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Serene Island Cottage Waterfront Haven-pet friendly.

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Photo gallery for Serene Island Cottage Waterfront Haven-pet friendly.

Property grounds
Interior
Dining
TV
Beach towels

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Terra Ceia, FL
  • The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Riverwalk
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • LECOM Park
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Sarasota, FL (SRQ-Sarasota-Bradenton Intl.)
    ‪33 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

Exterior

The Cosy Getaway

  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
4.8 out of 5, Exceptional, (7)
The price is €164
for 1 apartment
includes taxes & fees
23 Mar - 24 Mar
The Cosy Getaway

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Serene Island Cottage Waterfront Haven-pet friendly.

Beautiful and serene old Florida Waterfront cottage. Fishing is great right from backyard. Go out on kayaks (6)are provided for your enjoyment FREE. There is also a 3 man canoe that is also included FREE WITH YOUR STAY. The bay is around the corner and lots to explore including some tiny natural islands.
You are close to the most beautiful beaches. Ana Maria Island, Siesta Beach, Sarasota, longboat Key are south of cottage. Go north over skyway bridge and you are in St. Petersburg Beach, concerts, theaters, restaurants, etc.
Hope to see you soon.


Complete home for you.


The whole house except shed in back yard and owner closet in dining area.

Bugs can be abundant at times. After sunset it is when they are more prevalent.
Recommend citronella candles for exterior of home after sunset. Bug spray could come in handy too during certain times of the year.
During your stay at this cottage, you're just a quick walk from Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site. A kitchen and 2 bathrooms are available in the cottage.
  • Air-conditioned cottage with kitchen, washing machine and 2 bathrooms
  • 9 minutes by car from Tampa Bay and 14 minutes from Riverwalk
Serene Island Cottage Waterfront Haven-pet friendly. offers its guests barbecue grills and a garden. The front desk is open around the clock.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this Palmetto cottage.

Property manager

Gloria Machado

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table

Entertainment

  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • Up to 9 kg per pet

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Note from host: Smoking allowed outside of home ONLY.

Things to do

  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 2 (weight limit: 20 lb per pet)
    • Service animals are exempt from fees.
  • Note from host: $65 per pet stay for extra sanitizing and cleaning

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Note from host: Must be supervised by adults at all times.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Parties and events must be approved by owner.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
Serene Island Cottage Waterfront Haven
Serene Island Cottage Waterfront Haven pet Friendly
Serene Island Cottage Waterfront Haven pet friendly.
Serene Island Cottage Waterfront Haven-pet friendly. Palmetto

Serene Island Cottage Waterfront Haven-pet friendly. Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 26 out of 36 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 36 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 36 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 36 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Andrew F.

Liked: Cleanliness
On the Water Haven
Great, clean and spacious property set in a quiet spot!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place to stay!!
This was the second time we’ve stayed at this home!! It’s great place to bring the family and you can kayak from the backyard! It’s conveniently located and not far from any major beach in the area! The host Gloria has always been amazing to us.. can’t recommend enough!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

Debby K.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Disappointed
First let me say that the property owner was responsive to our calls. She was out of town during our visit and had a neighbor meet us and show us around the property. We liked the fact that there was water access as well as kayaks included in the rental. Our first problem came when we discovered a cage in the backyard with a couple of dead animals. The stench was incredibly bad. There was no way we could be outside. We talked the neighbor about it and called the property owner. We were told this would be taken care of. Our second problem was the musty odor inside the home. My husband was actually having trouble with his allergies and headaches. We noticed that there was black mold in the air conditioning unit that was in one of the bedrooms. We turned that off but his health issues did not resolve. We were in town for my daughter's wedding and did not have time or honestly the desire for repeated phone calls to have the issue resolved. We did notify VRBO about the issues with hopes they would mediate and help with the issues. Apparently according to the owner they never notified her. We decided to find another rental. We followed up with VRBO who did eventually contact the owner but told us it would be between our parties to resolve the issue. The property owner initially stated she would give us a partial refund but has since changed her mind. We are in the process of challenging this. For us this home was inhabitable.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ed R., Lakeville

Liked: Cleanliness
Spring Break with Adult children - Awesome!
This is our second stay at this property and we will be back again. I share this listing with all our friends. Gloria the owner was super easy to work with. She responded quickly and was flexible with our schedule. The location is very laid back on a dead end street in the aquatic preserve. We LOVE the 6 kayaks plus canoe. Just get on board in the back yard, then paddle the canal for about 100 yards and you are in the preserve. We saw dolphins the first trip plus spent 2 hours with a pod of curious manatee. On the trip last week we saw 6-8 dolphins within 50-200 yards of our kayaks for maybe an hour. We found another pod of manatee one day and returned the next day to find them again. They get very curious and come up to you. A word of advice - we saw them mostly in the early morning - between 7a - 10a. We also learned how to find signs of them as they do not surface like dolphins - you can be right next to them and not notice until you hear their blow hole or you might just see a nose come up. Be patient - we did not find them every day but they are there! Use google earth for deeper spots. We turned right when we came out of the canal. We found them in a triangle between the canal, the small bird island in the middle of the bay and the bay going back to the right. If you had to rent kayaks you would pay $35+/person for just 4 hours but they are included here every day! Its like staying for free! Our son did catch fish from the back yard at high tide as well.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

2/10 Terrible

Sally A.

Disliked: Cleanliness
BEWARE: We Were Unable to Enter the Property
Our experience was nearly identical to that described in the previous review entitled "A Big Great Disappointment." We also never received check-in instructions. When we arrived, the door was wide-open and the place was a shambles. Not until 24 hours later did VRBO tell us we could book something on Expedia and and later be reimbursed. Too late...we were only there for 3 nights and had given up by then. Not sure whether our booking was before or after the previous reviewer's, but it is shocking that VRBO allowed it to happen twice. The owner had previously been very responsive to my texts, so i believe something prevented her from tending to her property. I do not fault her. What is appalling is that VRBO did not step in after after either my or the other reviewer's booking so that another customer's vacation would not be ruined. Also, the length of time (24 hours, five of which spent on the phone with me) that the Customer Support/Rebooking teams took to resolve the issue is not acceptable.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

2/10 Terrible

Tamara T.

Disliked: Cleanliness
WARNING, WARNING, WARNING, THIS PLACE AND THE HOST IS A FRAUD
I had booked this home 9 months before our trip. This was a Christmas gift, family trip for our family to relive previous family memories in the Bradenton area for our 5 year old granddaughter. In January Gloria had contacted us and wondered if we were still planning on staying at her home because it wasn't showing up on her VRBO calendar. We called her and talked to her for about an hour. She seemed like such a nice host. She told us we were all set for our memorable trip and couldnt wait to meet us. Fast forward to March. Our memorable trip was soon going to become a nightmare. I tried reaching out to Gloria a week before our trip and couldnt reach her by text or phone. I contacted VRBO with my concerns and was told we would have to arrive at the property before they could do anything. Sooooo we arrived and NO Gloria, NO code for the door, we looked in the windows furniture was covered up and it was a mess around the cottage. Our sweet cottage that was going to help us create our family memories was gone. Her neighbors were very kind and was trying to help us reach out to her but to no avail. I'm writing this review with tears as all of our vaction dreams diminished. Please always make sure you buy the insurance for your trips. THIS WOMAN IS A FRAUD!!! We don't want anybody else to go through what we had to endure.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

2/10 Terrible

Lily B.

A big great disappointment
We drove 14 hours to get to the property. Owner did not provide check in info. We called numerous times/left voice mails. We were stranded in an unfamiliar place. VRBO placed all 4 of us in a tiny room in motel 8 while looking for a comparable property that they did not end up finding. We had to go home after 3 horrible days. Our spring break was ruined.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Robert M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice Quiet Location
It was a very nice location with access to the water. Overall I would recommend and will in future if traveling to this area give it a serious consideration. Gloria is an excellent host and I would never hesitate to rent a property she had as I am sure she would address any issues if they arose. Thank you Gloria for a wonderful stay. The only drawback is that if you are using a boat that needs a bit of depth it is slow going to the channels but after that it is a breeze.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Ray S.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Definitely NOT a 5/5 property
Of the 27 currently posted reviews of this property, 23 rate it 5/5. There is something wrong here. I don't like leaving bad reviews but there is just NO WAY this property deserves a 5/5 review! I'm rounding up giving it 3/5, it should be 2.5, mostly due to bad odors and lack of cleanliness.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tammy D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Terra Ceia Vacation
Quiet and peaceful very relaxing. Great location Close to beautiful beaches. We definitely enjoyed our stay. Gloria was very quick to respond Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Diane S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peace & Quiet
Beautiful serene location on the canal. Everything included for a pleasant stay. I must comment on a few issues. The trash can lids are not secure and several times animals had strewn the garbage all over the neighborhood. What a mess to pick up! Neither the gas grill nor the charcoal grill had been cleaned for use. Also, there was a damp, foul smell from the backyard screened in porch, which was unfortunate. Other than that, the place was very enjoyable. Close proximity to beaches and other attractions.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Will C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location!
We enjoyed our time at this home! The fishing, the house, the cleanliness, everything was great!!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shaina B., Monticello

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful cute home
Location was excellent and Gloria was wonderful with any questions and helping out. The house looked just like the pictures and was comfortable. Accommodated 4 adults and 2 teenagers wonderfully. Very close to beautiful beaches and great fishing spots. I did not go out on the kayaks/ canoe, but the family did and had a blast!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pamela A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Secluded and peaceful, still close to everything.
Everything you need at the home, secure neighborhood. Large screened porch. Excellent internet. Roomy kitchen. There is a Kcup coffee pot and a toaster oven along with a range, oven, dishwasher, and large refrigerator. Gloria was very responsive when we had questions. Unique property on a canal intersecting with another canal. Saw a manatee and rays going by in the water which was quite clear. Nephew took canoe out to bay which is very close. Loved seeing the birds who came to the canals.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gwendolyn D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Little bungalow
Our stay was wonderful. We had a blast. We took the kayaks out and fished. My family had a great time. Also very close driving distance to the beautiful beaches. It was also a plus my daughter was able to bring her little doggie!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sandra P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend Getaway
The property was as described. We weren't able to use the kayaks but they were available.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

6/10 Okay

Barb C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet Quiet Peace
Nestled among huge estates is the small village of original homes on Terra Ceia Island The home is an older home situated on a canal where there is access for kayaks, that are graciously provided by the hostess Gloria the hostess was most helpful answering questions and addressed any problems immediately
Stayed 30 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Terra Ceia
Very nice and relaxing. Thanks, Gloria
Stayed 11 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Eliana S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stay
Gloria was always quick in her response and very friendly. We had a great time there! So much fun, kayaking, fishing and just relaxing!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carmen F., Miami

Liked: Cleanliness
Secluded bungalow amidst glorious mansions in an area steeped in history!
Our week long family getaway was perfect! Gloria was incredibly attentive to all our needs before, during and after. There’s always someone that leaves their shoes under the bed! If your not kayaking in the canal in the back you’re taking a long walk to see preserved Caloosa Indian mounds or the beautiful gulf. St. Petersburg is just 15 minutes away as is Bradenton with all its fabulous gulf side restaurants and shops. Don’t miss the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. Well worth the 30 minutes drive! The house is well appointed with everything you may need during your stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stacy B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome trip
We enjoyed the house so much. Very homey and had everything we needed including shampoo and cleaning supplies. We loved the kayaks and used them almost everyday and even got to see dolphins. The location was amazing. We went to 3 different beaches and loved them all. Go eat at Alvarez Mexican restaurant, wonderful! Thank you Gloria for sharing your house. It has been the most wonderful vacation. We would love to come back. Stay here, you will love it
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great hidden gem with water access
Nice cottage type home with 3 bedrooms. Great accommodations with kayaks and barbecue on back porch.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Robert B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing right on the water!
Really loved this place! Location was in a good quiet area right on the bay and minutes from the ocean… (definitely recommend Anna Maria beach) We loved being able to kayak the water ways around the house.. We were fortunate enough to have met Gloria when we first arrived and she was super nice and very accommodating!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ryan C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Kayakers dream
Cozy little house located off the beaten path but 15 min to fine dining and the city. Manatees in your back yard for breakfast or paddling out in the kayaks to catch the sunset. Either way, this house is a win! Thanks Gloria!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Allison M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay!
We had a wonderful long weekend here! Lots of outdoor activities on the property and nearby. Nice and quiet neighborhood, clean and well maintained house. Owner was quick to respond to questions and friendly. If we end up back in that area we would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022