Reviewed: Serenity Beach – Anna Maria Island holiday home

Some trips, your accommodation is simply a convenient place to sleep between exploring. Others, the place you stay is a huge part of the experience.

Once in Lisbon, I slept in the converted castle kitchens in the oldest part of the city. In Berlin as a student, we found a cool hostel-style place where you were encouraged to decorate the walls, while island-hopping in Greece meant getting a room from locals waiting on the quay for the ferries.

press trip*

So in the relaxed beachy atmosphere of Anna Maria Island in Bradenton, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, it wasn’t a hotel I wanted to complete the trip: it was a chilled-out beach house that was just as stylish as any boutique property. Serenity Beach – our Anna Maria Island holiday home.

One of the string of houses available from Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals, I got to stay here on my recent trip as the company showcased it’s great family-friendly accommodation.

If you don’t already have itchy feet, I strongly suggest browsing their website… I saw half a dozen other properties during my visit, and they ranged from gorgeous to absolutely flipping amazing. But back to my review of Serenity Beach.

Vital statistics: Serenity Beach Anna Maria Island

The house is set in the north of Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria City. It’s around an hour from Tampa Airport, and a couple of blocks from Pine Avenue with its shops and restaurants. It’s also near the free trolley bus stops if you want to explore without a car.

While Serenity Beach is not currently listed on the site, there are still a range of other holiday homes for families in Anna Maria Island

Serenity Beach has five bedrooms – three doubles upstairs, one triple room, another double downstairs and you can also convert another day bed in the den.

There are also two living rooms, separate dining room, kitchen and five bathrooms. The house has its own pool and outside living space too, plus a dock for boats.

We also rented kids’ toys through Fun and More Rentals, which will deliver buggies, food and various other holiday essentials as well. Our selection was a bit young for Minnie but as we were outdoors as much as possible, it wasn’t the end of the world.

Our holiday home, Anna Maria Island: the good

The space

Minnie and I practically rattled around in this huge house on our own. In fact there was so much space we barely went in to a couple of rooms (although I did briefly have a plan of sleeping in each double one night).

If you’ve got a big group, there’s masses of indoor and outdoor space so you’re not falling over each other, and no queues for bathrooms either.

The only drawback was that the master bedroom with its astounding bath and gigantic walk-in shower was right at the other end of the house from the kids’ bedroom with the triple bed.

As I knew jetlag would mean I needed to be next door to Minnie (or face a 2am bleary wander), I had to choose another gorgeous bedroom. I know, life is hard.

The decor

Not just stylish but perfect for the island. I wanted to snaffle a few cushions (including one with an octopus on), some of the art, and there was a cool blue and white theme that was just nautical enough.

Everywhere I looked, there was a fabulous or quirky little touch.

The facilities

There was practically everything you might need here. A BBQ, a cupboard full of pool toys, a well-stocked kitchen with enormous American fridge, innumerable TVs (even if we never turned them on), blissful aircon, washing machine, pool towels…

If you’d rather not cook and are looking for Anna Maria Island restaurants, there’s plenty of choice nearby

We also got a bed guard and kitchen booster seat for Minnie from Fun And More Rentals.

The pool

There were actually two pools, a small one which was great for splashing with Minnie in her floatsuit and the main one with a shallow area by the steps, plus a separate seated table with palm umbrella which was part of the main pool. So practically three. We went in every day…

The location

It was really easy to find and very quick to get to the Island Store or Publix supermarket for food, but on a quiet peaceful road.

Not far from one of the island’s bridges back to the mainland, this Anna Maria Island holiday home was also ideal to explore Bradenton.

Outdoor living

As well as the outdoor area down by the pool, there was a balcony with rocking chairs and a deck overlooking the pool where we had breakfast and watched the sunset.

Serenity Beach House: The not so good

The pool

Yes, I know I mentioned this in ‘good’, but the only downside was the shady trees equalled leaves. It didn’t stop us swimming and there’s a net to scoop a few out, but it’s worth knowing.

It also meant we had a filter machine (like an underwater hoover) in the pool the whole time too. Nicknamed ‘the elephant’ by Minnie, for its ‘trunk’ – the hose which swished around in the water.

The price

Sort of… When we stayed, a week would cost around $4,500 in November or February, rising in the summer months. But if you have 10 people staying, which is easily doable, that works out at about £300 per person, per week.

Serenity Beach, Anna Maria Island: The verdict

Honestly? This house is nicer than the one I live in. And I live in a nice house (I think). Travelling with kids, I love the flexibility of self-catering but it’s as stylish and luxurious as a gorgeous hotel, plus you have your own pool.

I would love to go back with a group – firing up the BBQ for myself didn’t quite seem worth it, but this house is made for long evenings outside drinking cocktails and watching the sun set behind the palm trees.

Disclosure: My stay was courtesy of Visit Bradenton and Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals. All opinions and debatable decisions not to sleep in the enormous master bedroom are my own.

Main image courtesy of Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals. All other images and video copyright MummyTravels.

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