House boat

Water Lovers Retreat

Photo gallery for Water Lovers Retreat

A covered outdoor seating area with a table and chairs, overlooking a calm body of water with a bridge in the background.
A modern kitchen with dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a marble countertop. There is a dining area with a table and stools, and a living room with a sofa and a fireplace.
A marina with several boats docked, a covered boat house, and a building with a green roof in the background.
A marina with boats docked, a small building, and a pathway leading to the water.
A modern kitchen with a dining area, a sofa, and a TV.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Outdoor pool
    The outdoor pool is a refreshing retreat under the open sky - a rare gem in this area.

Popular amenities

  • Balcony or patio
  • Swimming pool
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View map
Sanford, FL
  • Place, Lake Monroe
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Seminole County Sports Complex
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Airport, Orlando, FL (SFB-Orlando Sanford Intl.)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 5)

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden

Add dates for prices

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  • Dryer
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About the area

Sanford

Sanford is home to this houseboat. Mayfair Country Club and Lake Mary Tennis Center are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Blue Spring State Park and Black Bear Wilderness Area. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Sylvan Lake Tennis Center, or consider a night out at Lake Brantley Field House.
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Map
Sanford, FL

What's nearby

  • Lake Monroe - 2 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens - 3 min drive - 1.7 km
  • Historic Downtown Sanford - 11 min drive - 9.0 km
  • Seminole County Sports Complex - 20 min drive - 26.2 km
  • Kia Center - 28 min drive - 43.0 km

Getting around

  • DeBary Station - 6 min drive
  • Sanford Station - 8 min drive
  • Orlando, FL (SFB-Orlando Sanford Intl.) - 16 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Wawa - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Chick-fil-A - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Andy's Frozen Custard - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Water Lovers Retreat have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Water Lovers Retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Water Lovers Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Water Lovers Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Water Lovers Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Water Lovers Retreat located?

Situated in Sanford, this houseboat is within 2 miles (3 km) of Black Bear Wilderness Area, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens and Lake Monroe. Lake Monroe Park is 1.7 mi (2.8 km) away.

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. 103 out of 107 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 107 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 107 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 107 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 107 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Very nice clean accommodations, host was awesome

Enjoyed our stay, easy to follow instructions, great communication
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Mar 2020
Thank you for staying with us.... We enjoyed hosting you and appreciate you leaving our property neat..
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a nice stay. Mark was very easy to work with.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great houseboat vacation!

Owner is on site and such a great host. Houseboat is at the end of the dock along the river and is so peaceful. We absolutely loved our stay, thank you!!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Quick Vacation Get Away

Just wanted some time with family in a quiet space, It was beautiful, the wild life was amazing. A bit of a walk to the marina, but definetly worth it.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful in every way!

We loved staying here. The houseboat is well appointed and the host is very helpful. The marina is fun too. We are already planning our return visit!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely location on the St John river

We enjoyed our stay very much. Beautiful location at the end of the dock looking out over the river and very comfortable accommodations. Just as we expected.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Weekend Get Away

Relaxing
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Matk is a great host and willing to share knowledge of the area. I quire about hid boat rentals to add to yiur adventure. Views are great and close to everythign in Sandford..
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Seamless check-in process and extremely clean

The inside of the houseboat is on par with a very nice home. Great views of the river and nice privacy off of the back deck.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Unique river stay!

This stay was one of our highlights of our trip. The river is beautiful. We rented a pontoon from the owner and spent the day on the river. We would highly recommend this if you have a spare day!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Sanford

We had a wonderful experience!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Water’s Retreat Sanford

Mark is very responsive to
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful getaway

Stayed 4 nights, great communication with Mark, and he stressed he was only a call away if we needed anything- never needed a thing. Great place for escaping the daily grind. Walk up to the pool, sports bar at the marina. Had access to laundry .looking forward to returning
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Water Lovers Retreat

Our host Mark was beyond accommodating. He was extremely helpful and made sure we didn’t need anything. We loved our stay, the view boat access it was great!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect location

Perfect location for a quiet getaway. The boat is redone beautifully and the view is gorgeous. Great wildlife to watch and very friendly people. The owners have really outdone themselves with this property. I would highly recommend this location for anyone looking for a great relaxing getaway. Thank you so much for making our stay awesome!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Mar 2020
Karlee and her husband were extremely pleasant and very easy to communicate with.... They were the perfect guest's who left our house boat in very clean condition and the type of guest's who make it pleasent for us to host..... We definitely recommend them to future host's and we will definitely invite them back should they ever have the desire to stay with us again.... Thank you so much for respecting our property.....
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful in every way!

Mark is always the perfect host. This has become our annual getaway for my husband's birthday. Can't wait until next year!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great experience

Lovely
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Weekend getaway

We were looking for a peaceful and quiet location to get away for the weekend. Host keeps this houseboat very clean! It was exactly what we looking for. Peaceful river and we also enjoyed a little fishing right off the boat.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Relaxing

Excellent getaway. Everything was set to please
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Water paradise

This was a great find! Very clean. All at the end of the dock. Lots of wildlife and fish! Mark was a fantastic host, very accommodating.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fun

Mark was very nice. Houseboat really neat and clean. Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Honeymoon Haven

Exceptional! Houseboat was the perfect place at the very end of the dock with an unrestricted view of sunrise and sunset. Mark was a great host, answered every question patiently and if we had a need, he filled it! We will be back! Thank you for making this special 💗
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent celebration

My husband and I came to celebrate his birthday. Mark was very hospitable and set the entire weekend up for success. We brought our own jetski and per Mark's reference, Boat Tree Marina launched and retrieved it for us. We were able to see sunrise and sunset and enjoy the beauty of the area. The bed was comfortable. The accommodations were excellent. I would return!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing stay

We had such a remarkable time staying on Mark's houseboat; what a phenomenal space. Very comfortable bed and the couches were also super comfy. We either sat out front or out back depending upon the time of day. Cabana Live was a great place to people watch and listen to music while having a drink or snack.Mark offers many other boats to take out for the day should you have interest in going out on the river.We would highly recommend on staying on Water Lovers Resort; Mark is amazing with his communication. He gave us a tour of the grounds which was very nice to know where the store is there plus we got to meet his wife one night.We will be back for sure
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

nothing but awesome

Experience was amazing Marcos an amazing, helpful host very informative and made us feel comfortable with Thursday. I would recommend this place to anybody we will definitely be back. I might even think about taking the kids. experience was amazing Marcos an amazing, helpful host very informative and made us feel comfortable with Thursday. I would recommend this place to anybody we will definitely be back. I might even think about taking the kids. If they’re being good.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
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