Our family has been vacationing at Holiday Villas III since 2000, and we've stayed in a number of different units -- #509 (so-so), 608 (lovely) and 609 (decent) -- eventually settling on one that we now rent directly from its owner each spring.

The location of the complex is fabulous -- shopping, dining and sightseeing are nearby or not too far away, and its on-the-beach spot is ideal. We always stay on the Intracostal Waterway side of the building because we find it much more peaceful than the side that overlooks the pool and beach. The sound of passing traffic is, for us, much less obtrusive than the noise from loud guests at the pool, on the deck or on the beach. Plus, it’s a very relaxing view – boats passing by, dolphins swimming in the water, sea birds on the dock, etc., and the sunrises each morning rival the beauty of the west-side sunsets each night. The pool is fantastic, especially now that it gets a thorough daily cleaning (years ago, it was more like a once-weekly cleaning), and the walk to the water’s edge of the Gulf of Mexico takes 15 seconds at most. We’ve always found the condos themselves very spacious and well-appointed in terms of what we might need for our stay (dishes, appliances, TVs, etc.).

Over the years, we’ve come to learn a lot about the complex, what it offers, where it’s lacking and what guests can do to help ensure a great stay. Essentially: your experience is often what you make of it, and your fellow guests can sometimes make or break an otherwise lovely holiday.

First, if you’re like us and are sticklers for spotlessness, expect to clean. Some of the other TripAdvisor reviews of Holiday Villas III cite cleanliness issues, and that’s one point on which I can agree. Despite many units, especially those rented directly through the office, requiring a “cleaning fee,” the actual cleaning that takes place between guests is often cursory at best. Yes, bed linens are changed, countertops and tabletops are wiped, and dishes are washed and put away, but the floors (in our experience) are always dirty – if we take our shoes off at the front door and walk the length of the condo, the soles of our feet are grey by the time we reach the balcony door. Black if we walk around for a while. This happens every year, without exception.

There are often crumbs and debris under couches or beds and, this year, we actually found small bits of broken glass right in the middle of the (carpeted) bedroom floor – something that would have very easily been picked up by the most basic vacuuming, which was obviously not performed. Cutlery and cooking utensils in the cutlery drawer are plentiful but sometimes less than clean, and pots and pans are frequently left improperly cleaned (i.e., tiny bits of dried-on food residue). All of these things would be quickly and easily remedied with a simple but thorough cleaning – either by the cleaning staff or whichever previous guest(s) stayed in the unit.

So, that’s what *we* do, every year, the instant we arrive: we clean! We stop at a dollar store en route, pick up some scouring sponges and cleaning agents, and clean upon arrival – a full load in the dishwasher, a mopping of the floors, a scouring of the bathtub. We also re-wash all the bed linens and towels (frequently greyed) with bleach. Inevitably, they turn out wonderfully afterward. All this takes two hours, tops, and then we’re set for our stay. Plus, it only costs us about $20 (and gives us the peace of mind of a cleaning job well done), which is much less than the $75 cleaning fee. We no longer bother informing the office of minor insufficient-cleaning issues because, inevitably, they keep happening anyway.

Note: there ARE laundry facilities on every floor of the building, but (again) guests are sometimes irresponsible with their use. People sometimes dry their (unwashed) beach towels or bathing suits in the dryers, leaving dirt and residue inside. And, on our most recent visit, we opened a washing machine one morning to discover about 2" of sand collected inside. By the time we headed downstairs to notify the office (after putting our laundry in a machine on another floor), someone had started up the dirty machine and was, either knowingly or not, doing a load with all that sand.

For the price we pay, we don’t mind these flaws. We’ve come to expect less-than-perfection, and are willing to put in some extra effort on day one in order to enjoy a very affordable weekly rate (in the $500-600 range) for the unit we rent. Despite the promised benefits of renting directly through the HVIII offices (which we did for the first few years), we’ve found very little difference in the quality of our stays. A unit shouldn’t have to be REcleaned by the cleaning staff only after a guest complaint – it should be done properly the first time around! On the upside, the building does take its pest control seriously, with monthly inspections, so that's reassuring.

Also, expect rules... but don’t expect them to always be followed or enforced. There are a lot of rules at Holiday Villas III, posted on the elevators, in the lobby, by the pool and on the bulletin board, which we actually very much appreciate – we’re not interested in staying at a “party” condo but, rather, prefer a quieter location, so the more rules, the better!

Unfortunately, those rules are occasionally broken by less-considerate guests, and there isn’t always someone (at the office) around to enforce them. People frequently get on the elevator dripping wet, thereby making the tiled floor slick and a slipping hazard. Others ignore the posted pool rules and have drinks in the pool, or get into the water with feet covered in sand (despite the convenient rinse-off area where the pool deck meets the beach), or engage in loud roughhousing while swimming. In the 12 years we’ve been visiting HVIII, our biggest issues have always been with the carelessness or lack of consideration of our fellow renters, not the building itself.

Finally, expect to do some homework. As other reviewers have cited, not all units are created equal and not all condo owners maintain their units well. It might take time to find one you really like so, if you somehow wind up stuck with a dud, rest assured there are beautiful gems to be had, as well. Some are dated and worn, some are modern and chic. Some are more luxurious, some are more basic. The office staff is always pleasant, efficient and helpful with questions, and our decision to rent directly from the owner was borne of cost, not poor or sub-par service.

Check the TripAdvisor reviews and reviews on other websites that feature HVIII rentals, as many have a comments section where previous guests can describe their stays. We discovered the complex itself completely by chance, stayed at different units for the first several years and eventually found the one we felt fits our needs best.

It’s certainly not perfect and it has its quirks, but it’s very affordable, has become our annual spring destination and we very much look forward to returning every year.

We were lucky to be placed on a beach view room. The condo was clean and spacious! The kitchen was well supplied with plenty of dishes, appliances, pots and pans. For those needing a cool drink the blender really was a hit. Only complaint...the pillows and mattress need to be replaced to ensure a good nights sleep. The deck furniture on the deck needs to be replaced. Pool area was clean and the beach is great with canopy loungers. There are limited parking spaces with one space per unit. Great place to stay for R & R!

2012 was our 8th year to travel to this area, after many disapointments we decided to list down our requirements. After searching, we ended up to this unit. We were lookig for 5-6 weeks stay so we did not want to miss it.

Wow! We were not disappointed! Beautiful condo, super clean, directly on the beach.

When looking for 'feelling at home", this is it! Everything you might need and more.
We had a delightful 5 weeks. We will be back next year just like friends that we've made.

My husband and I stayed in Unit 110 at Holiday Villas III for a week in March 2012. Great communication, directions and instructions from the agent who rented us the unit. The people in the condo office were helpful, too. The unit was very clean and had everything we needed for the two of us, except wireless internet. Wired connection was available for an extra cost. There were only 3 chairs at the table and one bar stool at the counter. The unit faces the inter-coastal waterway and the road noise may bother some people. We got used to it after the first night. We loved watching the sunrises from the balcony. The king size bed was comfortable but it needed new sheets - the bottom fitted sheet would not stay on the mattress at night because the elastic corners were worn out. The pool was warm and relaxing. The beach was beautiful. The parking spot was across the street but we were able to cross the street with no problem. We recommend this as a place to stay. Look forward to returning again.