So if I factored in all the variables, I would round up to 4 stars here (not to be confused with…read morethe actual hotel star ratings). One major variable being availability on the key, which is not much. First off the price was right. Especially for being right on the beach on one of the famous Sarasota keys. And not only being on the beach but newly renovated and fully capable to handle a family get a way weekend. With a nice publix right down the street you can easily stock up your suite for a long weekend stay that doesn't break the bank with having to eat out every meal. The suite has a fully functional kitchen with oven, stove, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, full sized refrigerator and freezer, dish washer, and cupboards stocked with some essential items for cooking and eating. This is a huge benefit for people staying for a long weekend or even longer. Not many places to eat on the key, and most of them are up there in price or not much on the menu for little ones. It also is very closely located to a fully involved Publix. So either grab some groceries for the weekend, or some cold cuts from the deli, Chinese food, or any of the many offerings Publix has. You can also bring back some meat to throw on the grill provided in the common area back at the hotel. Even though the outside looks weathered (as most beach locations do), the inside was very clean and brand new renovations made it feel fresh and new. The living room had a dining room table right next to an amazing view from the huge windows. Also a couch with pull out bed, a Murphy pull down bed, and some comfy chair recliners. The outside patio had a table and 2 nice chairs to enjoy the outside. The place even came with a washer and dryer in the unit to keep those towels and swimsuits clean and dry for all the repeat usage over your stay. The hotel also had a little pool to splash around in. Nothing too special but nice to take a quick dip in or let the kids splash around. Tables, umbrellas, and chairs provided. They also give you complimentary beach umbrellas with the sand anchors as well as lounge chairs. You can even take out some bogey boards. And being steps from the beach can't be beat. Another plus they provided complimentary large beach towels for you to use. Definitely taking some extra steps to add to the value. I guess the only knock I really had on the place was the cramped and small parking situation and the noisy conjoined door. It was not insulated well at all to block sound. Could hear the neighbors fairly clearly when they were close to the door. Lucky for us they were nice and quiet people and it didn't actually disturb us, but we are a loud family with 2 loud kids so I can only imagine how it sounded on their side. Or how our enjoyment could've changed if we did have loud people next to us. They definitely need to look to improve the sound proofing around those conjoined doors. And there also isn't a lot of bells and whistles to this place. But you go here for a nice peaceful and easy beach weekend getaway, not if you are looking for hustle and bustle. Overall it was a great little vacation, and a big part of that was staying at this suite. I feel fully confident in choosing this place again when we return, as well as recommending it to family and friends.

We booked room 105. Based on photos on VRBO, the living area was much, much smaller than the pics…read moreindicated never having seen the inside. The sofa was a futon which was very low and uncomfortable (hard). No other chairs were there so we brought in the beach chairs off the patio to sit on. Wife & I have back back and knee issues respectively and getting up and down was very difficult. The living room area was quite uncomfortable and the TV was about 3' away from your face. The room is not meant to sit in during a rainy day or at night while relaxing. I wouldn't recommend this unit before looking at it. The overall cleanliness was good and smelled fresh when we arrived. The kitchen was adequate with stove, microwave, full-sized fridge and dishwasher. The grounds were well manicured and each day except weekends someone wiped down furniture and blew off leaves & debris. Pool water was clear, however our son who has a pool business pointed out black algae all over the sides and bottom. The tiles on side also need a good cleaning. Gas grill was in tough shape and only one burner worked. Access to beach was very good and the beach was clean. Overall the room is a 2-3 and the facility is a 4.

Love the location on Longboat Key. Condo we stayed in (406) was very nice - everything you need for…read moreyour stay. View of the Gulf a bit obstructed by palm trees but still amazing. Inexpensive laundry facilities on site available for longer stays. Only 40 units in the building. Chairs and umbrellas provided. Staff very helpful. Will reserve a condo at this location again.

Great location, great price, great unit, great staff. I found this place when I saw dolphins video…read more Woohoo! Dolphins promoted this place, they got me! Very nice communications with the staff prior to our stay and during our stay. I spoke with Cindy on the phone and was told about everything I needed to know up front. Donna and Cindy who are in-charge at the lobby were helpful, nice and informative. Their maintenance staff members are also very helpful. As guests at this condominium, you must follow the rules. They really keep the place super clean. Cleanliness, quiet, courteous to other guests, are part of the deal. We enjoyed this place so much that I didn't want to leave. We stayed here for 10 nights and we got one night free (not sure whether this is an on-going promotion); we had the best deal. Hubby barbecued once and we had the best meal. Supermarket Publix is just across the street so we didn't go hungry here. The building has 2 sides, facing the ocean and facing the street. Although we picked the one facing the street, the unit was so amazing: beautiful kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom and a bedroom (one-bedroom unit). We had enough towels. The unit provides a beach umbrella. This place has more than what we ask for, so it's a bonus to see that everything is well-prepared for us. We were on the beach and the pool everyday. The pool's depth is between 4 and 9 ft. Best beach time is evening when the tide is low and 100% visibility. Morning around 10ish is nice to swim in the ocean too (clear water) but early AM the water is slightly rough (summer time). I didn't feel that hot when I was in the ocean before noon. We enjoyed talking to guests who are regulars and some guests told us that they are from Florida but come here for vacation many times, cool! It is a quiet building with not a lot of people crowding one place. It's private and the beach is clean, unpolluted with beautiful water. I was hoping to swim with dolphins like I did last year when we stayed in Lido Beach but they might have come in while I was upstairs. That's ok, next time. We'd like to come back to this same condominium and enjoy a beautiful sunset every evening. And yes I got beautiful seashells from this area yay! Hope to do this again next year because Longboat Key has been our regular destination that we have to do every year. Magnificent location and vacation rental. Thank you all! Highly recommended.

Terrible Customer Service. They will not accommodate you or your party in any way shape or form…read more Avoid booking through RVA at all costs.

The great: The property in Siesta Key has an outstanding…read morelocation as it is a block from the beautiful beach of Siesta Key. There are two pools that you can use, and both are kept warm and clean and there are beach and pool toys that either the resort puts out or guests (like us) leave. I discuss management below, but Jamie was the exception to otherwise terrible management. The good: The units themselves are OK, but you can tell that they don't spend much time maintaining them. We rented multiple units and each had at least one broken appliances, all of them are sparsely stocked. The resort doesn't leave anything in them (even things like salt/pepper etc.) and only leave enough paper goods or soap/shampoo for getting you started. Towels are provided, but not refreshed, you need to wash them yourself. They do not clean during your stay, and you are asked to help clean up when leaving even though they charge a cleaning fee. The horrible: Management starting with the sales people and management at RVA could care less about anyone renting the units. Prices have dramatically gone up, but even for returning guests of multiple units there is absolutely no appreciation for you as a customer. They are rude and unwilling to even consider making you feel good about renting there. I guess that is what the outstanding location allows them to do.

Details !The reason Fl. Vacation Connection Is our go to Longboat rental agent is because of how…read morethey handle all the details. We have been renting gulf beach properties for decades and have dealt directly with owners ,agencies and realtors and none compare to FVC ( Michael Sanders is the worst Their properties are well equipped and very clean . If there is a maintenance problem it is taken care of immediately. Check-in and check out are quick and easy. Most importantly they communicate well and listen to what the renter desires. Highly recommended !

This is an excellent rental company. We have been working with them for over a year and have always…read morereceived outstanding service.

The "Cottage" is Old Florida. Built in 1920 it has been lovingly restored and features all the…read moreservices a traveler could want. The Cottage has high speed internet access, custom cable channels and more. Check the web site for more information www.longboatrental.com

We spent a lovely family vacation here recently. The townhouse is spacious, clean and well…read moreoutfitted. Everything you need just bring food and clothes! Free WiFi and cable TVs in living room and bedrooms. Owners have really taken care to provide for a comfortable relaxing stay. The outdoor patio is charming and a nice place for morning coffee. Access to the huge (junior olympic size) pool with lounge chairs is included. Har-tru tennis courts and newly updated fitness facility are available for a fee. The Cedars also has an on-site restaurant and poolside tiki bar. The beach is a five minute walk from the resort across Gulf of Mexico Drive or you can drive and park at one of the 25 beach or bay access points on the island. Stayed July 2017 and hope to return again!

We have stayed here in unit 205 several times and have nothing but good things to say about this…read morelocation and the unit itself. The property is kept in great shape and has a very relaxing environment between the pool/hot tub and the fantastic views of the water and mangroves. There are docks to fish off of and a bait shop right around the corner which also provides boat rentals if that's your thing. The beach itself is a short (5 minute) walk and is very secluded with lots of local wildlife. St Armand's circle is a short drive away, downtown Sarasota is about 20 minutes. We like the quick drive to downtown as we have come to love several restaurants there and the weekly farmers market. We couldn't recommend this enough for a vacation rental. Between the views, fishing, local eating, things to do and overall relaxing atmosphere we plan on coming back for future vacations.

This was our second Christmas holiday vacation with Lizzie Lu's. This time we stayed for 3 weeks…read moreand have nothing but glowing things to say!! As always, the property was immaculate and had everything needed to make it a stellar stay. I really appreciated the extremely well-equipped kitchen, as I love to cook. The private patio/pool area was just perfect for our Shih Tzu, Huey. The grounds are magnificently maintained, which is amazing, as they were just recovering from 2 hurricanes. Jill and Ben could not have been more attentive hosts. We needed a couple of things and they were on it immediately. No issue is too small and they take them all seriously. My husband and I cannot say enough about this property. It is well run and a pleasure to enjoy. We can't wait to return. Ellen De Huff

I've been renting from Lizzy Lu's for the past four years. They are without a doubt the Best real…read moreestate firm I've dealt with in my lifetime. Their properties are immaculate and beautifully furnished. The service you receive from Ben and his staff goes above and beyond the call of duty. When our living room TV malfunctioned, one hour later Ben was at our door with a new one. When I mentioned I needed a bicycle for my physical therapy, one was delivered a few hours later. Courteous, efficient, reasonable, and accommodating are all adjectives that describe this company.