Trusted Links to make your vacation the very best possible!

At St. Augustine Vacations, we know that insuring the quality of your experience is the very best way to convince you to come back!  In order to do that, we ask our renters for feedback on their vacation with us and provide us with any suggestions for the future.  One common request is to put up a webpage with suggestions for everything from restaurants and movie theatres to surfboard renters and souvenir shops.  Our list is a bit small at the moment, but we hope to add to it regularly over the next year. We'd also like to ask you a personal favor, if we may.  We've been trying to get businesses to sign on with us to offer special deals to our renters.  The idea is that we'll pass on 100% of any commission bonuses we might have earned to you in the form of special discounts and coupons (we figure the publicity, renter satisfaction, and (especially) return renter bookings is worth more to us than any set commission).  So we'd ask all our renters this coming year, if they don't mind, to "drop" the little tidbit that you're staying with St. Augustine Vacations (previously Hartley and Sons) and learned about their eatery or store through us.  Perhaps if they're more aware how we can help each other, they'll be more willing to give you all a discount in the future.  So join us in working for half-price chicken wings, 10% off video rentals, etc...  Future renters will thank you!! For the moment, we'll list a good deal of links from local business to get you started.  I'll insert our own experiences and comments for these links wherever relevant.  Enjoy!  Tourism and Attractions 1) General Tourism Information - www.oldcity.com  This site is a great one stop webpage for general information about St. Augustine.  We use it all the time ourselves! 2) Castillo de San Marcos - www.nps.gov/casa  Here's where you can find out all you need to know about the famous Spanish castle in the old town.  The castle is open everyday from 8:45 to 4:45 except Christmas. 3) Sightseeing Trains - www.redtrains.com  These, the carriages, and the helicopters tours are some of the most popular in the area.  We've been in the area so long that we don't usually do the sight-seeing thing.  But I'll post reviews of their tours and their service if someone would like to give me some feedback! 4) Helicopter Tours - www.oldcityhelicopters.com  Now these look great!  Next time I'm in town I will definitely have to take one of these . . . purely in the interest of providing our renters with the very best information possible, of course. 5) Ghost Tours of St. Augustine - www.aghostlyexperience.com  If the prospect of returning to work after a week at the beach didn't scare you enough, we have the answer!  This tour is one of the highest rated in Florida.  And they have a super-cool website to boot.  6) Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum - www.staugustine-ripleys.com  Whether or not you loved the TV show (or think Jack Palance is just the coolest cat ever), you'll get a kick out of this museum.  It's especially fun for the little ones! 7) Fort Matanzas National Monument - www.nps.gov/foma  While not as famous as San Marcos, this makes for a great little day trip.  Best of all, it's within walking distance (well, the boat dock to cross over to the Monument anyway) of many of our properties.  Check out our map links at the bottom of each individual property page. Eatin' and Waterin' Holes 1) The Spanish Bakery - www.thespanishbakery.com  I only have two words for you: sausage and rice.  Put them together with some piping hot herbs and spices and you've got a traditional dinner or lunch that'll just blow your socks off.  Trust me guys, this place has some delicious and affordable meals.  2) The Conch House - www.conch-house.com  This elegant restaurant with tons of great atmosphere has, in addition to an award winning menu, a drink that is absolutely to die for.  Unfortunately, I can't remember what it is called.  I can only blame this on the drink itself, which tastes so delicious and yet is almost a pure mix of tasty fermented fluids.  I'll see if Dad can jog my memory! 3) The Manatee Cafe - www.manateecafe.com  Looking for something a bit lighter on the vegetarian side?  This fun little shop has what you're looking for. 4) Harry's - www.hookedonharrys.com/index.html  This is a great little bar and grill with wonderful drinks and appetizers.  Hard to go wrong here! 5) The Wildflower Café:  Located at 4320 A1A South, this is one of my family's favorite places to eat near our rentals!  Their food is of amazingly good quality.  Try their crepes or the Chicken Victoria--you won't be sorry!!  904-471-2691 Local Business, Fun Activities, and Miscellaneous 1) A1A Internet Cafe - www.a1ainternetcafe.bizopiahost.com  If our own dial-up internet service is too slow for you, or if you're looking for online gaming facilities, wireless access, repair & virus removal, computer classes, or a host of other needs, try here! 2) Coastal Outdoor Center - www.coastaloutdoorcenter.com  This is a great place for fishing tours, information, and kayak rentals. 3) Small Indulgences Spa - www.smallindulgencesdayspa.com  When you need just that little bit of extra pampering! 4) Raging Water Sports - www.ragingwatersports.com  Need something a bit faster?  You can find jet skis, jet boats, and sail boats here. 5) Fiesta Falls Minigolf - www.lafiestainn.com/golf.html  Care for a round of putt-putt? 6) El Diablo Golf and Country Club - www.eldiablogolf.com/page/126-3307.htm  Or perhaps you'd prefer to play at "The Devil" for the full fledged golf course. 7) St. Augustine Fly Fishing Club - www.oldcity.com/sites/flyclub/  Here's a great place to get started on local fishing information.  See number 10 below for a good deal more! 8) Smile High Parasailing - www.smilehighparasail.com  Oh, I'm dying to try this!  Someone let me know how it is! 9) Florida Aviation Career Training, Inc.  - www.florida-aviation.com/index.html  It's a bird . . . it's a plane . . . it's one of our renters!  Well you won't find me doing this anytime soon, but if you've ever wanted to learn to fly we have a local facility.  10) Florida Fishing Links - www.floridalink.com/thenews/florida_fishing.htm  This is the best website I've found containing tons of great links on Florida fishing information.   Just some great folks that have helped us out! 1) Equity & Refinance Loan info: Equity & Refinancing services for home loans.  "Lendingpot.com offers information to help you get the best home mortgage loan.  Do you want the lowest rates for loans, refinancing and home mortgages?  We provide you with update information and the best services." 2) www.countrywide.com:  These folks have found us some fabulous loans and we have some great personal contacts that handle all our own business!  Give Michael Severino a call at 954-465-9870 and tell him Brandon Hartley sent you!  He'll treat you right!! 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