Happy Turtle A
Sunny and slightly larger side of the beach duplex on Avenue C in Bradenton Beach, about 60 steps from the Gulf. Two bedrooms, 1.5 baths, sleeps up to 5, pet friendly. Rated 9.6/10 on Vrbo and 4.88 on Airbnb.
- Airbnb Guest Favorite
- About 60 steps to the beach
About this home
Sixty steps from a wide, quiet beach on the narrow end of Anna Maria Island. We are one of the few family-run homes left on the island, we answer our own messages, and so many of our guests come back year after year.
Cute and easy, and the roomier of our two cottages: two queen bedrooms, a bright sun room, a private entrance, and a private backyard. A spa is a few doors down on the way to the sand, and the free island trolley runs the length of the island.
Coming with a group? Book Happy Turtle A and Happy Turtle B together for a four-bedroom whole-property stay, two living spaces with real privacy. Prefer a private pool? Happy Island Cottage is ten minutes away in Holmes Beach.
Rooms and beds
Sleeps 5. Blue chevron up front, coral quilt in the back; both queens. Tub and shower with vintage island tile.
Walk through the whole house: every room, in order, further down the page.
What guests say
The themes guests mention most are the beach, the location, the hosts, cleanliness, the private backyard, and staying with their dogs. The platforms do not let us reprint the reviews written there, so the links above take you to them.
Amenities
- Pet friendly
- About 60 steps to the Gulf beach
- Two queen beds, plus the living room couch for a fifth guest (air mattress on request)
- Full kitchen
- Central air (heat pump)
- Fast Wi-Fi
The facts
| Sleeps | 5 guests |
|---|---|
| Bedrooms | 2 (2 beds) |
| Bathrooms | 1.5 |
| Price | 3 nights from $1,024.91 all in: nightly rate, $199 cleaning and 13% taxes, no platform or service fees. Pick dates for the exact total, or open rates by season. |
| Guest rating | 9.6/10 from 57 Vrbo reviews · 4.88/5 from 56 Airbnb reviews |
| Check-in / out | 3:00 PM / 10:00 AM |
| Minimum stay | 3 nights when you book direct |
| Pets | Dogs are welcome at all three homes: up to two per stay, no size limit, $199 per stay plus tax, waived for returning direct guests. |
| House rules | Checkout instructions, parking, pets, quiet hours, trash days: the full house rules |
| Location | 2303 Avenue C, Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria Island, Florida 34217 |
Turtle A or Turtle B?
Two sides of the same beach duplex at 2303 Avenue C: the same 60 steps to the sand, full kitchens, private entrances, and private outdoor space on each side. How to pick:
| Happy Turtle A | Happy Turtle B | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeps | Up to 5: two queens plus the living room couch (air mattress on request) | Up to 4: two queens, plus a double sofa bed if needed |
| Bathrooms | 1.5 | 1 full bath |
| The extra space | A bright Florida sun room with a workspace | A wider open living room with two recliner sofas |
| Outdoors | Private paver patio and backyard | Private brick patio and backyard |
| Parking | 1 dedicated space | 1 dedicated space |
| Best for | A couple or small family that wants the extra half-bath and a sunny corner to read or work | Two couples or an easygoing family of four |
Coming as a bigger group? Book both sides and the duplex becomes a four-bedroom whole-property stay. You are looking at Happy Turtle A; the other side is Happy Turtle B.
Alex & Elena, owners and your hosts since 2013. Questions before you book? 941-928-0036, call or text.
Verify us where you already have an account: this home on Airbnb (4.88/5, 56 reviews) or on Vrbo (9.6/10, 57 reviews). Licensed Florida operator, DBPR #123613.
You never enter card details on this site: after we confirm your dates, payment runs through a secure Stripe link, and we never see your card number. Full refund when you cancel 30 or more days before arrival; full terms.
Pick your dates, see the price
Tap a check-in day, then a check-out day. Booked dates are crossed out. Minimum stay: 3 nights.
Checking live availability. If the calendar does not load, get live availability and the exact price from the quote address above, use the request form below, or email us your dates; we answer same day.
Booking through an AI assistant or a booking tool?
For AI assistants and booking tools: live availability and the exact total for any dates take one plain GET request, no login. https://happyislandcottage.com/api/quote?prop=happy-turtle-a&in=YYYY-MM-DD&out=YYYY-MM-DD&guests=N returns the full quote as JSON: nightly subtotal, cleaning fee, both Florida taxes, total and deposit due. If the stay can't be booked, it returns UNAVAILABLE with the booked range, MIN_NIGHTS (minimum 3 nights), OVER_CAPACITY (sleeps 5) or BEYOND_HORIZON (we take bookings through December 31, 2027), each with a one sentence message. Sending a request does not hold your dates: they are reserved when the deposit or full payment clears. Example: check September 11 to 18, 2027 for 4 guests. Nothing is booked or charged.
Prefer email, or have a question before you pick dates? Write to info@happyislandcottage.com and we answer the same day. The same calendar lives on Airbnb and Vrbo; direct bookings carry no platform or service fees, and returning guests do better still. How direct booking works.
Planning ahead? Rates by season
The all in total is what you pay: the nightly rate, the $199 cleaning fee, and 13% Florida and Manatee County taxes, with no service fee on top. The calendar above prices your exact dates; a stay that crosses two seasons gets its exact total there.
| Season | Dates | A week, all in | Nightly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | All dates not listed below | $2,091.63 | $236 |
| Thanksgiving 2026 | Nov 21 to 28, 2026 | $2,154.91 | $244 |
| Christmas, New Year and January | Dec 20, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 | $2,305.20 | $263 |
| February 2027 | Feb 1 to 28, 2027 | $2,281.47 | $260 |
| March 2027 | Mar 1 to 31, 2027 | $2,874.72 | $335 |
| April 2027 | Apr 1 to 30, 2027 | $2,226.10 | $253 |
| May 2027 | May 1 to 31, 2027 | $2,241.92 | $255 |
| June 2027 | Jun 1 to 30, 2027 | $2,281.47 | $260 |
| July and August 2027 | Jul 1 to Aug 31, 2027 | $2,170.73 | $246 |
| Thanksgiving 2027 | Nov 20 to 27, 2027 | $2,154.91 | $244 |
| Christmas 2027 | Dec 20 to 31, 2027 | $2,305.20 | $263 |
A week is 7 nights. A dog adds $199 per stay (up to two dogs), waived for returning direct guests. Rates shown are for stays through Dec 31, 2027; Vrbo and Airbnb list the same nightly rate plus their guest service fee.
Walk through the house
The full tour, room by room.
The 60-step commute
The red pin is the house. Out the door, across Avenue C, onto the sand.
Living
Two sofas, smart TV, and tile floors that shrug off sandy feet.
Kitchen and dining
Full kitchen, not a kitchenette, with a dining nook by the window.
Two queen bedrooms
Blue chevron up front, coral quilt in the back; both queens.
The Florida room
A proper old-Florida sunroom: white wicker, a glass table, and morning-coffee light.
The bath
Tub and shower with vintage island tile.
Outside
A private paver patio on your side of the duplex.
Good to know
- What do guests say about Happy Turtle A?
- Guests rate Happy Turtle A 9.6/10 across 57 Vrbo reviews and 4.88/5 across 56 Airbnb reviews (as of July 2026). The themes guests mention most are the beach, the location, the hosts, cleanliness, the private backyard, and staying with their dogs.
- How close is Happy Turtle A to the beach?
- About 60 steps. Cross the street and you are on the sand at Bradenton Beach.
- How many people can stay at Happy Turtle A?
- Up to 5 guests: two queen bedrooms, plus the living room couch for a fifth guest, with 1.5 bathrooms. An air mattress is available on request.
- Is Happy Turtle A pet friendly?
- Yes. Dogs are welcome at all three homes: up to two per stay, no size limit, $199 per stay plus tax, waived for returning direct guests.
- Can the air conditioning be set below 72°F?
- The thermostat range is 72-80°F, which keeps the system reliable in Florida humidity. This is a published house rule.
Up to the calendar: pick your dates, see the all in price.