Hi. (Moderator, please let me know if this is not the correct venue to ask the below question. I thought it would be appropriate since we are interested in locations and sights.)

Hopefully I am in the correct Forum, i.e., Flordia.

Not sure anybody is able to help with finding the perfect location in Florida for a monthly condo rental for Feb 2026 that is within budget, e.g., approx $7500 or less.

Looking for a gated community with pool that is close proximity to scenic walks as well as restaurants. That's the short list.
We prefer the gulf coast.

We are having difficulty because most places in Southern Florida want 3 month minimum occupancy or is just too expensive. I have all but ruled out Naples and Sarasota.

My preference is the Tampa area because the Riverwalk offers the type of walks we are interested in taking. We are in our 60's and enjoy long walks. I was particularly fond of the Hyde Park area but there is nothing available for less than 3 months similar to Naples. We also like the St. Petersburg area. I have reached out to Real Estate companies and all say the same thing that they sell outright or lease for extended periods.

I have tried VRBO and AIRBNB with no success for available one month units in a nice location within our budget, i.e., $7500 or less.

We may have to consider Orlando although not on a coast but seem to have plenty of monthly condo's available. Someone recommended Baldwin Park in Orlando for location and walkability.

Would love to know if anybody has some recommendations or contacts for a nice area to stay that meets our requirements clean, safe, scenic, and walkability.

We basically just want to escape the Northeast Feb cold.

Thanks, W

Do you want a one bedroom or two bedroom condo?
We have rented two bedroom condos in Siesta Key for one month, but they were double your budget.
Look into the Palm Beach Gardens area on the east coast.

Two things:

Many condo associations have written in their by-laws that short(er) term rentals are not allowed. Mine, for example, which would meet your criteria has a two-month minimum rental limit.

In really popular locales people get their rental set up a year in advance, so your potential pool is even smaller now in July.

I have no idea if these people have anything, but I know they handle a lot of rentals in my area.
https://www.vacationrentalssarasota.com/

I know someone who owns in this complex in Venice. It's not gated, but I am someone who doesn't understand the need for gated communities anyway. I think you would be fine even without a gate.
https://www.realtor.com/apartments/B...urse_Venice_FL

It is challenging and late even for this but sometimes you can book a long term stay at someplace like a Residence Inn. My friends did this in Pompano a few years ago when their VRBO rental turned out to be unsuitable and they had to vacate after the first night. Now this wasn't on the beach or anything but there was a pool, laundry facilities and their unit had a small refrigerator so they could keep leftovers to heat up in microwave, deli stuff, milk, juice, yogurt, etc.

There seem to be many available in Fort Myers area on vrbo. Some mentions of hurricane damage so some damage to landscape etc. Your gated community thing may be the deal breaker, i didn't see any like that. Like 78687.

The obvious solution is to look elsewhere. $7500 will go far elsewhere.

This might not be an option but we were once on an Eastern Caribbean cruise and met a couple from New England who were on back to back cruises, Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean. A few days in one hotel when they arrived and a few days at a hotel at the end of the cruise and that got them out of New England for February. As frequent cruisers they could do laundry for free on the ships and they could do their drugstore shopping for whatever they would need prior to boarding. Nothing that I would have ever thought about doing.

You could look further north in Florida like St Augustine or possibly even on Hutchinson Island, north end is closer to upscale Vero Beach and further down there is Fort Pierce.

The problem is that February, March, and part of April have the best weather in the Tampa area, so landlords would want to get long-term renters. Also, South Tampa has become trendy, so finding a decent place in your budget will be difficult.

If you want to consider other areas in Tampa, look at the Hampton Inn on Hidden River Parkway. It's in a safe part of Tampa near a major highway, and there is a beautiful park nearby called Lettuce Lake Park. There you can walk along the river on wooden ramps, and see turtles and alligators. The hotel was recently rennovated, and they now have units with kitchenettes. There is also a Residence Inn in the same area, but it's an older one. There are lots of restaurants nearby, and of course, a big Publix. There is a newer Residence Inn in Wesley Chapel. We stayed there when it first opened. It has some nature trails behind it. It's a really nice hotel.

For long-term stays in either hotel, I would call the manager and see if they can give you a good rate. They do have the power, generally, to do that.

Hi.

Thank you for the replies.

We only need a 1 bedroom but do want 2 bathrooms. The gated community is not a must but we do want to stick with our budget of approx. $7500. Our preference is to be in a nice area that is walkable. We are not stuck on the Tampa area. May settle for Orlando since they seem to have many options.

I have reached out to the realtor in Sarasota; waiting for a response.

I would be interested in Fort Meyers but concerned with the overall condition. Everybody keeps telling me that although they have come along way they have a long way to go. Anybody been there recently?

Thanks, W

Naples is not really walkable (unless near 5th Avenue but very limited area or depending on what you mean by walkable -- if you mean that would include most of your food & activities that is not Naples), and many properties would have security but not necessarily be gated. February is high season, second only to March. I do see a number of units in that price range but with only 1 bathroom, and saw at least 1 in Naples with 2 bathrooms. Most people coming for a month or more are driving so they have a vehicle.

Another idea is Ft. Myers or Ft. Myers Beach.

Hi.
What are people's thoughts on Fort Meyers? We have never been there. Always wanted to but concerned that it is not recovered yet from the devastating hurricaine.

Thanks, W

For about 95%+ of tourists or more, the reason to go to Ft. Myers or that area is to soak up some sunshine and enjoy the weather. Like Naples, there may be individual buildings that have not completed repairs/rebuilt (maybe a small area? not sure), but if someone was going to rent a condo and stay for a month you will find everything you need.

Thanks.

Do you know if Fort Meyers is walkable? That is what we enjoy doing, e.g., 5-10 miles per day.

FYI, I did a quick look on VRBO and was shodked at the prices. They were higher than Naples.

Thanks, W

Fort Meyers is nice, but you will be paying a premium to be on the coast. In your first post, you did not mention that beaches are important. Are they? Remember that March is the BIG month in Florida for spring break, and it is definitely the best weather month. You will paying a premium to be near the ocean.

There are some lesser known locations that have golf communities. How about looking at Ocala? They have golf course communities there. We spent a weekend last year in Davenport, but I do not know about the golf courses there. So if you look at inland areas north of Tampa, and south of Orlando, you might find what you are looking for at a reasonable price. The area just north of Tampa is really pretty and rural.

Would you consider February or April? You may get better prices. It may be a little chilly in February, and a bit warm towards the end of April

Hi.

First I want to say how much I appreciate all of your help.

Our goal is to stay for the month of February. Preferably for the entire month but if that does not work we will consider 2-3 weeks. We were thinking of driving down; that way we could bring more supplies with us. However, if we only go for 2 weeks we will fly and rent a car.

We love the scenery of the ocean; we are not big golfers. We are long walkers...anywhere from 5-12 miles per day. When we were in Sarasota we walked from downtown to St. Armand Circle and beyond and then back.

We have stayed in Clearwater which honestly doesn't offer the downtown that we look forward to in terms of local restaurants. We loved St. Petersburg, Naples, Sarasota, and actually Miami with their beautiful boardwalk. We have never stayed in Tampa and I have heard nice things about their boardwalk. We have also never stayed in Fort Meyers.

We have also stayed on the Atlantic side and prefer the Gulf side. We realize the weather could still be cool but on the most part not as cold as Boston.

We will keep looking and please keep sending along suggestions.

Thanks, W

Take a look at Anna Maria Island in Manatee county. It may be what you are looking for.

Regarding the "boardwalk" that you mentioned in South Tampa, it is actually called the Riverwalk. South Tampa has experienced a total revitilization in the last few years, so you will find plenty to do there. Plus the walk is really nice, and different than a beach walk. People take water taxis there, but we have never tried it. Plus, the University of Tampa is in a historic building there, and you can visit the Henry Plant Museum. Also, there is the Tampa Bay History Museum. They are building high rise condos all over the area, so maybe you can find a place, although I am unsure if they have short-term rental restrictions. Oh, and historic Ybor city is nearby, as is trendy Hyde Park.

Hi,
Yes, Tanpa is my first choice because of what I heard of the Riverwalk,
Hyde Park would be great. We found a place from help of a college student at the U of Tampa but there was a 3 month min. Maybe someday when we can go down for that long.
For now, I will keep searching.
Thanks for the tips. I will check them out.

W

Warren I am not sure this would help, but if you can log on to NEXTDOOR in the area you are interested in, there are many people posting about renting their homes for a month or so...in winter....

If I see anything I will post but this would be in Palm Beach County..

See if you can join up in the area you want to rent in...

Thank you.

I will look into that. I use that for my local area for other things of course but never thought about that for searching for a condo.

Thanks again, W

You might find availability in a hotel that maybe has a mini kitchen but most places want a minimum 3 month or even longer for rental apartments/condos.