Everything You Need To Know About Anna Maria Island
Everything You Need To Know About Anna Maria Island
I have been all over Florida for the last forty years of my life but had never gone to Anna Maria Island. It came on my radar when a YouTube couple I follow posted about how it is their annual vacation destination. I decided to take a solo trip there in July and I ended up loving this charming island so much. I booked a trip for me and Mr. Tipsy in and another coming up in November. It is definitely one of my newest favorite spots in Florida. I decided to write an “Everything You Need To Know About Anna Maria Island” post. There are links to help those of you who possibly want to take a trip.
When I posted my stories on social media i got a lot of questions of where I stayed and where I ate. This post rounded up all of the spots I visited and some of the local services I used that were dependable and awesome. Linked in this post are all the restaurants we loved.
Where I Stayed
I have been down to AMI twice in the last few months. This last trip we rented a home through Island Real Estate that is on the island. I do not have permission to post the exact house on my post without the owners permission. I am not comfortable giving out the address and location. But if you visit Island Real Estate’s Website, you will easily find it. You can also let them know you saw it on my site and they can direct you to the proper house. That being said, Island Real Estate has SO many homes for rent and I have not seen one that wasn’t close to the beach, clean and cute. Make sure to check out their site and pick a home that will work for you. Their customer service and response was five star.
Many homes, including ours, are not on the beach. But most of the homes are a short walk to the beach. There is public beach access at the end of almost every block. Our house came with beach chairs. We bought an umbrella and we rented a wagon that our local Concierge was able to get ordered for us. More about her later. She was a godsend.
Bali Hai Beach Resort
There are not a ton of hotels on the beach here either. There is a beautiful resort I stayed in the first time I came down called the Bali Hai Beach Resort. This resort was right on the beach and had a pool. I stayed in their newly remodeled resort view rooms. I believe they are called beach side room. The beach front rooms are not remodeled but are clean and large. I rented a deluxe king with a one bedroom. It was so lovely and the whole resort was clean and safe and great customer service. Be aware that when you rent from some other resorts, they have off site rooms, so use caution that you are not renting from the picture they show and then your room is blocks away.
When we come down in November we are staying at the Anna Maria Beach Resort. This resort all the rooms are included IN the one location.
Rentals and Services We Used
Both times I visited AMI I rented this electric Gem car from a local company called AMI Rentals. A lot of people use electric carts and golf carts on the island to get around because parking is tough. It is also just fun to use them. The locals are not too fond of the golf carts because they are loud and slow. This is why I used the Gem car. I rented from Josh at AMI Rentals and he was a gem to work with. He delivers the cart and provides the stuff you need to charge it with. He introduced me to his wife who owns Concierge AMI, her name is Allison. Allison was able to arrange everything else we needed on our trip.
We used her to get a car service to and from the airport. We used Coastline Shuttle Services upon her recommendation and it was another great company. Allison also arranged a beach wagon rental for us and a pop up beach set up one day through a local company. She does this at no charge. Contact Allison for any questions you have. She is also a big foodie and was able to confirm or deny the places I wanted to eat. She even told me how to order so I was treated like a local. It is like having a best friend on the island. You can also follow her on Instagram at Concierge AMI
The Food
We really did not have a bad meal on the island both times I was here. I will not bore you with lots of details on every meal we ate. Know that if it is linked, it is GREAT!
Breakfast & Coffee
Lunch, Dinner & Hole In The Wall
- Poppos Tacos
- Hurricane Hanks
- Tide Tables
- Scotts Deli (they will deliver to the beach)
Nicer Sit Down Dinner $$$
Many More Things To Explore
These are just a few of the great places on AMI. I hope to explore many more when I return next time. Again, you can ask Allison from Concierge AMI for more recommendations.
Charming Paradise
Everything about AMI is wonderful, but it does come at a price. It is not cheap here. In the high season it very crowded and much more expensive. I visited in July and October when it is cheaper and less crowded so of course I had a different experience than you may have in the high season. I was very happy with the quality and service we received everywhere. I also want to point out that this island is asleep by 9 pm. Also, we flew in once to Sarasota airport which was about 20 minutes away and also Tampa Airport which is about an hour away. So if you are a nightlife looking person, this is not for you. I hope you visit here and enjoy it as much as I do!