Entire home

Romantic Escape; Open Gulf View; Your Own Private Dock! Elevator to master.

Photo gallery for Romantic Escape; Open Gulf View; Your Own Private Dock! Elevator to master.

next to the dining room, a lovely outdoor sitting area.
open floor plan looking out onto Gulf of Mexico.
Sunset at low tide after a long day of fun.
a handsome leather sofa, but who stays inside in Florida?
Beach

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6278.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Gym
  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Hot tub
  • Washer

Explore the area

Map
Crystal Beach, FL
  • Innisbrook Golf Club
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Dunedin Beach
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Clearwater, FL (CLW-Clearwater Air Park)
    ‪17 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Master with Balcony overlooking Gulf

1 Queen Bed

Peaceful Double Jungle

2 Double Beds

The Twins

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Downstairs Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Master bath

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Romantic Escape; Open Gulf View; Your Own Private Dock! Elevator to master.

Our beach home is a stunning combination rarely found. Crystal Beach is old Florida - eclectic and friendly. We're on the water, with our own dock. W are a block from the community park with its own beach (natural, not a bikini beach, great for little kids and dogs) and 20 minutes to Honeymoon Island State Park Beach (one of the best wide, white sand beaches in the world). We're 35ish min from Clearwater Beach which is top-rated beach / boardwalk area.

You can't help but be recharged in this magical spot.

We have a friendly community, a great yard, a beach at low tide, a private dock, and AMAZING views. See dolphins, manatees, sting-rays in the water. Watch Osprey feeding their babies in the nest. Great fishing. Once we had a bald eagle land in our yard and we always see Oscar, a heron, who loves sardines.

This is our residence but we spend a lot of time on our farm, out of state and, frankly, we love our little spot so much that love sharing it. Because this is our primary residence, there are are some of our personal things around, like photos of my grandkids, but this also means our house is fully stocked with towels, linens, bikes, morning coffee, and condiment, so you can get started vacationing as soon as you arrive.

We have three large bedrooms. The master looks over the gulf and has sublime sunsets. The downstairs bedrooms have two beds each (one has a set of full sleep number beds and the other has two twins).

There is an office desk in the guest bedroom as well as in the master. There is also an oversized monitor you are welcome to use with your laptop.

Build a little fire in the chimenea and watch the sunset during a romantic dinner on the patio on our Crate and Barrel outdoor dining table.

Walk for breakfast at Emily's or ride your bike to the best coffee shop ever in nearby Old Palm Harbor (Lulu's). This area is great for all kinds of diets and food needs. The Ozona Pig is a bike ride away for amazing bbq, as is Fireside Pizza. Ohana (a healthy Hawaii-inspired cafe complete with hula dancers) and Rawk Star Cafe (Raw, Vegan, Gluten free) are minutes by car.

Innisbrook golf resort is 5 minutes away. Movies are 7 minutes away. Clearwater Beach is 35 minutes.

We have two kayaks and 4+ bikes. You might enjoy renting a golf cart during your visit. Our dock is brand new, with a rail! Our boat is ancient (and not available for renters). There are tons of fishing charters and dolphin charters in the area, but frankly, fishing from our dock and watching dolphins from the kayak is pretty special. There are lots of options in Clearwater Beach for tours, but our local marina is The Ozona Fish Camp.

On another personal note, our TV/Stereo/Surround Sound system is an UNenthusiastic partner in your pursuit of tv entertainment. When you arrive, we're happy to walk you through the system, which has always been buggy (we have come to accept this). We've got local cable and the TV has a Chromecast device for easy streaming. But other than the Chromecast, little about this system is predictable. That's not why you're in FL, anyway, right? We do have a smart TV in the guest room.

Property manager

Betsy Banks Saul
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
NO TODDLERS OR NEW WALKERS. Open staircase.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: limit 3 total
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Open staircase! Please do not book if you have a toddler.
No children allowed in the elevator without an adult. No exceptions.
All kayaks and paddles and water toys must be brought into the fence nightly and back to garage at end of stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Crystal Beach

Located in Crystal Beach, this holiday home is on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Tampa Bay and Pier 60 Park. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center or Florida Auto Exchange Stadium - Dunedin Blue Jays. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Crystal Beach, FL

What's nearby

  • Innisbrook Golf Club - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks - 10 min drive - 8.2 km
  • Sunset Beach - 12 min drive - 9.6 km
  • Dunedin Beach - 13 min drive - 11.2 km
  • Clearwater Marine Aquarium - 22 min drive - 19.5 km

Getting around

  • St. Petersburg, FL (PIE-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Intl.) - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Wings Etc. Palm Harbor - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Strachan's Homemade Ice Cream - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Molly Goodhead's Raw Bar & Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Dairy Rich - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪De Bine Brewing Company - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Romantic Escape; Open Gulf View; Your Own Private Dock! Elevator to master. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 3 total).

What time is check-in at Romantic Escape; Open Gulf View; Your Own Private Dock! Elevator to master.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Romantic Escape; Open Gulf View; Your Own Private Dock! Elevator to master.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Romantic Escape; Open Gulf View; Your Own Private Dock! Elevator to master. located?

Nestled on the beach, this Crystal Beach holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Innisbrook Golf Club and Wall Springs Park. AdventHealth North Pinellas is 3.1 mi (5 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 24 out of 27 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 27 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 27 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 27 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 27 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Amy L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location, very clean

House was clean & view was stunning. However, this is a one and done for us. Upon check in, there was lettuce, beer, and half drank beverages in the fridge, food in the freezer, as well as half eaten bags of chips in the pantry. It seemed the cleaning company neglected to check those spaces. As a guest, I would have preferred more bath towels to be available for use, both upstairs & down. After booking, it seems the description may have been updated as we were quite surprised finding a number of personal belongings throughout. The master appeared lived it, as the closet was already in use for the host's personal belongings. Not having a bedroom or bathroom door for the master and only a plantation door on the toilet made privacy a challenge for the upstairs guests. But the balcony view was perfection. The elevator made taking luggage up and down easy. The sleep number beds were fantastic! Although the pillows were surprisingly small. The check out process requires bedding to be laundered and folded on the bed; it seems the linens are limited. I messaged the owner about this before check in and neglected to receive a response.No hot tub and photos were only partially accurate. They need updated.Small FYI, this is not a fishing dock. But we had a lot of fun with corn and a small pole. Overall, it served it's purpose and we are very thankful to have stayed there but it wasn't the right fit for our family.
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Timothy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Bird is Still There

This is a really nice stay - everything in the VRBO description is accurate. It is a perfect location. We like to bike the Pinellas Trail which had great access from this home. We had a lot of fun in the property's tandem kayak - Honeymoon Island is a lot further to paddle to than it looks! Oh..., and that tall, pretty white bird in the pictures came by everyday! He was fun to watch.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property tucked away - gorgeous sunsets!

This is a beautiful spacious property, perfect for a larger family, especially if you are travelling with your furry friend (pets). Big rooms and common areas, great for family board or card games while waiting for spectacular sunsets right off the end of the dock. If you’re a Blue Jays fan, Dunedin in only 20 minutes away. Be aware it’s a bit of a haul if you plan to go to Disney World, but not unmanageable, just be prepared. We had a fantastic time and absolutely would stay again. Makes it that much harder to be flying back to snow and cold!
Stayed 10 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diane A.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful place!

Great sunset view, lots to do in area, wonderful wildlife viewing.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Emily P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

We really enjoyed our 1st trip to Florida!! We will be back and recommending this place!!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steven S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great sunsets!

Awesome stay, comfortable and nice walking neighborhood, with great direct waterfront access and sunsets!
Stayed 11 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stewart B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gulf front

Beautiful renovated property with amazing outdoor features
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful sunsets, great views.

We had a wonderful stay. We enjoyed biking the neighborhood , and kayaking to nearby islands. Can’t wait to stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sheryl N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday Getaway

Great house and location. Would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place

Was great home on the water
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stephen K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sunset bliss.

Great spot on the water. Amazing sunsets and even moon sets. Dogs love the yard and water access as we did also. Stunning house and close to everything you need. We will back.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steven S., Lake Bluff

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful pet friendly waterfront property

A great 2 week stay in crystal beach! We loved this place. So did our 2 poodles. Great dog walking area, fenced back-yard, georgeous sunsets. Would stay again, Thanks!
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Donna S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful views, great location.

Morning sunrises glowed pink and blue as the ibis, osprey, spoonbills and herons flew by. And the sunsets were stunning gold and red every night. Stand on the dock just after sunset and the night crowned herons will join you. Hop on the Pinellas trail for a bike ride to Tarpon Springs or Dunedin. The principle bedroom is gorgeous with a wall of windows overlooking the water.
Stayed 18 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Pru S., Nashville, TN

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house in fantastic location

We loved our 3 weeks at Betsy's lovely property. The sunsets are amazing, and the neighborhood is quaint and quiet with a park two blocks down the street and large live oak trees. We especially enjoyed the local birds who came to visit. There's nothing like being right on the water!
Stayed 21 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

John D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Nice Vacation

Nice place in a quiet location,
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2022

6/10 Okay

MARK F M., Grand Haven MI

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication

Could be awesome

Great location but condition of property is not what it should be for price. Had to hand wash glasses (put away with lipstick stains and unclean), carpet needs shampooing, half chewed dog bones found under furniture in bedroom, floors not washed or properly vacuumed, half cleaned leaking shower upstairs (floor swab left in shower)!, air filters filthy. It is also time to replace some furniture. Also no response to a message sent to owner on VRBO. Bottom line this is a great property in a desirable location but the owner would be well served to take a few days off rental to attend to a deep cleaning and much needed maintenance.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Pam S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay in beautiful home on the Gulf

We absolutely enjoyed our stay in Betsy's home in Crystal Beach. Amazing sunsets nearly every night. The 45 mile Pinellas Bike Trail is just a couple blocks away. So many birds (some extra friendly) entertained us. Clean, spacious and quiet with super comfy beds. There are numerous really good restaurants so close by - our favs were Molly Goodheads, Emily's, Bar Fly Fish Shack, Fireside Pizza and Thirsty Marlin . We launched our kayaks right out in front of the house. It was fun to explore nearby parks and other nearby coastal towns. Be sure to go to Tampa Electric to view manatees - thank you, Betsy! Waking up and doing yoga on the second floor overlooking the gulf was a treat beyond words. The only downside for us was that January was chillier than we imagined but we were still able to find plenty to do to occupy ourselves for 3 weeks.
Stayed 21 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stewart B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful setting

Beautiful property with Live Oaks and a great park for sunset viewing as well as a private dock on property..
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

christine g., Belleair Beach FL USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location/Quiet

The view and backyard were so perfect. They had everything you could imagine for the stay. The whole time at the home was a great vacation. Sunsets every night.
Stayed 13 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jamie R., Sanfordfl

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing Week Away

Great house, great area, restaurants and Honeymoon Island is an awesome beach. Betsy, the owner, was very responsive to any little issues we had.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Terry M., Muskogee

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best stay in Florida yet.

My family had the most magical experience. We spent the majority of our vacation in the backyard and on the pier. The kayaks were my son and grandson's favorite thing. They went out for hours twice daily. We saw manatees, dolphins, stingrays, crabs and all kinds of fish and birds from the Very Nice new pier. We saw the most beautiful sunsets. It's nice to have the locals stop by the pier to give advice on best places to fish, eat and ect. Our Pom and Chiweenie loved the backyard, running up and down the pier and even kayaking. The neighborhood was great. People out walking their dogs, riding bikes. Very friendly. The park nearby was nice but not nearly as nice as the backyard at this place. We honestly enjoyed this place with the gulf literally in the backyard more than our trip last year VIP at Disneyworld and VIP Universal. The gulf and sea life were fantastic.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Judi D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful gulf front property

We had a wonderful time on this property. The house and yard were exceptional! Other than the opening code for the door everything was perfect. As a matter of fact, the property manager Frank was very very helpful in getting us the correct code, and a few days later when we could not get the door open! This home is beautiful and welcomed our 3 dogs! They had a great time! Great location, great neighborhood and very quiet. We would love to return next year for a longer stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021

8/10 Good

Cynthia E.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A great way to relax

What a way to relax! From spending hours on the pier doing nothing to walking the trails, this location offers a bit of everything. Our dog loved the Dog Beach a short drive away near Honeymoon Island (a location I wish we would have known about right away). A few quirks here and there but the owner was more than gracious in helping us out. Yes!!! I would stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

ashley h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

sunset heaven

We really enjoyed the house. It was nice a spacious and very well stocked. The sunsets on the dock are some of the best I have ever seen. We also enjoyed the us of the bikes and the amazing bike trail close to the house. The house is a short ride to restaurants, grocery stores ect. The house is in a very quite low key area. We were only a few miles from Innsbrook golf course and resort. We played a lot of tennis and golf there. ( I know Copperhead is a famous course but we found North much harder and trickier )
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

Dennis B.

Love Crystal Beach!

One of the most spectacular views you will ever witness. Betsy is very accommodating and quick to respond to any question. The home was perfect for my wife and I and our dog, Bradley. The fenced in yard was perfect for our dog, and being on the water was magnificent. The sunsets were amazing every night. Crystal Beach is off the beaten path, which we loved. We were there during the peak season of all the spring breakers, and never ran into them. Very quiet and peaceful area. Just a short walk to the wonderful Pinellas trail where you can walk, run or bike for miles and miles. We will stay there every year, for sure!
Stayed 14 nights in Mar 2018

About the host

Hosted by Betsy Banks Saul

Host profile image
We never expected to fall in love with Florida, but then we never expected to find a little community like Crystal Beach. We go between this home and our farm full of rescued farm animals in North Carolina. The home is available just for a few rentals each year simply because our work-travel schedule is keeping us away longer than we anticipated and we know a home needs to feel love to stay healthy! We love to share this special place.

Why they chose this property

This is our primary residence so there are personal items around. It is also fully stocked and ready for you to start a great vacation. This is the coolest, eclectic community. We have a community beach, drive golf-carts for ice-cream, and bike to Dunedin on the Pinellas Trail.

What makes this property unique

Within a few miles you can rent a golf cart, a kayak, a paddle board, bikes, go to a top rated beach or boat to the island spoils for your own private beach.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests