Clean, close to beach walking, sunsets. Could use a few more essentials in the kitchen for cooking. We’d hoped to get fresh seafood, but decided to go out. Fit our vacation needs.

Thank you for your feedback—we’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the cleanliness, walkability to the beach, and those beautiful sunsets!

We also really appreciate your note about the kitchen. That’s helpful insight, and we’ll take a closer look at the essentials to see where we can improve for future guests.

It was a pleasure hosting you, and we’re happy the home fit your vacation needs. We’d love to welcome you back again for another stay!

Mary - Posted: 3/18/2026

Great location--short walk to beautiful Holmes Beach! The pool was very nice. Beds were very comfortable. The unit had almost everything we needed, except tissues! That would have been a welcomed addition to the initial offering of soaps and paper products. We did have a problem with the washer not working on our last full day there and as it was our last day we opted to not have the repairman out that day. We really enjoyed the location of the unit--could walk/ride bikes to restaurants and the cute shops.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the location and were able to take advantage of the short walk to beautiful Holmes Beach, as well as the nearby restaurants and shops. It’s wonderful to know the pool and comfortable beds helped make your stay relaxing.

We also appreciate you mentioning the tissues and the washer issue. That feedback is very helpful for us as we continue to improve the guest experience, and we will certainly take that into consideration for future stays.

Thank you again for choosing to stay with us. We truly hope to welcome you back to the island again soon! 🌴

Lori - Posted: 3/3/2026

This was our second time staying at Island Girl. We love it! The management company has changed for the home, which is a big plus, as the new company was responsive and very easy to work with. The house is bright and spacious; nicely furnished with a welcoming feel. It has everything you need — beach towels, beach wagon, beach chairs, umbrellas, a cooler, and even floats & sand toys for the kids. We've stayed in a lot of VRBO's, but this one has it all… plus there’s bikes in the garage! There’s a propane grill @ the pool, with an extra tank so you won’t run out, a nice touch. The kitchen is well stocked too, with both a Keurig and a regular drip coffee maker. The kitchen and baths are modern and clean, and the king bed is super comfortable. The location is perfect, in a nice neighborhood away from traffic/noise, but still close to town shops & restaurants. The beach is a block away, a 3-minute walk. The free trolley stop is just a block away, too, we took it to Manatee Beach and the Pine Ave shops and the city pier. We rode the bikes to The Creamery for ice cream and shopped for Tshirts and said Hi to the parrots at the Sun and Surf! There’s also a cute little park across the street from the house with a lake where you can watch the sunrise. The Best part of the house is the pool area, it’s beautiful! Just very private and surrounded by palms —it felt like we were on our own Caribbean island! Comfy lounge chairs, and there’s a hammock under the trees, the best reading spot! We’d go to the beach in the morning and come back home to the pool in the afternoon…It’s a perfect place to relax and recharge. When the pool is lit up at night it’s magical! We'd walk or ride the bikes back to the beach in the evening to watch the amazing sunsets… gorgeous! Even though it's a duplex, the way it's laid out, it feels like a separate house. We had a wonderful vacation, and we’ll definitely come back to Island Girl!

Rhonda A - Posted: 12/26/2023

Thank you so much for this incredibly thoughtful and detailed review—we’re absolutely delighted to hear you had such a wonderful return stay at Island Girl! 🌴 It means the world to us that you noticed and appreciated the change in management—we’re honored to be part of making your experience smooth, relaxing, and memorable. We’re thrilled that everything from the well-stocked beach gear and kitchen to the peaceful location and private pool area hit the mark. It sounds like you made the most of every moment—from sunrise walks by the lake to sunsets at the beach, ice cream runs, hammock reads, and poolside afternoons. That’s exactly the kind of vacation we hope to provide! Thank you again for sharing your story—we can’t wait to welcome you back for another chapter at Island Girl! ☀️🏖️💙

Once Upon a Beach staff

Posted: 5/3/2025