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Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach

Photo gallery for Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach

Dolphin House across the street from the ocean.  Arrow marks beach access
Open layout completely updated
View from kitchen
Open floor plan to kitchen
Dining table with seating for 6

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6134.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Bonita Beach, FL
  • Bonita Springs Public Beach
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Bonita Beach Park
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Barefoot Beach
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Naples, FL (APF-Naples Municipal)
    ‪25 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach

Dolphin House is located on Little Hickory Island, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and halfway between Naples and Fort Myers. Private residences only are permitted in this section of the beach, and the lack of crowding testifies to this. The beach is 150 feet west of the front door and is teeming with ocean life, especially in summer. May through August is turtle nesting season, with tracks and nests dotting the shoreline. Shelling and bird watching is excellent here also with heron, egret, eagle, osprey, pelican and gull all present. The gas heated, screen enclosed saltwater pool provides a private place to relax after enjoying the beach, where the gulf water temperature in summer is 87 degrees Fahrenheit. Dolphin House is ideally located for a morning walk on the beach or taking in the evening sunsets.

Dolphin House is shown on the right side of the street just at the end of the video presentation of Bonita Beach in the photo section.

Area attractions: Many activities are available in the local area, including parasailing and jet skiing available at the beach one half mile away. Paddle board and kayak tours are available within 2 miles of Dolphin House, and pontoon boat rental is available also. Corkscrew Swamp, an 11,000 acre preserve run by the Audubon Society is a 45 minute drive east. Alligator, birds, fish and snakes are observable in their natural environment from a 2.5 mile boardwalk through the swamp. The Jay Ding Darling Wildlife refuge is 25 minutes north up the beach on Sanibel Island and offers excellent views of migratory water bird life. Naples is 15 minutes south by car with numerous restaurants, museums, a fishing pier and shops. Ft Myers is 20 minutes north up the coast and also has a fishing pier. The Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is a 25 minute drive from Dolphin House.

House details: Dolphin House has been completely remodeled and updated in 2023. Everything is brand new, spacious and comfortable. Convenience is afforded by the fact that everything is on one level. Two bedrooms in the house have glass doors facing out to the pool area. All glass in the house is hurricane rated, so this provides for a quiet interior as well as enhanced privacy. The shower in the master bath is a walk-in, and the second bathroom has a full bathtub/shower. The A/C system is new, cool and quiet. We have two televisions, a large screen in the family room and a second set in the master bedroom. All new furnishings including furniture, bedding, appliances, linens and kitchenware. For convenience, there is an attached two car garage with automatic door opener. Beach is accessed by a two minute walk across the street. We can accommodate 4 adults and 2 children in beds.

Beach details: Bonita Beach has been included in the top 10 beaches in America, and is well-suited to swimming. Sloping gently for miles into the Gulf of Mexico, the sandy bottom is comfortable and the gulf wave action is generally mild. Pelicans, terns, osprey, frigate, heron and other sea birds can be seen at the beach along with dolphin and sea turtles. Sunsets over the water are beautiful and panoramic. Bonita Beach streches for six miles along the Gulf of Mexico and is only 150 feet from the front door of Dolphin House. This area of the beach is residential and uncrowded, allowing for the ideal beach experience. Beach access #3 is located two houses north of us and makes it possible to walk to the beach in less than two minutes. Shelling is a popular activity on Bonita Beach as many beautiful specimens can be found in the clean sand.

Waterfront restaurants within a one mile radius include Coconut Jacks, Docs Beach House and The Fish House. Enzos is a fine Italian dining local tradition on Bonita Beach Road located 3 miles away.

Property manager

Tim and Connie Rucker
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Playpen and high chair available
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Events

No events allowed
This is a residential neighborhood
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Recycle day is Wednesday, and trash day is Thursday. The respective containers must be set out by the street the night before.
No adjustment of any pool temperature controls (solar or gas) without prior approval.
Maximum occupancy 4 adults + 2 children

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: This is a residential neighborhood
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Bonita Springs

Located in Bonita Springs, this holiday home is near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Bonita Springs Public Beach and Barefoot Beach, while Hertz Arena and Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens are popular area attractions. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track or Alico Arena. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Bonita Beach, FL

What's nearby

  • Bonita Springs Public Beach - 1 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Bonita Beach Park - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Barefoot Beach - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Little Hickory Island Beach Park - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Promenade at Bonita Bay - 7 min drive - 7.3 km

Getting around

  • Fort Myers, FL (RSW-Southwest Florida Intl.) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Doc's Beach House Restaurant - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Coconut Jack's Waterfront Grille - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪DeRomo's Gourmet Market & Restaurant - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Royal Scoop Homemade Ice Cream - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Fish House Restaurant - ‬2 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach have a pool?

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

Is Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Where is Dolphin House : pool home on the Gulf of Mexico : walk to the beach located?

Situated by the sea, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Bonita Springs Public Beach and Barefoot Beach. Bonita Beach Park and Little Hickory Island Beach Park are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.8

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. 87 out of 99 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 99 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 99 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 99 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 99 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Gregory N.

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

Bonita Beach stay

Nice house near Bonita Beach. Easy short walk to beach access point from house. Beach chairs ,umbrella, cart all provided, we also enjoyed relaxing in the nice pool, short drive to local restaurants and shops
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sam S.

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

Winter get away

Great property. Location was great. Property was very clean. Appliances were in great condition. Pool was a real treat for the kids. Owner very responsive.
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Bonita Springs Getaway

Our stay in Bonita was absolutely wonderful! The house exceeded all our expectations, providing everything we needed for a perfect getaway. Having the beach just across the street was a dream, and the saltwater pool was a fantastic bonus. The kitchen was fully equipped with all the amenities, making meal prep easy and enjoyable. The entire home was beautifully decorated, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to relax and unwind!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gregory N.

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

Bonita Beach House

Nice location, easy walk to beach, short drive to nearby stores and restaurants, nice pool. Property is in great shape even with the recent surrounding damage from the hurricane.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patricia P.

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

Family vacation

We celebrated my husband’s birthday with his family that lived in Naples. Pool was perfect temperature & location to beach across the street was great. We loved the house & hope to go back next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lori S.

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

Annual girls Florida trip

We had an absolutely wonderful time. The proximity to the beach, the pool and the property was great. We definitely would stay here again, even talked about it being our destination for next year! Had a few questions for the manager of the property after we arrived and he got back to us with answers fairly quickly. We had excellent weather and enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sean C.

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

Great house!

Loved the Dolphin house and hopefully it will be available for us next year. Great property!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

tony p.

another wonderful stay

this was our 2nd stay at dolphin house.already booked for 2014 great location,great property,1st class rental.

10/10 Excellent

Rachele B.

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

Fun Dolphin house stay!

Our family had a wonderful time and enjoyed our stay at this beach house. Very clean, and the beach access is just a short walk!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Ben C.

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

Beach vacation for graduation

We had a really relaxing time, and enjoyed every minute of our stay. The house was a perfect location across road from the beach, and the pool was great to come back to and swim at night. The house had everything we needed and our large suv even fit in the garage. We will definitely try to stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah E.

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

Great vacation property!

This house was in a perfect location and had everything our family of 4 needed for an awesome vacation. We love Bonita, and the quick walk to the beach, close proximity to stores and restaurants and private pool made this trip one of our favorites!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kristin J.

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

The perfect beach house !

The Dolphin House is perfect! Beautiful, spacious, clean house with lots of updates! Kitchen is well stocked. We cooked Christmas dinner and had plenty of pots/pans, serving ware, etc. We really appreciated having the nice Tommy Bahama beach chairs and umbrella. There’s also a beach wagon and a cooler. The house is so close to the beach! Loved going to the beach every day! The pool is also very nice, and heated. Dolphin House is also pretty neat Doc’s Beachhaus and we went there quite often.
Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christina H.

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

Best House

This is our second time staying at The Dolphin House. The place was just as great as the last time. There are plenty of amenities at the house that makes it so much nicer than other places we have stayed! The kids enjoyed the pool and I loved how close the beach was and that it never had a bunch of people to contend with. We had a great week away, Thanks so much!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nancy Q.

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

Dolphin House

Our visit was just wonderful. The house was very comfortable, the pool was refreshing and the beach was beautiful.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Hunter L.

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

Beautiful!!

We enjoyed the house and the beach! Perfect location and the house had everything we needed! We will definitely be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lazaro Z.

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

Priceless

I dont know where to start, perfect location across from the beach, house itself has everything you need, pool amazing, my kids and myself we enjoyed the pool, cleaning on point, spotless. We saving the info so we can stay here in the future. Definitely, I recommend to stay here.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alex S.

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

Loved the Dolphin House!

We love the Dolphin house! It was in a great location, just steps away from the beach. The house was very clean and had everything we could possibly need! The pool was great and our kids loved swimming every day! This is a great place to book your next vacation! Timothy was great and responded quickly if we needed anything !
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erik C., Lakemoor, IL

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

Florida getaway

The house was perfect, great location, pool is always an added benefit with cooler gulf waters. The owners are great. Thank you for providing us with a great place to vacation, already booked to come back
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2022
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

tony p.

best rental ever

i can honestly say we had a great time on vacation,the property is very comfortable well possitioned and the the pool gave us hours of fun,we will return if we can.

10/10 Excellent

Jesse B.

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

Great house with easy beach access

The house was clean and very nice. It has a modern, open feel. The host was very responsive to any questions. The pool was very nice and heated. The beach access is an easy walk across the street and down two houses.
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert R., Wexford USA

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

Paradise

Very nice home with a pool. Beach access is across the street. Very nice restaurant’s are close by. Definitely on our list for next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Adam D.

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

Awesome house! Great location for beach access.

Very smooth process! We loved the house! It is right across the street from the beach. We could not have asked for a better experience.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Marie B.

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

Love this home!

This is our 4th time renting this home. It is always a pleasure to stay. Owners are great to work with and available. Located near everything. We will be staying again.
Stayed 16 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

brianna H.

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

Best stay!

This stay was one of best vacations yet! We could not have asked for a better house to stay in. The kids LOVED the pool.. the location was perfect with a short walk to the beach.. which was not very crowded at all.. & the house was FULLY stocked with everything we needed. We will definitely be back next year!
Stayed 8 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mary L.

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

Third times the charm

This is our third stay at Dolphin House and it didn't disappoint. It is gorgeous, comfortable and clean. The kitchen is well stocked and all rooms are spacious and well furnished. The area is still rebuilding from Ian but there was still plenty to see and do. We can't imagine staying anywhere else.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Tim and Connie Rucker

Host profile image
We have vacationed at Bonita Beach for over 30 years, and owned property here for over 20 years.

Why they chose this property

Proximity to the beach, which is the primary attraction for southwest Florida. Private enclosed pool. Fully renovated in 2023. 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, can accommodate 4 adults and 2 children in beds. Playpen and high chair for children.

What makes this property unique

Walk to the beach for morning fishing and evening sunsets. No car to park, no planning, just go when you feel like it.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests