Cool, calming and spacious, the living area of Island Retreat captures the very essence of the name perfectly. The large lounge area, perfectly complemented with sumptuous sofas and luxurious designer ornaments, is complemented by a similarly proportioned dining area, with its elegant furniture, where you can share each others' company in splendid surroundings.

The open-plan kitchen completes the well-designed space, with double doors leading out on to a sun deck at the rear overlooking the tropical gardens, electrically heated pool and tiki bar you will be spending so much time enjoying when the sun is shining - which is pretty much all the time here on Anna Maria.

The lounge offers every comfort you might expect from a vacation home of this standard, with a large flat-screen TV, DVD player, stereo and entertainment system, internet access and comfortable furniture on which to enjoy them all.

The first-floor level also features a bathroom, with WC and sink, which leads through to the laundry room, and also includes one of the master en-suite bedrooms.

The kitchen in Island Retreat is perfect for those who want to cook up a storm here on Florida's Gulf Coast, but is just as suitable for those whose culinary intentions stretch no further than a pot of coffee and some toast, to be enjoyed on your spacious shaded deck overlooking the beautiful pool and gardens.

The kitchen is fully equipped with every modern appliance you will need for either approach, will top-end GE appliances, including range, broiler, large refrigerator, microwave oven, sink and plenty of floor and eye-level storage. With plenty of crockery, cutlery and pots and pans you have everything at your disposal to recreate some of Florida's finest dishes in the comfort of your very own home. How about conch fritters, washed down with a chilled glass of white wine?

Whatever you create, you will enjoy it that much more in the comfort of the dining area, adjacent to the kitchen, with table and chairs to seat eight. Just make sure you take the time to enjoy some of those special family moments you will always remember.

Island Retreat has four double bedrooms, featuring beautiful bespoke furniture, luxurious linens and fittings and beds to savor. Thank goodness you're on vacation and have the time to enjoy them.

The master bedroom, on the first floor, is a magnificent space, made all the better by some truly special touches. With a king-sized, four-poster bed fitted with luxury high thread-count linens and surrounded by beautiful furniture, this wonderful suite may just take your breath away. With a separate walk-in closet, large en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower, jacuzzi tub, his-and-hers basins, a tiled floor and granite tops, every attention to detail has been considered.

But the crowning glory awaits outside, on your private covered sun deck, which looks out towards the shimmering waters of the Gulf of Mexico and is the perfect shaded spot to enjoy breakfast in the morning, and the slow descent of the sun in the evening. Enjoy your room, enjoy the view, soak up the atmosphere of this magnificent place.

On the second floor are three further bedrooms, one another king-sized master, and one each including a queen-sized and twin beds. The second master also benefits from a luxurious en-suite bathroom, also featuring a large walk-in shower, double basins, tiled floor, granite tops and WC. It too has a large walk-in closet to store all your clothes and more besides and a private balcony enjoying even more far-reaching views than the one below. With a flat-screen TV, beautiful furniture and luxury linens, you won't find it hard to justify a lie-in.

The queen and twin-bed rooms are spacious and include the same quality furniture, linens and fittings. With a large double closet in each, picture windows to allow the Florida sunshine in, they share a family bathroom off the landing.

This floor also features a study area, with a queen-sized sleeper sofa, where you can listen to music on the stereo system, use the free wi-fi to surf the internet, let the kids play video games on the Nintendo Wii provided, or, if you really have to, catch up on emails and work.

You could always just send your colleagues and the folks back home some pictures of Anna Maria Island and tell them what a great time you're having.

The en-suite bathroom in master bedroom one features a large walk-in shower, jacuzzi tub, separate WC, his-and-hers twin basins, granite countertops, beautiful tiled floors and walls plus large vanity mirrors. The luxurious look is finished with designer fittings.

The en-suite bathroom in master bedroom two also features a large walk-in shower, double basins, tiled floor, granite countertops and WC.

The family bathroom on the second floor landing features the same luxury fittings, over-bath shower, tiled floor, granite countertop and inset basin and WC.

All three of the bathrooms are supplied with freshly laundered towels and will be spotlessly clean upon your arrival.

On the first floor is a powder room, featuring a WC and sink, which leads through to the laundry area, with large washing machine and separate drier, along with plenty of room to store towels and any ironing you can put off until later.

The interior of Island Retreat is truly something to behold. But it scores pretty big on the outside as well. The summery, Key West feel is not limited to the architectural design of this fabulous family home, that special Florida feeling envelops the whole space.

The tropical gardens feature and fine array of mature plants offering shade and beauty as you enjoy the heated pool area. When you're not enjoying a dip in the crystal clear water of the large pool, there is plenty of room to enjoy the sun, or relax in the shade.

With comfortable loungers for relaxing on, one of you might have to become the bar manager in the great tiki area and create some special Anna Maria cocktails of your own. With an outside fridge, large preparation area, sink, a flat-screen TV and a music system, plus a large shaded area to enjoy your creations, it's really not the worst job in the world.

And with a ping-pong table and dart board in the cool games room leading into the double garage, staying at home is much, much more than just an alternative to the beach.

Being in a quiet residential neighborhood on the western side of the island (and the main Gulf Drive) means you won't have far to go to enjoy the glorious sunsets and glorious beach which have made Anna Maria famous around the world. In under two minutes you can be in a quiet spot on the soft, sugar sand which brings so many contended vacationers back year after year.

It's hard to think of a better place to be.