My sister and family friends stayed at the Manatee House from 6/10 to 6/20 and could not have enjoyed ourselves more! The home is exactly as depicted in the photos except that the angles make everything look bigger than they really are, but at just over 2000 sq ft, with 2 masters and 2 additional bedrooms, there was plenty of space. As an avid home cook, I usually bring along lots of my own cooking supplies and equipment but found the kitchen to be extraordinarily well-equipped for a vacation rental. We cooked every day. The beds are very comfortable, and the home was very clean. The pool area and the canal are as pictured and present a beautiful view. Please don't swim in the canal. Not only is there a possibility of alligators in the water but we also saw a number of juvenile bull sharks! My best friend caught what he called a "trophy red fish" right off the dock.
The wireless service at the house is fast and consistent throughout. The "Samsung Plus" television service is a little odd - we could have watched "Dr G - Medical Examiner" or "Kitchen Nightmares" 24/7 if we'd wanted to, but there is access to a number of streaming services, and we were able to hook up my laptop to the TV to see the Tampa Bay Rays games.
The home is in a very quiet and safe neighborhood off the main road. The biggest threat was the squadrons of mosquitos and no-see-ums, but you can get that anywhere in Florida. Daily heat indices of 105-106 degrees kept us indoors most days but that was no hardship in this beautiful home!
I can't say enough good about this home and about our host, Thomas. He was instantly available by phone and is clearly customer-service-oriented and eager to please. The Manatee House truly delivered what was promised and even exceeded our expectations. We hope to be able to return some day to relive this most pleasant get-away!
