Coconut Hideaway: Beachfront on 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! COCONUT HIDEAWAY is one of the most charming and unique homes on Little Gasparilla Island. This is our private home -- not a 'rental unit' -- and we have decorated it with antiques, oriental carpets, original artwork and many collections from our travels abroad. Our home is eclectic and rustic and has been enjoyed by our family for over three decades. It is not a new home so does not have an updated kitchen or bathroom. If you are looking for new and modern, this is not the home for you. If you are comfortable with time-worn antiques with the patina of over a century of use, we fit the bill. The kitchen has 100-year old cupboards from an old general store. The TV sits on a wrapping table from a 120-year old Midwestern pharmacy, and even the doors were salvaged from 19th century homes. OLD FLORIDA STYLE RIGHT ON THE BEACH Our Caribbean-inspired home is built in the 'Old Florida' style and boasts soaring high ceilings, gleaming hardwood floors, warm cedar walls, Tiffany-style lamps, a dramatic open staircase and unobstructed views of the beach from almost every room. We offer two screened porches, front and back, and open decks surround the house for sunning. Unlike many homes which are merely 'gulf view' or which require a long walk across the island on hot sand, our home is directly on the beach! FREE CONCIERGE SERVICE TRANSPORTS LUGGAGE AND GROCERIES FOR YOU An island concierge can meet you at the dock upon your arrival and help transport your groceries and bags to the house AND carry them up the stairs for you! This service is free to you and he will also help you take everything back to the dock upon departure. (You must arrange it, however. We provide his contact information.) CHARMING DECOR AND MANY UNEXPECTED EXTRAS Comfortable handmade hammocks offer the perfect spot for reading. Al fresco dining is available on the front porch for balmy tropical evenings, or our indoor dining table seats 7-8. We have a breezy outdoor seating area on the front porch overlooking the Gulf, and a cozy conversation area on the back porch. We even have a tropical tiki hut nestled in the dunes, perfect for watching the sunset with a glass of wine...and a quiet tropical garden under the sea grapes, with orchids, frangipani, bamboo and ginger. The open-air outdoor shower is also a favorite of many of our guests, with steamy hot water on brisk winter evenings! We have a piano, many games and puzzles and even craft supplies! We have spent over 35 years making Coconut Hideaway a very special and unique beach cottage to share with friends and family. KING BEDS AND TWO LARGE BEDROOMS; (PLUS ONE SMALL BEDROOM and a downstairs guest room) Each of the two main bedrooms offers both a king-size bed and an additional small daybed perfect for small children. The cozy sleeping porch has a twin with an additional trundle (two twins) and has its own private entrance. (Teenagers love the privacy! Please note, however, this is a very small room, especially with the trundle pulled out. It has a window AC unit.) A downstairs guest room has doors that open to the tiki hut, a queen bed, window AC and its own sink and TV. (Please note this room has its own ground floor entrance and cannot be accessed from upstairs.) COUNTRY KITCHEN WITH FULLY STOCKED PANTRY The kitchen features granite counter tops, blender, Keurig coffee machine along with drip coffeemaker, microwave, toaster oven, coffee grinder and crock pot. Two refrigerators offer plenty of space for extra ice, sodas and snacks. We also offer access to our fully stocked pantry, so you don't have to bring as many groceries….and if you don’t feel like leaving the island, you can almost always put together an impromptu meal from our pantry! From canned goods and spices to rice and drink mixes, we keep our pantry stocked with a variety of food items just in case you don't feel like heading to the mainland. PET FRIENDLY Coconut Hideaway is pet-friendly with some basic restrictions….we request that pets be on monthly flea control. We have oriental carpets so housebroken pets are required. And aggressive dogs must be kept on leash at all times. Yards on the island are not fenced so you must keep your pet under control. BEACH AMENITIES We include beach chairs and umbrellas, we have a table and chairs in the front yard overlooking the beach, we have a varied selection of floats and sand toys (depending on what is left by previous guests) as well as kayaks and a paddle board. Our tiki hut overlooks a small chiminea which can provide cozy ambiance on chilly evenings. PEACEFUL ISLAND AMBIANCE As part of the barrier island chain that includes Sanibel and Captiva Island, Little Gasparilla Island offers the peace and serenity that those overcrowded islands cannot. As a bridge-less barrier island, accessible only by water taxi, Little Gasparilla Island has fewer tourists, no high rises and no crowds on the beach. You vacation with dolphins and egrets, gopher tortoises and sea turtles. Unlike the congested 'condo/townhome' complexes to the south, the beach in front of Coconut Hideaway is rarely crowded. The fishing is superb from the beach or the dock, and children and adults alike will also enjoy shelling, snorkeling, riding skim boards or simply floating on a raft. Noisy nightlife is non-existent, though you may encounter ghost crabs or giant sea turtles on the beach. There is daily water taxi service to and from the island, so mainland visits are relatively convenient. Please note that most houses on Little Gasparilla island are on stilts. Unfortunately, we are not handicap-accessible. We provide baby gates for stairs inside the home but small children will require supervision on the stairs. 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. Please note that some supplies, golf carts and tools are stored under the house so the LGI vacation rentals staff may occasionally enter the storage area to pick up supplies or tools. They try to be as quiet as possible. The staff will not be entering the home. IMPORTANT: • You must notify us if you wish to bring or rent a boat. New regulations enacted by the state of Florida limit boats to 24 ft. at our dock. • Please note there is no smoking in the beach house or anywhere in the property.. We think you will find your vacation on Little Gasparilla Island to be one of the most relaxing and enjoyable holidays ever! And, at Coconut Hideaway, we try to make it as easy as possible to have a stress-free vacation. Includes a slip on dock number 51 (max boat length of 24 ft). WiFi - Complimentary wireless Wi-Fi with no data limits Pet Policy - pet-friendly with $100 non-refundable fee per pet Vacation Rental Damage Protection - $59 fee for “all risk” damage protection through Waivo 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) 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 and gas; propane provided Coffee maker - drip (filters provided) and Keurig Parking - $8/night ($10/night if you have a boat trailer) at Eldred's Marina where you meet the boat taxi Holiday surcharges: applied for reservations for Independence Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Labor Day, and Christmas/New Years timeframes. PLEASE NOTE THAT MINIMUM NIGHTLY STAYS MAY BE INCREASED FOR THESE DATES AS WELL. *** LARGE SCREEN HDTV with DVR in living room and upstairs bedroom *** *** BEACH UMBRELLA, BOOGIE BOARDS, FLOATS, RAFTS and BEACH TOYS PROVIDED*** *** ACCESS TO FULLY-STOCKED PANTRY *** *** TROPICAL GARDEN AND TIKI HUT *** *** FREE CONCIERGE SERVICE (meets you at the dock and helps transport bags and groceries to the house*** 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 bring all groceries to the island with you. • There are no stores of any kind on the island, not even a convenience store. • 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. • Little Gasparilla Island is not a resort. On-island staff is limited. The entire island is private property and you must respect the environment, your neighbors and island residents. Avoid trespassing on private docks. • The beach is dog-friendly but dogs must be under your control, non-aggressive and most homes charge a pet fee. PLEASE NOTE: We do require that two members of each group must be over 25