6/10 Okay
Verified traveller
13 Mar 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Charming Old Florida House In Need of TLC
My husband and I spent two weeks at this house in a historic development of Spanish Colonial Revival houses built during the Roaring Twenties. On VRBO it looked charming - a piece of Old Florida with tile roof, pecky cypress front doors, and a new paving stone courtyard. While all these exterior details were true, our visions of our quaint Florida getaway were only partially met.
Close to Tamiami Trail, the house is an easy drive to Sarasota attractions but also very close to the airport and is in the flyway so there is some airport noise.
The house is roomy with nine-foot ceilings and large public spaces and bedrooms. The beds are very comfortable, the two-zoned HVAC appears new, there are three large smart TVs, high-speed internet, and the ability to sign in to your streaming accounts. The kitchen is well-equipped, there is hot water on demand, and there is easy parking. The house is clean for the most part.
However, the interior is drab with only a perfunctory attempt at décor. There is chipping paint throughout, and the kitchen cabinets’ vinyl coating is peeling. The screened-in porch has no comfortable chairs and the view from the porch is of a dilapidated garage next door. The washer and dryer are in the garage which is also used as a workshop with lots of paraphernalia.
This is all a shame because the house has such potential. With repairs, painting, and staging it could be a five-star rental.
Verified traveller
Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2024