The Lovelady Family

The staff at Sun Resorts was thrilled to finally meet the winners of the “Free Weekend at the Beach Castle Contest”, the Lovelady Family. Jennifer, Wes and their two sons Pierce and Braxton arrived from Alabama on June 6^th and were ready to hit the beach! Sun Resorts provided sand buckets, shovels and various other toys for the boys so Jennifer and Wes could take some time to rest and relax after their drive. Edible Arrangements (http://www.ediblearrangements.com/) provided a Fruit Bucket with yummy chocolate dipped strawberries, pineapple and other delicious items to keep the boys entertained also!

Jennifer and Wes were surprised at how many of the Beach Castle visitors are return guests and though “the people that stayed at the Beach Castle were so friendly and it was funny how they would recognize each other from the previous year or so and realize they all come down around the same time each year!  We hope to join them and become a “regular” ourselves! The condo was so comfortable and had a great view of the ocean.  The updated kitchen and bathrooms were great and also the tile floor was nice as well.  We are so use to having to pack beach towels and beach chairs every year we go to the beach - so it was very nice to not have to worry about that and also beach umbrellas were in our unit!  We ate at several restaurants in the area, but also had fun grilling out on by the beach.  And the sunsets - they were so beautiful - words really cannot describe their beauty!  The water was a beautiful blue-green that reminded us of the Bahamas or Aruba.  The whole island feel of the beach/water/accommodations really made us feel that we had flown to a Carribean Island - and that was my exact goal for this vacation!  This was not only a family vacation but a celebration of our 10th wedding anniversary.  Thank you for helping us celebrate in style! We had so much fun there at the Beach Castle. Everyone on the Beach Castle staff and the Sun Resorts International staff was so friendly and helpful. We had a great time and definitely  plan on coming again!”

Thank you, Lovelady’s for making our first annual contest a huge success and we look forward to seeing you soon! Happy Anniversary - we didn’t know!!

721 Linley St. Exterior Front

Each month, we advertise one property as our “Featured Property of the Month.” These homes are all exceptional rentals offering everything a traveler expects when embarking on a vacation.

This month’s featured property is a great waterfront cottage on Linley St. in the Village of Longboat Key!

This spacious 2 bedroom 2 bath cottage, situated in the historic village on the North end of Longboat Key is the ideal vacation spot for relaxation or water activities.  Sit back and enjoy the views as the sun rises over Sarasota Bay, or take in the sea breezes from the secluded yard surrounded by Hibiscus, and shaded by a huge Banyan tree. A boat launch and dock are within a few feet of the cottage where fishing and boating are exceptional.  Located near a well known local pub the Mar-Vista, and excellent seafood restaurant, Moore’s Stone Crab are only a “stones throw” away.  Let’s not forget the legendary “Beer Can Island” and miles of Gulf beaches - they are just a short walk away!

To learn more about this home, views rates and availability, and book your vacation, please visit: http://rentals.sunresortsinternational.net/rns/search/721Linley.aspx

Waterfront with Boat Dock

According to www.HomeAway.com there are 10 Decorating Styles that every homeowner must avoid if they hope to regularly rent out their property. Our area is saturated with vacation rentals, so you as the homeowner need to do everything in your power to put your property at the top of potential guests’ lists! Avoid these decorating faux pas at all costs:

1. Dingy chic. If a piece of furniture was once in your husband’s dorm room, it’s probably not ideal for your vacation home. Renters expect the furnishings at your property to be as nice as or nicer than their furniture at home.

2. Kitschy chic. Be wary of over-decorating. Too many trinkets, quilts, kitten photos, and natural artifacts can make your home feel cluttered. There’s no need to keep every seashell that your kids have ever picked up on the beach. A few decorative items in each room can go a long way.

3. Fraternity chic. Unless your vacation rental is a $15/night property, $59 futons and sheet-covered couches are never acceptable. Also, avoid bringing outdoor furniture indoors — it is rarely comfortable for long-term relaxing and can make a nice property seem like a frat house.

4. Partisan chic. Avoid political décor. Not everyone will share your views and you don’t want to risk alienating potential travelers on the basis of politics. This also applies to overly risqué or religious décor.

5. Hodgepodge chic. Don’t let your vacation home become the Salvation Army showroom. If the red leather couch that you just moved out of the rec room at your primary home doesn’t go with the beach-inspired pastels of your vacation rental, it’s probably time to invest in something that does.

6. Creepy chic. Avoid overly personal décor. While it’s fine to display a few family photos, think twice before constructing a shrine to your late grandmother, complete with her ashes.

7. Museum chic. Vacation rental homes are made to be lived in and accidents happen, especially when you have renters with children. If you have a valuable art collection or priceless family heirlooms you couldn’t bear to part with, you should probably display them at your primary home instead.

8. Spartan chic. There’s definite merit to less-is-more; however, your vacation home shouldn’t resemble military barracks. Add a little bit of color and softness to your home by adding some throw pillows and wall art.

9. Storage-room chic. Avoid cramming too much furniture into a room. While this may increase your sleep number, it can make your home feel crowded and claustrophobic.

10. Non sequitur chic. Typically, renters want an oceanside condo to feel bright and beachy and a mountain cabin to feel to rustic and cozy. It may not be the best idea to have a Hawaiian-themed living room in the Rockies or an homage to trophy hunting in the Caribbean.

Traveler’s look for homes with modern amenities and furnishings that are clean, bright and open. Keep it simple and comfortable and you should have no problem attracting guests!

The most important aspect when choosing a vacation rental for travelers are the amenities available to them. Whether it’s a fully stocked kitchen or wireless internet, guests want all of the comforts of home plus a few little extras to make their vacation time a memorable and relaxed experience. www.HomeAway.com has put together a very useful “Top Ten” list based on what traveler’s are searching for when they visit www.VRBO.com. Here is the list:

1. Pool - When people go on vacation, they typically look for some body of water in close proximity. Even if you don’t have a pool in your own backyard, advertise the shared pool in your complex or a nearby community pool.

2. Hot Tub – Hot Tubs have become a must-have amenity in many markets, but even in Florida they can be a great selling point! When the weather cools during the winter and people are unable to lay by the pool, a hot tub can increase the chance of a traveler booking your property.

3. “Pet Friendly” - According to the Travel Industry Association, 14% of all American adults have traveled with a pet at some point in the past three years. Although it may not be a traditional amenity, accepting pets at your vacation rental could significantly increase your bookings.

4. TV - Even with the rising popularity of HDTVs, just plain “TV” remains the more popular search term. “Cable” and “satellite TV” also rank highly in traveler searches. We tend to have rainy afternoons here in Florida, so a television is an especially important amenity on days that you can’t soak up the sun on the beach!

5. Tennis - If you don’t have a tennis court in your backyard, subdivision, or complex, consider looking up local courts and including information about them in your rental unit. The same can be said for golf courses…people love to golf when they visit our area!

6. Internet - Even on vacation, travelers still want to be connected, whether it’s for work, for staying in touch with family or just for fun. Wireless internet has become the preferred method and for many travelers this amenity is non negotiable. If you don’t already offer a WiFi connection, contact your local cable or Phone Company for more details.

7. “Jacuzzi” Tub - Just like Kleenex and Google, “Jacuzzi” is a brand name that has become synonymous with its category. Many travelers search for “Jacuzzi” when seeking a whirlpool bathtub, and some use “Jacuzzi” interchangeably with “hot tub.”

8. Pool Table – Pool tables, along with video games, dvds and board games provide indoor entertainment and give the guests extra fun things to do should they tire of the beach and want to relax in the A/C.

9. Fireplace – An indoor fireplace is wanted in areas with cooler climates, such as ski resorts, but for warmer areas, such as Florida, www.HomeAway.com recommends an outdoor fireplace. This creates a great ambiance for your guests and would be an unexpected but very exciting perk. Less expensive fire “pits” can be found at stores such as Lowes and Home Depot.

10. Porch – Any type of outdoor living space is important for a traveler, especially when they visit our area and want to enjoy the warm weather. Dinner on the patio, bird watching from the lanai or dolphin gazing from the balcony – everyone wants to be able to enjoy the outdoors while vacationing.

Many standard amenities, such as air conditioning, telephone and washer and dryer also ranked highly in traveler searches. While they might not sound as exciting, they are equally as important to travelers and should be included in your rental. If you’re considering adding new amenities to your vacation home, these top requests from actual travelers are a great starting point.

To view the AmericanStyle Magazine Top 25 Small Cities list in it’s entirety, click here.

]]> http://sunresortsinternational.net/travel-blog/2010/05/sarasota-named-4-small-city-art-america/feed/ http://sunresortsinternational.net/travel-blog/2010/05/gulf-oil-spill-florida-vacation/ http://sunresortsinternational.net/travel-blog/2010/05/gulf-oil-spill-florida-vacation/#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 19:30:35 +0000 SRI http://sunresortsinternational.net/travel-blog/?p=322 We know many of you are worried about how the Gulf oil spill will impact your summer vacation in Florida, and we would like to assure you that as of right now, everything is fine - our beaches are clear of oil and our water is safe. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the oil spill is currently 316 miles from St. Petersburg, and the NOAA trajectory shows no oil landfall in Florida within the next 72 hours. Of course, things can change at the last minute, so we encourage you to stay up to date on coverage. We will do our best to give guests and future guests immediate updates and we encourage you to call us should you have any concerns or questions regarding your stay. In the mean time, here are a few pieces of information provided by the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Is it safe to visit the beach?

Currently, it is safe to swim in our Gulf waters and to be on the beach.

Can you eat seafood in your local restaurants?
Absolutely.  There should be no health risk in seafood currently in the marketplace.
And restaurants will not purchase or sell any seafood that may be contaminated by the oil spill.

Can you still go fishing?
Currently, fishing is safe. The NOAA is enacting emergency regulations to close a portion of the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone to all fishing, but at this point that closure is in affect for 10 days and extends only to waters off the coast of Pensacola. If oil enters our shores, fishing will become prohibited in the oil spill-affected waters.

What are some helpful resources for seeking up-to-date information on the spill?
Florida’s Deepwater Horizon Response - http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/

-Friday 5/7

• Palm Avenue First Friday Walk - Downtown Saraota (6pm):  Enjoy gallery openings, dining, antiques, specialty shops and live performances as member of the Palm Avenue Arts Alliance sing, dance, stroll and serenade the community and its guests.
• The Black Spider performed by the Sarasota Youth - The Sarasota Opera House (7:30pm): Prepared to be creeped out in the best way possible! Composed by Judith Weir, this is a  15th-century story about an evil, venomous spider, and a 1983 newspaper account of a deadly virus that struck archeologists excavating the tomb of Casimir IV in 1970s Cracow, Poland. The Black Spider mixes eerie music with toe-tapping rhythms to create a thrilling operatic horror story.

-Saturday 5/8

• Classic Car Cruise Nights at Beneva Village (5 - 8pm): Car club members and any one with a classic car may join for an evening displaying their vehicles. This event is open to the public with no entrance fee.
• Southeast Regional Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park (8am): Rowing clubs from the southeast US will come to Sarasota to compete and qualify foe the US Rowing Youth Championships which takes place in June. Teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee will compete.
• PIZZA WARS at Evies Family Golf Center (2pm - 5pm): Enjoy a slice of pizza and help out the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund at the same time! Competing for the title of Sarasota’s best pie will be Bravo Italian, Bella Cucina, Casi-Di-Pizza, Cosimo’s Too, Francesco’s NY, Filippo’s, Rico’s Vertoris, Valentino’s, Evie’s & Cattlemen Cafe. We’ll be rooting for Rico’s!

-Sunday 5/9

• Mother’s Day at Mote Marine (10am - 5pm): Mom’s get free admission to Mote Marine this Sunday! Take the mother in your life for a day filled with sea animals, exploration and learning. Check out the gift shop after your tour and receive 10% most merchandise.
• Mother’s Day Meal at Cafe Baci (4pm - 8pm): Take your Mama to one of the area’s best Italian restaurants! Known for their traditional Italian cuisine, this is a great place to spend time with family while enjoying a delicious Sunday dinner.
• 5th Annual Mother’s Day Brunch at the Gardens (Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota): The brunch ticket price ($45 per person) includes Brunch, Gardens admission and Selby’s Garden Music Series featuring live music by the Venturas (swing, blues, jazz, jive and more) under the banyans from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Tickets for the brunch can be purchased at Selby Gardens Welcome Center, located at 900 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, Florida or on-line at www.selby.org.

445 N. Shore Exterior Front

Each month, we will be advertising one property as our “Featured Property of the Month.” These homes will all be exceptional rentals offering everything a traveler expects when embarking on a vacation.

This month’s featured property is a gorgeous home on Longboat Key: 445 N. Shore.

This nicely appointed, three bedroom, two bath elevated home overlooks the Gulf of Mexico’s Longboat Pass and sleeps 8 people.  Beautifully furnished with bright nautical décor, this home makes you feel as though you’ve arrived to your tropical destination the moment you walk through the door! Relax by your private heated pool and enjoy the lush tropical landscaping that surrounds you.  This home is just a short stroll to the beach, and less than a mile to several fine dining restaurants, making it the perfect combination of privacy, tranquility and convenience!

To learn more about this home, views rates and availability, and book your vacation, please visit: http://rentals.sunresortsinternational.net/rns/search/445NoShore.aspx