Guest Guide
Our homes, house details and Dave and Dee's favorite local spots
Everything you need to know about our four Florida Dream Stays homes, managed by Dave and Dee, plus our favorite local spots near each one. Questions? Call us at 352-707-8811.
Policies for every house
All four homes share these policies unless a house section says otherwise.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Check-in | 4:00 PM, self check-in with a keypad smart lock |
| Check-out | 10:00 AM |
| Early check-in / late check-out | Depends, case by case, on the booking schedule and the cleaners. Just ask and Dave and Dee will let you know. |
| Door code | Sent before arrival. It's the last 4 digits of the phone number on the reservation. |
| Check-in details | Sent by message 7 days before arrival |
| Minimum age | Primary renter must be 25+ |
| Kids | Children and infants welcome. Pack 'n Play / travel crib provided. |
| Pets | Not allowed |
| Smoking | Not allowed, inside or out |
| Parties / events | Not allowed |
| Noise and cameras | Ring doorbell camera and Ring driveway camera outside, Minut noise monitor on the patio. No cameras inside. |
| Cancellation (direct booking) | Full refund 30+ days before arrival. 50% refund 7–30 days. No refund within 7 days. |
| Cancellation (Airbnb/Vrbo) | Follows that site's policy. Manage it in their app. |
| Linens and towels | Provided for every guest, beds made |
| Supplies | Starter paper goods, soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hair dryer, iron. Welcome basket with snacks, cold water and Gatorade. |
| Kitchen | Fully equipped: pots and pans, dishes, utensils, coffee maker, toaster, blender, kettle, baking sheets, wine glasses, dishwasher, microwave |
| Laundry | Washer and dryer in every home |
| Wi-Fi | Every home. Password is in the house and the check-in message. |
Rates and minimum stays
Rates change by date. See live availability and prices for each home at floridadreamstays.com. Minimum stays: Horsey Hideaway 5 nights, Village Retreat 3 nights, Coastal Cottage 5 nights (HOA rule), Tuscany Hideaway 90 nights. No pet fees and no extra-guest fees. Direct bookings require damage protection or a damage deposit.
Horsey Hideaway (Summerfield)
A 4-bedroom, 2-bath single-level home built in 2023 with a screened 7-person hot tub. It sleeps 10, and Village Retreat next door can be rented too for groups up to 20.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Address area | SE 87th Ave, Summerfield, FL 34491. |
| Beds | Primary suite: king. Jack's room: queen. Jill's room: queen. Twins' room: twin beds. Living room: queen sleeper sofa. Maximum occupancy: 10 people. |
| Baths | 2: primary has a walk-in shower; main bath has a tub/shower combo |
| Hot tub | Outside on the screened-in porch, seats 6 or 7. Always heated and ready, year-round. It has a lock for safety when not in use. Adults must supervise children. Stay out during storms or power outages. |
| Outdoors | Fenced backyard, play area, uncovered deck, covered lanai, gas grill, outdoor dining and seating |
| Games | Some outside games, like cornhole, are stored in the garage. Board games in the living room console. Mystery Treasure Hunt for guests. |
| TVs | Samsung smart TVs in the living room and all the bedrooms |
| Parking | Garage plus driveway. Garage opener is on the snack tray ($50 to replace if lost). |
| Accessibility | Single level, step-free entry, wide doorways |
| Family | High chairs, kids' dishes, Pack 'n Play, room-darkening shades. The dining table seats 6, and the kitchen countertop seats 4. |
| Power | Solar panels. In a conscious effort to reduce the electric bill and greenhouse gases, we've added solar panels. |
| Trash | Bags tied shut in the outside can. Roll the can to the street Sunday and Wednesday nights. |
| Golf carts | None at the house. You can rent one in The Villages area (see the Summerfield area guide). |
| Holidays | We try to decorate for the fall and Christmas holidays. Decorations are subject to change from year to year. |
Village Retreat (Summerfield)
Next door to Horsey Hideaway: a 4-bedroom, 2-bath single-level home built in 2023 that sleeps 10, with a hot tub and solar power. Book both houses together for up to 20 guests.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Address area | SE 87th Ave, Summerfield, FL 34491, next door to Horsey Hideaway |
| Beds | Primary suite: king. Jack's room: queen. Jill's room: queen. Twins' room: twin beds. Living room: queen sleeper sofa. Maximum occupancy: 10 people. |
| Sleeper sofa | Yes, a queen-size sleeper sofa in the living room, so it sleeps 10. |
| Baths | 2: primary has a walk-in shower; main bath has a tub/shower combo. |
| Hot tub | Outside on the screened-in porch, seats 6 or 7. Always heated and ready, year-round. It has a lock for safety when not in use. Adults must supervise children. Stay out during storms or power outages. |
| Outdoors | Fenced private yard, uncovered deck, covered lanai, gas grill, outdoor dining and seating |
| Games | Some outside games are stored in the garage. Board games and books inside. |
| TVs | Samsung smart TVs in the living room and all the bedrooms |
| Parking | Garage plus driveway. Garage opener is on the snack tray. |
| Accessibility | Single level, wide doorways |
| Family | High chair, kids' dishes, Pack 'n Play, room-darkening shades. The dining table seats 6, plus 4 seats at the kitchen counter. |
| Holidays | We try to decorate for the fall and Christmas holidays, including outside Christmas lights. Decorations are subject to change from year to year. |
| Trash | Same as Horsey: tie bags, can to the street Sunday and Wednesday nights |
| Golf carts | None at the house. Rentals available in The Villages area. |
Coastal Cottage (Palm Harbor)
A 900 sq ft, 2-bedroom townhome in the gated Fox Lake community. It sleeps 6, was fully renovated in early 2023, and has a community pool, clubhouse and playground a 2-minute walk away.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Address area | Fox Lake community off US-19, Palm Harbor, FL 34683. |
| Beds | Primary: queen. 2nd bedroom: twin trundle that can be made into a queen. Living room: sleeper sofa that makes into a queen. |
| Baths | 1.5: primary suite has a walk-in shower; a half bath (toilet and sink) |
| Minimum stay | 5 nights (HOA rule, no exceptions) |
| Gates | Two gated entrances: keypad gates on US-19 and a remote-opened gate on Belcher Rd. Gate codes and openers are available to booked guests only. |
| Parking | One covered assigned spot in front of the unit (tight turn-in) plus visitor spots across the street |
| Pool and clubhouse | Community pool (not heated), clubhouse, playground and tennis. 2 pool access cards in the unit. Hours and rules are in the notebook on the kitchen counter. |
| Inside | Smart TVs, games, books and toys |
| Outdoors | Covered lanai seating. Beach gear: chairs, kids' masks and snorkels, sand toys and small beach umbrellas. What's there varies from stay to stay. Community charcoal grills are available. |
| Family | High chair, kids' dishes, Pack 'n Play, kids' books and toys. Outlet covers and cabinet locks are available in the closet in the primary bedroom. |
| Accessibility | Single level, step-free entry, wide doorways |
| Trash | Tie bags and take them to the two cans behind the unit |
| Holidays | We try to decorate for the fall and Christmas holidays. Decorations are subject to change from year to year. |
| Nearby | Walmart is a block south on US-19. Publix and Walgreens are at US-19 and Alderman. |
| County rule | Pinellas County requires a written sex-offender question after booking. The question is sent to you automatically after booking. |
Tuscany Hideaway (Palm Harbor)
A furnished 3-bedroom, 2-bath ground-floor condo for 90-night-plus stays only, in the gated Tuscany at Innisbrook community. It suits snowbirds, traveling professionals, families between homes, and insurance or corporate stays.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Address area | Tuscany at Innisbrook (Portofino Place), Palm Harbor, FL 34683 |
| Size | About 1,350 sq ft. Ground floor, no stairs or elevator. |
| Beds | King, queen and queen. Each bedroom has a large walk-in closet. Sleeps 6. |
| Baths | 2 full baths with showers |
| Utilities | Rent includes electric, internet, water and sewer: one monthly price |
| Work | Dedicated workspace and Wi-Fi |
| Laundry | New washer and dryer in the unit |
| Community | Two heated resort-style pools open year-round, heated hot tubs, sauna, fitness center, tennis, clubhouse, theater room, party room, pool tables, business center, car wash. Gated entry. |
| Parking | One reserved space |
| Rules | No pets, no smoking, no parties. Renter 25+. Children welcome. |
| Short stays | Not offered. For shorter stays, consider Coastal Cottage (5-night minimum). |
Summerfield area guide (Horsey Hideaway and Village Retreat)
The homes sit just north of The Villages, about 20 minutes from Spanish Springs and 25–30 minutes from downtown Ocala. Drive times are approximate.
| Need | Where | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Walmart Supercenter, 17961 S US-441, Summerfield, open 6am–11pm | ~10 min |
| Groceries | Publix (closest), Mulberry Grove Plaza, 8780 SE 165th Mulberry Ln, The Villages, with pharmacy | 5 min or less (3 blocks) |
| Pharmacy | Walgreens (closest), 8591 SE 165th Mulberry Ln, The Villages, 352-753-5034, same plaza as Publix. Also CVS on SE 109th Ave and Walmart and Publix pharmacies. No 24-hour pharmacy nearby. | 5 min or less |
| Urgent care | Avecina Medical (walk-in), 17136 SE 109th Terrace Rd, Summerfield | ~10 min |
| Emergency room | AdventHealth Belleview ER (24 hours), 6006 SE Abshier Blvd, Belleview | ~15 min |
| Hospital | UF Health Spanish Plaines, The Villages; AdventHealth Ocala | 20–30 min |
| Hardware | Belleview Ace Hardware, 10677 SE US-441 (closed Sundays) | ~15 min |
Restaurants
- Right across the street (Mulberry Grove Plaza, under 5 min):
- Sammy Joe's: Dave and Dee's pick. 1950s-style cafe for breakfast, lunch, dinner and pizza. 8760 SE 165th Mulberry Ln, 352-633-1949.
- The Back Porch: Dave and Dee's pick. American food, out front on CR-42.
- Also in the plaza (not tried yet): a Chinese restaurant and Beef O'Brady's sports bar.
- Italian, about 10 minutes west on US-441 (both recommended, same strip center):
- Francesco's Ristorante, 16770 S US-441, 352-693-2008
- Little Joey's Italian, 16840 S US-441, 352-347-1800
- Barbecue, west on CR-42 by the railroad tracks (recommended): Artman Country Smokehouse, 6900 SE CR-42, 352-307-6240. Limited hours, roughly Wed–Sun 11am–7pm, so call before driving over.
- The Villages town squares:
- Spanish Springs (~20 min): Coastal Del Mar (seafood), Palmer Legends (Italian steakhouse)
- Brownwood (~35–40 min): TooJay's Deli, City Fire, Wolfgang Puck Kitchen + Bar
- Date night in downtown Ocala (~25–30 min): Mark's Prime Steakhouse, Ivy on the Square, Harry's Seafood
- Anything else: there are dozens of restaurants in The Villages town squares. TripAdvisor is a great way to find more: search restaurants for The Villages, Summerfield or Ocala.
Golf carts. The houses don't have carts, and the homes aren't on The Villages cart paths, so please don't drive a cart from the house on US-301 or CR-42. Rent one inside The Villages:
- The Villages Golf Cars (Brownwood and Lake Sumter Landing): daily walk-in rentals, about $38 a day. Book ahead for weekly rentals, Christmas, Easter and January.
- Hometown Golf Cart Rentals: about $225 a week for a 4-seater, delivery about $25 within The Villages.
- Drivers need a government photo ID. Under-18 drivers need a learner's permit or license.
Things to do
- The Villages town squares: free live music nightly, about 5–9pm (6–10pm in summer). Spanish Springs ~20 min, Lake Sumter Landing ~30 min, Brownwood ~35–40 min.
- World Equestrian Center, Ocala: free horse shows most weeks, Winter Wonderland lights in season. ~35–45 min.
- Silver Springs State Park glass-bottom boats: $17 adults for 30 minutes, reservations 352-236-7149. ~30–35 min.
- Lake Weir / Carney Island: beach, swimming, boat ramp, about $7 a car. ~15–20 min.
- Horse farm tours: Farm Tours of Ocala, 352-895-9302, book ahead October–April.
- Rainbow Springs State Park, Dunnellon: reservations now required. ~50–60 min.
- Ocala National Forest (Juniper and Alexander Springs): check for closures first. ~45–60 min.
- Golf: Stonecrest Golf Club ~10 min. Villages courses take visitors with a Guest ID.
- Downtown Ocala square: shops and dining. ~25–30 min.
Airports: Gainesville (GNV) ~1 hr, Orlando (MCO) ~1 hr 15–30 min, Tampa (TPA) ~1 hr 30–45 min.
Palm Harbor area guide (Coastal Cottage and Tuscany Hideaway)
Both homes are near US-19 in north Pinellas, about 15–20 minutes from Honeymoon Island beach and 30–40 minutes from Tampa International Airport. Drive times are approximate.
| Need | Where | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Walmart Supercenter, 35404 US-19 N, open 6am–11pm | ~5 min |
| Groceries | Publix, 33343 US-19 N (Coral Landings) | 5–10 min |
| Pharmacy | Walgreens, 35543 US-19 N (nearest). Walgreens, 33670 US-19 N may be 24 hours. | ~5 min |
| Urgent care | MD Now, 34621 US-19 N | ~5 min |
| Emergency room | AdventHealth Palm Harbor ER, 34106 US-19 N | ~5 min |
| Hospital | AdventHealth North Pinellas, 1395 S Pinellas Ave, Tarpon Springs | 10–15 min |
| Hardware | Ace Hardware of Palm Harbor, US-19 N | ~5 min |
| Laundry service | Clean Machine Laundry, 33507 US-19 N (wash-dry-fold) | ~5 min |
Restaurants
- Breakfast and brunch (check their hours before you go):
- Eggtown, Palm Harbor
- To the north on Alt US-19: Mimi's Hotcakes, and Rodies Restaurant and Pancake House
- Daybreak Cafe, north of Tarpon Springs on Alt US-19. It's a bit of a drive.
- To the south on US-19: Johnny's Grits and Soul Food. We haven't tried it yet, but it comes highly rated.
- The shopping center south of Alderman, on the west side of US-19, has half a dozen restaurants.
- Lunch near Coastal Cottage:
- Chicken Salad Chick, southeast corner of US-19 and Alderman Rd (Dave and Dee's top lunch pick)
- Lucky Dill, just south on US-19: New York-style deli, huge portions, spectacular bakery. Also good for dinner.
- Dinner near Coastal Cottage:
- LongHorn Steakhouse, across US-19 at Alderman
- A decent Chinese restaurant across the road, plus half a dozen more at the southwest corner of US-19 and Alderman
- Lunch and dinner:
- Tarpon Turtle
- Molly Goodhead's
- Gino's New York Pizza
- Jimmy's Neighborhood Restaurant, Alt US-19, about 10 minutes north
- Fireside Pizza
- For a flavor of Greece: we highly recommend spending part of a day at the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, on Dodecanese Blvd, west off Alt US-19. Restaurants there:
- Hellas Restaurant & Bakery: for the feeling of being in Greece. At least stop in to see the bakery.
- Rusty Bellies, at the end of Dodecanese: waterfront dining
- Mr. Souvlaki, on Alt US-19 just south of the Sponge Docks: where the locals go for gyros
- On the water: Captain Jack's Waterfront Grill, across the Anclote River from the Sponge Docks on Alt US-19. Sit outside and look at the boats, the marina and the river.
- Downtown Tarpon Springs (about 30 restaurants): Sponge City Brewing, a tap house and tavern, Catalina's (new Mexican, not yet tried), and a good Italian restaurant and pizzeria about 3 blocks south
- Downtown Palm Harbor: a wood-fired pizza place and several small restaurants.
- Ice cream and dessert:
- Strachan's Ice Cream & Desserts, Palm Harbor: south on Alt US-19 at Tampa Rd. They also have a shop in Dunedin.
- Orange Cycle Creamery, downtown Tarpon Springs on Tarpon Ave, just across the Pinellas Trail
- Fast food: Chick-fil-A on US-19
Anything else: There are so many places to eat around here. TripAdvisor is a great way to find more: search restaurants for Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin or Clearwater.
Golf carts. None at the homes, and carts aren't allowed on US-19 or Tampa Rd. Greektown Golf Cart Rentals in Tarpon Springs rents street-legal 6-seat carts for touring the Sponge Docks area.
Things to do
- Honeymoon Island State Park beach: $8 a car. ~15–20 min.
- Caladesi Island: by ferry from Honeymoon Island, often rated one of the best US beaches.
- Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks: Greek food, sponge boat tours, shops on the Anclote River. Plan half a day. ~15 min. Also: Tarpon Springs Aquarium on Alt US-19 north of the river, family-run. Feed the rays, alligators and turtles, see a huge crocodile and free-roaming tortoises, and watch the diver feed the fish in the big tank several times a day. Dave and Dee take every visitor there.
- Downtown Dunedin: restaurants, breweries, shops. 15–20 min.
- Clearwater Beach and the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival. 35–45 min.
- Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail for biking and walking: Wall Springs Park trailhead ~10 min.
- Fred Howard Park beach, Tarpon Springs. ~15 min.
- Busch Gardens Tampa. 45–55 min.
- Lightning hockey and Bucs football in Tampa.
Airports: Tampa (TPA) 30–40 min, St. Pete-Clearwater (PIE) 25–35 min, Orlando (MCO) about 2 hours.