Royal

Hi Everyone. Already thinking about next winter and need some advice re rentals in the Naples area. We would like to find something in a good area, close to beaches, shops etc but not in a fancy resort type lodging. Maybe a nice motel with efficiency or small cottage. We plan to be there for Feb & March. Any ideas re area to look at or websites will be much appreciated. Have not been to this area before so am really in need of good basic info.
Many thanks.

babs001

Patrick and lilmissfoodie will be able to give you valuable advice. I would suggest looking at VRBO.com - there are MANY listings for Naples. As a frequent visitor, I would suggest that you have a very well-defined list of requirements. Want to be near beach or golf? Do you want to dine out most evenings? Do you like to frequent galleries? Will shopping be a main focus? As Naples offers so much, you can find something that will fit your requirements. My personal recommendation would be to stay on the west side of 41. I'm partial to the Park Shore area, but that is mainly because I am most familiar with that area. Many people like the area near 5th. There are condos available in a myriad of golf developments, some pretty far out. Get a good map of the area while you narrow the list of available units.

Patrick

All the above questions are good ones. But here's the biggest and most important one -- how much are you willing to spend?

A couple places for starters:
Mariner Apartment Hotel. This is a sort of funky older motel close to the pier and 3rd Sreet South. They have efficiencies, some apartments, and even a couple of cottages. 239-261-7313. Maybe someone will die this year and you can get the apartment they've rented for the past 25 years or so -- it's many repeat visitors.

VRBO is a good source -- but probably more full scale 2 bedroom 2 bath condos.

There's the Cove Inn, an older motel on the water (bay) that was converted to small efficiencies. They do offer weekly rates and maybe monthly as well.
239-262-7161. A bonus is the Cove Inn Coffee Shop has one of the best breakfasts in the area.

There are some guest houses in Olde Naples for rent seasonally. You need to get a Naples Daily News to search through the classified for those.

Two of you? No pets?

Royal

Hi Babs001 & Patrick. Thanks for your replies. We would rather be near beach than golf, do like to shop and dine out, not crazy about condos, would prefer ground floor units with lanai, patio etc. pool would be nice but not essential. As to price, I have no idea what costs are but would hope to find something under $3,000/mo. It's just the 2 of us -no pets. Really not looking for fancy, just basic, clean, comfortable, good area.
Looking forward to your help. Thanks

Patrick

OK, strike what I mentioned about the funky old Mariner Apts. They start at just over $5000 per month in season for an efficiency. The Cove Inn is about $4600 a month for a motel room efficiency.
I just called both as I wasn't sure how much they were.

Royal

Hi Patrick. Thank you for calling for those rates. Am I being unrealistic to think I might find something under $3,000? Perhaps I should be looking further away from the water? Any ideas?
Thanks.

Sobehappy

Suggest you also look a bit north, west of Tampa, at one of the barrier islands. The rental level is a bit lower, more along the lines you have in mind. We've been doing some rental cost research for a friend, and we recalled some good places when we had contacts in the area. So, you might try there as well as in Naples. Good luck.

Patrick

I'm really not the expert, and even I have lost touch with "reality" in pricing here. I used to have a delightful but tiny one bedroom guest house adjacent to my house which was in Olde Naples, just two blocks from the beach. We used to rent it for $1000 a month in season and thought that was high, but had no problem getting it. But that was 20 years ago. Those days are long gone.

Take a look at VRBO. I know some people have commented here about renting smaller condos more inland, and those sound about right. I also used to own a condo in Lakewood, just east of the downtown area. I know some rented one bedrooms there for around $2000 a month in season -- but there was a three month minimum there, and that was only a couple years ago.

I think you may actually do better with an apartment than with a hotel/motel as they can rent by the day and get a whole lot more. They aren't that willing to discount much for a longer term in high season -- why should they?

Royal

Hi. Thanks Sobehappy & Patrick. I will check out the Tampa area too. Also the vrbo and apartment idea.
Would we be crazy to just go ahead and drive down in late January and take our chances? My husband likes that idea as we can see the area/lodging for ourselves. Will keep looking. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Sobehappy

About simply driving down: I don't know the Tampa area now that I'm not connected with it, but today when I contacted several places (for a friend who wants to rent for three months) d I used to see west of there, along the Gulf, I got the impression from the managers that May and June are very open. But I do recall the early months as being busy and often seeing no vacancy signs on busy weekends. If I were you, I'd pursue a reservation. Best of luck.

aquaholic

Hi,
Have you considered Marco Island? We have a place right on the intercoastal - a one bedroom screened in porch, great views and nice location. There are tennis courts/swimming pools/hot tubs right on property and then golf/shopping, etc near by. Check it out at http://www.dillmans.com/bay/riverside.html
We use it a bit, but depending on your dates, maybe we can help. We love it on Marco Island and it is a quick drive up to Naples.

Tandoori_Girl

Someone just told me about this link and it might have something for you:

www.gulfcoastrentals.com

Patrick

"Would we be crazy to just go ahead and drive down in late January and take our chances?"

In a word, yes. The best places and the best bargains will all be gone soon if they aren't already. Finding a place in January that isn't booked yet for all of February and March is a real flag that there is something really wrong with the place! At least that's how it works in the Naples area.

Tandoori_Girl

We have a furnished rental that's been rented for almost two years straight. All of a sudden our tenant lost his job in SP but immediately got another in Miami. So we have availability and have been advertising, something we never have to do much of. This kind of stuff happens all the time with rental property, especially seasonal property. So ask lots of questions.

I'll admit it is hard to know what answers to get if you've never been to the city.

babs001

I checked the website vrbo.com a few minutes ago. There are so many choices. You really should glance through them. They are listed two ways, by neighborhood, and not. Naples is not a cheap town, but there are rentals that fit you criteria, both for budget and interests. Other websites similar to vrbo include greatrentals.com, cyberrentals.com, and A1rentals.com. Good luck!

Royal

Hi Everyone. Thanks so much for all your replies. I will check out all those websites. You have all been really helpful so I am sure to find something that will suit us.
Thanks again!