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These are comments we have received from guests who have stayed in our villa “We had a lovely time, thank you. The weather in the first week was a little rough (following the hurricane!!) but after that (and our discovery of a deserted beach in Boca Grande) we had a great time. The fridge magnet for Kevin Luphold is a great idea, Kaye myself and two of our boys had great day out with him fishing in the back water, just wish we’d managed to do this in week 1 so we could have gone again!! We bought a few beach items too to add to those in the garage, again, I hope you don’t mind us leaving them behind for others? It seemed a shame to throw them away. We had a lovely time and would recommend you to friends and family, the Villa is in a wonderful location and the local beaches are fantastic.” Adrian, UK, August 2008 “It is now a week since we returned from our holiday. We had a wonderful week in your villa. Thank You!” Juliet, UK, August 2008 “I just wanted to say thank you for allowing us the use of your beautiful Villa. We had a fantastic time, the weather was gorgeous. Good thing we aren't there this week - hope the bad storm does not do much damage!” Mimi, US, July 2008 “Our vacation is over and we had a ball, thank you for the
use of your Robina, US, June2008 “We are now back home after our holiday, the house and area were lovely.” Ann, UK, April 2008 “We had a terrific time at your home. It was a wonderful home. The extra features, like the badly equipment, beach toys, etc. were really nice to have. Thank you for renting it to us. Our weather was great and I love coming home to Florida.” Herb, US, March 2008 “Just to say, thank you for a great week at your house, thoroughly enjoyed it.” Henrik, US, March 2008 “Sorry I didn’t talk to you sooner but it’s been very busy since we got home from Florida. All went well at the villa and everyone had a great holiday. That’s a great spot you have.” Chris, US, March 2008 “Thank you for your note. We enjoyed staying in your home. The weather, unfortunately, didn't cooperate with us. A cold front came through and kept us from going out into the ocean. In any case, we had a great time and will consider returning in the future.” Bedouin, US, December 2007 “Hi, just wanted to say thank you for letting us use your lovely home, we had a fantastic time, I couldn’t have asked for anywhere nicer to celebrate my 40th birthday (although I cannot remember much about that night!!) thanks again.” Susan, UK, December 2007 “Hello Ruth, We are back home in the cold, but already we
are planning our return Geoff, UK, October 2007 “We had a wonderful time, especially when we spotted a crocodile in the lake. Lots of fishing, plenty of playing the pool and the villa was as wonderful as we remembered” Debbie, UK, August 2007 "Fantastic, what a view and complete with inquisitive gator that ate our fishing float!" Mark, UK, August 2007 "Thanks very much. We had a great time - your property was just perfect for our needs. With the age of the kids ranging from 3 - 15 there was something for everyone and plenty of space. We even enjoyed the thunder storms! I'll certainly recommend your services if I know someone who is looking for a villa to rent. I was driving back to the house on the last night with the roof down on the convertible Mustang we had rented (very American but oh so cool for 2 weeks) and my son and his cousin were talking in the back of the car about how perfect life would be if they could move all their friends and family out to Placida and we could all live next door to on another." Liz, UK, July 2007 "Thank you. We had a wonderful time - your place is absolutely fantastic and as usual the weather was perfect! Thank you again." Mimi, US, March 2007 "Just a quick note to thank you for sharing your lovely home with us. We had a very relaxing holiday and the views from the villa were out of this world." Jane, UK, February 2007 "We have just returned from our vacation in your villa and wanted to stay what a lovely time we had. The villa is in a beautiful location and the neighbourhood is very friendly." Lucy, UK, December 2007 "Our holiday in Florida was wonderful and yes your villa was everything we had hoped for. We honestly found your villa to have everything we needed and really can't think of anything to be added. We arrived early on the Friday and had no problems gaining access, your Manager was still on site and made us very welcome. I will certainly keep your villa in mind for the future and thank you again for letting us use your home for our holidays." Karen, UK, December 2006 "This is just a quick email to say thank you for letting us rent out your beautiful villa. We had a great time." Kerry and Garry Collins, UK, November 2006 "Thanks for letting us stay in the villa - the views are simply to die for! We had a great week and it felt a real home from home. We can all say that we wanted for nothings during our stay. We clocked up a great list of wildlife and in a nearby marina say two manatees with babies - it was amazing. The rooms are lovely and the master suite was great and so big! Many thanks for letting us stay - it was a great holiday and can't wait to return in the future. Kind regards." Sara Block, UK, October 2006 "We had a wonderful time at Dolphin Creek, with no problems. Many Thanks" Gabrielle, UK, July 2006 "Had a fantastic time." Shelley, UK, April 2006 "Just wanted to say that we had the best vacation ever at your beautiful home. Everyone enjoyed themselves! We loved looking for shark teeth at the beach, seeing the dolphins while out in a boat and when we were at the villa, the kids were always in the pool (and we often set that alarm off by forgetting to push it or close the door properly). Thank you for offering your home as a rental. We had such a wonderful time and hope to return next year. All our best," Carole Tellini, US, April 2006 "The villa sits in one of the most beautiful positions in Florida - we used to get up to see the sun rise and enjoyed the sunshine on the pool area most of the day. The proximity to so many fabulous beaches was great, and every convenience - supermarket, post office etc - all so close. There was plenty of room for the family with the lay-out allowing kids and adults to have some precious separate and together time. Some of us went jogging and walking early mornings around the Cape Haze estate, passing friendly neighbours with a welcoming 'hello' or wave, alongside busy golfers on their buggies and cormorants enjoying the lakes and drying their wings in the sunshine. We would recommend the villa to anyone looking for a tranquil spot with a beautiful waterway view and fishing dock, lovely pool and shaded patio area from where you can enjoy a very special place." Tansin, UK, April 2006 "Hello, We returned home last night and were delighted to receive your welcome home message! We were planning on contacting you today to let you know what a wonderful time we had and that we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in your lovely home. The weather was terrific, the accommodations were perfect and the shopping was great. We certainly found our way around very easily and enjoyed our trips to the beaches at Boca Grande. The girls and I made more than a few trips to the mall in Port Charlotte!! Stephen did some fishing and really enjoyed having the equipment provided. Your home is very well equipped and I can't think of anything we needed that wasn't there. My husband, although on vacation, worked every morning for a few hours and thought it would be helpful to have a desk or table close to a phone jack for the laptop hook up as it would be more comfortable than working at the kitchen counter sitting on a stool. Probably most folks on vacation aren't spending much time working, so not sure if that is a necessity for most!!! So, all in all a great vacation. We are rested, relaxed, tanned and ready (not really) to go back to work and school tomorrow!! Thanks so much again for everything. When we put our minds to next year's vacation, we will certainly be considering a return to Dolphin Creek Villa!! Regards," Joan, Stephen, Alison, Sarah and Emily, US, March 2006 "We are all settled into your Villa, and must admit we truly like it. We are wondering if this same week is available in 2007. Please let me know if we can have it and you will just keep my deposit if you would. We just love the view from the master bedroom and the birds and fish are just spectacular to watch. I await your reply. Sincerely," Donald, US, February 2006 "All 6 of us had a great week. The Villa itself is in a part of Florida that I've never been to before, although I would certainly consider coming back. Its ideal for people interested in the outdoor pursuits, fishing, golfing etc. The neighbours seemed all happy friendly folk, and most of our party enjoyed going for early morning jogs around the neighbourhood! The weather itself was relatively cool all week (c 65'F), although out of the wind, the sun's warmth could still be felt and it stayed sunny all week. We booked a kayaking adventure with Grande Tours (just down the road) and paddled up the Creek all the way to the villa (about 45 minutes), which was great fun. We've never seen so many Ospreys before, even more than you normally see down at the Everglades. The Eagles are still present, along with numerous Brown Pelicans diving into the creek close up catching fish. A great time had by all. Thanks" Jim, UK February 2006 "I just wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful time at the villa. It was a beautiful beautiful area, just like you said it was. We hope to be back again." Goldie, US, January 2006 "Totally loved your villa, felt like a real home with everything that we needed. The views were absolutely stunning but most of all the kids, and myself, loved the fishing. Will contact you later in the year for a holiday in early 2007. Kindest regards" Andy, UK, January 2006 "Thanks very much for your welcome home email, although we are very sad to have returned! Sorry for not getting back to you sooner but things have been very hectic since our return. What an absolutely wonderful holiday - we all enjoyed it immensely. You have a lovely house, in a great location and in a beautiful setting. Everything we had wanted to see and do was all within 90 minutes and we took full advantage of that. With such great beaches within a few minutes we had a good dose of ultraviolet. We particularly loved those at Gasparilla and Stump Pass. The highlight was probably the days we rented a boat and explored the waterways, including lunch at beautiful Cabbage Key. Wildlife spotting was so easy with close encounters of the dolphin and manatee kind! We would not hesitate to recommend the house as a fantastic base from which to enjoy the real Florida. Many thanks - we hope to return. Best regards" The Berry Family, UK, November 2005 "Thanks for your welcome home e-mail, really enjoyed our two weeks in your villa, would not hesitate to book again or recommend to family and friends, will follow up with a testimonial when time allows." John Harrison, UK, August 2005 "Hi, Sorry it has taken so long to reply, but have been very busy. But would like to say what a fantastic place you have, we all enjoyed the holiday and had a great time, also enjoyed your home, lovely. Many thanks again for a fantastic holiday. Regards" Les Hudson, UK, July 2005 "Thanks for the return of the deposit funds. We had a great time – villa was fine and fishing was excellent – both from the dock and with the charter – Captain Dan – Hammerhead Charters – highly recommended – see photo. He was a most informative captain – we actually went twice with him – the first day wreck fishing, catching grouper, snapper, Spanish mackerel and shark. As you can gather we go to Florida for fishing rather than theme parks – the gulf beats them hands down, although we did get the kids to Sea World and Busch gardens. Fishing from the dock was great too. We took our own fishing rods and tackle and when the redfish moved into the bay we soon had them sussed out. We also caught sheepshead and a couple of very small tarpon. A few hairy moments came when a gator took a lure and also when my daughter hooked into a “real” tarpon – it stripped line from the spool for about 50 yards before jumping and throwing the hook. We met crazy crabby George and found a nice bar and restaurant with live music on West Dearbourn Street – cant remember the name but about half way down – bar on the street with an Austrian owner – very polite good food, live music and dancing till the early hours. Altogether a great holiday, our first over a 3 week period and perhaps the very first time I got a chance to totally wind down. Hope to be back some time. Tarpon – Boca Grande – redfish on the grill – beats work anytime. Kind regards and thanks again." Tom Bracegirdle, UK, June 2005 "We loved the villa and despite the storms had a wonderful holiday and we would recommend your villa to friends and family." Julie Crowder, UK, May/June 2005 "Hi, Sorry it has taken me just over a week to get back to you. I have been so busy at work and life is always hectic at home. We had a lovely time at your home and the view from your house is stunning. We visited Englewood and Boca Grande and managed to get to Sanibel as well. The beaches are beautiful and we had wonderful weather as usual. The men played lots of golf and were very pleased with the golf courses. They also did some fishing and caught a few fish. We watched the Fish Eagles that were nested in a big tree a couple of houses down and they regularly flew out to catch fish for their baby. I really wish that I had thought to take some binoculars as we would have been able to see them a lot more clearly. It certainly was a stunning view from your pool area and I loved to wake up in the morning and sit by the pool with my cup of coffee and just take in the scenery and wonderful wildlife around me. I have attached a couple of photos of us at your house and thank you once again for letting us have the opportunity of using your Florida holiday home. Please do not hesitate to contact me." Alexis and family, UK, May 2005 "Hi. We had a wonderful time at Dolphin Creek, I would recommend the villa to anyone who is thinking of a holiday in the Cape Haze area. The next door neighbour has a fish eagle nesting in one of the very tall trees in the garden and we were regularly treated to the sight of the adults catching fish in the creek and taking them back for the chicks. We also had the wonderful experience of two Manatees (mother + baby) feeding within meters of the boat dock (see photos below). That along with alligators on the golf course and dolphins swimming next to our hired boat made for a wonderful week, thank you. If we ever go to Florida again this is the place we shall be going." Derek Rimmer, UK, April/May 2005 "Hi, thanks for the message. We had a wonderful time and we certainly picked the best weeks for the weather. The villa had everything we needed and there were plenty of nice restaurants in the area to choose from." Jackie Williams, UK, April 2005 "Many thanks for your email. We are all back safe and sound and had an excellent time. The relaxation on the gulf coast was particularly welcome and we all loved Boca Grande. As regards the villa then the position is fantastic." Jonathan Wellington, UK, April 2005 "We had a wonderful time in your villa, it was well equipped, although we did add one cloths airer plus children's pool toys (blow up Dolphin and ring) with our compliments. The standard was excellent and all we hoped, the views were stunning and your maintenance company were very helpful. If any of our friends plan to visit the same area we certainly would recommend staying at your villa. Once again thanks for helping to make our holiday one of the most memorable. Regards." Graham Davies, UK, March 2005 "Hi, We loved our stay the place was perfect for all nine of us! The kids saw alligators at the golf course, fished off the dock and caught a crab, and swam all day!!! The lovely couple who manage your properties were very helpful. We'll be in touch for next year. Thanks." Wendy Gericke, US, March 2005 "We loved the villa and it had everything that we could possibly need. The sofas and the beds and bedding were top notch, there were plenty of towels and dishes, great toaster and kettle, and we enjoyed the ice maker and cold water dispenser on the fridge. The view from the back of the house was beautiful and the neighbourhood was peaceful, with all the stores easily accessible." The Partington Family, US, March 2005 "Thank you for the security deposit refund. My family and I had a very nice vacation that we spent at your villa. The pool was great and the bedrooms were nice. Thank you for opening your villa up and sharing the beautiful area with my family." Kirk Milam, US, February 2005 "Good day. Thank you for the nice email and I am now back to work which was quite hard after being in Florida. We all had a wonderful vacation and enjoyed the trip immensely. The villa was wonderful and was everything we wanted it to be. It was built to accommodate all eight of us very nicely. Everyone had enough room to do their own thing if they wanted to. We really enjoyed the heated pool and Jacuzzi. Most of us enjoy water with a few exceptions, one being my husband. He felt that going into a Jacuzzi was kind of a joke for people to do, but found out it really made a difference after playing golf. He has rheumatoid arthritis so using the heated pool and Jacuzzi on a daily basis loosened his muscles and made him feel very good. He is actually thinking of sometime in near future to building one at out home in Minnesota. We had fish every day either cooked at the villa or we went to the Fishery by Boca Grande Road or Johnny Leverocks which were both close to home, reasonably priced and the food was awesome. All in all everyone loved the home and for 2 of us couples have been renting villas or condos for about 8 years and they all said this was the nicest residence and area we have gone to. It was quiet with very little traffic, close to grocery stores and other shopping areas. Of course we did go to the beach one day and that was most enjoyable for us girls. We would like to rent again next year. We really liked the Cape Haze area as golf courses were very close in distance to the villa. Thank you very much for letting us be guests in your villa and hope to be staying there again and will be waiting to hear from you." Trudy Jaskowiak, US, February 2005 "Hi, sorry its taken me all week to reply. Everything in the villa was great, thanks. I don't think Cornwall will feel the same again! The pool and spa were fantastic, I think the kids would have stayed in there all day. What would be helpful would be a visitors book so guests could recommend places to eat or see. Steve was so impressed with Florida and the area of your villa that he really wants to move and came home with loads of information on properties. I don't think I could cope with the heat all year round though. Maybe when we retire! One more thing which would have been great would have been a non slip mat for the bath. It was very slippery for our 2 year old twins who both fell over in it. We would love to come again but don't think it will be until 2007. Look forward to booking your villa again. And thank you for letting us stay in you lovely villa." Mel & Steve, UK, February 2005 "Hi, we had an absolutely brilliant week! The weather was 80+ degrees, the fishing brilliant - 23 fish in all (even the 7 year old caught 6!) the hot tub kept me relaxed with the most fantastic view one could wish for.... I could go on.... The area itself is so beautiful and varied with super shops, quaint areas in Englewood, the beautiful island of Gasparilla etc. we thought we had found paradise! We also visited Spanish Point near Venice, and stroked alligators (little ones) at a zoo in Bonita Springs! We are now concentrating on raising the money we need to buy a business and settle in this area as we loved it so much. So we may be neighbours one day....?? The villa was lovely, we did not need for anything - even the kids couldn't squabble over bedrooms there was so much choice. Anyway, many thanks again - it was a great surprise for Steve - his face was a picture - mind you, the kids enjoyed fishing just as much and beat him to the rods in the mornings! We will surely recommend your villa to anyone who wants a brilliant holiday!" Glynnis & Steve Senior, UK, January 2005 "Hi - Sorry it took me so long to reply. I've been very busy trying to catch up from being away for a week ! We truly had a wonderful time in Florida. You have a beautiful home and it was exactly what we were hoping for. The kids were entertained all the time. Two were fishing - and three were swimming and all were happy! Thank you again for opening your home to us. There isn't much I could suggest that you change. Everything we needed was already there - including the beach chairs and umbrella - and cooler ! We visited five different beaches during our stay ! Thank you again - we had a great vacation !" Nancy Santucci, USA, December 2004 "Hi. Our vacation was wonderful and you have a lovely home. The location near beaches and Port Charlotte made it an ideal location for our vacation. Our sons, who have not fished since they were boys, enjoyed using the rods and reels to fish off your dock. I fixed some of your tackle and added to your collections of hooks, sinkers and bobbers. We loved the house. Each of our children's family had their own bedroom. (This was important when the kids cried in the night as babies do). The floor plan and tile floors were also very user friendly for my elderly mother - she was able to manoeuvre her walker in and out around rooms/bathroom - convenient one level. We also had a wonderful seafood dinner at the nearby Fishery Restaurant - excellent food and great service! Our sons golfed on the nearby courses - reasonably priced. We don't know what our future plans are right now but for sure we would consider a return visit." Bob, US, November 2004 "Hi. Sorry we've not got back to you sooner. We enjoyed our holiday at your villa and loved the pool, we couldn't keep our son out of it. My daughter and I enjoyed the spa too." The Sheaths, UK, November 2004 "Hi. Thank you for your 'welcome home' note. It is always a long journey home but well worth it! Your villa was lovely and catered for our every need. When we were in the villa, we spent most of our time outside by the pool as the weather was absolutely great. We travelled a lot - clocking up 2700 miles in 3 weeks! We were very shocked by the devastation that the hurricane had caused in Port Charlotte. The four men in our party spent quite a bit of time on the local golf courses - they enjoyed it so much that they all bought a set of golf clubs each. You can imagine the fun we had trying to get all of the luggage in the minibus when we left! We would definitely book your villa again and would recommend it to our friends. Thank again Ruth for everything. Bye for now." Julie Daly, UK, October 2004 "Thank you so much for letting us share your beautiful home. Your directions were spot on, we arrived stress free to find the most beautiful villa with breath taking views and first class surroundings. We were so delighted at the sizes of the room and how beautifully laid out they are. I must give you full marks for style and comfort. This was a real treat to stay in a classic Florida home. Your kitchen reminded me of my friend's Texas ranch kitchen, so many cupboards and storage space it is a real home. I had to make a big decision what bed room to have as the two masters were both stunning. We were delighted with everything, it was so clean and inviting. Please say thank you to your caretakers from us as they must work so hard to keep it looking so good and tip top. I will be sending you a film disc of us enjoying ourselves and looking well at home in your magnificent vacation home. Thanks to you we are seriously looking to buy a home near you. I hope your caretakers will be able to look after our home as well as they do for you. Thank you again for making our stay in Florida a big success. Lots of thanks." The Rowland Family, UK, September 2004 "Again like your villa in Orlando, what a fantastic Home, over looking the creek was spectacular. his time we had to weather Hurricane Karl. After seeing the devastation that Charley had caused your home with stood another battering from Karl with no other damage. the pool heating kept tripping the main circuit in the garage. Fishing in the creek was enjoyed by father in law and son. We're not absolutely sure but we think we saw a manatee about 50 yards out from the dock but by the time we got the camera it had gone. Would also Highly recommend the Grande Tours boat company by the traffic lights to Boca Grande. We booked a boat and captain for 2 Hours, at approx $20 each Captain Pete gave us really great value for money combining most of the separate tours they operate into one. He gave us an extra 2 hours at no extra charge, we went dolphin spotting, fishing, shelling on Gasperilla, and visited their treasure island for the kids and finished off with a shallow net fish thing in which the kids caught all sorts of small sea creatures including An Atlantic sea horse which Captain Pete reckoned was rare for those parts and must have some how got lost as it was a long way from the Atlantic side of Florida. Also tried some of the beaches recommended by you all were as good as you said. One day we drove all the way round to Captiva and Sanibel the island was wrecked by hurricane Charley but on the way back stopped at a "Nature reserve" on the islands as it was Saturday it was closed for driving through, but you can walk through Free of charge along a slightly raised pathway made of crushed shells on both sides of the path is water/swamp with Gators in! there is no fencing and tracks are clearly visible where the gators have walked up the the very steep back across the path and down the other side back into the water. As she walked back with her nieces Belinda saw a largish black snake right on the edge of the path eating a baby alligator! with it screaming terribly as the snake swallowed it down whole. I came along a few minutes later but we were only able to get film of its tail disappearing into the undergrowth and down the bank. I can' t remember the actual name of the place but it was on the main road from Captiva to Sanibel and there are only a few turn offs so it shouldn't be missed and well worth a visit to WALK through if you don't mind the drive there. Again thanks for a fantastic time." Mark & Belinda Swain, UK, September 2004 "There were so many really outstanding features to the villa, the location was fantastic - the fish really do jump out of the water in front of you! Your future guests will have a fantastic time." The Higgins family, UK, September 2004 "Thanks for being so helpful and reassuring with regard to our booking arrangements. The location of the villa is fantastic and we want to return as we didn't get time to explore the region or the beaches properly. The villa was not as new and luxurious as our villa in Orlando but it served our purpose. We did not use the formal dining area and lounge, maybe this could be used for something else. The kids felt comfortable there so we did." Carole Curtis, UK, September 2004 "The villa was in a perfect location and the the boys (and I include my husband and brother in law here!) had a great time fishing from the boat dock from early morning to late evening. They caught innumerable fish, and turtles (put them back pretty fast!) and generally had a great time. the also went out blue water fishing one day and again had a great time. We went to Mad Sam's restaurant, great setting but we were less impressed with the food than we had hoped. Englewood beach was excellent for the children with very good facilities, Venice Beach was nicer as it was more sandy, but jellyfish were a bit of a problem in both places. Boca Grand beaches were unfortunately shut along with everything else on the island after the hurricane. One observation is that a hook on the back of the bathroom door would be useful especially in the stand alone bathroom as it had the best shower. Other than this, it was great, and we loved the location - I foresee a return visit! Thanks again for renting it to us, best wishes" Debbie Fazan, UK, August 2004 "Thank you for your e-mail. Yes we had a super holiday, added to by the unexpected excitement of Hurricane Charley. You seem to have been very lucky and not experienced too much damage to your villa. We loved the location and had a super week relaxing after two very busy weeks in Orlando. Of all the experiences our children had at Disney my two boys' favourite day was when we took a boat out fishing near you and they caught some fish and had dolphins chasing their boat! Thanks again." Kay Hawker, UK, August 2004 "Hi, just a line to say thank you for the villa we had a fantastic time and a fairly quiet week after the hectic 2 weeks in Orlando. Ben met us and gave us some good advice on places to visit and directions etc as well as the information in your folder. An uneventful but enjoyable week, we fished, sunbathed and hired a boat for a day and saw many dolphins, thanks again, Wishing you well for the future." Phil Adams, UK, August 2004 "Thanks for your e mail. A nice touch at the end of our holiday. The villa was superb. A fantastic view and very peaceful. There does not seem to be any other inhabitants around - we understand that many of the houses are only occupied in the winter months? The weather unfortunately spoilt itself. We knew that you can get thunderstorms in Florida but I think it rained heavily nearly every day in the week we were there. Very disappointing but we did not let it spoil our fun. The villa was extremely comfortable and had pretty much all we could have wished for. A radio/CD player of some sort would have been nice - my husband loves the country radio stations and the kids would have liked to be able to play some of their CDs (if we could have stood them!!) Whether or not this suggestion is practical but a small boat of some kind would also have made things just that little bit more special. My sons were very eager to do some fishing but did not seem to have much luck on the shore - 2 catfish and a tuna that had swim bladder and had to be hauled out with a net - so to get out on the water would have been a bonus. Perhaps I ask the impossible but it would have been good. Also a visitor book would be handy so that you could pass on ideas for things to do, places to eat etc. Overall we had a fabulous time. Found some excellent restaurants - Mad Sam's in Englewood and for anyone going to Sanibel Island try Island Cow - wonderful seafood, quaint and friendly atmosphere and extremely good value. The Myakka air boat road was also a memorable outing. Many thanks for letting us have the use of your home. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay." Lesley Macintyre, UK, July/August 2004 "Thank you for letting us rent your villa. We had a fabulous time there. When we opened the door and walked in, everybody was saying "Wow this is fantastic!!!!", "My goodness it is so much bigger than it looks on the internet". The setting, the villa, the pool was wonderful!! It was so much more than we thought it would be and so near to some beautiful places. Boca Grande is a must!!! So near and so beautiful!! The only problem we found was............we only had a week there." Kim Wilson, UK, July 2004 "We had a lovely time at Dolphin Creek Villa and thoroughly fell in love with the surrounding area. The view from the back of the villa overlooking the inlet was really wonderful. We all enjoyed having the use of a swimming pool. Great for cooling down in the heat of the day. Ben and Shirley O'Carroll were very friendly and helpful. Ben told us how to get to the beach and suggested several places to visit. They were very kind. We had a very relaxing time at your home" Erica, UK, July 2004 "Your home is lovely and we did have a wonderful time. Our grandchildren loved the pool, the nearby beaches, and went fishing several times on our daughter's pontoon boat that she docked at the big marina just south of you. We saw a manatee and her calf right in the area of the slips. Then again we saw a group of manatee and dolphins not far from the old railroad bridge that crosses over to Boca Grande. We did fish some in the creek. Caught some small snapper. Tried everything to catch a mullet. No luck. We decided the creek should be called Mullet Cove. I have decided that I must have an electric tea kettle for my very own. Thanks again!" Barbara Kinder, US, June/July 2004 "Hi. Thanks for the welcome home message. We all had a wonderful time at the villa. It was everything and more than we expected, the children especially enjoyed the pool. We all thought the location was great, and the beaches in the area are very good especially Boca Grande" Terry Bowes, UK, June 2004 "Thanks for the email, yes we had a lovely time as usual. The villa was in a perfect spot and we made the most of the fishing which was excellent, you will find a rod and large net we left behind." Donna, UK, May/June 2004 Hi, Sorry its taken me a little while to reply back to you, we had a wonderful stay at your villa in cape haze it was spacious, well furnished and had everything we needed. The location is wonderful and the views onto coral creek are great, we had great fun fishing on the creek and caught a few fish which we cooked on your barbecue. The pool and spa was really nice and as we had it heated it was like a warm bath, my two children had great fun in there. All the beaches around the area are lovely and we enjoyed a couple of days at the beach. It was nice that there were shops only a short distance away and me, my mum and sister in law can highly recommend the pedicure and foot spa at the nail shop next to Publix. The folder at your villa was full of useful information and we did try a few of your restaurant recommendations as well as finding a few of our own. The only thing we did not find at your villa were egg cups, (my two children love boiled egg and toast for breakfast) we did look in Wal-Mart for some but could not find any. Thanks for a lovely stay in your villa. Renee, Franco and family, UK, May 2004 "Hi, we got back home earlier yesterday, we had a great time in your villa & really liked the villa & the surrounding area. Alison & myself are wildlife lovers & especially like birds so seeing all the birds around was captivating for us, it was something else to see many Osprey's, Eagles, Herons, & Egrets etc. all around the villa. The parks at Myakka River & Sanibel Island were great. If we were looking again for a villa in Florida we would consider yours at the top of the list & also recommend it to family & friends. I can't think of any comments for improving the villa as it had everything we needed plus more. Lastly, we took care of your home as you expected, didn't break anything & left it cleaner than we found it. Thanks" Steve and Alison Edge, UK, April/May 2004 "The view from your home is breathtaking and it is what we will remember most. The house is very well furnished and you can tell it was recently modernized – the four poster was especially lovely. The pool is very large and the spa is fantastic – and as both overlook the water they couldn’t be more perfect. Again lots of useful equipment for families with loads of kids like ours, but I missed having a radio or a CD player to use in the evening. I bought one to use and it was great to sit in the living room and just look out over the water listening to music. Everything you need is close by and the shopping in Port Charlotte is great. The kids loved the beach at Siesta Key so thanks for the recommendation and you are right the sand does not get hot at all. The location of the property is ideal for access to Sarasota, St Pete’s, Ellenton Outlets, Punta Gorda, Lake Trafford and Naples, all of which we visited. The boat ride on Lake Trafford is highly recommended for anyone who wants a taste of the Everglades and to do some Gator spotting – also Santa spends his summer there! Cape Haze is a very quiet community with its own resident gators and snakes – all very exciting for the kids, and a real taste of Florida. Everything was absolutely perfect, so thank you." The McLean family, UK, April 2004 "We loved the villa and pool and the area. We enjoyed hiring a boat and had 2 wonderful days boating." Mandy Wells, UK, March/April 2004 "Thanks. We had an absolutely wonderful stay - the villa was modern and spacious, the pool and spa warm and inviting, and we found the area to be quiet and picturesque. We particularly loved Boca Grande beach, where my daughter could watch the dolphins swim only a few feet in front of her. We'd certainly like to come back and I expect to be contacting you shortly regarding booking for next year." Tracy Hughes, UK, March 2004 "We enjoyed your home very much. We loved the fact that there were toys there for our grandson to enjoy. The view from the pool area is breathtaking. I wanted to bring the kitchen home with me (I love the layout). All of the brochures that are kept at the villa were also very helpful and very much appreciated. The pool toys also were a welcome addition! I will definitely be passing on the info for your house to my co-workers!" Sherry Hayes, US, March 2004 We want to just let you know that my wife and I, with the company of our friends, have enjoyed very much staying at your villa in Florida for our winter vacation. If the occasion will arise, we will recommend it to other friends. We did appreciate a lot the newly refinished of the interiors and the nice and functional furniture of the villa. We haven’t done any planning for our next vacation yet, but definitely Dolphin Creek villa will be one of our preferred choices. Best regards, Arrigo, Canada, February/March 2004 "Thank you for your welcome. We left on February 20 at 5 p.m. but the way of return was very long because there was snow which blocked the airport of Milan. But everyone was of good mood after these 2 weeks in Florida and all it passed well. We liked your villa and Englewood much. The children largely benefited from the swimming pool and the jacuzzi! We were very surprised not to find of teapot on your premise. Among English! (we are very amateurs of tea). We simply regretted being able to open picture windows because of alarm and of air-conditioning because we let us not have the practice of it. But we could benefit from the garden. And even, to make knowledge of your neighbours. They were shown very understanding when my husband went to ask them to reach their boat. While fishing, him and our friend had hung it with their hook. I believe that they laughed well by seeing them making because it was not very effective. Best wishes" Cécile Pélissier, France, February 2004 "We had a marvellous time at Sable Harbour and found Dolphin Creek Villa a very comfortable and spacious home with all the thoughtfully provided items there - plenty of crockery, cutlery, glassware, tea-towels and towelling for both the bathrooms and swimming pool. The views over the creek from the back of the house were wonderful and we watched many birds of prey, pelicans and storks fishing in the creek. The golf course provided a good round of golf the first week and only when the family went for a walk on Christmas Day did we discover small alligators and turtles sunning near the ponds on the course – and this was after we had travelled down to the Everglades to see all the wild life there – only much bigger alligators! Gasparilla Island provided lovely beaches and many restaurants and shops. Local Publix supermarket, video shop, bank and petrol station was within fast 12 minutes walking distance. Kash n Karry a ten minute drive towards Venice” We hired a catamaran at Englewood and spent a wonderful four hours in the warm sunshine surrounded by Dolphins. Ate our picnic and went shell hunting on a small island – bliss. Observed Manatee at the Manatee Park, Fort Myers, SR 80 (turn left towards power station)." Valerie French, UK, stayed 13 – 27 December 2003 "We had a terrific time. You were right it was nice and peaceful where we stayed. Everything was great. The only thing we were missing was a music system, we tried our opera CDs in the DVD system etc....hoping it would ,play, music for us. Sadly it didn't. Once again, thank you for allowing us the privilege of staying in your villa." Aisling & family, November 2003 "I just wanted to let you know we had a fantastic holiday. Both your villas are lovely with everything we needed - we were particularly fond of your gulf villa with that fantastic setting overlooking the gulf. Thanks for the offer of 10% off further bookings -I know my mother-in-law is keen to go again and take other family members..." Beckie Kingman, UK, November 2003 "Thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful home. It was a lovely holiday. There were very few ways in which it could have been improved upon." Katie Cole, UK, October 2003 |
