White Sands of Longboat

White Sands is a beautiful smaller resort located on a narrower part of Longboat Key. The resort offers access to both the Gulf of Mexico Beaches and dock facilities on Sarasota Bay, The facilities are mostly single or double cottages or town houses with half of the resort on the Gulf Side and the other half on the Bay side. We own Week 7, in an ovesized one bedroom town house on the bay side. The upstairs bedroom has a spectacular view of Sarastoa Bay. The bay side is like its own community with cottages surrounding the pool and making it very open and welcoming. The Gulf side is narrower and feels more crowded than the bay side.

White Sands is very tropical with a pool on both the bay side and the gulf side of the resort and tennis courts on the gulf side. The Kitchens are in the process of being upgraded, as the resort has had a minor special assessment to address this need, The units are large, comfortable and fully equipped.

Since the resort is small, service is very personal and check-in has always been very easy. The staff is responsive to any request made to them.

Longboat Key is a barrier beach to Sarasota and there are many cultural events and exhibits to be seen there. Shopping at St, Armands Circle is a little like shopping in East Hampton on Long Island.

Longboat Key is changing dramatically. many of the older smaller rental facilities are being bought up and turned into premium condos. Wickers, which used to be cottage rentals, now has a sign advertising new condos to be built with a price tag in the mid $3,000,000 range. The Waterfront Property is at a premium and the few timeshares on Longboat Key are the best way to keep a foothold in what is becoming an area dominated with huge mansions and high-priced condos. With most of the smaller properties, the mom and pop motels and similiar facilities being sold to the highest bidder, resorts like White Sands becomes more precious to those who want to visit and enjoy Longboat Key.

White Sands is a quiet resort which is family friendly and a great spot for a romantic get-a-way or simply relaxing watching the sun rise on Sarasota Bay or set on the Gulf of Mexico. There are no planned activities as many of the people coming in February when we are, are owners or returning renters. They do provide paddle boats and row boats on the bay side and there are sail boats for the use of guests on the gulf side. The resort also has bikes which can be used on the expansive side walk that runs the length of the island.

The resort has gas barbeques and tables, The bay side, where our unit is located, is well situated to avoid road noise from the busy "main street" of long boat key. The front entrance is on the road side but the focus of the units are towards the inner bay side of the resort, where there is a heated pool and putting green

Great place for a long or short stay. Staff is exteremely accomodating. Cocktails at sunset on the gulf side is an evening event

We have stayed at White Sands three times. The setting is gorgeous especially the bay side. The resort offers you waterfront on both the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. There are free Bikes and Boats, and Gas Grills. Our experience with the resort is that it was clean and well maintained and nice to have a washer dryer in the unit.

WE STAYED HERE IN JUNE-2004. THE RESORT HAD A 5-STAR. IT'S OLD AND NEEDS WORK. FURNITURE NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND BATHROOM NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. OUR DRYER WAS NOT WORKING. WE ALSO HAD A BAD SUGAR ANT PROBLEM. NO MID WEEK CLEANING LIKE MOST 5-STAR RESORTS. BUT..... LONGBOAT KEY ITSELF IS BEAUTIFUL, WELL WORTH VISITING. I WOULD GO BACK BUT MAYBE TRY A DIFFERENT RESORT.