Surf's Up: Beachfront on a tropical island!

Leave your car and your cares at the marina because Little Gasparilla 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, Little Gasparilla 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! This island provides the perfect get away because there are no cars, shops or restaurants, just relaxation. Surf's Up is a beautiful beach cottage just steps away from the Gulf. The luxurious master bedroom has a comfortable California King and the master bath has a large shower and jetted tub. Second bedroom has a Queen Bed, third bedroom has a pull-down Murphy bed that sleeps 2. (NOTE: This bedroom has the laundry pair also, and opens to the outside. It is quite a small bedroom.) There is also an extra guest room downstairs with bunk beds and an additional double bed. The downstairs room has a small kitchenette and another small bathroom. Teenagers and kids love the privacy of their "own" guest apartment. (Please note this room has its own ground floor entrance and cannot be accessed from upstairs.) The open living, dining, kitchen area means everyone can enjoy being together while meals are prepared AND everyone has a view of the Gulf from the dining room table! The best part of Surf's Up is its breezy front porch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. In the mornings you will see dolphins swimming by, and in the evenings you have a front row seat for LGI's spectacular sunsets. WiFi - available free -- based on cellular signal -- but can be sketchy and often does not work. Adequate for web-browsing, emails, social media, but not games or streaming. Pet Policy - pet-friendly with $100 non-refundable fee (per pet). The following breeds are NOT permitted: Akita, American Bull Dog, Beaucerons, Caucasian Mountain Dog, Chow Chow, Doberman Pinchers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Keeshounds, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terriers, Presa Canarios or Rottweilers. *Extra occupants- Rates are based upon 6 guests. An extra occupant fee of $100 per (per guest) over 6 guests will be applied to the reservation. Groups larger than 6 will be permitted only if the home is being rented by a single family and manager pre-approval is required. Please be aware that occupant restrictions include all children regardless of age. Boat Slip - included on dock number 44 (this is also where the water taxi will drop you off) Complimentary Concierge- will meet you on the dock with a golf cart to assist with transporting your luggage and groceries to the home Satellite TV - yes Grill Type - charcoal Parking - $8/night ($10/night if you have a boat trailer) at Eldred's Marina where you meet the boat taxi Vacation rental damage protection- The $59 charge listed as an "administrative fee" 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. LITTLE GASPARILLA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...PLEASE READ! • You cannot drive your car to the island and the only access is via water taxi; there is no vehicle ferry. • You must park your car at the marina at the mainland but it will be perfectly safe there; parking is $8 a day. • The water taxi is $15 per person each way and he will drop you right at our dock • You must bring all groceries to the island with you. • There are no stores of any kind on the island, not even a convenience store. You can buy ice on the island, however. • There is no need to bring drinking water; the water from the tap is safe and drinkable. • There are first responders on the island and we have 911 service in case of an emergency. • Golf carts are not necessary; the island is only 100-200 yards wide in most places and our concierge will meet you upon arrival to bring you to the house. But they are fun to go exploring. • You can fish off the dock or the beach but non-Florida residents will need to purchase a fishing license. • The beach is dog-friendly but dogs must be under your control, non-aggressive and we do charge a pet fee of $100 per pet. INTERNET: There is no wired internet service on the island. There are a couple options for wifi. Most people just opt to use the mobile hotspots on their smartphones, especially if they have unlimited data or a large data plan. Cell service is fairly good on the island and that is the most convenient option...and it seems to work a bit faster. We can provide instructions on hot spotting if you are not familiar. We urge guests NOT to plan on using the wi-fi for entertainment...no streaming music or videos, etc. It is usually adequate for checking emails, etc. Just keep in mind that it is NOT the internet you are used to on the mainland. (It is especially helpful to remind kids and teenagers who are used to unlimited data!) We usually suggest that people download books and movies to their tablets or e-readers BEFORE coming to the island. 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.