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Large Single Level-1 Minute Walk To The Beach-5 minute walk to Restaurant/Shops

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Beach nearby, sun-loungers, beach towels
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Dining
Exterior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

6 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 12344 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Holmes Beach, FL
  • Place, Bradenton Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Holmes Beach Beaches
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Manatee Public Beach
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Airport, Sarasota, FL (SRQ-Sarasota-Bradenton Intl.)
    ‪28 min drive‬

Room options

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  • Kitchen
  • Dryer
  • Parking included
5.0 out of 5, Exceptional, 1 review
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About the area

Holmes Beach

When you stay at this vacation home in Holmes Beach, you'll be by the sea, within a 10-minute drive of Anna Maria Beach and Bean Point Beach. .This family-friendly vacation home is 11.1 mi (17.8 km) from IMG Academy and 21 mi (33.8 km) from Tampa Bay.
View more Holiday homes in Holmes BeachOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Bradenton Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Holmes Beach Beaches - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Island Gallery West - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Manatee Public Beach - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • AMI Paddleboard Adventures - 9 min walk - 0.8 km

Getting around

  • Sarasota-Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Ugly Grouper - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Smoqehouse - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Anchor Inn - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Ginny's & Jane E's - ‬6 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Large Single Level-1 Minute Walk To The Beach-5 minute walk to Restaurant/Shops

Welcome to the Blue Grotto — Your 3,700 sq ft Island Playground!

Recently renovated with all-new kitchens and more!
Kick back, spread out, and settle into our spacious 3700 sq ft beach house featuring:
• 6 bedrooms
• 4 bathrooms
• 2 full kitchens
• 2 living rooms
• 2 bar areas
• Tons of space for both Team Early Riser and Team Sleep-In to vacation in harmony

Only 6 houses from the beach and steps from your large private pool*—you’ll be planning next year’s trip before this one ends.

The House
• Two full living areas — perfect for big families or groups needing extra hangout zones
• Two fully equipped kitchens
• Outdoor TV for poolside game days
• Shuffleboard table for bragging rights
• 4 king bedrooms + 2 twin bedrooms, each with its own TV
• Large private pool (heating optional*)

Beach & Essentials Provided
We supply:
• Beach towels, chairs, wagon, cooler
• Bath towels, sheets & blankets
• A starter set of basics: soaps, trash bags, etc.
• Kitchens stocked with dishes, utensils, gadgets & more

The Famous “Golden Triangle” — AKA Everything-Is-Right-Here Zone
You're surrounded by all the island favorites. Walk, bike, or hop on a golf cart to reach:
• 5-minute walk → AMI Beach Café (Dad’s all-you-can-eat pancakes!)
• 2-minute golf cart ride → Freckled Fin Irish Pub for a cold beer
• 5 minutes → Two Scoops Ice Cream (dangerously delicious)
• 2 minutes → The Doctor’s Office for next-level cocktails
• 2 minutes → The Ugly Grouper… and safely back home again
• 4 minutes → Fresh seafood at Captain Anthony’s + groceries at Publix
• End of the block → Free Island Trolley to Coquina Beach & AMI City Pier
• Ginny’s & Jane E’s → Cinnamon rolls the size of your head
• The Sand Bar → Sunset + piña colada w/ dark rum floater (mandatory)
• Historic Bridge Street → Souvenirs, live music & island shopping
• Tide Tables → Legendary fried grouper
• Starfish → Fried shrimp some call “life-changing”

Island Days Done Right
• Watch the game on the outdoor TV while the kids splash in the pool
• Wander to the sugar-white sand beach in seconds
• Swap ocean sightings: Manatee? Sea turtle? Mermaid?
• Challenge the crew to a shuffleboard showdown
• Wind down with a 1-minute stroll to a jaw-dropping sunset
• Sleep soundly in plush king and twin bedrooms

Experience Vintage AMI
Anna Maria Island is a 7-mile stretch of pure old-Florida charm—flip-flops required, speed limit max 35 mph, relaxation guaranteed.
See y’all soon at the Blue Grotto!

*Pool heat available for an additional charge

Ask about off-season stays shorter than a week

VRC21-000058
You are vacationing in a residential area. Please be a good neighbor by keeping the noise to a respectful level during the day and night. Excessive and unreasonable noise can deprive neighbors of the peaceful enjoyment of their private property.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a private pool and a Smart TV. There's a private patio. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as an outdoor pool, or other amenities including an arcade/game room and barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby
  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • Heated pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Kitchenette
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 6 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 4 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video games

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: This policy is strictly enforced

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Heated pool
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Parasailing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkelling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 3,700 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
Updated Large Beach House Only 1 Minute Walk To The Beach
Updated 6 Bedroom Beach House Only 1 Minute Walk To The Beach

Large Single Level-1 Minute Walk To The Beach-5 minute walk to Restaurant/Shops Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 86 out of 96 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 96 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 96 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 96 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 96 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Julie D.

Liked: Cleanliness
The house was exactly as described and yet seemed to exceed expectations! The pool was amazing, the beach within easy walking distance and so many restaurants, shops, etc to explore. We could not have asked for a better vacation spot!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nancy G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great for families!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Melinda A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our multigenerational group of nine absolutely loved our stay at the Blue Grotto! Located on a quiet residential street, the home was walking distance to shops, restaurants, and a beautiful stretch of beach. We enjoyed walking to Minnie’s for breakfast, the beach cafe for lunch, and Hurricane Hank’s and the Feast for dinner. The kids liked seeing the parrots at the nearby shopping center and riding the trolley to get ice cream. And every evening we walked down to the beach to watch the gorgeous sunset. The house’s spacious layout provided ample room for kids and adults to spread out, and the big table in the second dining area became the dedicated puzzle station. We paid for the pool to be heated during our April stay. It probably would have been fine without, but the kids and the grandparents loved it. The pool area furnishings were comfortable and offered a relaxing space for all to enjoy. Kelly was very responsive and a wonderful host. We would return in a heartbeat!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ruth C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Family trip

Blue Grotto was perfect for our family, young and old. So much room for all 10 of us.The location was great, middle of island, close to all, north or south. Short walk to beach also.The pool was awesome. We enjoyed it everyday and night.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

ivana v.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful house, excellent location. We enjoyed our stay @Blue grotto
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marsha H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Updated kitchen and bathrooms made a nice difference from two years ago . Short walk to the beach with 7 children. Third time staying in the house and we will return !
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lisa B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Blue Grotto was amazing

Clean beautiful property with a very attentive host. When returning to AMI we will stay at Blue Grotto.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Clayton B.

Liked: Cleanliness

If We Could Give It 6 Stars We Would!

Awesome location. Perfect distance from the beach, Publix, and restaurants. The house was stocked! Beach chairs, towels, cleaning supplies, and the welcome bottle of wine was a nice touch. Blue Grotto was super clean and spacious. We would stay there again next year but it’s not available for the dates we need…..
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cathy T.

Liked: Cleanliness

We love Blue Grotto!

Would be hard to top this gorgeous home. Plenty of room for multiple families, beautifully decorated and stocked with everything you need. Location is perfect- A short easy walk to a peaceful area of the beach and restaurants in walking distance too. The pool area is private, with lots of seating and outdoor tv. Domenico and Kelly were wonderful and a pleasure to work with.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cindy B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing Blue Grotto

There are not enough words to describe this beautiful home!! We had six people in our party. The Blue Grotto accommodated us beyond what we expected. Beautifully decorated, clean and just so comfortable. There was one minor thing that needed repair and Dominique had his handyman over within 24 hrs to fix. All appliances were in great working order. With 2 fully equipped kitchens we opted to cook dinners every night. Plenty of cookware and tools. The Island Fish market is not far from the house and had all the seafood we wanted. We have stayed at other VRBO’s on AMI in the past but none of them can compare to the Blue Grotto. 5 min walk to the beautiful beach. A wagon and beach chairs are available. Pool toys also were available and clean for the young kiddos. Very nice pool area with 3 umbrellas and plenty of seating. Dominique and Kelly are absolutely wonderful hosts!! Don’t pass up the chance to stay at the Blue Gotto!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brenda A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Mother’s Day girls trip

Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sherry R.

Liked: Cleanliness

Ton of space for our crew!

We had two families stay in the house and it was perfect for our group. Kitchens were well stocked, the outdoor space was great and so close to the beach! 2 living areas and 2 kitchens were amazing. So clean! Will definitely be coming back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great house

It was a family vacation. We had 10 people and the house was great. There was plenty of room for all of us. It had everything we needed. We all loved the pool - especially the kids! The hosts were very helpful. We would recommend this house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melissa P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great stay at Anna Maria Island

Overall awesome time
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

brandy c.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great location!

We had a multi-family trip at the blue grotto, 12 of us-ages 8-45. Prior to going we had a family emergency and the hosts were excellent in working with us to make sure we were able make the trip with the circumstances. The house has nice size rooms and kitchen is fully stocked with everything you need. We absolutely loved the location!! It is in the middle of the island so not too far from Anna Maria Pier or Bradenton beach. However, the best thing about this house is the quick walk to the beach. It really is less than a 5 minute walk from the beautiful beach!!! The streets are not busy and quiet so we all felt very safe. I would absolutely recommend the blue grotto for a multi-family stay, we hope to make it back soon!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Darla G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful Stay

We had a wonderful stay! The home was clean and comfortable. We have stayed on the island many times and this was one of our favorite stays. We will definitely be back. The owners were very easy to work with as well.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beach Ladies Love the Blue Grotto!

Two years in a row, our group has stayed here. Perfect for our group of family and friends. Hosts are very responsive if/when needed, which is rare since the place is pretty perfect! Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael D., Illinois

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful Location

2nd time visiting this VRBO- love, love, love the location! Owners very responsive!
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Debbie F., Lititz PA USA

Liked: Cleanliness

The perfect home for large families

We stayed in this lovely home during the week of Christmas with our two daughters and their husbands and four grandchildren ranging in ages from 2-6. The home is perfect providing space and privacy for both families and separate great room spaces for those who want to stay up late or get up early. The neighborhood is quiet, close to the Trolly stop, restaurants and only a 2 minute walk to the beautiful white powder beach. The kitchen was extremely well equipped! The pool was quite enjoyable despite the weather which was a little on the cooler side. You won't be disappointed with your stay in this home. The owners are very responsive should you have any questions. We fell in love with the island and definitely want to return.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Judy S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful vacation home

We loved the house and location. The attention to detail in the house was perfect. We were happy to find a house that accommodated all of our family members comfortably. We previously had to rent 2 houses. This house was perfect in that you could all gather together on one side or have your privacy if that’s what you prefer. The pool area was very nice for relaxing and watching the Lions win on the outdoor TV. Also, the house is conveniently located near a trolley stop to access most parts of the island. Would highly recommend this house for anyone looking for a lovely house in a great location.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

David P., Mt. Pleasant, SC

Liked: Cleanliness

Love Blue Grotto

Second visit and we had a great time! Loved the location. We were there when it was crazy hot, but had a wonderful time and got to experience everything we wanted. Plenty of space for two families (total of 11 people) and had all the needs. Tons of towels, pool toys and beach stuff!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Karen C., Rochester, New York

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect size perfect location

The blue grotto was a perfect for our size group. Having two kitchens gave us plenty of space to cook and gather. We enjoyed the pool fully and the outdoor TV for a movie night was a bonus! We had a great family reunion.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jack A.

Liked: Cleanliness

50th Anniversary

Great location, wonderfully furnished with everything you would need for the house, the pool, and the beach. The stay was above and beyond our expectations. Prompt, easy, helpful communication with the property owners. I have nothing but praise for this house!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness

Great family trip

What a wonderful place for a large group! We are grandparents who traveled with our kids and grandkids. The two kitchens came in very handy and they were well stocked. We had plenty of beach chairs and the beach was just a short walk away. The owners communicated in a timely manner. We would recommend staying at this lovely place.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

mary ann f.

Liked: Cleanliness

Family Fun

Our family stayed at the Blue Grotto for the third year in a row. It is a wonderful rental for our family of 11. The two living rooms and comfortable six bedrooms made it a great place for us to party together or have some alone time. The pool and location to the beach is truly the BEST!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023