Last summer we booked rooms (3 bedroom for 2 weeks and a 1 bedroom for 1 week) over the 4th of July weekend. This was our second year in this two condo complex but we were at the other complex in 2011 i believe it is beach palms.

Things went fine during the first week but on the Friday before the 4th people started streaming in that either were staying with friends or had book for the long weekend. The parking lot was filled so cars parked across the street in a vacant lot. By Saturday the population had grown so large that there was little room in the pools and the beach was covered with huge multi- family tents that it looked like we were in Arabia! Underage drinking was rampant as well as some getting sick on the premises. The pool music was loud and coming from multiple families, adults were drinking, cursing and there was the expected confrontations (police called in twice - blamed on the lack of security). It was a war zone with little regard for the nesting birds or respect of others. Most of the folks had no idea of the codes nor did they have keys!
To cap it all off, my daughters car was vandalized by having her sunroof bashed in on our last Thursday - and it rained all night! The car electrical system was almost entirely ruined and it stayed at the dealers for 10 days to fix. My daughter is a single parent with 3 small children and she had misplaced her parking tag but was there for two weeks in and out of the building. The daytime keeper complained to her and she apologized but that the parking lot was really empty and we were about to leave. The next morning the sunroof was bashed in. Coincidence?
I have just booked one month at Indian Shores but not at Beach Cottages.

We rented a one-bedroom unit (no. 2302) for 9 days in March, which we found through www.Flipkey.com. The unit was very clean but my wife did find some dust-bunnies behind a door and bedroom furniture. The unit was large, airy and bright. All the modern conviences were there including a 46" HD television. The unit included a large whirlpool bathtub. The unit also had a pool noodle and beach chairs in the storage area located next to the balcony. Our unit faced the Gulf and we watch some lovely sunsets.

The kitchen was well stocked with all appliances and dishware.

The condo maintenance staff were up early and out cleaning and organizing the pool/hottub and deck area which includes 3 natural gas bbqs. The public areas, including grounds, were also keep clean and neat.

There was a Suncoast Beach Trolley stop just outside the building, however the nearest 7-11 store was 4 blocks south and it was 15 blocks south to a Winn-Dixie grocery store. We did not have a car so we used the trolley bus to get around.

This is a very nice area but it has few restaurants or stores nearby (within easy walking) so you may want to have a car.

Also, you have to pick up and return your keys from a Plumlee Reality who are managing the unit for the owner. You'll be provided with all the information when you book but be aware you can't go directly to the unit until you pick up your keys. The company does have a dropbox /pickup box so you can get to your keys if you arrive after hours.

Very quiet at night and no pets are allowed on the property. Would we recommend it, yes.

Nice condo, nice owner. Very, very basically furnished, bare minimum, but do-able. We were on the 2nd floor, towards the front overlooking the bird sancatuary. Interesting to watch from inside the condo but usually (85 % of the time) to stinky to sit on the patio to enjoy the "gulf-glimpse" (for sure not gulf view!).
The owner said the condo complex gets noisy and busy during the height of the season, so I'd avoid it then for sure. We would stay here again, but NOT on the bird sancantuary side.

Jim thank you first off! Jim (owner) was wonderful answering my questions prior to going down very promptly! I have been very blessed to stay in some of the best resorts and hotels in europe, asia, us and i have stayed in some of the worst, i have stayed at several condos-townhomes in fla and by far this unit was awesome!!!!! i read other reviews on this beach cottage and i couldnt agree more that this unit is a wonderful place for family!

pros:
-great property location and appearance of beach cottage buildings are very nice!
-great location within the facility, ground floor overlooking pool and ocean, perfect to watch kids from our room.
-unit was spacious and had everything you needed, ie kitchen appliances, sofa bed, rollaway bed, towels, washer and dryer etc!
-the beach is awesome, great stretch of beach!!!! water was warm no rip tides or harmful fish or jellyfish just skates and stingrays, we even saw dolphins about fifty miles from where we were swimming. about fifty feet out there is a sand bar that is about 3 feet deep.
-love the fact that sun deck and pool noise is non existent because of the hurricane proof windows on sliding doors both bedroom and living room.
-huge balcony with nice table chairs and rocking chair.
-love the balcony closet that is full of kids beach toys, boogie boards scuba mask, googles etc. awesome!
-huge shower in mastr bedroom!
-just an awesome unit!

cons:
-friggin rude inconsiderate next door renters who put thier cornhole games right in front of our balcony.
-dust bunnies behind night stands(i know being picky)
-more info on best places to eat, fish, healthclub.
-on beach peeps put up awnings that they leave on beach kinda looks trashy
-pool area is supposed to be closed at dusk but kids and renters were in the pools late night. one night kids were in there round 1230am! but you cant hear them due to hurricane proof sliding doors thank goodness.
-small pool!
-no workout facility

we loved it! and will come back in 2 years!