not to exceed the number of occupants listed on the booking request submitted.

Prior to departure, you are required to wash your dishes and launder any beach towels you have used. Laundry facilities are provided.

No smoking anywhere inside the house. No parties allowed; only the people in the reservation may be at the house without prior permission. You will be required to sign our rental contract listing these terms.

At least two members of your group must be age 25 or older.

Secluded Beachfront Island Home with Hammocks and Tiki Hut on Little Gasparilla Island, Florida