Sunrise Garden Resort

The Sunrise Garden Resort is a peaceful hideaway near the beach. Small apartment-style rooms surround the property. The lagoon shaped pool is in the center of the resort and surrounded by lush, thick greenery. The hotel decor is basic and beachy with pale walls, stained wood trimmings, antique anchors, and wood signs with kitschy beach sayings. The resort has a laid-back attitude, which is charming but can also come across as a little shabby in such details as the ill-fitting cover draped over the couch in the business center. The atmosphere is relaxing and quiet -- great for couples and families. There does tend to be a generally older crowd, probably due to the fact that guests have to be at least 25 years-old to check in.

The resort is situated on a residential street on Anna Maria Island, just a two-minute walk to the nearest beach. It's in a great location, within walking distance to restaurants, bars, and shops. Guests don't even need a car, and can take advantage of the free trolley service that goes around the island, with the nearest stop a two-minute walk from the resort. Anna Maria is a very small island, but there are many fun things to do, all very close by: The Anna Maria Pier is just a three-minute walk from the resort, and Anna Maria Island Museum and Historical Park is five minutes away on foot. Also nearby is the Island Player Theater (a 10-minute walk), the Bean Point (a four-minute drive), and Island Gallery West (a seven-minute drive). Self-parking at the resort is free.

The 15 apartment-style rooms are charming, comfortable, and feel more like someone's home than a hotel. They each consist of a studio or have one or two separate bedrooms, which are small, containing just a bed and two nightstands. The conjoining room is a large living area with couches, a coffee table, TV, a dining table, and a fully functional kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, and stove. The bathroom is small, with light-brown tiled floors and walls, a tub and/or shower with beige curtains and a new-looking toilet and sink. The space is clean and well kept, but the color of the tiles makes it look dingy. Also, the toiletries provided are mostly samples of drugstore brands. Off the living room is a balcony or patio with outdoor furniture, depending on whether the apartment is on the first or second floor. The patios are surrounded by a fence and trees, but nearby apartments and driveways are within view. The Crow's Nest Studio has an A-frame ceiling, making it a tight squeeze for taller guests.

The small but relaxing lagoon-shaped heated pool is a definite highlight of the resort. It is surrounded by comfortable lounge chairs, tiki umbrellas, and lavish trees and flowered bushes, creating a private enclave. To the side of the pool is a grilling station with three grills and a tiki pavilion with a picnic table and benches for guests who want to have a barbecue. While there is Wi-Fi, the signal is weak. Guests who need a computer can head to the small business center, which has a PC, printer, and couch. There isn't a restaurant or breakfast served here, though a coffeemaker and fresh fruit are displayed in the lobby. Pets are allowed for a fee. Free laundry services are a major perk, especially for long term stays.