August 2011
If you like the sun, sandy salt water beaches, a backyard pool, at a safe, comfortable, dog-friendly place, then MonaKai in St. Pete Beach, Florida is your destination. Demetrius and Anne were my host and hostess for a visit away from my Massachusetts home. I was impressed with the location in a safe, quiet, residential area only a 5 minute walk to the beach. I also walked to nice breakfast and dinner restaurants around the corner on Gulf Blvd where there’s a quant beach bar (PCI) to enjoy if you like watching a sunset over The Gulf. An evening swim in the pool caps off a lovely evening. And, Kai, their Great Dane says a friendly hello when she isn’t sleeping inside under the A/C.
Tom Grandel, Plymouth, MA
February 2012
Great location. Enjoyed exploring Treasure Island and St. Pete as it was the first time for us to this area. St. Pete Beach vacationers --- you have a hidden treasure! Enjoyed the local art and brought some home. Overall, a very relaxing vacation.
Don & Linda Schuck, Brookville, IN
February 2012
First time we used the internet to find a vacation place. The apt. had all new appliances and was very clean, newly painted. I opened the bedroom door to a beautiful, spacious fenced-in, private back yard with an inground pool and palm trees. The location was excellent and felt safe in the residential area that was only a quick walk to the beach and restaurants. Being new to this area, I was nicely surprised how very convenient this location was. I walked to the visitor info center and was able to take the bus to Clearwater and St. Petersburg Pier - very easy for when we didn't feel like driving. We had full use of fold-up chairs for the beach. Grill was in the backyard to use as well. A very relaxing and great time. - Diane, Mike and Nikita (woof, woof!), Malden, MA
April/May 2012
We had a great time. I spent one week alone and felt very safe. The second week, we all enjoyed ourselves. It was all we needed and more. Anne is so nice and checked to see that we had all we needed. The pool was great at night. It was easy to get to everything. We are in love with their dog, Kai! We can't wait to come back and see Kai and Anne again. We loved the place! - Debbie Rocca, Kenne, NH
May/June 2012
This was a wonderful vacation! My new home away from home! We never had a vacation that felt so comfortable. Mollie, our dog, was welcomed too. Loved how walkable the area was. After coming to St. Pete for 30 years there are still new places to check out. Can't wait to come again!! - Karen & Dick Taylor and Mollie, Delaware and DC
June/July 2012
We chose Mona Kai because we have two black labs that love to travel. It was the perfect fit! It was a short drive to the dog beach and after a day at the beach the boys loved to come back and play in the backyard and pool. Sometimes Kai would even come outside and watch from atop her lounge chair! Anne was very friendly and made us feel at home. We really enjoyed our visit and would love to return! - Mark & Christie and Stubby and Maxx, North Carolina
July 2012
Mona Kai was the perfect place for us during our transition to Florida. We moved from California and needed a comfortable dog-friendly place to stay while we found a permanent home. Anne was more than accommodating and made us feel right at home. Chili, our black lab, was more than welcomed and enjoyed the pool and the air conditioned space. Thank you, Anne, for providing such a wonderful place to call home for a short while! - Scott, Julie and Chili, California (now St. Pete!)
July/Aug 2012
This was a great place to stay for us and our dog! The pool is great and the backyard is relaxing and an awesome place to chill out. We were able to walk almost everywhere we went because of the great location of our place. Anne and Demetrius made us feel at home and were great hosts. They were great to our little "anxious" dog, Henry. This was an awesome vacation and we look forward to returning! - Sherrie, Randall and Henry,
North Carolina
January 2013
We are "doggie parents" that love to travel quite often throughout our beautiful country as a family. Leaving the "girls" (our Shih Tzu and Papillon Mix) behind is just not an option. We would recommend this listing to anyone who has doggie children. The Mona Kai is very comfortable and well equipped. The duplex has a very inviting fenced-in backyard (no worries about unfriendly critters sneaking up on the girls) with a lovely pool. The king size bed in the master is worth mentioning for it's comfort and quality. We had a wonderful MLK long-weekend stay. Anne is very accommodating and quick to respond. If you're looking to visit St. Pete Beach with your dog (no matter what size), this cozy duplex is the place to stay. There are no excessive fees just one all-inclusive rate. Close to shopping & several restaurants & not far from John's Pass. We definitely recommend this place to fellow doggie parents but save some room for us because we're ready to go back to celebrate Fourth of July on the beach! - ER
February 2013
Hello Anne, A quick thank you to say how much we enjoyed our stay-- February 2013. Roger and I have been returning to this section of St. Pete Beach/Corey for over 10 years. In February, its where we want to be. As you know, this section of the beach is not as crowded; Corey is an an easy walk with many good restaurants/shops; and Pasadena is just over the bridge. One car is all we need. Unlike past vacations, this time we were traveling with our pet. Unfortunately, we did not know how much of a challenge this would be. We were not prepared to learn that 90% of the rentals at St. Pete Beach are not pet friendly. You are an exception! One we were very pleased to find. The apartment is nicely appointed (love the colors!) and the backyard a sanctuary. We are all about being out and about during our time at St. Pete, and appreciated the ease in which the apartment could be kept clean-- a bonus when one of us has issues with allergies. Thank you so much for considering the needs of people want to travel, but for various reasons, need to do so with their pets. I hope you do well, and inspire others to follow. I've attached a few pictures of our Riley, a recently rescued Boykin Spaniel (neglected and abused) from a kill shelter in Memphis, TN. His former life was the reason we could not leave leave him. Being able to bring him with us, meant we didn't have to make a difficult decision--we had him and the beach. Though he is pictured lounging on the chair-- it was for a picture only. (My knees don't bend some days. Shooting the picture down didn't work.) Hope life is treating you kindly. - Diane, Roger and Riley
Dec 2012-Jan 2013
"Mona Kai was a great place for us and our 3 schnauzers. We had a wonderful time visiting my son and his fiancé and her family. Anne gave us many great ideas for dog parks and restaurants. Some of our favorite were: Sea Critters in Pass-a-Grille (the best grouper sandwich); The Toasted Monkey in St. Pete Beach (great haddock and fun 'on the beach' location; Willy's Burgers and Booze in St. Pete Beach (fabulous burgers and fried bologna sandwiches); and Sea Hags in St. Pete Beach (best pizza and chicken salad). We just had a the best, relaxed time. We really thank Anne for all the great information that helped make our stay so wonderful, hopefully we get many more opportunities for return visits here in St. Pete Beach!" - Sue, Adam, Casper, Zosia and Kewe :-)
Feb 2013
"Hello Anne, A quick thank you to say how much we enjoyed our stay-- February 2013. Roger and I have been returning to this section of St. Pete Beach/Corey for over 10 years. In February, its where we want to be. As you know, this section of the beach is not as crowded; Corey is an an easy walk with many good restaurants/shops; and Pasadena is just over the bridge. One car is all we need. Unlike past vacations, this time we were traveling with our pet. Unfortunately, we did not know how much of a challenge this would be. We were not prepared to learn that 90% of the rentals at St. Pete Beach are not pet friendly. You are an exception! One we were very pleased to find. The apartment is nicely appointed (love the colors!) and the backyard a sanctuary. We are all about being out and about during our time at St. Pete, and appreciated the ease in which the apartment could be kept clean-- a bonus when one of us has issues with allergies. Thank you so much for considering the needs of people want to travel, but for various reasons, need to do so with their pets. I hope you do well, and inspire others to follow. I've attached a few pictures of our Riley, a recently rescued Boykin Spaniel (neglected and abused) from a kill shelter in Memphis, TN. His former life was the reason we could not leave leave him. Being able to bring him with us, meant we didn't have to make a difficult decision--we had him and the beach."
Jan - Mar 2013
First time staying in FL for 2.5 months with my husband and our Golden Retriever, Rolex. We truly enjoyed ourselves. I like being able to walk to stores, beaches and restaurants. We found our place to be sufficient for our needs. Although we didn’t get to use the pool (water was TOO cold) we still enjoyed sitting out there and listening to the birds and do some grilling. We would definitely come back! Thank you Anne. – Jim, Debbie and Rolex
"Just a short note letting you know we had a great time at your place. Thanks very much and we will certainly consider a return visit!" ~Kris, Canada, May 2013
"We had the best time of our young Canine lives staying the better part of a month in this wonderful vacation spot complete with everything u could possibly need to feel right at home while enjoying the sun, sand, and of course the spectacular Gulf of Mexico. First off our favorite amenity of many was the great pool and backyard. We had our best and most relaxing times here with our Dad swimming, splashing & frolicking in the sun and Crystal clear water. Was a great Grill for our Dad to cook on and man those little lizards were fun to chase." ~Tugger & Jax Testar, April/May 2013
Dog Parks galore (google st pete dog parks) favorite one besides the beach was downtown St Pete next to the pier but all were nice. There are also a bunch of small renegade dog beach areas (not official) one to name is Lassing Park where the water is shallow and doggies can go out far safely. Ask the locals u will discover all kinds of local gems.
The kitchen also was great for not eating out everyday, Now our Dad told us about a few great spots to eat. Lunas Cafe the food was excellent and right next door Ricks also had real good food and live entertainment all within walking distance. Be sure to hit Fort Desoto Park where doggies like us our allowed ro run free on the beach and swim in the gulf. Also within walking distance is ST Pete Beach where our Dad & Mom enjoyed some great times after we were tired out. We are coming back next year loved it so much booked already and we are counting the days!!!!! Great place Anne, Demetrius & of course, Kai. Keep up the great work !!!!!!!!
June 2013:
"Perfect in every way! This was the perfect place to relax and enjoy life. We look forward to our next stay here! Many thanks! J & D (PS...go to Scoops!)
June 2013: "Anne, thank you so much for letting us check in early and check out late! We enjoyed our stay and hope to come back soon!" -A.M., Tampa, FL
July 2013: “Thank you so much for having us and our doggie crew to Mona Kai. The pups loved the backyard and the dog beach. We enjoyed dinner at Middle Grounds and drinks at PCI beach bar, so thank you for the recommendations. We hope to come back for another stay in the future.” Heather, Troy, Molly, Jack and Kaela
August 24th – Sept. 1st
We had a wonderful time here. Not only is Mona Kai pet friendly but its owners are friendly too. Its also ideally situated to go to the beach and discover st pete as well. More over being able to enjoy the pool is a priviledge. We will strongly recommend mona kai to our friends and hope to be back one day. Thanks! We envy you to live in such a wonderful place. WE will tell our friends in Quebec and Europe. - P & J Picard and Chupeta
Nov 30 – Dec 6
We enjoyed our stay here we loved the yard and landscape. Having a fenced in backyard was great for our dog. We felt right at home. We took our dog to PCI bar and grill, twistee treat and babalus restaurant. Fort Desoto dog beach and park. We walked him all over the area every day. We would definaitely come back and stay if we come back to this area again. Frog pond had a good breakfast. Delights was yummy too. Thank you! James, Stacy and Bettis (woof)
Dec 2013-Jan 2014
We enjoyed our stay. Our two puppies were happy to have a yard to play & run. Anne and D were great hosts and always helpful. The weather wasn't always the best but we had fun. Sea Hags has the best seafood and the soup was fantastic. We love this area and it was great being able to walk to the beach and downtown activities. -Tom, Connie, Jake & Zeke
3/1-3/31 2014
We had a great time at Mona Kai. Love the area and the beautiful back yard. The weather was great. The last week here we had some rain but the temps were much warmer than NJ! Thanks to Anne and D for a great place to stay. Love to Kai from our Duffy. He will miss the daily walks downtown to Corey Ave. Fondly, J & B Hillman and Duffy
4/11/14
A little late, but here's a comment from 4/11/14: "What a beautiful week and an amazing vacation. Thanks to Anne for being so helpful and available for all questions. Our dogs loved the yard and the walking friendly neighborhood. We love the unit and would only like to see another TV in the bedroom. Sea Critters is our favorite restaurant and went to Kenny's for breakfast in Redington. We loved our time here and you'll be hearing from us again! Happy Spring! Jeff & Renae and Dixie and Barkley."
5/16-5/18/14
Ben & Cindy Beckner
"Perfect place for us and the pups. We want to come back when we can relax and enjoy it. We were here for a wedding (and the wedding hotel is not pet friendly) with the bride and grooms two dogs. Great place to chill between all the wedding activities - some of the wedding party came over on Saturday instead of hitting the beach. Had lunch Saturday at the Hurricane in Pass-a-Grille - was awesome! Breakfast Sunday at Beverly's was wonderful. We'll definitely be back when we can relax and enjoy it more!"
“Thank you Mona Kai for a great week. It was quite enjoyable to stay at a place where our dog, Artemas, felt comfortable and welcomed. Thanks for all the tips on the dog friendly parks and beaches. The weather was great and after our morning walks it was great to come “home” and take a dip in the pool. Wishing great times ahead for all of those who stay here after us.” ~Best Wishes & Thanks, Maria, Dan and Artemas, May 2014
“Our stay at Mona Kai was exactly what we were looking for! Such peace and relaxation, yet close to everything – for walking, biking and driving. Our pups felt immediately like home away from home. And that sweet pea Dane, Kai, was quite the ambassador of our retreat! Thank you Anne, D and Kai for making our family feel welcome and we look forward to a return trip to stay in our little abode!” ~Carrie, Doug, P-Nut, Karma & Toby, Dec 2014
“We had a wonderful weekend getaway at Mona Kai. My normally shy boxer Marley greeted Anne & Kai like she had known them her whole life & she took over guard duty of the backyard like she planned to stay permanently. Everything you need is in walking distance. We had a seafood dinner at Sea Critters Cafe, it was beyond excellent, on Friday night, a Saturday morning at the beach, an 8 minute walk away, and Saturday night dinner at Sandra's German Restarantula again excellent. (You need reservations here). The pool and backyard are amazing and the room feels like you went on vacation to your own home it's so comfortable & cozy!! My husband & I loved and can't wait to go back!” ~Oct 2015
“My husband and I came down with our Great Dane and English Setter a few days after Christmas for a couple of weeks and were just blown away by the beauty, warmth, and cozy charm of this wonderful place. We loved the private back yard (shared with the owners) with the pool - I was able to swim laps on most days. Our dogs hung out with us in the comfy beach lounges/chairs and played with the owners' Great Dane, Kai. We cooked a few dinners outside on their big gas grill, and sat out, enjoying the sunlight and moonlight. I found the place very peaceful and quite; we slept like stones every night. It was a treat to be able to simply open our bedroom door to let the dogs out to do their business. Anne provided a book with lots of helpful info: best restaurants, attractions, excursions, grocery shopping, etc. This area of St. Pete is extremely walkable so I was able to exercise our dogs frequently. There are also several dog-friendly, outdoor dining patios where we could dine and our "boys" could join us. Area felt very safe, lots to do on Corey Avenue, great shopping and sightseeing. Anne and D were very accommodating and kind, answering questions and providing good information. The house/yard/pool area were SO very clean and well tended. The pictures do not do this property justice -- everything exceeded our expectations! Our favorite beach was the public beach on Pass-a-Grille, a short drive from the VRBO. Sugar sand beaches - with the weather so unseasonably warm for January, we were able to swim comfortably in the ocean (but bear in mind we're hardy Michiganders and used to cooler water). Fort DeSoto, also a short drive away if fun for a day excursion (there are dog-friendly areas there). I can't wait to go back again!” ~The Rollerts, Dec 2015
"Enjoyed our stay at Mona Kai and so did Daisy. Thank to you both, Anne and Demetrius, for your hospitality!" ~D & T Schutte and Daisy, July 2016
“We had such a great time on our week long stay. We will make sure we come back as soon as we are able! Thank you Anne (and Madison) for making us feel very comfortable. Our dog Gabby just loved swimming in the pool and hanging outside with Kai. She is such sweetheart. (Liz too).” ~Thanks again for everything! Kelly Neale, Sept 2016
"Another great stay for us and Reesie. Perfect location, everything you need is already here for you and Anne is always amazing and helpful. We really don't plan on vacationing anywhere else! It's the perfect combination of feeling like you are on a tropical get-away, but also being as comfortable as your own home. LOVE MONA KAI YOU ROCK!” ~Thank you, Sharon, Donovan and Reesie, Sept 2016
“Thank you....we had an amazing time. We will definitely come back for our next staycation!” ~Julia and Steve Irwin, Nov 2016
“Cannot express what a GREAT place this was to stay with our 2 dogs! We enjoyed it so much. I hope we can get back here again. Many thanks to Anne, Demetrius and Kai for being such great hosts and sharing your beautiful backyard area with not only us & our dogs, but also with my family one night who were also in St. Pete @ Ft. DeSoto.” Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Sincerely, Diana, Andy, Koko and Blue, Charlotte, NC, Dec 2016
“Thank you so much for providing such a lovely, clean, safe place for us and our brand new family member, Scout. This is her first vacation and you have spoiled her! She will now think that every place should be this nice with a lovely pool and fenced in yard for her J We will forever remember this as a fabulous vacation & will return many more times. If we don’t its only because we have taken off in the RV and don’t need such a lovely place to stay. We will certainly send friends & family, however. We are sorry we didn’t get to meet your special fur-baby, Kai. We know she & scout would have been the best of friends.” Sincerely, Sandy, Larry & Scout, Jan 2017
“We loved every minute of our trip to St. Petersburg, Florida and the biggest reason why was the incredible vacation rental we had this summer. We got there and it was just beautiful. The living room and kitchen and bedroom and bathroom were all decorated in a beach theme and very cozy, clean and the accommodations were perfect. Anything you needed they had for you to use. From the kitchen to the bathroom they thought of it all. Comfortable and cool with the air conditioning and then the best part, you walk out the back door to the most beautiful pool and landscaped private fenced in backyard. The perfect oasis for relaxation. To be honest we arrived Saturday night and did NOT leave or see any sites, even the Gulf (which was like a 5 min walk) until the next Friday!!! We grilled all our food outback and just enjoyed the pool and backyard day and night. We could even swim at 4 am. It was that warm and private and the night lights to illuminate the pool were gorgeous. The owner treated us and our 2 very large and energetic pitbulls, yes I said pitbulls they too are allowed to stay at this beautiful place, no discrimination to any breed, they were treated like family. Thank you Anne for loving our babies while you visited with us and them too. They LOVED YOU!!! I cannot say enough how wonderful our stay was. Perfect location to everything: restaurants and the beach and stores. We were able to eat at Agave, Ricks Reef and Larry’s ice cream all within a 5 min walk. They were all fabulous too, by the way. We were able to rent a DVD at the 7-11 right down the street and there is a Dunkin' Donuts and a Winn Dixie and Walgreens and Laundromat right around the corner. Everything was easy to find and so convenient. They give you recommendations and they are spot on perfect. Our dogs were comfortable the entire time and none of us wanted to leave!!!! Thank you Anne for being an amazing host and your hospitality was wonderful. I truly cannot say enough about how wonderful our two week stay was with you. We wish we could live there permanently!!!! If anyone is looking for a tranquil getaway with or without dogs and especially big dogs please look into this beautiful vacation rental. It is extremely affordable and worth every penny. I would highly recommend it over ANY hotel or vacation rental we have ever stayed at. As beautiful as St. Petersburg is to visit, as I said this little slice of heaven had us at day one and we never wanted to leave it.” ~Connie, Jay, Moochie and Luna, May 2017
Absolutely the most perfect vacation rental. Beautiful and tranquil. Clean and beautiful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I cannot even imagine not taking our vacation and staying at Mona Kai. It is our favorite place we have ever stayed. You feel just like home, completely furnished with everything you could possibly want and everything just like brand new if not brand new. We have 3 large pit bulls, yes, I said pitbulls and they are allowed here and treated like family by the owners. My dogs actually know Anne as their “Aunt Anne” I think they might just stay there with her and NOT come home. The pool is beautiful and warm and the back yard is a tranquil oasis of paradise. The landscaping and privacy fence where the dogs can run free and swim all day and night. The inside is just as beautiful with everything you would ever need. I truly cannot say enough of how much we love this vacation home. Plenty of room for all of us, even the king size bed accommodate all of us, my husband and our 3 dogs. We got engaged in the backyard last year there and this year we came back and got married on the beach and had our wedding g reception at Mona Kai. It was wonderful every minute of our stay and we wouldn’t be happier anywhere else. Anne, thank you so much for being such a big part of our special day. You did so much for us both that day and after as well. You are not just our summer vacation rental owner and manager you are truly our friend and we love you to death. You are so sweet, kind and helpful in every way. Restaurant recommendations and directions to everything you are extremely helpful and knowledgeable about everything in the area. Thank you again for an absolutely perfect stay once again. We are already planning our next stay at Mona Kai and excited as ever and counting down the days until we return!!!! ~Connie, Jay, Moochie, Luna and Betty October 2018
Big & Small Dog-Friendly, Near Beach, Restaurants - 5 stars! Feb and March 2019
Once again we could not have had a better stay. The weather was great! The pool was great.! Anne is so accommodating. Our daughter came down from Buffalo and enjoyed her time. The convenience to everything is wonderful. We never have to move the car. Thanks again, Anne. Sorry we missed D. Have a great year and see you next February. Best wishes, Sue, Dom, and Skipper.
July/Aug 2020
Thank you guys for such an amazing stay under short notice. Felt so at home and was wonderful to have my dog, Koda, with me! You guys are awesome and truly enjoyed your home! - Sofia and Koda
Aug 2020
Such an absolutely incredible space! The owners have so much pride in their units, and it shows. It’s modern yet still beachy decor allows for a relaxing time without the tacky sea shells and fish everywhere. The bed was huge and super comfortable, and there were more than enough extra linens provided in the walk in closet. I want to brag on the owner’s thoughtfulness when filling the space. Literally every thing you might need in the kitchen is there. I couldn’t believe that someone would put that much thought into making sure their guests were taken care of. Private pool, 10 min walk to the beach and shopping, and a gorgeous apartment that allows dogs - what more could you possibly want?! 10 out of 10 will be staying here again! - Caleb, Cam & Weston