Beachfront Family Vacation House

Hi Everyone,

My extended family (11 total) 4 of which are children (1 teen). We are looking for a weeks rental in southern Florida (Keys?) for the 2nd week in March %26#39;08. We are looking for a 5 Bdr. 3-4 Bth, pool %26amp; jacuzzi, sandy beachfront, child-safe. Our budget is in line with what our ';wants'; are.

I have looked at so many places on the net but was hoping for someones opinion that has been to a place with these amenities that they loved.

We want to be under one roof. And the idea of a private (not resort) rental really appeals to us.

Thank you for your time.

Beachfront Family Vacation House

What would you like outside the house? Quiet? Lot%26#39;s of shopping and nightlife? I go to enjoy the wildlife and a quiet environment with little sops, no malls [I have enough malls by me] cruises to surrounding islands. I always want a pool whether I have a house or condo, and actually prefer bayfront, where I can walk to the beach. I stay on Captiva mostly and can recommend it if you%26#39;re low key and like shelling a watersports better than the Key West party type atmosphere. Like Key West, Captiva is not your place. It would be too low key. Easy to get to from Ft Myers Airport RSW. More like the Caribbean than FL.

Beachfront Family Vacation House

Hmmmm...with kids...

maybe Sanibel Island

or Siesta Key Beach

We are a pretty low key family...not into the shopping or nightlife. Mostly beachbums who want to sit around and chat, swim, and relax. The kids are low maintenence. We might want to eat out a couple of times but mostly we want to cook our own meals and just kind of hang out and get away from the snow in Maine, during March.

Thank you for you responses...gave me some more places to look up.

We went to Captiva Island for the 1st time this June with our 4 kids (3 low maintenance, 1 very high maintenance! =) and it was exactly what you described as what you are looking for. Laid back, lush, tropical, but the kids can still go parasailing, rent sea kayaks, bikes, etc. Captiva seems to have an abundance of lovely private homes to rent, most with private pools and many on the beach. (If you like to browse, try www.captiva-island.com or www.royalshell.com)

The Gulf is wonderful for the kids, between the warm, gentle water and the shelling. You might spot dolphins, too!

I loved it so much that pretty much the 1st thing we did after returning to Colorado was I booked a sweet 4 b/rm house for spring of %26#39;08. We are like you--after a winter of snow in the Rockies, it%26#39;s beach time! We are also very laid back and prefer cooking in our own beach house to a night life.

F.Y.I., I%26#39;ve never been to the Keys, so can%26#39;t compare.

Have fun planning your trip!

You fit right in on Captiva seawana. Great place for the laid back.

have a look at annamaria.com.

Lovely houses on anna maria island nr sarasota. AMI is laid back and friendly, no high rise buildings, no chain restaurants but some great local ones, beautiful beaches. Suits us great but may or may not suit you.