The Blue Refuge Family-Friendly R&R Near Beach

Great location, perfect pool, warm hot tub, walking distance to the beach and restaurants. Very clean and plenty of space! There is some water damage to the flooring in the kitchen which was a surprise upon arrival. However, appears areas of the home are being renovated. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and were able to relax around the pool.

Stayed: April 2025 Submitted: April 15, 2025

A truly amazing house that could be perfect with improvements. It has an easy walk to the beach, two lovely waterfront restaurants you can easily walk to (Aunt Kate's!), pool surrounded by beautiful trees, and only about 11 minute drive to downtown St. Augustine. Improvements need to come with communication. The Proper Group was VERY responsive/helpful through messaging when any questions or problems arose, but there seems to be some sort of disconnect between them and whoever they are managing the house for. They state that they will always call/message/text if anyone needs to access the property, but multiple times we had workers show up with NO warning (once, to build an outdoor kitchen around the pool area saying, "Rick, the owner, sent them"). Called TPG 3x to figure out what was going on, but each time the call dropped when they tried to transfer me to someone who could help. Not very relaxing. BUT, if this kind of situation can be fixed in the future, we would definitely return!

Stayed: March 2025 Submitted: April 06, 2025

The house was great and was in an awesome location. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a getaway with family and friends in St. Augustine!

Stayed: March 2025 Submitted: April 01, 2025

My friends and I had a great few days staying here. The house is huge with lots of comfy places to lounge around. The pool area was incredible and we especially loved being able to use the hot tub when it got cold at night! Being within walking distance of the beach was fun and historic St. Augustine was just a short drive away. I would absolutely stay here again if I’m ever in the area.

Stayed: March 2025 Submitted: March 11, 2025

Our stay was great! The space is exactly as described and accommodated our large group very well. Close to the beach and downtown, the location was excellent. We did have a snag or two and The Proper Group was quick to respond and address our concerns. Overall we would definitely consider returning!

Stayed: December 2024 Submitted: December 21, 2024

Upon our arrival, we were met with a musty odor, visible stains, hairs, and debris on the furniture and beds. Cobwebs were present all around, and the deck had unstable floorboards that posed a safety hazard. The secondary bedrooms and bathroom were clearly neglected. We contacted the host to address these issues. As we settled into the main bed, we encountered spiders and other insects throughout the night. To make matters worse, I was bitten by a spider while in bed. We have photographic proof to support this. The host dismissed our concerns and insisted that nothing could be done. Despite our request for privacy, he continued to contact us at late hours and early in the morning, insulting us and demanding evidence. When we provided the evidence, they threatened legal action if we were to leave an honest review. The unwelcoming attitude, combined with the unhygienic conditions of the property, led us to seek out other accommodations. While the property had some positive aspects such as a wall-mounted TV, a spacious master bathroom, and a new swimming pool, the overall ambiance may not be suitable for all families. The children's play area became extremely hot due to lack of ventilation, the lush vegetation attracted numerous bugs, the cleanliness was subpar, and the hostile behavior of the hosts did not meet our expectations. In the end, we decided to leave the property and make a reservation elsewhere due to these concerns and discomfort, especially with a young child.

Stayed: November 2024 Submitted: November 15, 2024

We loved our stay at The Blue Refuge. The house is epic, it felt like a real luxury staying there. The main living space was spacious yet comfortable with plenty of places to hang out. The kitchen was very well equipped, including a very impressive outside grill. The two main bedrooms were really impressive and the kids loved their space which also included some things to play with. The location was perfect for us, just 5 mins walk from the beach and a similar drive to the big supermarket. St. Augustine was also close by and easy to get to. Overall we really enjoyed our time here. Many thanks.

Stayed: October 2024 Submitted: November 13, 2024

This house is incredible. Our jaws were on the floor when we walked in. We loved the location, the kitchen, the furniture and finishes. Specific pros: outdoor shower, beautiful pool and spa, comfy couches, modern design, working elevator (sounds silly but you’ll get used to it quickly), quiet workspace, home gym and super spacious. A few quirky things we noticed while there: no instruction provided for the spa (we hit 1, then 2 on the button until the light started blinking and that seemed to work. It also heats up fairly quickly); the garbage disposal operates via foot pedal next to the dishwasher (could be dangerous if kicked by accident which happened to our chef!); the coffee machine was slightly tricky to operate even for someone that owns the same one; I also don’t believe there’s any beach chairs and only 7 smaller beach towels; and finally there was little to no toilet paper, detergent or paper towels pre-stocked! All helpful to know when booking for a large group

Stayed: September 2024 Submitted: September 17, 2024

5/5 stars for prompt communication, friendliness and cleanliness! We took a family trip to St. Augustine and thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Blue Refuge. We messaged them when we arrived as we were trying to get in the wrong door (oops

Stayed: August 2024 Submitted: September 05, 2024

Great house near the beach that my family (10 adults and two children under 3) enjoyed. We were able to wonderful beach weekend together. The beach is well within walking distance and felt like a private beach. The house is exquisitely furnish and the gourmet kitchen is well lit and layout so more than one person can prepare the daily meals while interacting with others that are in the living area. The living room and kitchen was the perfect gathering place , and everything that we needed to entertain ourselves was provided. The house was clean and the neighborhood was very quiet. We would do it again if we come back to Vilano. Thank you for a great stay!

Stayed: July 2024 Submitted: July 15, 2024

Great house

Stayed: June 2024 Submitted: July 06, 2024

Our large group had the best weekend! The location, property, pool, and hosting group made this a PERFECT place for a weekend getaway.

Stayed: June 2024 Submitted: June 25, 2024

Our stay was perfect. The house is immaculately designed. If you’re into home decor and furnishings, then this house is for you! We really appreciated the stylish and functional space that this home provided. Our 7 year old was delighted with the kids room and the pool was great! The entire neighborhood was beautiful and very serene. We have absolutely no negative remarks. We hope to visit again!

Stayed: June 2024 Submitted: June 16, 2024

Well done Proper Group! Beautiful home on quiet street in great neighborhood. Walked to restaurants, beach and to boat ramps. Could hear ocean at night from home- thats how quiet and lovely it is here! Very responsive host and house was everything we expected and needed.

Stayed: March 2024 Submitted: March 19, 2024

An amazing property that will be a favorite forever

Stayed: November 2023 Submitted: November 26, 2023