The check-in process to load the ferry was a bit confusing because no person is on the dock giving directions (I guess this has more to do with the ferry charter than the home). Once we were introduced to our property manager on the island we were taken on a tour. Our guide, Mike, did a fantastic job showing us around but I think a map of the island would have made it easier to note the places of interest that were shown to us. One place that probably should have been added to the tour would be the private beach that the home owners pay to have access to. The home is currently for sale (March 2021) and the home is in desperate need of major maintenance. The deck around the pool has rotten boards and the railing going up to the bedroom level (outside) has rotten spots on the handrail. The bathroom shower on the kitchen level is out of order and appears as though it will be indefinitely (there were a stack of 15+ printed "this shower out of order" signs in a drawer beside the dining room table.) One member of our family recently had knee surgery so taking a shower in a tub would not work. She had to take showers all week on the pool level with only moderate privacy available. On Friday we received a text message letting us know that we would need to have all of our items out of the house and on the ground level deck by 9AM. We then would need to do a walk through with property manager and then we would be driven to the dock to get the ferry back to the main land. Management decided to give us a "late checkout" without notifying us. We ended up waiting for almost 2 hours to get picked up to go to the ferry. Letting us know we were getting a special checkout time would have been appreciated. Because we were picked up so late, we were not able to get onto the main ferry that does not require passengers to navigate steps (our family member that recently had knee surgery is not able to navigate steps) so our family was split into two separate ferries. If we would have been brought to the dock on time, that would not have been an issue. Overall the house was nice and we had a great time together as a family. I believe the issues with the home are common for a home so close to the water, it is just too bad that the repairs are not completed in a timely manor. The excuse "things move slower on the island" and "island time" were often used. Home repairs should still be completed in a timely manor regardless of where the home is located.

The check-in process to load the ferry was a bit confusing because no person is on the dock giving directions (I guess this has more to do with the ferry charter than the home). Once we were introduced to our property manager on the island we were taken on a tour. Our guide, Mike, did a fantastic job showing us around but I think a map of the island would have made it easier to note the places of interest that were shown to us. One place that probably should have been added to the tour would be the private beach that the home owners pay to have access to. The home is currently for sale (March 2021) and the home is in desperate need of major maintenance. The deck around the pool has rotten boards and the railing going up to the bedroom level (outside) has rotten spots on the handrail. The bathroom shower on the kitchen level is out of order and appears as though it will be indefinitely (there were a stack of 15+ printed "this shower out of order" signs in a drawer beside the dining room table.) One member of our family recently had knee surgery so taking a shower in a tub would not work. She had to take showers all week on the pool level with only moderate privacy available. On Friday we received a text message letting us know that we would need to have all of our items out of the house and on the ground level deck by 9AM. We then would need to do a walk through with property manager and then we would be driven to the dock to get the ferry back to the main land. Management decided to give us a "late checkout" without notifying us. We ended up waiting for almost 2 hours to get picked up to go to the ferry. Letting us know we were getting a special checkout time would have been appreciated. Because we were picked up so late, we were not able to get onto the main ferry that does not require passengers to navigate steps (our family member that recently had knee surgery is not able to navigate steps) so our family was split into two separate ferries. If we would have been brought to the dock on time, that would not have been an issue. Overall the house was nice and we had a great time together as a family. I believe the issues with the home are common for a home so close to the water, it is just too bad that the repairs are not completed in a timely manor. The excuse "things move slower on the island" and "island time" were often used. Home repairs should still be completed in a timely manor regardless of where the home is located.

We had a great week at Manatee Haven! The house was excellent/as advertised, and very well stocked! We opted to use the grocery service option to order and stock all our food & beverage's prior to our arrival, which was seamless & wonderful! The heated pool was a fantastic feature in January, which we enjoyed time in every day (along with a dip in the hot tub to warm up further if needed!). We will look at returning next year!

We had a great week at Manatee Haven! The house was excellent/as advertised, and very well stocked! We opted to use the grocery service option to order and stock all our food & beverage's prior to our arrival, which was seamless & wonderful! The heated pool was a fantastic feature in January, which we enjoyed time in every day (along with a dip in the hot tub to warm up further if needed!). We will look at returning next year!

Property was great for getting away during Covid Pandemic. Kitchen & whole house was very well stocked with everything you need! The pool & hot tub were wonderful. Lots of fun family games. Lots of towels & beach chairs & toys. We rented an extra golf cart from home owner which was very nice. We hiked the state park & took the golf carts to the beach every day. The beaches were quiet & not crowded. We rented a boat from Boats and Fun for a day, went to Cabbage Key For lunch, then on to Cato Costa, saw manatees & fished. Great day trip. North Captiva Island Club was very close & had a lot of fun to offer. We played tennis , took out Kayaks & ordered food for carry out at Mangos. The property managers, Laurie & Duncan were great help & we ordered fresh seafood through them. Highly recommend for a getaway And it was very safe during Covid.

Property was great for getting away during Covid Pandemic. Kitchen & whole house was very well stocked with everything you need! The pool & hot tub were wonderful. Lots of fun family games. Lots of towels & beach chairs & toys. We rented an extra golf cart from home owner which was very nice. We hiked the state park & took the golf carts to the beach every day. The beaches were quiet & not crowded. We rented a boat from Boats and Fun for a day, went to Cabbage Key For lunch, then on to Cato Costa, saw manatees & fished. Great day trip. North Captiva Island Club was very close & had a lot of fun to offer. We played tennis , took out Kayaks & ordered food for carry out at Mangos. The property managers, Laurie & Duncan were great help & we ordered fresh seafood through them. Highly recommend for a getaway And it was very safe during Covid.

Our stay was a unforgettable one at Manatee haven. Every process is conducted so efficiently just like Mike said. I was nervous in the beginning with the steps but,once everything is complete it really does go smoothly. The grocery pickup is easy to use but we had a 24 hr delay due to the covid and the system was over loaded with shoppers in the area. But our worries were taken care of by the management at publix and a wonderful shopping team delivered our groceries for us . I will set up a grocery delivery service next timeand pay a extra fee and have no worries about picking it up at the store. Our house was perfect for us. The pictures are very accurate. The kids loved the pool and our golf cart rides around the island made it the best vacation. Mike and Piper have everything you need...from soaps and shampoo to laundry detergent and spices at your fingertips. We had a great stock in toilet paper and paper towels also. We did bring oil with us and parchment paper and HEAVEY DUTY aluminum foil to make our trip easy cleanup. We cooked our fish on the aluminum foil on the grill...was absolutely perfect. And no mess. We ate in every night and I had each meal planned out. And we ate like kings. All of our entrees came from the fish market..outstanding. Alcohol was all purchased prior also. We had a short 30 sec walk or 10 sec golf cart ride to our private beach. Gorgeous... Or we ventured up the beach path with our cart and enjoyed the next beach and sandbar. Just get ready cause you will find beautiful shells and sand dollars..pack them well) for the plane home. We also enjoyed our kayaking and the boys enjoyed the biking. Saw Manatee, dolphins, tons of geckos and tons of adorable turtles. Also, saw black snakes crabs and tons of fish..including sand sharks. We had a unexpected ear infection happen but, it was smoothly taken care of after we had a script called in. Laurie and Duncan our property managers completed every task within minutes. It really impressed us. Even our transportation was awesome and precise from the airport to the ferry. And the boat ride with island girl charters was excellent also. The captain and crew mate was on top of everything. Enjoyed our talks with them. Thank you Manatee haven for the wonderful trip. We will definitely return to north captiva island.

Our stay was a unforgettable one at Manatee haven. Every process is conducted so efficiently just like Mike said. I was nervous in the beginning with the steps but,once everything is complete it really does go smoothly. The grocery pickup is easy to use but we had a 24 hr delay due to the covid and the system was over loaded with shoppers in the area. But our worries were taken care of by the management at publix and a wonderful shopping team delivered our groceries for us . I will set up a grocery delivery service next timeand pay a extra fee and have no worries about picking it up at the store. Our house was perfect for us. The pictures are very accurate. The kids loved the pool and our golf cart rides around the island made it the best vacation. Mike and Piper have everything you need...from soaps and shampoo to laundry detergent and spices at your fingertips. We had a great stock in toilet paper and paper towels also. We did bring oil with us and parchment paper and HEAVEY DUTY aluminum foil to make our trip easy cleanup. We cooked our fish on the aluminum foil on the grill...was absolutely perfect. And no mess. We ate in every night and I had each meal planned out. And we ate like kings. All of our entrees came from the fish market..outstanding. Alcohol was all purchased prior also. We had a short 30 sec walk or 10 sec golf cart ride to our private beach. Gorgeous... Or we ventured up the beach path with our cart and enjoyed the next beach and sandbar. Just get ready cause you will find beautiful shells and sand dollars..pack them well) for the plane home. We also enjoyed our kayaking and the boys enjoyed the biking. Saw Manatee, dolphins, tons of geckos and tons of adorable turtles. Also, saw black snakes crabs and tons of fish..including sand sharks. We had a unexpected ear infection happen but, it was smoothly taken care of after we had a script called in. Laurie and Duncan our property managers completed every task within minutes. It really impressed us. Even our transportation was awesome and precise from the airport to the ferry. And the boat ride with island girl charters was excellent also. The captain and crew mate was on top of everything. Enjoyed our talks with them. Thank you Manatee haven for the wonderful trip. We will definitely return to north captiva island.

I visited with my brothers family (8 people in total) and had an amazing time. Responsive managers, great location, house has everything needed for an amazing trip to North Captiva. Will definitely return!

My family along with our fur babies loved staying here. The house is clean and well stocked for all your needs. Laurie is the bomb!

I visited with my brothers family (8 people in total) and had an amazing time. Responsive managers, great location, house has everything needed for an amazing trip to North Captiva. Will definitely return!

My family along with our fur babies loved staying here. The house is clean and well stocked for all your needs. Laurie is the bomb!

We don't usually reply to feedback requests, but these people go out of their way for their guests. The owners had everything in the house that you could possibly need from fully stocked spice cabinet to every comfort and gadget needed for your stay. HIGHLY recommend. Hope to go back with friends. PS. I almost forgot the amazing movie catalogue.

We loved staying at Manatee Haven. The house was impeccably clean. Laurie from the property management company was delightful to work with. The heated pool was wonderful. We went during an off season and basically had the island to ourselves, there were only a few other families seen the entire week. We saw numerous osprey and found wonderful shells. Mike & Piper have thought of everything- They had everything we needed and more. The ONLY frustration we had was That so many of the cabinets, closets, drawers were full of convenient, but slightly unnecessary things. It just felt like too much of a good thing. Every flat surface has decor, which made me nervous with my young children, and there weren’t many convenient spaces to tuck it away safely. North Captiva is going to be on our list of places to return to, and we would definitely stay at Manatee Haven again. Thank you for opening your home up to us. Our family made some wonderful memories and enjoyed every minute of our vacation.

ManateeHaven was by far the best home I have ever rented on VRBO! It surpassed all expectations! Thoroughly appointed with everything you could ever need in a home. The screened in areas of the entire home were just wonderful! The Crows Nest for Sunset was just Gorgeous! The personalized services provided by Tortuga Property managers Laurie & Duncan, streamlined every detail of the vacation! From Water Taxi , to grocery services to luggage delivery to our home! This vacation, truly was just that ! Thank Piper & Mike Swinford for offering this beautiful home and providing professional and amazing services! We enjoyed, and will be back 🌴�🌴�. Linda & Steve T!

Manatee Haven couldn’t be better! The Swinfords have thought of everything you could need or want and provided it in their lovely vacation home. My friends and I came for a girls’ trip and we all had a fabulous time! I would absolutely return with the girls, but I would also come with my family for a relaxing getaway. There is fun to be had for all ages. The home and pool are lovely and the beach is super close. We loved the observation deck at sunset-just gorgeous! I can’t wait to come back!

All I can say is WOW! Manatee Haven is such a gem. The owners have thought of everything. From the perfectly clean house to the amazing pool, this is the place to be. You are just around the corner from the beautiful private beach, and minutes from the restaurants. Look no further, this is the winner!

If you are looking for the perfect house for your North Captiva Island get away, this is the place! From the moment we stepped on to the island, everything was taken care of for us. While our luggage was being taken to the house for us, we were treated to a tour of the island of places to eat, look for manatees, the best dolphin watching areas, etc. Once we arrived at the home, we were welcomed with all of our bags put away and groceries in the kitchen. We hopped on to golf carts and within seconds, were on the beach! Each night, we enjoyed the most beautiful sunset from the top deck. The home is so amazing that we never wanted to leave. The pool, hot tub, and outdoor kitchen were perfect. The owners have truly thought of everything! Every pool toy, beach toy, chair, umbrella, towel, etc....it is all there! We didn't have children with us, but it is perfect for kids! There were more DVD's than I could believe. Every game on the market is at the house. We made so many memories at Manatee Haven! Cooking dinner (every spice possible is provided), playing games, swimming, hanging on the beach, searching for shells, enjoying the most beautiful weather....I promise you will never want to leave! I truly can't say enough about our time there. I highly recommend and only hope to be back soon. Stephanie

This was our 3rd time staying at Manatee Haven - each time gets better. The new outdoor kitchen on the pool deck is awesome - along with the ice maker. Laurie & Duncan are right there if you need them, but we didn't because everything was perfect. Pool swimming daily, beach walks & fishing & adult time at the tiki bar made for a memorable week.

Beautiful pool deck and outdoor kitchen. Spent almost all of out time there and at the beach. Would highly recommend

Oh my what a wonderful week we have had on North Captiva Island. Manatee Haven was perfect. The pool deck is stunning with a large pool, hot tub and full outdoor kitchen. We were steps to the beach and found so many great shells and spent so much time swimming in the clear water. The house. It has everything you need to feel at home. You can tell this house is loved and well taken care of. Thank you to the Swinfords for giving our family our best vacation ever.

The owners were very accommodating. The home had all we needed. Having a pool was great for the kids (& adults). Great memories and hope to stay again.

Manatee Haven could be renamed Manatee Heaven! It provided the perfect holiday for our family which included little grandkids. The house was very well equipped with kid (and other!) stuff and was generally awesome! We especially loved the pool area, the dining porch, and the location. Plan to return! Thank you!

Highly recommended! Two families split this house and had an incredible week on the island! Can’t wait to come back!

Our extended family of 5 adults and 1 child recently stayed at Manatee Haven. The owners and local property managers were all easy to work with, and the house exceeded our expectations. The house is well-equipped throughout (beach chairs, towels, toys for kids, pool toys), we were supplied with ample basics (e.g., paper towels), and the kitchen was better equipped than any I've stayed in such that we were able to cook a significant number of meals without a problem. The house is also well stocked with basics such as spices, ketchup. The island was relaxing - nice beach walking opportunities, fun boat trip excurions (we did one to Cabbage Key and surrounding areas), and the house had plenty of fun activities for all family members. The only thing I'll note is that for those not as comfortable with stairs (elderly, young), the kitchen, dining, and family room are on the top floor, where the bedrooms are on the floor below. We were fine since there was an elevator to be used, though it did make things less convenient for those needing to take the elevator. Not a big deal at all, just important for those who may have limited mobility to know. Of all the rental houses I've stayed in, the owners of this provided far more advance information with details on how to get groceries to the island, what to expect on the island in terms of restaurants, etc. plus tons of details. There was nothing I didn't know in advance that I needed to know.

My wife and I truly enjoyed our 9 night stay at the Manatee Haven home. Yes, the home was a lot bigger than we needed, but it was very nice with just the two of us there. North Captiva Island was definitely one of our best vacations which we will always treasure with wonderful memories! The home had everything you would possibly need and I really mean everything. This was our first time to the island and we were probably just like everyone else, worried about what to take and what not take, but all our fears were put to rest once we saw how well this home was supplied with all the commonly used items. All you’ll need are your clothes, sun lotion, food and beverages. Just a few items to call out that really made this a Perfect Vacation 1. Great Curb Appeal; when driving back home in the golf cart from a long day at the beach it was a welcoming sight to see this beautifully landscaped home which we were staying at. We loved the stone paved circle driveway and all the tropical trees and plants surrounding the home. 2. Private Beach Access with golf cart parking (Captiva Castaway); we loved having what seemed to be our own little piece of the island’s beach with easy access. We truly think this was the best beach spot on the whole island. 3. The Beaches; PERFECT, PERFECT, PERFECT… I don’t need to say anymore. 4. Private Pool, Hot Tub and Outdoor Shower; every beach home should have these, they truly added to our overall excellent vacation experience. 5. The Property Managers and Owners; from the very first moment when we requested information about this home until the last day of our vacation, EVERYTHING was taken care. Almost every question was answered within the informative documents sent by the owners after I booked. We were promptly met at the boat dock by Jane & Jeff when we arrived on the island and then taken to our vacation home. They explained everything about the home and island and every additional question we had. On the last day we were promptly met again and helped back to the boat dock for our return boat trip. We would recommend this home and North Captiva Island to anyone who is looking to create some wonderful family memories on an Island. Thank you Mike and Piper for letting us enjoy your wonderful home, we will always remember this home as it helped create some everlasting memories for the two of us.

Our time spent at Manatee Haven was everything we hoped for and more. Everything was so organized , we had easy access to kitchen supplies, toys for pool and beach, towels, not to mention the array of spices in the kitchen. The roof top overview provided visual access beyond the entire island and amazing sunsets. The elevator made moving in and out a breeze. Our family had an amazing time at Manatee Haven, even the teenagers. We would definitely recommend this home.

Our family stayed for 5 nights at Manatee Haven but we wish we would have stayed longer! We have rented many homes / condos over the years and this was by far our best experience! Getting to the island is surprisingly easy. We pre-ordered our groceries through Publix and they had everything all packed and ready for us. The Ferry ride over is a short 20 - 25 minute enjoyable trip. Upon arrival we were met by Jane, who lives on the island. She took us to the house and showed us how to work everything. From then on we just enjoyed ourselves at the home and the island. This home has EVERYTHING you will need. I could not believe the amount of pool and beach toys, towels, DVD's, games, books, etc. We have two boys and loved all the extras at the home. My husband and I loved the crow's nest. Each morning we would watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee and then the sunset in the evening with a cocktails. The views are amazing and there is always a breeze. The island is so peaceful. Getting around by golf cart was part of the fun. We spent our days enjoying the house, pool, beach (very close by), rented a boat for the day and loved the restaurants on the island. I highly recommend this house and a trip to North Captiva. If you are are looking for relaxation, a great home, beautiful beaches and amenities this is the place. We plan to come back!

As first time island vacationers, we could not have been happier with the accommodations or the island beauty! The home has everything you need and more - no need to over-pack. But be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen for the beach!!! There was plenty of room for 2 families with teenage kids to vacation without bumping into one another! The various grills and plentiful spices made dinners easy and tasty. The private, screened in pool and hot tub are an added bonus, along with the washer and dryer for all the beach towels you will use (don't need to bring any from home, they have plenty). The views are magnificent from the roof top "crows nest." We were pleasantly surprised with the number of palm trees and greenery located between the homes - made for a secluded stay. The beach is only a short walk or golf cart ride away and is not crowded at all. Lots of room for sunning, swimming and shore fishing. The use of the Island Club's kayaks, tennis courts and pool are an additional bonus. Don't forget to have an Island cocktail at Mangos! No shortage of wildlife - birds, turtles, manatees, fish, etc are abundant! The owners and property managers were very responsive as well with our "first timer" questions. One of the best vacations we've had and hoping to come back soon!!!!

Manatee Haven was the perfect place for our family of adult children and young grandchildren. Every amenity from beach chairs to kitchen supplies was top notch. This is the perfect place for families to get away. We even saw manatees!

Our large family had the opportunity to stay at Manatee Haven in February of 2016 and absolutely loved it! We found working with the Swinford’s (owners) and Jane and Jeff (property managers) to be delightful. The house is completely outfitted for your enjoyment. Everything you can think of has already been provided. There are huge trunks filled with diving masks, snorkels, floats, and fins for all ages. The garage has tons of beach chairs, beach toys, umbrellas, beach tents, and shelling bags. The house and kitchen have everything you need. You will be blown away by what is provided with the house. Our vacation was filled with beach walks, bike rides, fishing, shelling, and swimming. We enjoyed several walks to the end of the island through the state park and each trip was highlighted by some unusual shell find or unexpected adventure. Our children loved riding around in the golf carts and we experienced many impromptu adventures - planes landing at the airfield, manatee and dolphin watching, Travis the turtle chasing, and an alligator encounter. We enjoyed the food on the island, but really enjoyed quiet nights and meals at the house as a family. I found the house and island to be perfect for our needs. Our family and young children loved the wildlife encounters and accessibility of nature. The kids literally ran down the path to the beach every morning and were delighted by the fish, shells, and dolphins. If you’re looking for a family destination you should consider this vacation rental, but just don’t book our week in February! We will be back!

We arrived just before Christmas with extended family. From the moment we arrived on the island, we were treated with smiles and a helping hand. It only got better when we arrived at Manatee Haven! Everyone in our party were adults, but the house is equipped to handle visitors of every age. My mother-in-law really appreciated the elevator. Whatever you need, Kay has already thought of it and put it in an easy place for you to find. Fully equipped, clean, spacious, perfectly located...what more can I say. A great bonus is the private beach access and the free utilization of the club. I also can't say enough about the island itself - all the services you need (except a good grocery store...but you knew that) all staffed by fun, helpful people. Come on down, you won't be sorry!