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MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach

Vacation home near Bradenton Beach in Holmes Beach

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Photo gallery for MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach

Exterior
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, WiFi, bed sheets
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior
Living area

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 61512 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
Holmes Beach, FL
  • Place, Bradenton Beach
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, West Coast Surf Shop
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Manatee Public Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Airport, Sarasota, FL (SRQ-Sarasota-Bradenton Intl.)
    ‪34 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Holmes Beach

Close to the beach.Steps from the vacation home, you'll find West Coast Surf Shop and AMI Paddleboard Adventures. Manatee Public Beach and Bradenton Beach are also within half a mile (1 km).
View more Vacation Homes in Holmes BeachOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Bradenton Beach - 1 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • West Coast Surf Shop - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Manatee Public Beach - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Anna Maria Sound - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Holmes Beach Beaches - 12 min walk - 0.7 miles

Getting around

  • Sarasota-Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) - 38 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪The Ugly Grouper - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪The Kokonut Hut - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Skinny's Place - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Smoqehouse - ‬4 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach

VRC19-000209

2BR · 1BA · Sleeps 6 · Pet-Friendly ($150 Fee) · Across from Manatee Public Beach · 2024 Renovation · Shared Heated Pool · Beach Gear Provided · 1-Gig WiFi · Boat & Trailer Parking · Shared Laundry · Dead-End Street

Manatee Public Beach is directly across the street. The shared heated pool is steps from the unit. Two trolley stops are one block away. Sand Castle 1 is a Holmes Beach vacation rental on a quiet dead-end street where the beach, the pool, and the island are all within easy reach — and where guests come back year after year. Some for four consecutive years running.

The unit was completely renovated in 2025. New granite kitchen with modern appliances, fully tiled walk-in shower in the renovated bathroom, fresh coastal décor, and new furnishings throughout. The semi-private deck has beach gear storage — chairs, umbrella, and wagon included for trips across the street.

Two bedrooms sleep six. The master has a king bed with its own TV. The guest bedroom has two twin beds. The living room sleeper sofa handles the remaining guests. High-speed 1-gig WiFi. Fully equipped kitchen for meals at home. Shared laundry on the property. Linens and towels provided.

Dogs are welcome with a $150 non-refundable fee — the dead-end street and the resort layout make this one of the more comfortable pet-friendly setups in Holmes Beach.

Cafe on the Beach, Skinny's Place, and local dining are within easy walking distance. The free island trolley stops close by for exploring all of AMI without a car. Boat and trailer parking is available on-site.

Sand Castle 1 is one of four renovated units at MI Happy Place — all on the same property, sharing the heated pool and grilling area.

Sand Castle 1 requires a one-week minimum stay with parking for two vehicles.

*Final payments are due 60 days prior to arrival payable by personal check or Echeck (which will incur a $1.00 processing fee) we do take
credit cards for final payment with a 3% fee on the balance due

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Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Pool/Spa

  • Communal pool
  • Heated pool

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Limited onsite parking

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Garden
  • Gas grill
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • Near the marina

Things to do

  • Heated pool
  • Water park
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Theme park nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,512 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
2531-174436

Frequently asked questions

How close is MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach to the airport?

This vacation home is 16.5 mi (38-min drive) away from the Sarasota-Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

How close is MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach to the beach?

This vacation home is a short 8-minute walk from Bradenton Beach and 5-minute walk from Manatee Public Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home.

What time is check-in at MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach have a pool?

Yes, there's a heated pool.

Does MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

How close is MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach to downtown Holmes Beach?

This vacation home is 0.2 mi away from Holmes Beach.

MI Happy Place Sand Castle 1 · Pet-Friendly · Manatee Beach Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 31 out of 36 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 36 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 36 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 36 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jami W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beach Trip

Great location to beach, property is so cute and cozy!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Magda C.

Muy buena

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Siempre buena
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Heidi O.

MI Sand Castle 1

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Excellent
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

reggie s.

Paradise

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: 4th year in a row we've stayed here. Couldn't ask for a better stay.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Heidi O.

Sand Castle

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Loved our stay. Would recommend to a friend Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Maidy Y.

Muy bueno

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Me siento como en casa
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jessica P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Will Stay Again!!

Our family of 6 stayed for spring break. House is very clean. Beds were very comfortable including the pull out couch. There were plenty of extra linens and beach towels. We were just steps away from the ocean. There were sand toys, a wagon and beach chairs available for us to use. Our 4 boys loved the pool. Great stay!! We hope to be back again with more family to rent out the additional units!! Great spot for multi families to stay!!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Carol T.

My Happy Place

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Very impressed with attention to any problems that arouse. Need to replace tv remotes!
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

robert l.

2021 Spring Break at Sand Castle

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Sand Castle was great! Everything we needed was supplied. We loved the location. We loved having the pool. The guests in the other units were great. Everyone was respectful of others.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Jackie C.

Excellent stay at MI Happy Place

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: This was our second time staying at this property, we choose this place for location and yard for our basset hounds. MI Happy Place has always been very clean, great amenities and quiet dead end street. We were not really planning on AMI this fall but when the great rates showed up in an email.... I booked! We love AMI and this property has stayed reasonably priced unlike some other areas on the island. We will return & recommend this property!
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

A guest from Mechanicsburg, PA

Beautiful

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We really loved our stay at sand castle. The home was clean and had everything we needed to have a comfortable week away. We loved that the beach was so close and loved the cooled temperature of the pool. We met one of the owners, Jim, who was there doing repairs while we were there and he was so welcoming and friendly. The only thing we wished we had was a vacuum for 2 reasons. The first was to get the same out of the grout of the tiles of the floor and the 2nd was we had brought our things in vacuum seal bags and we couldn’t shrink them to go home. Overall the home was beautiful, clean, and comfortable and perfect for our week.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Sherrill S.

Sand Castle

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was more than happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Nice location, centrally located. Last unit, sits right on the curve in the road to Holmes beach. A fence should be considered to cut the traffic noise down. Furniture was outdated and uncomfortable. The place was clean. I definitely would recommend renting a car...so much to explore. The Ugly Grouper was our favorite place to eat. Publix supermarket was nearby for your grocery needs. I couldn’t get the grill to light, so that was a no go.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Jean S.

Sand Castle

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Sand Castle at Mi Happy Place was in such a great location. We could walk across the street to the beach, walk to supermarket, restaurants. Very comfortable space. Communication with Island Vacation properties was great. (Via texts) I hope to return next year. Thanks for the great memories. Only negative is - Sitting outside is a bit loud due to traffic.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Jody K.

Great stay at MI Happy Place!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We had a great time on Anna Maria Island and couldn't have been in a nicer little place! Convenient location and very nice accommodations!
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

A guest from Hale, Mi

Great Place!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: It is a nice, clean rental. Everything from the pool to the location of the property was great. I wouldn’t think twice about staying here again.
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Magda C.

Magda Castillo me gusta la casa y la playa cerca

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very dirty. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Mejoren la limpieza , lámparas ventilador mucho polvo , mesas de lámpara polvo , pelos y polvo detrás de camas , nevera baño , piso alfombras de entrada muy sucias y mal estado . Haga de su residencia algo sencillo y acogedor sin exceso de adornos , las personas apreciamos hogar limpio no cargado ; volveré pronto . Gracias
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gladivett F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing property

We had a great time. The location of this property is perfect. We could walk across the street to the beach and it had all the gears needed for a beach day. Walking distance to restaurants and bars. The pool was always nice and clean. Coming back for sure!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Jayme L.

Excellent Place to Stay

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We loved everything about this place! It was a perfect location and provided everything our family needed and more. It was super clean and well thought out. The pool was a huge plus! We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Molli J.

A great place to get away!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Adorable little condo right across the street from the public beach. Cute yard out front with picnic table. Nice pool, laundry in little hut on the property. You can tell the owners are trying to give you a relaxing experience. Would like to return and rent all 4 villas with my family!
From a partner site

8/10 Good

David And Leslie K.

A lovely quiet place to stay

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was more than happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We ended up loving the location. It was located on a street where there was no through traffic. The condos across from us were lovely and beautifully landscaped. It was a great neighborhood for walking and biking. Our pool was great although not always as clean as possible. Being in Unit I we caught more road noise especially as there was an unnecessary gap in the landscaping. There is safer, convenient access to the cafe on the beach just a short way off site so that gap is not needed. Our deck was also smaller than the other units. But I loved the kitchen and the master bedroom. The bed was very comfortable. We would rent there again if we could get a unit other than #1. The units are very quiet. You get no noise from your adjoining neighbor.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

A guest from Lake Odessa, MI

MI Happy Place, A Very Happy Place!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We enjoyed our trip to Anna Maria Island. From booking to check out, the process was simple. The condo was well-stocked. The linens were fresh and clean, and the king sized bed was one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept on. It was too chilly to use the pool, but we noticed that it was spotless and with chairs and a BBQ grill available. Thank you for the excellent experience. We already booked for next year. Same time, same place!! Happy, Happy.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Janet K.

Close to public beach

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was more than happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Rented a cute 2 BR cottage that has a beach theme and recently updated. Would have been better with 2 bath instead of 1. Busy street next to cottage although trees did buffer some noise. Needed to walk down to stop lights to cross street to beach. Very clean unit. Renting unit in 2021.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Marci M.

Great Little Get Away

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: This location was very quaint and cute location! We enjoyed our time spent! Well decorated and clean! Pool was nice as well!
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Jaimmie H.

Wonderful

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We have stayed there twice now and its always been great! Prefect location, very clean comes with everything you need.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Donna D.

Great place

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We had a great time. Rental very clean and had all the amenities you needed. I would absolutely rent it again

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