welcome to the Garden Terrace studio bungalow

Nice little Bungalow. March 2024

This is a nice place for a single traveler! It's in a safe and comfortable location within walking distance to the beach. Rich and Ali are the perfect hosts.

Fantastic location. February 2024

Fantastic location and great (very responsive) hosts! We will be back at some point for sure- thanks!

The bungalow’s location on quiet and friendly Palm Island was perfect. January 2024
I was lucky enough to stay in Garden Terrace in April 2023 and cannot express enough how great my experience was. The bungalow was charming, private, and central to everything. Safety was a top priority for me, so the bungalow’s location on quiet and friendly Palm Island was perfect. It is an ideal place for working remotely and relaxation.

The bungalow itself has a beautiful terrace and backyard area, cozy living space, and a small but well-equipped kitchen. Most importantly, it was clean! Everything I needed.

The owners, Rich and Ali Light were helpful from the very moment I was interested in renting their bungalow till the moment I left. They are just around the corner if you need anything and were always more than happy to help.

My experience staying at Garden Terrace was nothing short of perfect and I highly recommend this rental (or any of Siesta Bungalows rentals!) to anyone looking for their perfect vacation. I’m already dreaming of my next visit!

Everything you need. March 2023

Lovely compact studio with everything you need for a comfortable stay. TV, internet, 2 fridges, washer, and dryer. Nice garden and patio area.

The outside space was magical. May to November 2022

This is a wonderful place to stay for the summer, I was so sad when it came time to leave. Every little detail has been thought of and the outside space was magical and great for my dog. Big bonus is the outdoor shower that I used most of the time. Also, so great you can ride the bikes to the beach or to the village. I met so many wonderful people during my time there. I would highly recommend this place to anyone.

Pleasant. April 2022

I am always concerned about seeing bugs in Fla but not to worry........No palmettos!!!! The bungalow has a double bed that I realized after I made the reservation but it worked out fine for my husband and I. However, not necessarily good for everyone. You can walk to the beach but it's a little too far to walk to the village so we rode bikes instead. (Note from Ali: the village is 0.8 miles away and bikes are included with your stay)

Siesta Dream, Apr 08, 2022.  

My husband and I stayed at the garden Terrace studio. We loved our ultra clean, cozy & romantic little bungalow. It was perfect for us and our little 6 pound Chihuahua! Rich was so accessible, personable and happy to do anything in His power to make your vacation special. He really cares about his renters! We had so much fun with close proximity to the beach and the Village. Ali is also accessible and will help in anyway. We can’t wait to return!!!

This is a sweet bungalow about 3 blocks from the beach! It had everything I needed and Rich and Ali were gracious hosts!

From an island to an island
We had a lovely 3 week holiday in Ali and Rich's island retreat in Siesta Key in March. A beautiful peaceful neighborhood that was lovely to walk back to late in the evening. The bungalow was very comfortable and private. Leave the blinds and windows open to enjoy the light and the bird song in the early morning through the full-width windows. We also enjoyed the sun from 2 pm on the patio and so peaceful a space to experience! For us, in our seventies, a 20-minute walk to the village (for younger others possibly 10) but we discovered the free trolley 'Siesta Breeze' on Beach Road, just walk here, about 5 minutes, through 'Calle Invierno' and then a stress-free evening out either north to the village or south past Stickney Point Bridge to Siesta Keys best fine dining restaurant 'Miguels'. The 'Lobster Pot' in the village is also the very best for fresh seafood. The bungalow, though small, is very well designed and equipped, from the timed extract in the bathroom to bug screens on all windows, ceiling fan and air conditioning and an external utility with a second, how very useful, fridge and freezer. Though a number of items need updating the bungalow and the location is perfect for a couple. who enjoy evenings in and evenings out. The neighborhood is very safe and the private and easy parking is a bonus. We would highly recommend the Garden Terrace for a stay in Siesta Key. John and Patricia From the island of Ireland

Excellent location
I stayed in the small, but perfect size for me, cottage behind one of the other rentals. Rich met me to check-in and go over the details of the property. A very nice family of three, easy to reach by any method, they live around the corner. I've been visiting Siesta Key for over 25 years and have lived in Sarasota a few times. Yes I would stay here again Pros -location, proximity to beach and village -outside shower -easy maintenance -privacy -laundry -spare bikes -location, the beach is literally a short walk or speedy bike ride of a minute or two -location -location, if that wasn't already clear -and I'll repeat outside shower again -full wall of sliders, almost like you're outside -private courtyard -you're on palm island which is quiet and residential Facts -kitchen is small, but does have 2 burners, and additional refrigerator/freezer space in laundry room -this is a one room cottage, if you're traveling with another person you should be close (there is a divider/privacy screen, I did not use) -somewhat limited storage space if you tend to have a lot of baggage/stuff, I did not have an issue, there are also two under bed storage containers for use, plus another in the laundry room -if you like to cook and are used to a full kitchen, this has limited cooking area, but this is not a surprise, they've set it up well for the space available, there are also grills outside to use -if you have a dog the back yard is not fenced, was not a challenge for me, also easy to corral in the courtyard area -the guy doing the yard work comes through weekly including blowing off the courtyard, it's a loud surprise if you weren't anticipating, hopefully, you're out enjoying the day anyway, for me I was working and on conference calls so had to scramble to close the sliders because of the noise.

Garden Terrace Studio Cottage - Walk To Best Beach
My husband and I spent a glorious nine days in the Garden Terrace. As promised, Rich greeted us upon arrival and showed us around. He is as attentive as you want him to be. If you need something or have a question he is right on top of it. If you want to be left alone he will respect your privacy. The studio was clean and well equipped. It actually came with more amenities than we were expecting. There were bikes, beach chairs, a gas grill. Rich happily lent us his canoe for a delightful paddle in the canals. Garden Terrace is very private and quiet. I used the outside shower every day and it was refreshing. The ten-minute walk to the beach was mellow, as was the beach. No crowds at this end. We walked to town almost every night for dinner, sometimes to the beach for the sunset... ah... Rich quickly returned our security deposit. We will be back!

Peace in Siesta Key
Pure happenstance brought me to the Garden Terrace studio of Ali & Rich Light. What a respite it is!! The bungalow itself was cozy inside. Sitting outside on the private patio was serene, spacious and decadent, as I am a city girl existing in limited space. The cottage is close to everything: the beach, Siesta Key Village, downtown Sarasota. Ali & Rich were only a text away, with timely responses to my myriad queries. Yes, I’m coming back again next year. Who wouldn’t with a Garden Terrace like this and a welcome bar none from my hosts Ali & Rich Light? See you there. Aug 11, 2018

Great location close to everything yet quiet
The Garden Terrace cottage is a little slice of Heaven on Siesta Key's perfect paradise: Palm Island. It has an awesome location just a very short walk to the beach and the village but is still quiet and peaceful. You can smell the sea air and hear the waves on most days. And the view of the stars is wide and lovely. It is very well equipped and all the space I needed. The large patio just makes the place. Sit outside among the birds and lush plants, and if it's too warm on a summer afternoon, you can still enjoy it through the wall of sliding glass doors. Great neighbors too. I miss it already!

We would stay again!
My daughter and I have never been to the area. The owners were very helpful by providing some excellent key 'must dos' for the short amount of time we were visiting. The bungalow was close to the village and the beach. The unit came furnished with bikes and beach chairs. We had a delightful time and would definitely visit again. When we showed up with a Publix run, Rich helpfully offered a backup fridge to supplement the small fridge in the unit. We had a fabulous time thanks to the owners, the close proximity to everything and the comfort of the bungalow. We would go back!