Catching Waves – Coastal Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Steps to Beach, Pet Friendly

Photo gallery for Catching Waves – Coastal Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Steps to Beach, Pet Friendly

A swimming pool with a curved design, surrounded by palm trees and a brick patio.
A modern living room with a gray sofa, ottoman, and a ceiling fan. There is a dining area with a table and chairs in the background.
A modern kitchen with grey cabinets, a stainless steel refrigerator, a microwave, and an oven.
A backyard with a swimming pool, two Adirondack chairs, and a tiki-style umbrella.
A bedroom with a large bed, a ceiling fan, a dresser, and a window with curtains.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Games
    A rare find - enjoy a variety of games available on-site.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Bradenton Beach

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Private pool
  • Dog-friendly
  • Outdoor barbecue
  • Internet access
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Holmes Beach, FL
  • Place, Bradenton Beach
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Palmetto Avenue Beach
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Place, Anna Maria Island Museum and Historical Park
    ‪20 min walk‬
  • Airport, Sarasota, FL (SRQ-Sarasota-Bradenton Intl.)
    ‪39 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Common Space

1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

About the area

Holmes Beach

Located in Holmes Beach, this holiday home is near a water park and near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Bradenton Beach and Bean Point Beach. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at LECOM Park or IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy.
Map
Holmes Beach, FL

What's nearby

  • Bradenton Beach - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Palmetto Avenue Beach - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Island Players - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Anna Maria Island Museum and Historical Park - 20 min walk - 1.7 km
  • Anna Maria City Pier - 2 min drive - 1.8 km

Getting around

  • Sarasota, FL (SRQ-Sarasota-Bradenton Intl.) - 41 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Sandbar Restaurant - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Ugly Grouper - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Ginny's & Jane E's - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪The Waterfront Restaurant - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Catching Waves – Coastal Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Steps to Beach, Pet Friendly have a pool?

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

Is Catching Waves – Coastal Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Steps to Beach, Pet Friendly pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much is parking at Catching Waves – Coastal Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Steps to Beach, Pet Friendly?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Catching Waves – Coastal Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Steps to Beach, Pet Friendly?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Catching Waves – Coastal Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Steps to Beach, Pet Friendly?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Catching Waves – Coastal Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Steps to Beach, Pet Friendly located?

Situated by the sea, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Bradenton Beach and Palmetto Avenue Beach. Island Players and Anna Maria Island Museum and Historical Park are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

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. 17 out of 18 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 18 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 18 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic! We will be back soon too!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Oct 2026
Hey Mark, Thank you so much for your fantastic 5-star review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Catching Waves! Knowing that you're already looking forward to returning truly means the world to us. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we can't wait to welcome you back for another wonderful Anna Maria Island getaway! Thank you for choosing Once Upon A Beach Vacation Rentals!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect house for our week
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Apr 2026
We love hearing that, thank you so much! So glad the home was the perfect fit for your week. That’s exactly what we hope for every stay. We’d absolutely love to have you back anytime!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was great! As listed! We’d definitely stay again! Pool was wonderful for those hot days!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 8 July 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear everything was great and just as expected. The pool is definitely such a treat on those hot Anna Maria Island days! We would love to welcome you back for another stay anytime.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was GREAT! House was clean. Pool was very nice. Good communication. Close to the beach.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words — we’re thrilled to hear everything was GREAT! 😊 It makes us so happy to know the home was clean and comfortable for you, that you enjoyed the pool, and that the location made those easy beach walks even better. We also truly appreciate you mentioning the communication — that means a lot to our team. We’d absolutely love to welcome you back to Anna Maria Island anytime. Until the island calls you back… 🌴☀️
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House had a great layout. Very clean. Great amenities. They provide basics as well as TVs laundry detergent. Only thing I would have liked are some beach chairs and wagon. Would stay again
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the layout, cleanliness, and amenities of the home and that the little extras like the basics and laundry detergent made your stay even more comfortable. We’re sorry to hear you weren’t able to take advantage of our beach gear credit during your stay. We partner with a local provider who delivers beach chairs, wagons, umbrellas, and more directly to the home prior to arrival, and the credit is included with every reservation. It’s a great way to ensure you have exactly what you need for the beach without having to pack it! We would absolutely love to host you again and help make your next stay even more perfect. 🌴☀️-The Once Upon A Beach Team
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is a duplex, but the other side has a separate owner and its own driveway, entrance, pool, and back yard. It is a beautiful place. Everything was great. The private pool was great and we used it every day but one. The location is great for going to the beach or walking anywhere. It is worth the money for a nicer place to stay with all the amenities.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review. We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the home and made the most of the private pool, it’s one of our favorite features too. You described the setup perfectly. While it is a duplex, each side is fully independent with its own space, which makes it feel like a private retreat. It’s great to know that comfort and convenience really came through during your stay. We truly appreciate you recognizing the value of the home and all it offers, and we’d love to have you back anytime for another relaxing visit to the island.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was a perfect fit for our family of four. It was clean, had coastal charm, was cozy, and had all the amenities we needed. It was also an easy walk to the beach. The property management company also added all the little touches we would want, without having overly burdensome checkout instructions. Even though this rental had no beach gear, it more than made up for it by providing a credit for a beach gear rental company that had everything we needed. We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 13 June 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear the home was such a perfect fit for your family and that you enjoyed its coastal charm, comfort, and convenient location near the beach. We're especially happy that the little touches throughout your stay made a difference and that our goal of keeping checkout simple and stress free was appreciated. It's wonderful to hear the beach gear credit helped provide everything you needed for your beach days while allowing you to choose the items that worked best for your family. Thank you for choosing Once Upon A Beach. We truly appreciate your recommendation and would love to welcome you back to Anna Maria Island for another memorable stay! ☀️🏝️💙
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A great place for us to stay as a couple and our children and their family to rotate through as their schedule allowed. Inside and outside furniture was very comfortable and accommodated our family. The home had very nice towels for the house and the beach. We appreciated the TV selections as it was college playoff game time!
Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Jan 2026
Thank you so much for staying with us and for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that the home worked well for both relaxing as a couple and welcoming family as schedules allowed. It’s wonderful to know the furnishings, beach and bath towels, and outdoor spaces were comfortable and accommodating. We’re also glad the TV selections came in handy during playoff season — always an important detail! We’d love to welcome you and your family back for another visit soon.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Thank you, I was hoping you could take off the 8 beach chairs.The site was confusing and i made a mistake.The rest was great,
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 6 July 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re so glad to hear that the rest of your experience was great. We’re sorry for any confusion with the site regarding the beach chairs and appreciate you bringing that to our attention. We always want the booking process to feel clear and easy, and feedback like this helps us continue improving. We appreciate you staying with us!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Spring training

Quiet neighborhood. A block and a half from beach. Pool was a major plus. Easy to get around. Nice nature preserves nearby and easy to get to the ballpark. Exactly as portrayed in the listing.
Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Apr 2023
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us, George. We are glad you enjoyed the home and nearby attractions. We hope to host you again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Vacation

Stayed at Catching Waves for vacation and the property was great. Location was great! Property tax snide and out was as good or better than the pictures you see. Would definitely stay here again, the only critique would be the cleaning crew could have done a little better before we checked in. You could clearly see the floors were still dirty, but understand things happen.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Aug 2023
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, Jonathan. We are glad you enjoyed your stay and the convenient location. We also appreciate your feedback and will be sure to pass everything on to our team. You were wonderful guests, and we hope to welcome you back soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent Week Stay

My wife and I rented this location the week of July 4th. The place was excellent for what we needed. The kitchen has nice upgrades, the TVs are large and provide easy access to all your favorite steaming services. The pool area and patio was better than we expected. The area was well maintained, the grill worked well, and they even provided some chairs for the beach. Only feedback would be it lacked an exterior outlet (Unit B) for a golf cart. All in all, we will go back and highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 12 July 2024
Thank you so much for your kind review, Nate! We're delighted to hear that you and your wife had a great stay over the 4th of July and that the place exceeded your expectations. It's wonderful to know you appreciated the upgraded kitchen, large TVs, and the pool and patio area. We value your feedback about the exterior outlet for a golf cart and will look into adding one to Unit B. We are thrilled to hear that you plan to return and that you highly recommend our property. We look forward to welcoming you back!
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Lovely home close to beach

Loved the house and location to Holmes beach..literally a 7 min walk. Thanks for wagon and chairs and umbrella. Minimal supplies inside but we were told that upfront. Would have appreciated salt and pepper. Pool is small, but lovely.
Stayed 8 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jan 2024
Gregory, thank you for sharing your positive feedback about the house and its location near Holmes Beach. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the provided amenities like the wagon, chairs, and umbrella. Your comment about the minimal supplies and the suggestion for salt and pepper are noted, and we appreciate your input. If you choose to stay again in the future, we hope to provide an even more enjoyable experience.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Great rental - great rental company!

This was - for sure- one of best rentals in AMI. No, not our first year - almost 20 years coming down to AMI. The rental was exactly how pictured - wverything fresh and clean - ease of navigating everything from front door lock first time in, use of appliances, thermostat, ease of checking out, renting beach gear - flawless! I'm hoping we'll always be able to use Once Upon a Beach as our rental company…. Everything made for a wonderful time in our beloved AMI….
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Great rental - great rental company!

This was - for sure- one of best rentals in AMI. No, not our first year - almost 20 years coming down to AMI. The rental was exactly how pictured - wverything fresh and clean - ease of navigating everything from front door lock first time in, use of appliances, thermostat, ease of checking out, renting beach gear - flawless! I'm hoping we'll always be able to use Once Upon a Beach as our rental company…. Everything made for a wonderful time in our beloved AMI…. This means so much to us, thank you for sharing this 🥹 Coming from someone who has been visiting Anna Maria Island for nearly 20 years, your words truly carry weight. We're so happy to hear everything felt seamless from the moment you arrived, and that the home matched exactly what you were hoping for. Creating an experience that feels effortless, clean, and thoughtfully put together is always our goal, so hearing "flawless" is the best compliment we could receive. We would absolutely love to welcome you back again and again. It would be an honor to be your go-to for your AMI stays 🤍 Until the island calls you back 🌴
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Excellent

Catching Waves was wonderful! We cannot say enough good things about it. Beautifully decorated, the beds were super comfortable, house was super clean. We cannot wait to come again! Thank you so much for the kind words! We're thrilled to hear you loved your stay at Catching Waves! From the décor to the comfort and cleanliness, it means so much to know everything met—and hopefully exceeded—your expectations. We'd absolutely love to welcome you back for another unforgettable visit. Until then, thank you again for choosing Once Upon A Beach!
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Wonderful vacation!!

Beautiful house on Holmes Beach!! The staff at Once Upon a Beach were very informative and quick to respond to any questions. The house was spotless when we walked in. The private pool was a hit and the neighborhood was very quiet. I would absolutely recommend staying at one of their properties and I would not hesitate to stay with them again. A++++ to the staff.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Sept 2026
Thank you so much for the 10/10 rating! We truly appreciate you choosing to stay with us and hope to welcome you back to Anna Maria Island for another wonderful getaway! – The Once Upon A Beach Team
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback