We recently spent 30 days at Eric’s condo. We are a retired couple who wished to stay within Lakewood Ranch on a golf course with access to nearby amenities (pool, clubhouse, workout facility, ample walking/biking options, golf) & activities within & around Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton & Sarasota. In addition, the property needed to be clean, well maintained, reasonably appointed, 2 BR & have a responsive owner/manager.
When exploring our options, Eric’s condo appealed to us based on its advertised features & accompanying pictures and Eric was promptly responsive to our inquiries.
On check-in day, we expected to arrive a little early (2pm vs 4pm) & contacted Eric about a possible early check-in. He got back to us quickly with the access code with the understanding his cleaner might be finishing up. By the time we actually arrived after 3, his cleaner had left but we appreciated Eric accommodating us. When we entered, we were very pleased with the cleanliness & appearance of the condo, its furnishings & amenities. Everything was exactly as described & advertised.
After check-in, we had no further need to contact Eric. The VRBO site & instructions we received before arrival provided most of what we needed & we figured out the rest. That said, I encourage Eric to consider leaving a welcome to the condo “cheat sheet” with a reminder list of basic information about the condo, Lakewood National & Lakewood Ranch to help other renters more quickly settle in & familiarize themselves upon arrival.
During our stay we were able to genuinely relax at the condo, made use of all the amenities at Lakewood National & enjoyed a host of nearby activities, events & offerings within the various Lakewood Ranch properties (Main St, Waterside, Legacy golf course) & surrounding communities.
In summary, we were very pleased with our stay & rate it 5 star across the board, but have few final thoughts for others to consider:
1) If you plan to golf, you really need to familiarize yourself with the lottery system used to make reservations well before you arrive. The 2 courses are great & practice facility is tremendous!
2) The only dining available was the Tiki Bar at the pool. The main clubhouse is still under construction. Minor issue to us.
3) Lakewood National is 20 minutes to University Mall, 45 minutes to downtown Sarasota & an hour or more to the beaches. Not being a golf couple, we did a lot offsite & hadn’t factored this into our condo selection.