bizcor, Author at Gulf Coast Realty & Management

Looking for things to do in Siesta Key at night? We recommend you take a Bars & Restaurants journey from Siesta Key back to your cozy Gulf Coast Vacation Rental.

Flemings Steak House

Flemings Steak House in Sarasota is located minutes from downtown. Whether you’re celebrating or just enjoying a night out with friends, Flemings Steak House provides the perfect ambiance with a menu filled with local favorites prepared by our chef. The bar is always open, and our wine manager has curated a wide selection of local wines, as well as hand-crafted cocktails and spirits.

Siesta Key Oyster Bar

Siesta Key Oyster Bar, also known as SKOB, is the place to be! The relaxed beachy atmosphere will get you into the Island mindset to enjoy your night out on the Gulf Coast. You’ll feel right at home here at SKOB like you’re hanging out with your best friends on your back patio, the main difference may be your patio décor may not include dollar bills. A lot of things make SKOB a unique bar in Siesta Key Village, but the pride element is their mouthwatering burgers, Raw Oysters and Crawfish, as well as Crab Legs and Crab Cakes! Everyone’s tastes buds will fall in love with the menu. So next time you’re looking for things to do in Siesta Key at night, come to relax with a frosty beverage, enjoy some fantastic food, and listen to great live music at Siesta Key Oyster Bar!

Daiquiri Deck

The Daiquiri Deck is where relax with friends while enjoying Live Music, Tasty Treats, and delicious frozen Daiquiris! Our relaxed atmosphere and unparalleled selection Frozen Daiquiris will bring you in, but the Raw Bar menu, of mouthwatering seafood and traditional food alike, served by the friendliest wait staff around, will keep you coming back for more. As we know you’re searching for things to do in Siesta Key at night, look no further than the Daiquiri Deck for fun after dark plans! Between great Live Music from local artists, Sporting Events, to competitions like Beer Pong or Corn Hole, and many more specials. The Daiquiri Deck is always nearby to extinguish the craving!

Gilligan’s Island Bar

After a perfect day on the Beach, your sandy feet and salty skin are searching for shade and cocktails! Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill’s expertise in Island life will satisfy both locals and visitors at the time of their lives. They offer the best food, cocktail, atmosphere, local entertainment and most of all service. Don’t simply take our word for it, come to see for yourselves!

Our new Tiki Bar and Thatched Tiki Roof are easily the most prominent Tiki Bar in the area! Wander inside and take your picture in front of the VW Bus, the doorway from the kitchen to your stomach! Past the bus, you’ll find our surfer bar! With your tropical beverage in hand, head outside to our Back-Beach Patio and relax under the palm trees! As the sun goes down and you watch the flickering Tiki Torches in the cool evening breeze, you’ll fall even more in love with the beach and ocean! Of all the things to do in Siesta Key at night you’ll forever treasure this unforgettable experience in Paradise!

Of all the things to do in Siesta Key at night, this Bars & Restaurants journey will help you enjoy this island feel vacation including your stay in our Gulf Coast Vacation Rental!

When it comes to choosing a gulf coast vacation rental, you’ll want to book your stay in one of our beautiful Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals. Everyone will love spending time together on thrilling attractions and parks.

TreeUmp

Spend time with your friends and family as you experience and challenge one another through a thrilling aerial adventurous terrain at TreeUmph! Everyone will love reconnecting with nature as they fly from tree to tree on the crazy-fun obstacles at TreeUmph!

Andersen Race Park

Andersen Race Park instructors provide tools to advance your driving skills, whether you’re a beginner or a pro. Whether you want a taste of what it’s like to drive or you’re dreaming of being the next pro-driver, they can help! They package the fun of driving into an event that will improve your relationships, whether it’s with clients, partners, employees, friend, or family! You’ll love driving the day away at Andersen Race Park!

Adventure Island

Get ready to twist, turn and drop at Adventure Island! Spend the day on our thrilling water slides, or the wave pool, maybe relax by floating away on the lazy river. There is something for your family to enjoy a day of fun at Adventure Island! Splash your way to unlimited front-of-the-line when you purchase the Adventure Island Quick Queue, so you make the most of your visit before returning to your Gulf Coast vacation rentals!

Busch Gardens

Experience thrilling roller coasters and rides at Busch Gardens! Enjoy family-friendly, live entertainment and make sure to meet the animals. Explore Tampa Bay, take on an exciting triple-launch roller-coaster, legendary family spinners and so much more. Get to know our animals, from the ones you love to the ones you’ve never heard of before. You’ll meet our 300 species of animals at Busch Gardens. If you’re planning a Tampa vacation, be sure to check out the largest zoo in Tampa Bay a short drive from your Gulf Coast Vacation Rental.

Of all the vacation rentals, you’ll love your Gulf Coast vacation rentals, a relaxing place for the whole family to come back to before defying gravity in the thrilling parks and attractions.

While enjoying your stay in our Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals, we hope you enjoy family fun golfing in Sarasota. Check out these awesome courses for the whole family!

The Fish Hole Mini-Golf

The Fish Hole Mini-Golf is one of our family fun golf courses in Sarasota, technically in Bradenton but still in the Sarasota area. This 18 holes course offers unique attractions like misters, a koi pond with fish of all sizes and colors, and native Florida plants. The whole family will get hooked after playing a round on this adventurous golf course!

Smugglers Cove

If you want to make fun memories with the whole family, be sure to check out Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf! They have an eighteen-hole golf course featuring adventurous golfing through caves, waterfalls, pirate ships and real alligators. You can feed the alligators using cane fishing poles! Each Smugglers Cove location has an Educational American Alligator Exhibit which house twenty to thirty American alligators, so bring the family to enjoy this once in a lifetime golfing experience! When looking for family fun golfing in Sarasota, alligator feeding, and waterfall golfing will be at the top of most kids and young at heart adults!

Evie’s Golf

Another family fun adventure would be Evie’s Golf course. There is a sixty-station driving range with a putting green, a chipping green, and an eighteen-hole waterfall adventure mini-golf course. Evie’s Tavern & Grill and Ice Cream Parlor offer something for everyone. Evie’s is a special place where even your pets are welcome! Let’s not forget about Evie’s Car Wash! While you and your family hit some balls and enjoy an ice cream cone, your car will also benefit from receiving the royal treatment. Of all the places to go in Sarasota, Evie’s will be the most adventurous and fun for all place!

At Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals we offer gulf coast rentals the whole family will enjoy. Most of our rental properties are near adventurous places such as Mote Aquarium, Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary, and Sarasota Jungle Garden.

Meet the fish and scientists!

Visitors of Mote Aquarium have been asking to learn more about the research and marine world being conducted here, so they enhanced their formal and informal learning programs to offer hands-on learning for everyone. As a working aquarium, they give you an up-close experience with a variety of marine animals. You can also observe the scientific researcher as they are working in the laboratories. More than a hundred species call Mote their home, such as the manatees, gators, sea turtles, otters, and many more. Make this excursion one for the books by taking a swim with our sharks! Don’t worry they are well fed so they won’t bother with you. Join in on shark encounter between ten and eleven-thirty every Wednesday morning! Maybe swimming with sharks isn’t for you, don’t worry our gulf coast rentals include shark free pools!

Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary

Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is a growing large-animal rescue in Sarasota County. The sanctuary offers a place for animals in need, and they try to educate the public about animal care and conservation. Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary uses admission fees to feed and care for the animals. When you visit Big Cat Habitat you’ll meet bears, lions, tortoises, birds, primates and the petting zoo animals. However, what you won’t want to miss seeing is the liger! No, it’s not a typo, it’s a real animal! As you may guess from the name, ligers are a mix of tigers and lions. A liger is born from a female tiger and a male lion, not to be confused with tigons which are born from a female lion and a male tiger.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens

Over the years, the animal population in the Sarasota Jungle Garden has grown, many of them came as donations or rescue animals. Most arrived sick or injured, but some just outgrew or outlived their owners. Sarasota Jungle Garden intends for most exhibits, shows, and off-site presentations to help educate people on exotic pet ownership. Due to Florida’s subtropical weather and compassion towards importing various species of animals. Although illegal, many reckless pet owners release these exotic animals into local lakes and ponds, as well as neighborhoods. Most of the animals don’t just survive, they thrive and begin reproducing and taking over some of these areas. Unfortunately, the Garden is not large enough to accommodate all the demand; however, they do offer to help educate those who are considering purchasing or adopting an exotic pet. The shows are intended for audiences of all ages and frequently include audience participation. Each show runs approximately twenty minutes featuring many of the animals’ performance. We promise you’ll have fun learning new animal facts. Keepers answer questions at the end of the show, which allows guests to see the animals up close.

Make sure to book your gulf coast rentals with Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals to kick off your summer vacation the right way!

It has been recently recognized that the Web.com Tour has a new tournament to present in 2019. The tournament is set to take place at Lakewood National Golf and Country Club. The first tournament, The Suncoast Classic, is set to be played February 11-17 with around 150 players competing for a 550,000 purse. The Suncoast Classic is one of three new tournaments presented by The Web.com tour in the last year. In addition, Lakewood National has already signed a 5-year deal with Web.com through 2023.

The announcement was made on June 4th at The Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota Florida. The Web.com Tour President Dan Glod announced, “We are excited to bring the Suncoast Classic to Lakewood National as we continue to grow the Web.com Tour with new events in strong markets,” said Glod. “This community has demonstrated a great history of PGA TOUR support, and this new partnership will allow us to engage local businesses, fans, and volunteers as we look to increase our charitable impact while delivering a tremendous week of tournament golf.”

Lakewood National is a newly built community in the Lakewood Ranch area developed by Lennar Homes. The golf course is an Arnold Palmer design course featuring a phenomenal layout. It showcases a natural feel yet with a classic touch. The community is still in development but will offer many different types of properties. Including condos, single-family homes, verandas, coach homes, and executive homes. Amenities to be offered include a 36-hole golf course, state of the art fitness center, resort pool, driving range, tennis courts, and clubhouse. This fully gated community will be nothing short of astonishing.

We are excited to share that we offer vacation rentals in this community. Although, we do want our guests to know that not all amenities are available at this point in time. Currently, the community is fully gated with security guards present. They also offer an 18-hole golf course with a Pro Shop on site. The other amenities are to be completed by Fall of 2018. While this may be disappointing news we promise the location and the properties themselves are worth it!

Available Rentals:

Check out all our available vacation rental properties in the Lakewood National community here. In addition, if you have any questions or would like to book, please feel free to reach out to us at (941) 782-1559 or email us at book@gcvacationrentals.com

What is travel insurance?

Trip Insurance covers your vacation/trip from any unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip. The All Seasons Travel plan provides awesome coverage at an affordable rate. It also includes a waiver of Pre-existing Medical Condition Exclusion if insurance is purchased within 21 days of the first initial trip payment.

What does the plan cover?

The All Seasons plan covers many things including trip cancellation and interruption. It also provides compensation for things such as trip delay, missed connection, accident sickness, emergency evacuation and more. For more information on all coverages contact us at (941)-877-5588.

What type of assistance does it offer?

This plan also provides assistance to our guests for things such as travel medical assistance, worldwide travel assistance, pet return service, vehicle return service and much more. For more information on all assistant services contact us at (941)-877-5588.

What is the cost of travel insurance?

To purchase the travel insurance, it is a small fee of 7% of the total booking. Compare this to what you could be losing out on if for some reason you come across any issues before or during your stay. Protect your vacation rental stay today and inquire about the travel insurance package we offer.

Everyone loves vacation but we understand that they can sometimes get a bit pricey. There’s no need to go broke while on vacation. If you’re looking to plan a budget friendly vacation take a look at these top tips to help you save money during the process.

Plan For A Vacation Rental Vs Hotel

1) If you plan on staying at your destination for longer than a night or two, look into a vacation rental home vs a hotel. Vacation homes tend to be more budget friendly for a family or traveling friends. Not to mention you will have the use of a kitchen to keep your costs down by cooking meals yourself, more options for sleeping arrangements, privacy, and so much more. Read more about why renting a vacation rental home is more budget-friendly than a hotel here.

Fully Equipped Kitchen

2) Find a rental unit with a fully equipped kitchen. As mentioned above, cooking your own meals will help you save money by cutting costs for dining out. Not every meal, every day needs to be home cooked but planning for one meal a day at home can save you a lot of money. Especially if you have a large family or at your destination for longer than a week.

Off Season Traveling

3) Travel during the offseason. Everyone wants to visit Florida during the winter months to get away from the snow and cold. When demand is high, vacation rental prices go up as well. Maybe, consider visiting Florida during the summer or fall months. Most Florida vacation home rentals will show a decrease in price from May until December.

Talk to the Locals

4) Talk to the locals. Get insider tips and places to visit from the locals around town. They will have a vast understanding of what events are going, where the best deals are, and what places to avoid.

Free Activities & Attractions

5) Do the free stuff. There are always plenty of free activities and attractions to see and do anywhere you visit. Again, ask the locals, check with the vacation rental company, look in guest books or search online. You’ll be surprised at the many deals and coupons you may be able to find.

There you have it, top 5 money saving tips when planning a vacation. If you have any questions or would like to view our list of vacation rentals, feel free to reach out to us at 941-782-1559. Or visit us online at gcvacationrentals.com

It’s vacation time and you’ve hit the road excited for whats to come. After a long days travel, you check in and head to the vacation rental property only to find the fridge empty. No food or beverages. I’m sure the last thing that anyone wants to do after traveling is to go grocery shopping.

Grocery Option 1:

Well lucky for you, at Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals you don’t have to. Rather than head to the grocery store after a long journey, we’ll stock your fridge with the essentials to get you started. The standard grocery plan is one option we offer here at Gulf Coast. This option costs $85 +tax to add-on to your reservation. We’ll pick up general items for you like milk, juice, eggs, bacon or sausage, tea or coffee, bread or bagels, to get you started for the first night and the next morning. Of course, this is with your help. We will have this ready to go prior to your arrival.

Grocery Option 2:

The second option that we offer guests is the custom grocery pack. This package deal consists of whatever you would like us to stock for you plus $150 service charge. Also, if your preferred items are beer and wine, we’ll stock those too! This option is perfect for travelers who would like to get there shopping done for the week. Or those that simply hate grocery shopping.

Sit Back & Relax:

Make your life easier and let us take care of the shopping for your vacation rental stay. That way the only thing you have to worry about when getting to the property is where your next adventure is going to be. If you decide to add this to your reservation during the booking process the sales agent will be able to help you complete your grocery list.

Current Reservations:

If you currently have a reservation with us and would like to add on either of these two grocery packages we would be happy to help. Either give us a call at (941) 782-1559 or email us at guests@gcvacationrentals.com. Please provide your name and reservation number and we’ll add it on for you. The property manager will then reach out to you to get an idea of your preferences.

It is crazy how far the vacation rental industry has come. 10-15 years ago, most people didn’t even know vacation rentals were an option aside from hotels. Now travelers have the choice of booking on multiple different platforms. But did you know booking a vacation rental on a travel agent site is costing you 10-15% more? It’s true! Most online travel agent sites such as Home Away, Airbnb, and VRBO charge guest fees dependent on the property and price. Here are some things you should know before booking with an online travel agent (OTA).

Save Money, Book Direct:

As mentioned earlier OTA sites charge additional “guest” fees that essentially increase your rental price up to 15% more. Booking a vacation rental directly through a site like ours, gcvacationrentals.com will save you from paying additional fees. Why pay more when you can pay less. Booking directly gives you peace of mind. The price you see on our website is the price you pay. No hidden fees added.

Missed Deals:

Often times, direct vacation rental sites will offer discounts or specials on rentals that don’t reflect onto 3^rd party sites like TripAdvisor, HomeAway, and Airbnb. Now not only are you paying an OTA site more for guest fees, but you are also losing out on the potential of additional savings.

No Property Knowledge:

OTA sites are essentially a marketing platform for owners and property managers. None of these sites know anything about the rental or procedures that are associated with it. They state that they offer 24/7 customer service but when you have questions before during or after a booking the site customer representatives won’t be able to help you. They will redirect you back to the owner/property manager to answer any questions. The same goes for maintenance concerns while at the property. So, when you really think about it, why are you paying “guest fees”, when it doesn’t necessarily create a better experience for you?

Instead, booking directly with a property management company such as Gulf Coast will put you in contact with a live person that will be able to answer all of your questions about the property from the start. We will be able to walk you through the booking and ensure you have all the information you need before your arrival.

Compare Pricing:

Before you jump to book a rental, do a little research. Compare pricing on an OTA site and a direct booking site. For an example, we used one of our properties to show you the price difference. This is a 5% difference in price, about $400. And to think you could be using that money for something else.

Protect Your Personal Information:

When booking through an OTA site your personal information is stored in their database (forever). Did you know that OTA sites such as HomeAway and VRBO are claiming they “own” you as a traveler? Policies have recently been put in place that will charge local property management companies if you as the traveler decide to book outside of HomeAway or VRBO’s system.

Don’t get me wrong, these OTA sites are easy and simple to use but it may be worth the extra effort to research local vacation rental listings to see if you are getting the best service and rates available to you.

If you have any questions about OTA sites or would like to take a look at our vacation rentals directly feel free to reach out to us at (941) 827-0705 or visit our website https://gcvacationrentals.com

Are you ready to explore the city of Sarasota? We have created the ultimate bucket list full of attractions and activities to do in Sarasota. Get a feel for how the locals live here. We’re sure you will love every minute of our bucket list.

The Ultimate Sarasota Bucket List for Adults

Siesta Key Beach:

Of course, you can’t visit Sarasota without visiting the #1 beach in America. This tops our list at #1 because once you catch a glimpse of the beautiful ocean view and dig your feet into the white quartz sand, you will fall in love. Welcome to your new relaxation place.

St Armands Circle:

Fine dining and shopping, nothing beats the circle off of Lido Beach. St Armands is filled with the best dining options in the area as well as plenty of shops of all style to keep you entertained. After your done on the circle, simply take a stroll on Lido beach without having to hop in your car.

Lido Beach:

The sister beach of Siesta Key. Lido is a more private and relaxed beach compared to Siesta. People often come here to get away from the crowds but enjoy the same attributes that Siesta Key Beach offers.

Ringling Museum:

This place is a breath of fresh air. Prepared to be blown away by the beautiful scenery and art that is showcased at this museum. Fun Fact: The museum is made up of 21 galleries of American art, Asian art, contemporary art, European paintings, and ancient artifacts from Cyprus.

Marina Jacks:

Not only can you find one of the best local restaurants here but also a great park, tiki bar and of course the Unconditional Surrender Sculpture. Witness a piece of history through this piece of artwork all while enjoying the views of Sarasota Bay.

Selby Botanical Gardens:

If you are a nature lover you will absolutely fall in love with this beauty. This garden is 7 acres and focuses on collecting and presenting epiphytes such as bromeliads and orchids and their ecosystems. Fun fact: Selby Gardens makes a great wedding venue.

Down Town Sarasota:

If you are one to enjoy a night out as well as great food, downtown Sarasota is the spot to be. Mainstreet is filled with many great bars, clubs, restaurants, and shops. Make a night out of it and enjoy the night scene in Sarasota

Sarasota Kennel Club:

If you enjoy the occasional gambling session, this is the spot for you. Seasonal dog races occur as well as a poker room and restaurant to indulge in.

Classic Car Museum:

If you enjoy history and old automobiles this museum is a must-see. Also, if you feel like dreaming a bit, head over next door to see many classic cars for sale.

Ed Smith Stadium:

Catch a ball game at the home of the Baltimore Orioles Spring training facility.

UTC Mall & Shopping Plaza:

The University Mall & nearby shops is the ultimate location to spend your day shopping away. Also, grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants located in and around the UTC mall.

Celery Fields:

Do you enjoy the great outdoors? If so, this park is the spot for you. The 360+ acre site is also the county’s primary stormwater collection zone, allowing it to serve a dual purpose of public safety and recreation. This is the perfect spot to take a hike, bird watch or to simply enjoy Florida nature.

Van Wezel:

Calling all performing arts lovers! The Van Wezel is a landmark in Sarasota County. It is home to great music performances, dance, theatre, comedy and local events.

Benderson Park:

Home of the 2017 National Rowing Championship. This park is one of a kind and offers a great fitness environment. With the loop being 3.1 miles long, it is the perfect place to take a stroll, run, or bike ride. It is also perfect for water sports, such as kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding.

Siesta Key Village:

Are you ready for a good time? The Siesta Key Village is a colorful, lively village near the beach that is full of restaurants, shops, bars and much more.The village is all about shops, parties, and fun, and its festive atmosphere is perfect for bar hopping.