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Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool!

Hotel with a bar, near Three Sisters Springs

Photo gallery for Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool!

Pool Area
Room
Lobby
Unit with King Bed
Dining Area

Reviews

7.8 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Breakfast available
  • Parking available
  • Bar
AU$227
avg per night

Explore the area

View map
Crystal River, FL
  • Place, Plantation Inn and Golf Resort
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Three Sisters Springs
    ‪2 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

The current price is AU$227
avg per night

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About the area

Crystal River

Located in Crystal River, this hotel is near theme parks. Crystal River Archaeological State Park and Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Three Sisters Springs and Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. Swimming offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling nearby.

What's nearby

  • Plantation Inn and Golf Resort - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • A Crystal River Kayak Company - 12 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge - 2 min drive - 0.7 km
  • Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge - 2 min drive - 0.7 km
  • Three Sisters Springs - 2 min drive - 1.4 km

Getting around

  • Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional) - 89 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪RaceTrac - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Cody's Original Roadhouse - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Arby's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Applebee's Grill + Bar - ‬3 min drive

About this property

Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool!

Experience nature's retreat, a serene sanctuary by the Crystal River.

This listing is for a room within a hotel.

✦ Your room is 350 sq. ft, equipped with complimentary toiletries, TV.

✦ Cleaning services included in the nightly price.

There are a few additional details to know before you book:

✦ The minimum age required for check-in is 18 years old.

✦ Please ensure you have a valid ID for check-in, as it is mandatory for entry.

———————————————

Guest Access:
During your stay, you will have access to the property and amenities according to the following schedule:

✦ Check-in is available from 04:00 pm.

✦ Pool is available.

✦ Paid parking lot – 1 space(s), available for $8 per day.

———————————————

Other Things to Note:
There are several additional things to note:

✦ A mandatory resort fee of $28.00 per night will be collected upon check-in, not included in the daily rate.

✦ Pets are not allowed.

✦ We use multi-unit listings, so rooms are similar but may have small differences.

Amenities

Pool
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Breakfast available
Parking available
Bar

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

Events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed, service animals permitted
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
✦ The minimum age required for check-in is 18 years old.
✦ Please ensure you have a valid ID for check-in, as it is mandatory for entry.

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
Parties and events are allowed on site
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

Frequently asked questions

Does Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool! have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool. Pool types include heated pools.

How much does it cost to stay at Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool!?

As of 20 Dec 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool! on 2 Jan 2026 start from AU$206.39, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool! pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking at Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool! located?

Situated in Crystal River, this hotel is within 1 mile (2 km) of Plantation Inn and Golf Resort, A Crystal River Kayak Company and Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and Three Sisters Springs are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Manatee Encounter! Near Three Sister Springs! Free Parking, Pool! Reviews

Reviews

7.8

Good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 18 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 18 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 18 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 18 reviews

7.6/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Check-in

7.6/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

7.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

christopher s g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very nice place

Allowed early checkin with a room upgrade had a very relaxing stay
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Sierra S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Spot

Great pool, hot tub, view, easy access. Loved it!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Robert K.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The plantation

Facilities a little dated but overall an enjoyable stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Earl M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Crystal River stay

Nice property with plenty of activities, pool, bar, restaurant. Right on canal for easy boat access. The resort is large and you will walk alot.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stay

Pool, golf, dine, fish! This place has it all!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Cynthia B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good stay

Overall good stay. The rooms and hallways could use a thorough cleaning. The staff were friendly. The restaurant was amazing. Sheri was our waitress and she was the best!!
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

SANDRA R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ok

Great place
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Location….Location….Location

The location was perfectly situated. Offering a nice restaurant and bar. Golf, pool, tiki hut, fitness center, and activities within walking distance. I actually went on a manatee adventure that made my trip special. Next top is a sunset tour. All within walking distance from The Plantation resort.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

JOANN B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very nice resort

The resort was very nice. The only issue was there was no way to adjust the air conditioner and the dehumidifier in the room didn’t seem to be working, until we figured out it was more than full, and emptied it ourselves. We figure that is something the resort should take care of, not the guest. It otherwise, a great location and a nice stay
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Sharon P.

Disliked: Communication

Nice room

It was nice. The air conditioning thermostat didn’t work good. But nice place
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2024

6/10 Okay

Row-Ann B.

Liked: Location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in, communication

Interesting stay

Pros: The landscaping and setting are terrific. The room was clean and normal hotel room. Cons: the carpet in the elevator of the Rose section was filthy. They were having a FLEMA meeting and inadequately staffed so that check-in took over an hour of standing in the lobby. FLEMA was rowdy, noisy and partying in the halls up to 1 AM and no one responded to noise complaints.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in

Plantation at Crystal River

The room was big and I liked the furnishings very much. The tub seemed dirty though. The Plantation has a lot to offer with their Adventure Center. You can book river/canal cruises to see the manatees. The staff was very friendly. The pool is excellent They had a tiki bar that played non stop country music. Being that I'm not a fan of country music it would have been better to play a mix. The on site restaurant was great. The check in process was not great. We waited a long time for a room. They didn't have one ready for us. Overall I liked the stay!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

chris k.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Not clean

My husband and I loved this location and thought the grounds and pool area were beautiful. Unfortunately, our room was not very clean when we arrived. The surfaces had crumbs and the floor was filthy. The bathtub would not drain and the bathtub faucet would not turn all the way off, which we could hear all night long. We would not choose to stay at this location again.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Peter C.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Check-in, communication

Decent location to explore the Crystal Springs area

The Plantation is a reasonable (though not spectacular) place to stay.The “resort” is a bit shabby and the rooms are quite tired. Staff was friendly and helpful though they seemed to be short handed. Room cleaning seems random - for a five night stay, we had towels changes once plus once on request. Room could have used a deeper clean - the floors were quite dirty (when you stepped into the shower, the first would show). Found multiple hairs and other things that weren’t ours. And the patio could have used a brushing/cleaning. The on-site restaurant was Ok (and convenient for a first night meal). The best part for us was the on site adventure center who offer great eco boat rides and snorkeling outings. Well worth doing.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Patti F.

Liked: Cleanliness, location
Disliked: Communication, listing accuracy

Crystal River

The esablisment is beautiful but historical so I will give the musty smell to that. The room was nice with a large dehumidifier in the room that we had to empty oursevlves. It would have been nice to know that there was no elevator and we had to carry our bags up the stairs ourselves. VRBO show the parking was free. It was an unexpected $28.00 a night. The photos re misleading on your room type as well. There is no kitchen or dining area. Book through choice priveldges for a more accurate booking. The pool and tiki bar were amazing until we saw the charge from the bar on our bill at checkout even though my husband paid with his card when we closed the tab.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

2/10 Terrible

Kyle L.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Place is run down and doesn’t match the pictures

We planned to stop here on our 15th anniversary trip . The place did not match the nice images on the website. It smelled musty and moldy. You could tell it had been a long time since anyone spent any money on the place. We checked in and walked to our room. It also smelled musty and the window was broken, leaving a huge gap. After about a minute, we looked at each other and both said, “we are not staying here”. We quick booked the Hampton inn down the road and thank God we did. The receptionist at the Hampton inn said we were the third couple that day to cancel on the plantation that day alone, and book at Hampton. This place is horrible, don’t waste your time or money. Vrbo needs to take this off their website!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Marti I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Disliked: Communication, listing accuracy

Crystal River misrepresented

The photos on you listing show a kitchenette. As this was vrbo I “assumed “ maybe a timeshare. In the past I’ve had 100% great experiences. Sadly, times have changed. This was an agency “roompicks.com” I believe pushing hotel rooms. Showing a suite, or at least a kitchenette but selling a hotel room! Very disappointed in vrbo! Property was nice, we enjoyed Crystal River but upset with this company and their misrepresentation and lack of service! Property can’t do anything as to how they represented the property!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Timothy D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024