By Dalia Colon

Nothing against hotels, but I love homey travel accommodations. So when my friend Diana and I decided to go on a girls' getaway to Anna Maria Island last weekend, we booked a stay at Palm Tree Villas.

Tucked away on a residential street, the property comprises six units, from studio apartments to three-bedroom, three-bathroom suites.

Each unit includes a kitchen or kitchenette with granite countertops, appliances and dishes – perfect for budget travelers looking to save on food costs.

But the villas would also appeal to folks with champagne tastes. When Diana and I stepped into our studio rental, we couldn't stop saying, "This place is so cute!"

"We try to strike a balance between homey and modern at the same time," says Ashok Sawe, who owns the villas with his wife, Peggy.

Mission accomplished.

What's homey:

  • Private patios
  • Free laundry room
  • Barbecue grill, wagons and beach chairs to take to the beach... which is just down the block! (Ask about scheduling a waterfront massage or sailboat cruise.)
  • Gift baskets complete wtih stamped postcards
  • B&B-style guestbooks. (I always love reading those!)

What's modern:

  • Connecting suites for multi-couple and multi-generational family vacations.
  • Flat-screen TVs.
  • Swimming pool.
  • Solar panels that heat and cool the place.

"We host a lot of families with children," Ashok told me. "A lot of them will cry when they're leaving."

I don't blame them.

To book your stay at Palm Tree Villas, go to PalmTreeVillas.com or call 941-778-0910.

Through mid-December, if you book three nights, you'll get a fourth night free. Also ask about these packages – Girlfriends' Getaway, Eco-Adventure, Romance the Soul and Island Getaway – or design your own!
 

woman walking out of a door

"This place is so cute!"

- Diana Dias

The sparkling pool at Palm Tree Villas at Anna Maria Island

The sparkling pool at Palm Tree Villas at Anna Maria Island

- Palm Tree Villas Resort

places to remember