Sol Mate

We are super thankful to be able to give Once Upon a Beach another 5 star review after visiting for our 7th Anniversary. This our third time staying with them and we can’t wait to come back! We stayed at Sol Mate again and it is such a great property. It’s a 5 minute walk to the beach which is perfect to race down there and catch the gorgeous sunsets. The heated pool and spa were absolutely perfect for the December colder weather. They were both so warm that we were able to stay in the pool and spa all day even in the 65 degree weather. The house was very clean and ready for our stay. Make sure to rent your golf cart through Once Upon a Beach as well, they truly have the best golf carts on the island. It’s such a fun way to explore this beautiful island. The home has everything you need to cook if you want, however we like to explore as many restaurants as possible. We went to The Waterfront, Ugly Grouper, Blue Marlin, Salt Bar and Table, Starfish Company, The Doctor’s Office, North Shore Cafe, Ginny and Jane E’s, Am I Coconuts, The Porch and Pizza Social. There is so much incredible food in this area, we were thankful to try so many fun places. Please take the Monkey Bus to dinner at least one night, it is such a fun experience! We met so many locals during our trip and that is always a highlight to us! The people down here are so kind and welcoming, we love it. The pool guy stopped by to check on the pool while we were swimming and he was super nice to talk to. We picked up our golf cart and were happy to see Brittany again this year, she was super sweet and helpful. We can’t say enough about this amazing island! We hope to be back next year to celebrate our 8th Anniversary. Book your trip through Once Upon a Beach, you will be so happy you did.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share this incredibly thoughtful review. We are truly honored to have been part of your anniversary celebration again and to welcome you back for your third stay with Once Upon a Beach.

Sol Mate really is a special home, and we love hearing how much you enjoyed the heated pool and spa during your December visit. Catching sunsets just a short walk from the house is one of our favorite parts of the island too. Your restaurant list made us smile. You truly experienced Anna Maria Island like a local, and the Monkey Bus shoutout made our day.

We also love hearing that you were able to reconnect with Brittany and even chat with our pool tech while you were here. Those little moments are exactly what make the island and our community so special.

Thank you again for your kind words, your continued trust, and for being such wonderful guests. We would absolutely love to welcome you back next year to celebrate your 8th anniversary. Until then, we’re wishing you many more sunsets and island memories.

Christina - Posted: 12/13/2025

WOW!!! We had the BEST vacation on Anna Maria Island. We absolutely loved our stay at Sol Mate. It was a perfect place for our family of five!! The home was very clean, had an updated coastal vibe, and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. The home was a perfect location for easy access to Bean Point Beach…The beach was absolutely beautiful with white powder sand and amazing sunsets! We had so much fun exploring the island and would recommend this vacation to everyone. We would 100 percent stay in this rental home again and will be referring all of our friends to Once Upon a Beach There communication was excellent and they were very helpful in providing information to make sure we booked the right home for our family!!!

Thank you for this amazing feedback! We're so thrilled Sol Mate was the perfect home for your family vacation and that you loved the easy access to Bean Point. We appreciate the recommendation and can't wait to host you again! 

Sarah - Posted: 10/21/2025

Nice house great pool. As described. Responsive hosts. Asked for tein beds to be converted to a king, they sent someone e the next morning. Had an issue with the door lock on a Sunday and they responded quickly. Only tiny thing was no salt/pepper/oil in the house so bring some if you plan to cook. Would stay again. Vaykay gear was good.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the home, pool, and our team’s responsiveness—it’s wonderful to know the twin-to-king setup and quick lock assistance made things easy for your stay.

We appreciate the feedback about the cooking basics, too—it’s helpful for us and for future guests! And we’re happy you made good use of the VayK gear credit. We’d love to welcome you back for another visit soon!

Warm island wishes,
The Once Upon a Beach Team 🌴

Pamela - Posted: 10/15/2025

Solmate is a wonderful beach cottage only steps from the ocean. It is one of the best locations for AMI for walking and bike riding to beach, bay and Pine street shops and restaurants. It was Immaculate and comfortable with everything in good working order. The Pool and spa were wonderful providing lots of fun in the cooler days. The Decor is casual and very beachy. The Staff was very approachable and professional with lots of information and support. It might be nice for longer stay guests to have a little update of kitchen/dishes organization but everything was there. Loved Solmate and AMI.

Julie - Posted: 3/1/2025

Sole Mate was the perfect home for us to rent and visit Anna Maria Island. This is our second time booking with Once Upon a Beach and this visit was just as perfect as the last. The backyard is absolutely perfect. The pool and spa were amazing, and heated perfectly to still enjoy in December. This area of the island is very quiet and the home is a very close walk to the beach. The home is super clean and the kitchen has everything you would need to cook. The screened in porches were very enjoyable. We can’t wait to return. Thank you!

Christina W from Smithfield NC - Posted: 12/11/2023

Thank you so much for the lovely review! We’re beyond happy to hear Sol Mate was the perfect home for your return visit, and that everything from the peaceful location to the perfectly heated pool and well-stocked kitchen made your stay special. It means the world to us that you’ve chosen Once Upon A Beach more than once, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable getaway. Until next time—thank you again! 🌴☀️💙

Once Upon a Beach staff

Posted: 5/3/2025

Our family of 5 loved this house! Beach access is only steps away and onto the nicest part of AMI beaches. The master suite is amazing and we loved all of the outdoor eating and lounging space. Overall a great stay & highly recommend.

Liz - Posted: 6/19/2023

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so happy to hear your family of five loved the home and made the most of everything it has to offer. 💙 With beach access just steps away and one of the best stretches of AMI shoreline right there, it’s hard to beat! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the master suite and all the outdoor dining and lounging areas—it really is the perfect setup for making memories together. We truly appreciate the recommendation and would love to welcome you back for another great stay!

Once Upon a Beach staff

Posted: 5/9/2025

The house was perfect, it was beautifully decorated and every detail was thought of. Our family loved the heated pool and hot tub, it feels like your own private oasis. There is a path out the back gate that leads right to the beach and the location is on the quietest part of the island. Easy walk to Rod N Reel Restaurant and the new Anna Maria pier. We can't wait to return!

Lisa - Posted: 6/19/2023

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear the home was a perfect fit for your family and that you enjoyed every thoughtful detail. 💙 It’s wonderful to know the heated pool and hot tub felt like your own private oasis—that’s exactly the experience we hope to create! The direct beach path and peaceful location truly make this spot something special, and we’re so glad you took full advantage of it. We’d be absolutely delighted to welcome you back anytime. Can’t wait for your next visit!

Once Upon a Beach staff

Posted: 5/9/2025

For starters, I'm extremely impressed with the level of care and service Mike and Nikki provided us during our stay. As we were checking in, Nikki stopped by to ensure the house was ready for our arrival and that we were happy with the condition of the home. A few days into our visit, we had a small issue that Mike resolved within a few minutes of contacting him. He followed up with us the next day to let us know about the long term fix so that other guests would not encounter the issue going forward. As for the home, it was perfect for our family of four. While we didn't spend much time inside, the beds were comfortable and there was plenty of space for us to relax and stretch out. The backyard pool area has a tropical feel with plenty of furniture around the pool and a cool bar area with a TV. Our girls loved swimming while my wife and I enjoyed the hot tub. The best beach on Anna Maria is a 3-4 minute walk from the house. It wasn't too crowded even during the busiest week of spring break. Nice touch having beach gear (wagon, chairs, umbrella, towels) available for guests to use. When we come back to the island, we will be booking again with Mike and Nikki - hopefully it is sooner rather than later!

Matt - Posted: 6/19/2023

Thank you so much for your kind and detailed review! We’re truly grateful for your thoughtful words and thrilled to hear your experience was such a positive one. 💙 Mike and Nikki take so much pride in what they do, and it means the world to us that their care and attentiveness made you feel well taken care of—from check-in to quick issue resolution and follow-up. That level of service is exactly what we strive for with every guest. We’re so glad the home was a perfect fit for your family of four and that the tropical backyard, hot tub, and bar area helped create special memories for everyone—especially the girls in the pool! 🏖️☀️ It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the quick walk to the beach and found the beach gear helpful, too. We would absolutely love to host you again whenever you’re ready for your next AMI escape—and we hope it’s sooner rather than later as well!

Once Upon a Beach staff

Posted: 5/9/2025

We just returned from a week stay at Sol Mate and would have stayed longer if we had the chance. We truly enjoyed the screened in porches, perfect for dining without concern for mosquitos and for relaxing at the end of the day- you can even peep a small slice of the gulf from the upper porch which was an added bonus! The beds/linens were very comfortable, the house was clean and the beautifully landscaped pool area with spa and bar/tv was perfect for our family. It is always so nice to have a beach cart, beach umbrellas and chairs available to use, thank you for providing these things! We visit AMI 2x/year and are already looking forward to a return visit to Sol Mate! Thank you to Brittany for helping us with an item we left behind- we really appreciate the amazing customer service!

Krista - Posted: 6/19/2023

Thank you so much for this thoughtful and detailed review! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear Sol Mate was everything you hoped for—and more. 💙 It’s wonderful to know the screened-in porches gave you the perfect spot to relax and dine bug-free, and that little peek of the Gulf from the upper porch is such a fun bonus! We're so glad you found the home clean, the beds cozy, and the pool area a true oasis for your family. We always want our guests to feel fully equipped for beach days, so we’re happy to hear the beach cart, umbrellas, and chairs came in handy. And thank you for the kind words about Brittany—we’ll be sure to pass them along. She was so happy to help! We can’t wait to welcome you back on your next AMI visit—your spot at Sol Mate will be ready!

Once Upon a Beach staff

Posted: 5/9/2025

Very happy with Sol Mate. It was the perfect spot for my family and I while on the Island. We were there for 5 nights. Beach access was super close and the pool was amazing! There were no negative comments or hidden issues found, by my party and I, there during our stay. Local fare was not far away. My wife and I enjoyed walking in the morning to nearby coffee shops (only 3/4 of a mile), and the Rod and Reel Peir was a short walk also. We will definitely look at staying at Sol Mate again, when we come back to Anna Maria!!

Matt - Posted: 6/19/2023

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so happy to hear Sol Mate was the perfect spot for your family’s stay on the island. 💙 It’s wonderful to know the beach access, pool, and walkable location all added to your experience—and we're especially glad there were no surprises, just a smooth and enjoyable stay from start to finish! ☀️ Morning coffee walks and quick strolls to the Rod and Reel Pier are some of our favorite ways to start the day too—sounds like you truly embraced island life. We’d love to welcome you back to Sol Mate anytime you return to AMI!

Once Upon a Beach staff

Posted: 5/9/2025

My wife and myself are clean freaks and very particular where we stay. This house was spotless from top to bottom. The location is perfect! Walk to the beach in 3 minutes. Restaurants and attractions are close as well. The neighborhood is super quiet. The heated pool and hot tub makes this house even more attractive. For people like us who own a business and need remote access to our office, the Wi-Fi is super fast even with movies streaming. We cannot say enough about this house and location and will return again.

Dale C - Posted: 6/19/2023

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re especially honored to hear that the home met the high standards of two self-proclaimed clean freaks—cleanliness is one of our top priorities, so your words mean a lot! 🧼✨ It’s wonderful to know the location, quiet neighborhood, heated pool, hot tub, and reliable Wi-Fi all made your stay comfortable and convenient—especially for balancing work and relaxation. We’re so glad the home offered the perfect escape while keeping you connected. We truly appreciate your kind feedback and would be absolutely thrilled to welcome you back again!

Once Upon a Beach staff

Posted: 5/9/2025

We could not have been happier with this home. This house was one of the cleanest homes I have ever rented. The pool was fantastic, the location was perfect and in general just a fabulous rental! 5 Stars for sure :)

Christine B - Posted: 6/19/2023

Thank you so much for the glowing review! 🌟 We’re absolutely thrilled to hear you had such a great experience and that the home exceeded your expectations—especially when it comes to cleanliness, which is something we take great pride in. We’re so glad you enjoyed the pool, the perfect location, and everything the home had to offer. Hearing that it earned a 5-star rating from you truly means the world to us! We’d love to welcome you back anytime for another fabulous stay!

Once Upon a Beach staff

Posted: 5/9/2025

Our family had an amazing time at this home after a well deserved vacation from part one of our vacation in the Disney area;) it was spacious and so close to the amazing beach using the access to the beach path from the backyard gate. Anna Maria is simply breathtaking and with so many cute restaurants and ice cream places nearby it was hard to pack up and go back north. Couldn’t have asked for a better ending to our vacation for our family, including our beloved pups. Thank you!

Shana B - Posted: 6/19/2023

Thank you so much for sharing your experience—we’re so happy to hear your family had an amazing time! 🌞 It sounds like the home was the perfect relaxing retreat after a busy first leg of your vacation, and we love that you were able to enjoy the easy beach access right from the backyard gate! 🏖️ Anna Maria truly is something special, and we completely understand how hard it is to say goodbye with all the charming restaurants and ice cream spots nearby. 🍦🐾 We’re especially glad your pups got to be part of the adventure too! It was a pleasure hosting you, and we’d be honored to welcome you all back again anytime.

Once Upon a Beach staff

Posted: 5/9/2025

Great location! 5 min walk to our favorite beach. Perfect spot; 3 bedrooms were great for our family. Pool and patio were excellent. Management team was super responsive and friendly. Highly recommend.

John - Posted: 6/7/2023