Little Gull

The Resort and Its Setting

Little Gull sits directly on Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key, the 12-mile barrier island that separates Sarasota Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. It's an independent, owner-oriented property — Google lists it under real estate and travel agency categories rather than as a branded hotel resort — and it carries a strong 4.8-star rating from 87 reviews, which generally points to a well-kept, small-scale operation rather than a sprawling resort complex. Longboat Key itself is known for calm, uncrowded beaches and a residential, low-rise feel that's quite different from the high-density stretches of nearby Siesta Key or St. Pete Beach.

The Area and Things to Do

Longboat Key's own public beach is right on the doorstep, with soft white sand and Gulf water that's calm for most of the year. From there, the wider Sarasota area opens up quickly: South Lido Beach and Siesta Key Beach are both a short drive south, and downtown Sarasota — with its waterfront restaurants, galleries, and shops — is about 8 km (5 miles) away. Art and culture fans will want to set aside time for The Ringling Museum, roughly 9.6 km (6 miles) from the resort, which pairs an impressive collection with grounds worth wandering on their own. Golf, boating, and fishing are all part of everyday life on the island, and the pace throughout is noticeably more relaxed than Florida's bigger beach towns.

Selling or Renting a Week Here

If you own a week at Little Gull and no longer use it, you can list it for resale or rent directly on BidMyTimeshare.com. It's a private, owner-to-owner marketplace: you set your own asking price, your listing is visible to buyers and renters searching the site, and interested parties contact you directly through the platform — there's no commission taken on the sale. Sellers pay a single, one-time listing fee to publish their ad, and that's it.

Because Little Gull is independent, any resale here is processed through the resort's own owners' association or on-site management rather than through a branded exchange company. Before you agree on a price with a buyer, both sides should confirm directly with Little Gull's management: the current transfer fee for changing the deed or membership into the buyer's name, the current annual maintenance fee, and whether the association holds any right of first refusal on resales. These figures aren't published by the resort, so always get them in writing before closing, and factor the transfer fee and timing into your negotiations — transfer processing times vary by resort and should be confirmed directly with management rather than assumed.

A resale buyer typically receives the ownership interest itself — the right to use the unit for the contracted week or point allocation going forward — but not any prior owner's banked time, unused points, or loyalty-style perks, which generally don't carry over in a resale. Renters, meanwhile, are mostly looking for straightforward things: confirmed dates, a clear description of the unit and its view, and an honest idea of what's within walking distance versus what needs a car.

Practical Notes

Longboat Key is quiet and low-key by design — there's no late-night strip or large shopping centre on the island itself, so most owners and renters drive into Sarasota or over to St. Armands Circle for dining and shopping. A car is genuinely useful here, since public transport options are limited and the best restaurants, galleries, and grocery stores are a short drive rather than a walk away.