Florida Cottages | Places to Stay in Florida

April 18, 2023 Weston Hennigan

Not just for retirees and theme park enthusiasts, the Sunshine State offers beautiful beaches, pristine diving conditions, and sizzling nightlife. Salsa the night away in a smokin’ hot Miami club, or swing away at one of Kissimmee’s many premium golf courses. An airboat tour of the Everglades is an unforgettable adventure – just look out for alligators! For the risk-averse, a lazy day spent on the soft sands of an Emerald Coast beach is as rejuvenating as a spa treatment.
Things to do in Florida

1. Tarpon Tale Inn

367 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island, FL 33957-7431
Excellent
77%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 331 reviews

Tarpon Tale Inn

The Tarpon Tale Inn is a charming, family run property on the east end of Sanibel, a short walk from the island's famous shelling beaches, the lighthouse and the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Each of our cottage style accommodations has its own distinct character, and range from cozy efficiencies to spacious one bedroom suites. We hope you'll choose the Tarpon Tale Inn as your home on Sanibel. You'll find the Florida you're looking for!

Delightful and charming

Reviewed By S S

What an absolutely charming place. Outside my room, scattered about were hammocks, porch swings, blooming orchids and little bistro tables to enjoy morning coffee. My room, Birdcage, was immaculate and comfy. The staff was helpful and friendly. Will stay at Tarpon Tale again on my next visit to Sanibel Island.

2. Casey Key Resorts - Beachfront

221 Casey Key Rd, Nokomis, FL 34275-3371
Excellent
55%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
4%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 150 reviews

Casey Key Resorts - Beachfront

Casey Key Resorts - Beachfront is an extension of Casey Key Resorts, located in Osprey, Fl. 11 Cape Cod style beachfront rooms over looking the beautiful blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

There during time of renovation, still a wonderful stay. Audrey was the best!

Reviewed By kim m

Had to check in at the main location, but the place was just what I wanted, walk out and on to the beach. Was able to use the wifi with no issue and enjoyed the quiet. Nice place to just relax. Easy to get around town and walk to establishments. Only trick was watching out for the vehicles that were sight seeing and not watching the road.

3. Tremain Street Cottages

615 N Tremain St, Mount Dora, FL 32757-5652
Excellent
72%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
4%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 100 reviews

Tremain Street Cottages

Relax in privacy and comfort one block from all of the action in downtown Mount Dora.

Conch Cottage -Veranda

Reviewed By 66hildag

We had a lovely stay in their cottage. It was a two bedroom and one bath cottage with a living room and kitchen and dining area. It was one block away from downtown so it was easy to walk everywhere. It also had a patio with a couple of rocking chairs. Everything was there that we needed. We would definitely go there again.

4. Bella Sirena Inn

635 Corey Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33706-3604
Excellent
74%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
11%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 19 reviews

Bella Sirena Inn

The motel is under new ownership, all the rooms have been renovated. The Motel is located on world famous St. Petersburg Beach just 300' from the intracoastal and the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy gorgeous Florida sunsets, fishing or watch the boats go by across the street at Fisherman's Park. Multiple restaurants are next door or within walking distance. No Pets allowed.

Basically “ditto” other 5 star reviews here

Reviewed By travelwhenIcan67

I don’t really give 5 stars to many places, but almost did here due to amenities, service and location being excellent for the price. Only minor personal complaint was we found the bed to be a little too hard for comfortable sleep, but lots of provided pillows did help. Would stay here again if price continues to be right.

5. Coral Sands Oceanfront Rv Resort

1047 Ocean Shore Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32176-4105
Excellent
48%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
4%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 424 reviews

Coral Sands Oceanfront Rv Resort

Really Enjoyed Our Stay

Reviewed By homemadetripplanner

This property is a gem. Staff very accommodating. We had a group of 15 for three nights to celebrate my 80th birthday. It was easy for people to fly to Orlando and then drive to Ormand Beach. Love the area as it reminds me of Old Florida without the hustle and bustle. Lots to do nearby. If you are planning for a group talk to Morgan who is a wonderful events planner. All her suggestions were excellent. Wonderful pool and the ocean is right in front of you. Sunrise on the beach is amazing.

6. LEGOLAND Beach Retreat

100 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, FL 33884
Excellent
41%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
8%
Terrible
7%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 559 reviews

LEGOLAND Beach Retreat

LEGOLAND Florida is a theme park located in Winter Haven, Florida that caters to families with children aged 2-12.

Fun and charming, but some weird issues

Reviewed By asianguitarguy

We recently stayed here for a few days with our boys (age 4&7). And while it was an overall enjoyable visit, especially for our kids, there were just some odd issues that made the stay memorable for the wrong reasons. First, the pros- Unsurprisingly, the best feature of the resort is the kid-friendliness of everything. Lego beach-themed rooms, nice pool area with a sand pit, a playground in every neighborhood, enjoyable restaurant with a big lego pit to entertain the kids. The employees were super friendly with the kids, always a friendly chat and they handing out free Lego figurines. The resort grounds overall have a nice chill beach vibe to it. And of course, everything is Lego themed. Bricks everywhere. We also very much liked the onsite restaurant. It has a straightforward menu with tasty food. It's also very convenient; we ended up eating dinner there every night because we didn't want to bother driving elsewhere. Good food, and from our experience, dinner wasn't ever crowded, and there's plenty of seating. The breakfast buffet is a different experience. It's great, but can be a bit confusing the first time: once seated, your server will ask about food preferences and allergies, then bring you a large starter tray (family style) filled with the basics, based on your responses- eggs, potatoes, bacon, etc. They also have other normal breakfast fare like fruit and cereal, you just have to ask your server. Then you eat as much as you want, and can ask for more from your server. At no point do you actually go up to the food counter to get second helpings on your own, you always ask your server. (Not sure if this practice is a remnant of the Covid era, or just a way to keep the food flowing.) Plus, your kids can play in the Lego building pit while you enjoy your coffee and oatmeal. Overall, a great way to start your day. (Side note- when we'd do breakfast around 7:30am, there was no wait time; when we did it at 8:30am, we waited about 30 minutes). The physical location of the resort is a huge plus: you can choose to take the courtesy shuttle to and from Legoland, or if you take your own car, your resort parking pass also counts as theme park parking. And within just a few minutes drive of the resort are plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, Walmart, etc. (Note that the courtesy shuttle does not run all day- it runs a couple hours before and after open and close, but not in the middle of the day). As for the room itself, this is where our trip started to have issues. On the plus side, the room is very charming with the lego themed decor, the bunk beds, and the TV has an option to watch Lego movies 24/7. Bathroom is adequately equipped, and the toilets have the kiddo booster seating options built in. Each room has an outdoor patio table to sit, this is where we had our meals and watched our kids on the playground. One of the common complaints we saw on previous reviews is that they were shocked how small the rooms are. The confusion is understandable- the pictures of the resort show the exterior of the cabins, which might lead you to expect your room occupies the space of that cabin. It takes a little research before you discover that the cabin is actually a duplex, so you only get half. And your room is smaller than the sqft you'd have in a typical hotel room. Anyway, back to major issues with the room- so upon entering, there was sand on the floor. No big surprise, since there's a giant sandpit by the pool and playgrounds everywhere. But for some reason, when we first arrived and pulled the covers off our bed, there was a LOT of sand inside our sheets. Like under the blanket and between layers. A lot if it. We had to brush all of the sand off the sheets before the first time we could get into bed. How did it get there? Did they not change the sheets from the previous guest? Or is the sand just washed along with the sheets, and housekeeping doesn't bother to shake the sand out of it before putting it on the bed? Either way, it's gross to think about. Another one of the weird things is how the resort actually runs. There is no front office or lobby. You check in with someone at the front booth, and they are only there to give you your keys. If you have any issues, you call the hotline. If you talk to the booth person or any other employee, they tell you to call the #. Weird. A few other issues we had along the way- there were no scheduled events, except for Smores. Even though we were there the week before Memorial Day, they didn't have anything on the agenda the days we were there. Also, don't pre-purchase the smore kit. It's $10 so a family of 4 can make 1 Smore each. Go to the grocery and $10 will get you enough to make triple that. Overall, we have mixed feelings about our stay here. It was enjoyable, and the kids had a blast. But considering it's over $300 a night, we had higher expectations.

7. Tropical Winds Beachfront Motel and Cottages

4819 Tradewinds Dr, Sanibel Island, FL 33957-2605
Excellent
60%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
4%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 301 reviews

Tropical Winds Beachfront Motel and Cottages

Come experience Sanibel with the charm of Old Style Florida! Located on the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico, on the west end of the island, Tropical Winds is tucked away in a very secluded, private setting within a small residential neighborhood. Enjoy one of our beachfront or nearby cottages in our own tropical paradise!

Wish we could have stayed longer!

Reviewed By Jeanne K

We loved this beachfront property. We arrived with new managers taking over and a genuine concern that we were comfortable. Very clean, a little dated but definitely “old Florida” and a sparkling pool, bikes, floats and umbrellas. We will return

8. Hunnewell's Cottages

2060 US Highway 27 N, Avon Park, FL 33825-9507
Excellent
82%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 22 reviews

Hunnewell's Cottages

We love this place

Reviewed By Retiredonce

After trying other local establishments on past visits, it was time to visit Hunnewell's during our most recent trip. Dan and Katrina are absolutely some of the nicest people we've ever met and absolutely the most hospitable innkeepers you'll ever deal with. The beds were comfortable, the room was spotless, and the entire establishment gives a traveler the feeling of being welcome. Our days of trying to find the best place to stay while visiting family are behind us; we've found our Avon Park home-away-from-home!

9. Sanibel Cottages Resort

2341 W Gulf Dr, Sanibel Island, FL 33957-6001 1 (877) 214-9175
Excellent
85%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 34 reviews

Sanibel Cottages Resort

Fabulous condo

Reviewed By JenniferK040

We are currently staying in Unit 118. This place is absolutely perfect. From the minute we walked in I knew it would be a great stay. I was pleasantly surprised with how spacious it is. So much storage for clothes and personal items. The kitchen has everything you could possibly need. Including dishwasher tablets and pots and pans. The bathrooms come with a bar of soap and toilet paper. The wrap around porch is where we spend a lot of time when we aren't at the beach or pool. The pond in the center of the buildings is so cool especially when you get a glimpse of the alligator. We are so fortunate to be able to stay here for a week.

10. Sunshine Cozy Cottages

701 Gulf Blvd Corner of Gulf Blvd & 7th Avenue North, Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785-2622
Excellent
61%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
5%
Terrible
14%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 74 reviews

Sunshine Cozy Cottages

These lovely, quaint cottages complete with their old-fashioned porches may seem to be from another era; that is because they are. The 14 cottages that comprise Sunshine Cozy Cottages date back to pre-WW II, ca. 1930. Originally built at MacDill Air force Base as officer’s quarters, the cottages remained on this military base through the 2nd World War and were eventually brought down to Indian Rocks Beach by barge around 1945 where it became one of the first resorts on the beach and today remains one of the few original resorts that started the Gulf Beach trend.

Terrible

Reviewed By ASNociti

Worst management. Would not recommend. Not family friendly. They are only concerned about money. There are so many other places that have availability and worth staying at. Do your research! Settling for thus place is not worth it!

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