My friend and I both turn 50 within days of each other. We wanted a spectacular celebration with all of our friends. Big on the Beach did not disappoint. There’s something for everyone in our very large group. Guys loved to fish and ride golf carts to explore. The girls shopped, beached, and went to the pool. Thank you for helping us celebrate our milestone birthday. -Wendy

Our family chose this house for our annual summer vacation. We had 8 adults and 12 kids. Listed below are some of our main grievances. We share in hopes to help you and your family avoid the experience we had. - Prior to booking, we inquired about hurricane damage from Ian, to which the owners responded dishonestly and withheld information regarding the damage. We were led to believe there was no damage, however when we arrived there was debris lining every road. Not just branches but appliances, torn down homes, couches, shattered glass, etc. -The house was falsely advertised as being 3600 square feet on VRBO but after arriving we discovered the house is nearly half of that. It was very cramped for all of us and it did not offer the space advertised. We NEVER would have booked a house under 2,000 square feet for all 18 of us. The owners were unwilling to give an adequate refund after confronting them on this matter. - The refrigerator did not work causing A LOT of our food to spoil. The owners have a thermometer inside the fridge and it consistently ran between 45-58 degrees. Food spoils at 40 degrees. - The upstairs air conditioner did not work properly. Several nights it got to be 88 inside the house despite the air being on. As you can imagine, sleeping in these conditions is miserable and not what you hope for on vacation. - There were at least a dozen roaches we saw and/or killed. One crawled across my neck while in bed. Disgusting! Iwould caution you in booking.

We loved our stay. We needed a place just for us and we couldn't have been happier. Top notch customer service, thank you Stephanie! We will be back.

We enjoyed a nice long weekend at Big on the Beach! Our family had plenty of space to spread out and my daughter (7 months) was able to sleep downstairs while the adults hung out upstairs. We had a wonderful time spending some much needed time as a family. We took advantage of the location and views to update family photos while there as well! Bob and Wendy were absolutely wonderful; so warm and welcoming as well as super helpful. It was our first time on the island but it won’t be our last! See you soon North Captiva!!

Our group of 12 (6 adults, 6 teens/tweens) had a spectacular week at this home! This was the first trip to the island for all of us, and it quickly has become a favorite!! The location of the house was ideal for our crew. Tons of time on the beach, and since the house is literally right on the beach, people could come and go as they pleased. No need to plan or pack anything. Just put on your bathing suit, sunscreen up and go! We spent every day at the beach and pool. It was nice to bounce between the two. The house was spacious enough that all three families had their own bathroom and all 12 of us could have down time alone, if desired. We were not cramped in any way. The views from the decks were gorgeous and the sunsets were breathtaking. The caretakers of the house (Bob and Wendy) were so helpful and attentive. We had a minor issue with a golf cart while there, and they immediately took steps to rectify it for us. Everyone we met on the island were so friendly and helpful. We will absolutely be back!! Many times I think :)

Our family of 16 had fun from sunrise to sunset. From playing in the ocean to fun in the pool to hiking and collecting seashells to seeing manatees and watching the dolphins swim by. It was everything we hoped for and more . A little bit of paradise!

We had an incredible family vacation at Big House. There were 4 families-7 adults and 5 children ( three 2 year olds and a 4 and 6 year old.) I agree with other reviews that the house has the best location of any house on North Captiva. It’s directly on the beach and beautiful views from every space. There was plenty of space. The young families stayed downstairs and the “older” adults up and there was a spacious gathering space with kitchen overlooking, so we could all be together. The sunset views were spectacular. We split time between beach and pool. The island is still recovering from Hurricane Ian and we were glad to support businesses as they recover. It did not impact our stay in an adverse manner. The owner was very responsive and hand’s on. The property managers, Wendy and Bob Lee were incredible to work with and extremely helpful. If you’re looking for new and luxurious, this may not be the place for you. But if you are looking for a perfect setting and a spacious, well taken care of home to build family memories, then I highly recommend Big House on the Beach! We hope to go back!

Location right on the beach is perfect. So nice to walk the beach and enjoy the ocean 24/7. Loved the ocean sounds even while you sleep. Saw dolphins swimming by daily. The house meet all of our needs. Bob and Wendy the host couple were awesome and willing to help with anything you needed. Stephanie and Curt the Property owners were always willing to take questions and interested in any of your concerns or needs while staying on their property. Both host couple and owners were very easy to get ahold of and communicate with that you never felt unattended. The island itself is still recovering from hurricane Ian but with time it will get better. I would recommend staying at this location if you are looking for the full ocean experience and a quiet relaxing vacation.

I have never seen views that are so gorgeous from every angle of the home. Multiple decks that give you privacy, perfect sunset views and beach views. Everyone on the island was incredibly helpful and friendly! We fell in love with North Captiva and Big on the Beach is the perfect location. We will be back!

We couldn't have been any closer to the beach. Home was lovely and Kale the property manager was great. Had a very relaxing time. Thank you all.

This is the 3rd time to North Captiva and all of us agree that this was our favorite house! The location is probably the best on the island. Getting to the island was stress free as the caretaker and owners provided a detailed guide and were available before and during our stay when we had any questions. The house was extremely clean, well maintained, detailed and very well stocked. The beds were of good quality and we were very comfortable. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the reverse osmosis drinking water. Other homes we had stayed at had sulfur scented water. We were also pleased at the speed of the internet, embarrassing to say, but some of us can’t live without good internet. Manatees and dolphins were seen daily while sipping our coffee from the decks. It was a treat to be so close to the beach. Shelling was amazing and our family swam and floated daily right in front of the house. The entire front and sides of this house are windowed which gives this house an Idyllic beachy ambiance. This house is exactly what our family wanted.; all of us had a great time! We will be back!

We couldn't have been any closer to the beach. Home was lovely and Kale the property manager was great. Had a very relaxing time. Thank you all.

Great family vacation suitable for all ages. The house is a few steps to the beach which is very convenient to comeback whenever you need it (with kids and babies that’s a big plus). It is big enough with many rooms and bathrooms that people can do different activities without bothering each other ( work, play , breastfeeding, etc.) and also have communal areas on the top floor to share time cooking or eating all together. Great family vacation!

Quite the excellent location on this lovely island. We found the Big on the Beach House PERFECT for our extended family! Everyone loved this house and loved our vacation! This house was well equipped and was closer to the beach than most of the other homes. How about the kids screaming "dolphins!" while we were having dinner. We saw manatees, dolphins and jumping tarpons splash into the water from the house several times during our stay. The Boat house and Over the Waterfront were our favorite restaurants on the island. The owners were great, everything went smoothly, highly recommend the Big on the Beach House!

Big on the Beach is excellently located - probably best spot on the island. However, house is in desperate need of being updated and thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom. There was mold in the vents and on some of the bedroom ceilings. Only television that worked was in main living room. AC did not work well enough to keep upstairs cool, even with shades drawn. And, there were roaches and palmetto bugs. We have stayed at many island residences and know it’s a different experience. While everyone was very kind, property manager was very responsive, we were disappointed with how dirty the home was and finding roaches - one was even in a bed. Property manager said she would call Orkin but needless to say, we will not rent this home again.

Great trip with my 2 brothers and spouses Watched tarpon jumping Dolphins swimming And Manatees playing Great place

Great trip with my 2 brothers and spouses Watched tarpon jumping Dolphins swimming And Manatees playing Great place

I cannot recommend this property enough. We had an amazing experience. There are so many things that make this the property to choose. Of course, there is the location, the beach, the tropical experience and not to mention the sunsets that seem to last forever but are gone in an instant that make this a one-of-a-kind experience. But what really set this property apart from all the others are the owners and the caretaker Debbrah. No vacation is perfect, there will always be problems, but what separates this property from the others is the absolute dedication of the owners and staff that supported our stay. They were extremely responsive to any request, and they genuinely cared about us and is showed in so many ways. From the advice and support given by Debarah when planning and preparing for our family vacation. (Did I mention that there were sixteen of us?) Or the ease and flat out pampering of our party during the check in process. To the hyper responsiveness of the owners to ensure our happiness and comfort. Then there are the little things, like Deborah getting us some seasonings for a fancy dish that we were making for dinner one night that no one thought to bring. And finally, to the ease of check out. Everything was top notch. I have traveled all over the world and stayed is some of the most amazing places God ever created. This island, at this house and these owners are among the very best and we cannot wait to come back. Well done Stephanie, Curt and Deborah.

My women’s group of 12 women celebrated our 40th year of friendship with a week at the Big House on the Beach. It could not have worked out better. The house was sparkling clean when we arrived, is well stocked with linens, towels and nearly anything you would need in the kitchen. The location, right on the beach, within walking distance of manatee watching, swimming, walking and shelling was perfect with lots of activities to enjoy. This would be an ideal home for a family vacation, a reunion of friends or any event bringing folks together. The Caretaker Deborah was available whenever we had a question and gave us great advice. Our group all agreed it was a perfect place to relax and enjoy a beautiful location. Julie B

We had a group of 8 adults and 4 children ages5-10. Bedrooms were good size except for the queen bedroom on the upper level. As others have mentioned the house needs some TLC but worked very well for us. Very clean and well stocked kitchen. Location is great, both golf carts worked good. It needs a new BBQ grill but we made do. Our family had a great week of weather and enjoyed the island very much

My family and I had the best time together. The hot tub overlooking the ocean was a bonus during a few cooler days. We are already planning our next trip back.

House in very bad disrepair and mold. And the caretaker was very unhelpful

We’ve never been disappointed in a vacation rental until now. We’re not for the location I’d be telling everyone to stay away but being right on the beach, the sunsets etc make the house issues balance out I guess. Never saw such a disorderly house, everything from kitchen cabinets, towels sheets etc. also never have we had to buy toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo etc. very disappointing. The house itself has does that won’t even shut because of settling issues. Paint peeling and ceiling stains from roof leaks. The settling is horrible, I can’t imagine this place lasting another 5 years without foundation correction. I hope that the owners aren’t aware of so many problems otherwise I’d think they’d correct them. Our kids wanted a house with a hot tub and this one wasn’t working until our last nite of 5. Were make lemonade out of lemons but geez this was something else.

Sunsets were awesome! The beach in front of the house was very good, but the park beach was much better for swimming. The Preserve was the best for shelling, but quite a long walk to get to the beach. The house was reasonable, but needs some serious maintenance. The hot tub did not work, it was short on freezer space for our large group. Registration was confusing as the Club did not have us listed, but thankfully, allowed us to use their facilities. Island people were friendly and helpful. Overall, it was a great family vacation.

We had a very small wedding here. While traveling to the island was a bit of a struggle (I didn’t realize when I first booked it that it was on an island you can’t drive to— I found out shortly after booking), this house was worth it all! The views from the house are incredible! The huge windows give such great views of the gulf! 3 of the 6 bedrooms have balcony views. From the main living area, you can see the water from anywhere, as 3 of the 4 walls have windows. While at first, the no cars on the island was a struggle, we liked it. No traffic. Just golf carts. We plan to make a trip back!

Stephany and Curt Thank you so much for giving up your stay at your house so we could have our family vacation. The house held 16 of us very comfortably. The location of the house was incredible, we walk off the back porch and we are on the beach and close to the water. The view of the ocean from the kitchen/ living room was spectacular. We got to see dolphins, manatees and large stingrays. It was truly an amazing experience for our whole family. Billy was wonderful caretaker, he answered all questions, he was there getting into the island. And helped us when we needed something for the house. He would message us to make sure everything was going well. Thank you again Stephany and Curt, we are already wanting to come back. Patty

The island is absolutely gorgeous. The lush tropical foliage is breathtaking! The views from this house are fabulous. Ocean views from just about every room. The house isn’t in the best condition. Curtain rods falling out of the wall. We requested new shower curtains as they were old, mildewed, rusty hangers. We were told they would be purchased but for the “improvements” they are doing this week which didn’t help us at all. All of the doors are in rough shape. No lock on the entrance door which we felt was rather unsafe especially with us carrying cash and having small children in the house again we were told that would become part of the improvements being done the following week. The kitchen wasn’t stocked very well, no food prep or storage bowls, very little to no spices, cooking utensils were not in great shape. The deck furniture needed a magic eraser and some elbow grease, deck box had left over items from previous vacationers- all was just thrown in there and dirty. The hot tub may fall through the deck and needed cleaned mid week and we ran out of chemicals so we couldn’t use it towards the end of our stay. Seemed to be a lack of attention to detail. No towels laid out, no hand towels or dish cloths in the kitchen, beds missing top sheets, broken soap dish in the shower that I cut myself on. The WATER was absolutely NASTY, had a very strong sulfur smell, showering was dreaded and unpleasant because of it. We brushed our teeth with bottled water and filled the coffee pot with bottled water. Felt unsafe to drink it, certainly didn’t want to drink it even if it was safe due to the terrible smell. This house needs some TLC and the property manager needs some direction and allowance from the homeowners to make the stay more pleasant for guests.

This was the most amazing property with the water right outside.. perfect view through out the house, breakfast on the patio (upstairs and downstairs).. easy access to the beach and stunning shells all around.. everyone was so kind and accommodating.. I cannot wait to return with a smaller group and a longer stay..

We had an amazing week at Big on the Beach! The location is spectacular with panoramic ocean views. The sunsets were incredible. The house was very clean, and the caretakers were incredibly helpful leading up to our arrival. We were a group of 13, with adults and seven children under10. We all fit comfortably in the house. We would definitely stay at Big on the Beach again!

Can’t beat the sunset. Great location on island with plenty of beach access and room to spread out. Plenty of room for 19 and Becca the caretaker was outstanding to work with. Easy boat slip access also. Enjoyed our stay and hope to return at a later daye

From the pictures in the listings, I was expecting something different than we experienced. The picture in VRBO of the exterior showing a large beach right in front of the house must be old, since most of the beach is no longer there. The waves at high tide come underneath part of the house, the palm tree is gone. The location of the house is great, but the house is showing its age. The inside is decent, but the hardware and “fit” are also showing its age. We still had a good time there, but I am not sure that the value proposition is there, considering the price.

We had a good time.. overall property was comfortable. A couple of comments:Plusses... great communication with caretakers and owners. Very detailed instructions...you are going to an island..follow guidelines..and you're stay will be well worth it. Amazing views from every where you turn. Sunsets are amazing.Comments...Sleeping 18 may be be a stretch unless you have don't mind air mattresses. Don't expect private bathrooms. We rented two golf carts...one of the carts needs to be updated...it's slow and hard to maneuver... also don't expect fast internet...house does need some updating...all in all it was worth the price for our 70th birthday party!!!