Condos on the beach

[Praying Colonel]

We're looking at doing a quick 3-day WDW trip in August, then spending 5 days at a beachfront condo. We know of some places up in the panhandle, but were wondering if anyone knows of anyplace nice closer to Orlando. Either the Atlantic or Gulf side are OK--what we're looking for is someplace relaxing where we can soak up some rays, buy some fresh seafood and cook it in our own place and just spend some quiet time together.

 

[Indio]

Indian Shores, FL about 5 miles south of Clearwater is GREAT! We just got back. It's actually the off season there now, so you can find great condos pretty cheap. We just rented a house for the week for $900. It's 1.25 hours from WDW. Beautiful beaches and great food!

 

[dgaston]

We rented a small condo at Cocoa Beach for our recent long weekend to watch the STS-124 launch. It's not fancy, on the second floor, but only two driveways from Ron Jon's and there's a great beachpark across a road (Alan Shepherd).

I found it on www.homeaway.com # 155007. There isn't a pool or other large complex amenities, but it suited us well. It only sleeps 4: two in a king bed and 2 in a futon.

HTH

 

[Jen50]

We have stayed at the Alden Beach Resort on St Petes Beach on the gulf side. Nice complex right on the beach. You can rent by the day or week.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

There are so many places on the gulf coast that are beautiful, but the best from Orlando would be around the Clearwater, St Pete's down to the Sarasota area, encompassing Anna Maria Island, Siesta and Longboat Keys.

Check out these websites

www.homeaway.com
www.cyberrentals.com
www.vacationrentals.com
and my fave - www.vrbo.com

You can filter to suit your preferences - ie number of bedrooms, pool, spa, bathrooms etc.

Don't get too addicted now

 

[pjinaz]

We love New Smyrna Beach. It is on the Atlantic side between Daytona and cocoa Beach. It is about 1hour and 15 minutes from orlando. Nice sand, warm water, some waves for boogyboarding.

It is a small town with several condos on the beach. We go every summer and just got back last week. We always stay at the Moontide, but there are a bunch. Lots of good seafood restaurants. Not a lot of chain restaurants. Real small town feel.

I'm sure you will have a great time at any beach.

 

[peacefrogdog]

Are there any communities in these beach areas that are gated or similar to Windsor Hills/Emerald Island etc. ?

 

[pjinaz]

I am sure some of these towns have gated communites. As for New Smyrna Beach, it isn't really that fancy. Most of the condos have gated parking and you cannot just walk in and out of the properties without keys, but not huge sprawling beautiful resorts, just nice, comfortable places with a small town feel and nice beaches, nothing like the nice timeshares around orlando. I love nice fancy places too, but it is a nice change to go to such a low key place. At the Moontide, they have a tennis court, rooftop pool and all of the condos are beachfront with awesome ocean views, you can't beat that. The condos are individually owned, so it depends on what the owners have put into the condo, but the rental agency has standards of what the condos have to have, I would guess it is like that at most rentals.