HELP! We thought we had an apartment rented for 5 weeks (Jan 25-Feb 29, 2020) for $5,000 across the street from Crescent Beach on Siesta Key. Find out today that the rental agent rented the apartment out from under us. We are now looking for somewhere similiar area/cost. Any suggestions on who to call or book? Airbnb and VRBO only have more expensive units showing on their site.

You might check out Booking.com for some ideas. A few years back they changed their policies so that that don't book any reservations over 30 days but we have successfully booked a five week stay in Austin booking the same property with 2 reservations (the second one starting on the checkout date of the first one). Even if you don't rent through booking.com they list a number of of property so you can check out the reviews and then see if you can contact the management company directly by searching for them on the web. This was a property that gets good reviews and looks to be more reasonably priced:

Ocean Blue by Beachside Management
113 Beach Road, Siesta Key, 34242

Good luck-I know it is disheartening to lose a reservations like that that you probably booked months ahead!

You may have more luck if you split your stay into 2 smaller time segments. I'm sure you don't want to move, but it may be the only way you're going to be able to find something.

red tide is at Siesta Key...........maybe it was a blessing that happened