Gulf Strand Resort

I loved staying in apartment 507 and can’t wait to come back. It’s cozy and comfortable, beautifully decorated, and spotless. The kitchen has everything you might need, and you can watch both sunrise and sunset from the balcony. The location is wonderful too, with restaurants and everyday essentials within walking distance.

The condo is right on the beach, with a partial ocean view, and it was clean. The host, James, was very responsive. Inside, the kitchen had been redone, but the unit could use updated furnishings. The shower heads were horrible, and the chairs and couch were extremely uncomfortable. The beach theme and decor felt overdone. We spent more time inside because the weather wasn’t good, and I had to clean and deodorize the washing machine because it smelled strongly of mold. The elevator was awful on our first ride. Fabuloso had been used far too heavily, and the smell felt really toxic. We rented a one-bedroom, two-bath Airbnb condo. I’d give the property a B, but the unit gets a C-. Thanks from Tinley Park, Illinois. January 14-19.

The balcony view was wonderful, and the air conditioning and ceiling fans worked great. We stayed in room 507 for nine days. It was recently renovated, with two bathrooms and a well-equipped kitchen, so we grocery shopped and cooked most of the time, eating out only twice. The refrigerator took about a day to get cold enough, then stayed cold. There’s no water line to it. I would’ve liked a hotel-grade ice maker by the pool or grill, since we kept making ice in the freezer to fill our cooler. We found several ants in the master bathroom starting around day three, though they weren’t there at first, and we killed them as we saw them. The pool is nice, with plenty of chairs and a bin of noodle floats we used in the ocean. If you rent a cabana, mention you’re staying here for a $10 discount. The nearby Publix, a block away, is still closed for repairs, so plan to drive to Treasure Island or elsewhere for groceries. I found it interesting that each condo is independently owned.

Unit 302 was a great place to stay. The pool area is fantastic, and we had fun playing cornhole. There’s also a nice new patio with grills for cooking out.