Manasota Key Resort — Hotel in Englewood

We just returned from the most wonderful place…it is a TRUE GEM!

Walking back into what used to be the cozy WANNA BE INN, now reborn as the stunning Manasota Key Resort, our family was greeted with…, "WOW!" This overwhelming feeling of joy and surprise became the theme of our entire stay, leaving us with no doubts about making this magical place a regular family destination.

The transformation is genuinely miraculous. The once quaint, laid-back spot we fell in love with has evolved into something even more magnificent, all while preserving the essence of its charm. Tucked away at the peaceful tail end of Manasota Key and right next to the serene Stump Pass State Park, the resort offers an unparalleled escape. With no busy roads in sight, only the calming presence of nature surrounds you, setting the stage for a truly tranquil retreat.

We love that it offers both Gulf Beach and Lemon Bay views. Our mornings were blissfully spent sipping coffee alongside the meticulously landscaped Lemon Bay, where the sunrise and playful dolphins were our constant companions. As the day unfolded, we found ourselves captivated by the sunsets over the Gulf, each evening painting a new masterpiece across the sky.

The community and other guest that we met at the resort were very friendly, nature-loving, and respectful. The attention to detail in the resort's landscaping and overall layout is nothing short of a labor of love. Each palm tree, flower bed, and rock design has been placed with care, creating an oasis that feels both welcoming and luxurious.

For our active family the free recreational offerings was a dream come true. From stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking in the bay to Pickle Ball matches and leisurely bike rides, every moment was an adventure. The beach, with its never-too-crowded sands, became our favorite spot, especially with the charming beach bar's frozen treats (the kids couldn't get enough of the whipped cream-topped drinks which had fresh fruit and tropical umbrella). And, finding treasures along the shore only to wash them at the quaint shell station(The first one I had ever seen at a resort) just added to the impressive attention to detail of this special place.

I must not forget to mention the staff which I must commend as they are the soul of Manasota Key Resort .. Each employee we met radiated warmth and professionalism, making our stay not just enjoyable but genuinely heartwarming. Their dedication to creating a welcoming atmosphere played a huge part in making our vacation unforgettable.

Returning to Manasota Key Resort felt like coming home to a place where every detail is thoughtfully designed for a perfect stay. It's become our family's beloved escape, offering a slice of paradise that we're already longing to return to. This resort is more than special; it's a part of our family's happiest memories, and we can't wait to make more.Like I stated initially…it is something special…a true “GEM” !

Manasota Key Resort is everything and more, promising a stay that will leave you dreaming of...

Last year my family suffered the tragic loss of my only son. He was a great father, loving son, loved by many, he was a great deputy sheriff. Although he is no longer with us I carried out our what has become a family tradition for the past 15 yrs we travel and stay long vacations at Westons WannaB Inn every year. I help to raise my three orphan grand boys and just had large costs in laying my only son to rest so financial it was a little harder this year than normal for us. However, I know my time on this Earth is precious and I see it as no amount of money can or should stand in the way of memories as my days are limited. My son was only a mere 35 yrs young when our family suffered this tragedy. Now going through everything I have and still pushing through and making ends meet to enjoy the tradition with my family it didn't end as well as I would have hoped. And sadly this is not the first time my experience, my vacation, my hard earned money, and the travel involved seemed as though a complete loss. Last time I was compensated and I agreed to the compensation as I though maybe it was a bad day, woke up on the wrong side of the bed or family issues that caused this employee a bad day rendering my stay a disaster. But unfortunately I think Valerie Hazlett is just cold and callous. She watches our every move. She seems to have it out to destroy every vacation I plan. The children love it there as there father did and now I was told they are no longer welcome there. Sorry they are no longer welcome in that apartment because it is a danger. My grand boys are not bad children by no means and they are always supervised to the maximum level I assure you that. There was no out of the ordinary danger that is normal for 1) being by the dock 2) being by a beach 3) being by a pool. There are dangers everywhere you go and in almost everything you do. I already lost my ONLY SON!!!!! People please I would never dream of placing my grand children in danger or in harms way!!! I didn't go on vacation to be baby sat! I didn't spend my money and my time to be reprimanded I am not a child and my grand children do not need to be reprimanded as they are always under constant supervision. oh, and just so you know bring all your cleaning supplies and you must clean the toilet, wash the fridge and clean the floor prior to leaving as my wife worked so hard to do so as we cant afford to loose out deposit. I wounder if any of this has to do with my accent as I am European but I am no fool and I do not deserve to be treated like I am in a prison camp. JUST SICK AND TIRED! I feel Valerie Hazlett is discriminating me...

This resort is truly a hidden gem. From the moment we arrived, we knew this place was paradise. There are so many things to do - complimentary kayaks, paddle board, ping pong... you will always be busy! Interaction with staff in-person was phenomenal. We really want to return.

It is important to know that our vacation was cut short due to Tropical Storm Debby. We were disappointed in the responses from the resort. We are from NJ and do not mess around with big storms - we have experienced our fair share. As we were staying in the gulf view rooms, the waves grew intensely in height and frequency, and it wasnt even high tide! The gulf was literally beginning to crash into our building and we knew flooding was imminent. We attempted to call the manager number about 5 times to see if there were evacuation plans or mandates from the county. No resort manager picked up the phone. We couldn't leave a message because the inbox was full. That is when we began to call non emergency police numbers to get more information, as the resort did not provide us with any. We ended up voluntarily evacuating for the night.

We heard from the resort via text around 5PM that night (mind you, we called numerous times around 10:30AM). That is unacceptable. We had to return the following day to see if it was safe to stay our final night, clean up the room, and retrieve forgotten items - we left very quickly. Upon out return, the roads were flooded, the gulf had not calmed down, rain was picking up again, so we checked out early. We lasted 10 minutes before we felt unsafe again - things changed THAT QUICK!

We returned the keys to the front desk and called them once we were off the barrier island to discuss compensation since we did not stay our final two nights. We are waiting to hear back via email. EDIT: We recieved a call from the resort and they were very apologetic and refunded the two nights we did not stay. Thank you Manasota Key Resort - we hope you take our feedback into consideration moving forward. Aside from the storm response - we would be giving you a 5 star review!!!!

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and really want to return. Everything was beautiful, clean, and staff is friendly. Just please, please, please figure out a better communication system for your guests during Tropical Storms. Debby took everyone by surprise, but overcommunicating is better than...