So I’d been dreaming about a Florida getaway forever—sun, sand, tennis courts, zero stress. Saw Bonita Springs Beach and Tennis Club pop up online and thought, “Hell yeah, that’s the spot.” Started hunting for rentals like my sanity depended on it.
The Scrolling Marathon
Jumped straight into search engines, typed “Bonita Springs rentals beach tennis club.” Boom, endless options. Clicked through pics of condos with balconies facing the Gulf, fake-smiling couples sipping drinks. Scrolled till my thumb cramped. Filtered for “pet-friendly” ’cause my bulldog Brutus ain’t staying home, and boom—half the listings vanished. Typical.
Budget Wars
Checked my bank account. Winced. Set a max price filter, but everything decent disappeared. Upped it a tiny bit, sweating bullets. Found this one condo—2 beds, tennis court view, kitchenette. Read the fine print: extra $200 “resort fee” and a “non-refundable cleaning charge.” Almost threw my laptop. Kept digging.
The Great Email Ping-Pong
Finally messaged three owners. One ghosted me. Another replied with, “Sorry, booked 3 months ago.” Third guy sent back pics that looked brighter than the actual listing. Asked about court access—he said, “Tennis? Oh yeah, courts are there… but club membership’s extra.” Nearly screamed. Clarified everything via 15 back-to-back emails, feeling like an FBI negotiator.
Credit Card Click of Doom
Picked a place with a blue door, 5 min walk to the beach. Held my breath, punched in card digits. Got that “Booking Confirmed” email. Felt equal parts thrilled and terrified. What if the place smells like wet dog? What if the tennis courts are rubble? Too late now.
Reality Check (The Good Kind)
Rolled up to Bonita Springs last Tuesday. Place actually matched the photos—shocker. Balcony faced the pool, not the Gulf, but whatever. Walked to the beach: soft sand, warm waves, zero regrets. Tennis courts? Clean, empty, free before 10 AM. Played sunrise matches every morning, drank cheap beer on the balcony at dusk. Brutus dug holes in the sand like it was his job.
Final Takeaway?
Was it perfect? Nah. The wifi died twice, and the showerhead sprayed sideways. But waking up to salt air and serving aces with coffee in my system? Worth every spreadsheet-scouring, email-stalking, budget-crunching minute. If you go:
- Stalk the fees: Resort charges sneak up like ninjas.
- Grill owners on court access: Don’t assume anything’s included.
- Book WAY early: Good spots vanish faster than free buffet shrimp.
Gonna do it again next winter. Maybe try for ocean view. Or just settle for that sideways shower again—kinda grew on me.