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Tropical painter and writer retreat

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Exterior
Smart TV, books
Terrace/patio
2 bedrooms, free WiFi, bed sheets
Property grounds

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 50 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

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Jensen Beach, FL
  • Place, Riverwalk
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Lyric Theater
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Indian Riverside Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, Stuart, FL (SUA-Witham Field)
    ‪11 min drive‬

Room options

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About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Tropical painter and writer retreat

A beautiful tropical 2 bedroom and 1 bathroom home in quiet and lovely Jensen Beach. This sunny retreat on a lush tropical property with Coconut palms, Banyan trees and a beautiful Bamboo birdhouse garden is a 2 block walk from the intercostal waterway and a 7 minute drive to great ocean beaches.
The 2 bedroom house was built in 1958 in a mid-century modern style. The well appointed master bedroom has a king size bed with high end bedding in a tropical style. The room is furnished in a design style that features dark tropical rattan furniture and tropical paintings. The bathroom has a full size shower and no bathtub. The 2nd bedroom is furnished with 2 twin beds. The living room continues the tropical design theme with key retro pieces of traditional Florida rattan furniture from the 1960's. The kitchen is equipped with a modern smooth surface electric range, microwave, toaster and toaster oven, Kurig coffee system, and a built in dishwasher.
This mid-century modern house is a well appointed artist retreat that is used by Billie Jo Thomson as a painter's retreat. Billie's paintings adorn the walls and the art is constantly changing. One signature piece was created for and used in the Tim Burton film, "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children".
The house is located in Jensen Beach, a jewel of Old Florida traditions and styles. The beaches are beautiful and range from very accessible with life guards on duty 7 days a week to more secluded private quiet retreats.
Downtown Stuart is a 5 minute drive and is another jewel of Old Florida with a quaint main street in the traditional Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. With over 20 world class restaurants in a 3 block area, the nights are full of pleasant, friendly Florida entertainment.
During your stay at this vacation home, you'll be close to Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital. Laundry facilities are available. The vacation home offers free WiFi and a kitchen.
  • Air-conditioned home with kitchen, washing machine, and patio
  • Free WiFi
  • Amenities include laundry facilities
  • 5 minutes by car from Shepard Park and 5 minutes from Indian Riverside Park
As a guest of this vacation home, you'll find barbecue grills, a garden, and laundry facilities. The front desk is open around the clock.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • In the city centre
  • Near the sea
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Bicycles

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Bicycles
  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1 square foot

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account which will enable you to manage your booking.

We should mention

  • To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly using the information on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat House Jensen Beach
Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat House
Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat Jensen Beach
Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat
Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat House Jensen Beach
Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat House
Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat Jensen Beach
Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat House Jensen Beach
Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat House
Tropical Painter's and Writer's Retreat Jensen Beach
Private vacation home Tropical Painter's and Writer's Retreat
Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat Jensen Beach
Tropical Painter's Writer's Retreat
Tropical Painter's and Writer's Retreat Jensen Beach
Tropical Painter's and Writer's Retreat Private vacation home
Tropical Painter's and Writer's Retreat Jensen Beach
Private vacation home Tropical Painter's and Writer's Retreat

Tropical painter and writer retreat Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 23 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 23 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 23 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kwame L.

Liked: Cleanliness
We had the most wonderful stay in this loveliest city f houses! My husband and I and our two teenagers, and goofy golden retriever came down to Jensen Beach for the Junior Olympic Sailing Event in December! This lovely Property had everything we needed and more. Space for myself and my husband to enjoy and a separate room for the kids. The backyard was perfect for our dog and we all had a wonderful time! The house was clean, modern, well equipped and had lovely art in every room! We especially liked the cloud paintings by one of the owners! Thank you so much for your responsiveness and kindness! Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott S.

Liked: Cleanliness
The host was flexible with us on timing due to travel. The weather was great so sitting on the back patio and reading a book was definitely appreciated. Amazing shower pressure! Conveniently located for what we needed. The yard is fenced but if you have a small dog there is one area to keep an eye on. The only odd thing was two nighttime Uber Eats deliveries for the cottage next door since they seem to share the same address.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gina H.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Fabiana D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place for a long weekend getaway

We came to the Stuart/Jensen Beach area for a wedding and fell in love with this little retreat! The back yard and outdoor patios were a MAJOR plus! In addition, there was a walking path at the end of the street, which was a great place to walk our dog. The house and its amenities were perfect for what we needed. The owner was very responsive..... We would stay there again! :)
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janet P., Loveland Colorado USA

Liked: Cleanliness

Rio Cottage

A quaint cottage. My dog and I enjoyed a couple nites stay. Perfect for a relaxing stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Stay

Had a great stay here. This property is ideally located to access Jensen beach and all its amenities. We needed to extend our stay and the property manager/ owners were very responsive. The house was very clean and located in a friendly neighborhood. I would highly recommend this VRBO.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Werner V.

Liked: Cleanliness

Stay

Was everything there what you need, Bathroom was nice and new …
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Good location/Spotless accommodation

My wife and I throughly enjoyed our stay at the home in Rio. Just as advertised. 5 min. drive to Stuart, 10-15 min. to Jensen Beach. That’s the beach. Lots of parking at no charge. Quaint downtown area. The check in was a breeze and the home was as clean as any VRBO property we have stayed at. Had a minor issue and Chris immediately rectified it. You can feel confident that you are in good hands. We wanted a stress free weekend just north of us and couldn’t have asked for a better time. I would definitely recommend a visit if you’re looking for a nice relaxing trip away from the crowds. Our sincere thanks to our hosts for such a great experience! Mike P
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sue F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Delightful little home

The house is exactly as advertised, clean, in a quiet neighborhood. It's a good area to take a walk for a stretch, but you won't walk to eat, shop, see the shore, etc. That's OK! There are many restaurants and shops within 10-15 minutes drive time, and many public beaches both north and south of this area. The backyard is a delight. The owners are very easy to contact.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jimmy W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect place, best host I have dealt with

When we pulled into the place, we were impressed with how laid-back and beautiful the property is. The interior of the home is great. It’s got the tropical, laid-back relaxed vibe. The backyard is really cool. The home is loaded with everything you’re going to need and then some. Really comfortable setting, beds are great and the place was super clean. the location is perfect, your minutes from the beach minutes from great fishing in downtown Stuart. The host Chris, is by far the best host I’ve ever dealt with. We rental places all over the state and east coast of the US several times a month. Chris was beyond helpful and easy to get along with. Restored my faith in hosts.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brian W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Oasis

The backyard is great to relax in with all the Bamboo trees etc. Great place to stay
Stayed 21 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Yolanda W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Jensen Beach Stay

House was just what we needed while we looked for a new home in Port St Lucie. Billie and Chris were very responsive and helpful.
Stayed 34 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathe H.

Liked: Cleanliness

We enjoyed the quiet neighborhood. Convenient to restaurants and shopping. Nice beaches nearby.

Great for dogs, nice fenced backyard! We came to get away from hurricane Ian in our town. Very comfortable. We will try to stay again when we are back in Jensen beach visiting friends!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dawn J.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect home away from home in excellent location!

This was our home away from home for just over a month while we were waiting to close on a new home purchase. This was the PERFECT place for us and our two small dogs! The home is located in the Rio community, which has a Jensen Beach address. It is centrally located between Port St Lucie and Stuart, and only a short drive north to Fort Pierce. Palm Beach International airport is only 45 minutes away. The home was cute and cozy, and had everything we needed for our stay. The back yard is lovely and peaceful with a huge, beautiful bamboo canopy. The neighborhood is quiet and very walkable, and SO conveniently located, no matter what you want to do during your stay. I would not hesitate to recommend this place. We enjoyed our stay so much. The host, Chris, is also awesome and easily reachable if you need anything.
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Anne S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Just perfect for us

The cottage is as cute as can be. The neighborhood is extraordinarily quiet. Most every morning was spent having coffee and breakfast on the secluded patio with the breeze gently blowing through the trees. Just beautiful! The kitchen was well equipped, the living room was comfortable and the bedrooms nicely furnished. We were pleasantly surprised upon returning home from a late night dinner on our first day to find the house nicely lit in an otherwise somewhat dark neighborhood. What a nice welcome home. The laundry room was well-equipped with supplies. On a rainy morning, the covered side patio was just the place to start the day. Should we find ourselves heading to the Jensen Beach area again, we’ll know exactly where we want to be…we loved our stay!!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stacey Q.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice place

It’s a cute place that offered exactly what we needed. My only suggestion would be to change out two couch. It’s a bit uncomfortable but that’s just the style, otherwise the beds were comfortable so overall nice little place
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Melissa P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Really fun, beautiful spot!

What a lovely time we had at this cottage! Beds and bedding were top notch and super comfy. Kitchen was well appointed; helpful tips and instructions were organized in a binder. As one reviewer mentioned, there are gates separating the yards; this was actually helpful to us. The owner, who was very friendly and welcoming, gave us the option of opening or closing the gates. We liked being able to let our dog visit with owner’s dogs but also being able to keep them separate sometimes, for convenience. Owner’s dogs were adorable and friendly. The WiFi was super fast and we were able to have three laptops all live streaming for school at the same time! We enjoyed dinner outside at the Boathouse in downtown Stuart (highly recommend!) and pizza from Downtown Benny’s. Jensen State Beach is a short drive away and quickly became our favorite spot. We loved staying here!!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Shirley A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Peaceful, homelike retreat.

This property is located in a quiet, well established neighborhood which is only a short distance from the historic district of Stuart, Jenson Beach and the beautiful beaches of Hutchinson Island. The hostess was very warm and welcoming. It is truly a pet friendly environment.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2021

6/10 Okay

Linda S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Inaccurate photos and description

This place was clean, well-stocked and cute, but very small and cramped. The backyard was misrepresented - leading us to believe we'd rented a place with a large open combination of patio and grassy lawn with lounge chairs, quaint table and chairs, and lots of shade trees offering privacy (as depicted in the photos). In reality, the owner's wife was living in a newly built studio that was essentially IN the yard I mentioned, and access to the yard and furniture I mentioned had been fenced off for her private use. We were left with a fully exposed patio and a postage stamp patch of grass for our dog. In addition, the instructions for the thermostat and the TV were inaccurate and the dishwasher overflowed. We left several days early.
Stayed 14 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne O.

Liked: Cleanliness

Cozy Garden Getaway

This is a cozy little garden getaway house with quiet nooks to sit and relax. Convenient to Old Stuart shopping & dining, Hutchinson Island beach's, and plenty of golfing. The neighborhood is still and quiet too. Thank you for a lovely stay!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Robert Jon S.

Liked: Cleanliness

NICE PLACE TO STAY

Very nice house and quiet part of the neighborhood... This house has been well furnished and very comfortable to stay in... Thank You !!!! R. Jon Silverman

10/10 Excellent

Anne H.

Perfect get-away property complete with bikes.

The house and yard are well-maintained and beautiful. Nice attention to detail. I would definitely stay there again.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2019