Our Host was easy to communicate, gave us updates on events in the community. Our unit was clean, updated appliances, well stocked kitchen. The grounds were manicured, the pool area had a hot tub, there was a nature walk around the complex along with a board walk that went into an estuary. Complex was close to several beaches and many many restaurants and shops.

Overall, we had a very nice stay. Janice (the owner) was easy to deal with and responsive. She had recently purchased the condo, and we were among the first tenants. The condo was very clean. The kitchen is new and very well equipped. We cooked many of our meals and ate most meals on the screened lanai. The condo, however, could use some updating. The bathrooms are likely original, and the beds and other furniture could be more comfortable. The washer and dryer were new and worked well. There were plenty of towels, bedding, and beach items. The view from the lanai is of trees and landscaping and another condo building. We would have preferred that the lanai had a table and four chairs for eating meals. There were two Adirondack chairs and two other smaller more comfortable chairs that were best suited for having a drink or reading. We provided our own folding table and chairs for eating and generally for sitting on the lanai. Bay Forest (BF) is beautiful. My husband played Pickleball almost daily. The BF pickleball facilities, which include a large, shaded tiki hut and 2 pairs of back-to-back courts, were outstanding as were the group of regular players that my husband played with. I played Mahjongg twice a week. The Bermuda Bay 1 (BB1) pool, while very pretty, was too small and shallow for me to do my PT exercises. There are 8 pools for the 17 BF communities (some are shared but BB1 has its own pool and hot tub) and BB1 guests can only use the BB1 pool and hot tub. Next to the BB1 pool is a screened and shaded patio with tables and chairs, a very nice tiki hut with picnic tables and a shared gas grill that we frequently used. The boardwalk, treasured by BF residents, that extends into the nearby bay and ends with a tiki hut (in many BF photos) was destroyed by Hurricane Ian and rebuilding it will likely take until at least the end of 2024. The paved walkways are very scenic and pass by three lakes (two are part of BF) and make for a nice power walk. Barefoot Beach and Bonita Beach are about a 7-minute car ride away and are beautiful with spectacular sunsets. There was a significant red tide during our stay that made breathing difficult at the beaches and could even be sensed at BF. By mid-March, the red tide had cleared. We enjoyed our time at BF and in the condo. The only reason for the less than 5-star overall rating was our preference to update the bathrooms, furniture, and lanai.

Bay Forest, a conveniently located gated community on Vanderbilt Drive, has easy access to a bike path and the closest beach is 3 miles south off of Bluebill Ave. Janice, the property owner, was very responsive and helpful. The kitchen has been updated recently with new appliances, counter tops and cabinetry. The condo is well-appointed with new sheets, towels, bedding, beach chairs and umbrellas. There is a lovely wooded path that weaves around the property; great for walking, running and biking. On-premise gym, pickleball courts, tennis courts and swimming pools. We had a delightful stay!