Most families arrive on Anna Maria Island with a rough idea of what they want. They’re thinking about beach time, some exploring, and maybe a golf cart.
But the families who call Fun and More Rentals before they arrive get something even more valuable: a personalized vacation gear plan. One phone call covers the golf cart, beach gear, baby equipment, and everything else they need. Everything is delivered free to their rental home before the first morning.
A single call to Fun and More Rentals serves as a full vacation planning session. The team asks about your group, your kids’ ages, and how you want to spend the week. Then they build a gear recommendation tailored to your trip. The right equipment is waiting at your door before you unpack.
The First Question We Always Ask
Are you traveling with children, and how old are they?
That single question opens the door to the entire conversation. Parents know exactly what they need at home, but the beach is a completely different environment. What works in the driveway does not work in the sand. A standard stroller sinks into soft sand before you reach the waterline.
Fun and More carries beach joggers with 10-inch wheels that roll over hard-packed and soft sand without a fight. That one detail can save a family an hour of frustration on day one.
Families with infants can set up a pack-and-play right on the beach. It gives their newborn a shaded, safe place to rest while everyone enjoys the water.
The conversation focuses on what the youngest family members actually need, not what looks polished on a product list.
For a deeper look at planning, read our post about what goes into planning the perfect beach day with a toddler.
Your Idea of the Perfect Week on Anna Maria Island
Once the family picture is clear, we shift the conversation to pace. Do you spend every morning at the beach with nowhere to be? Or do you want to move around? Are you the family that bikes to dinner, tracks down fresh seafood, and grabs ice cream at 9 p.m.? Or do you want to stretch out under an umbrella and let the week find you?
Those answers point directly to the right gear. Families who want to cover ground almost always benefit from a street-legal golf cart rental. It keeps the group together, eliminates parking headaches, and makes every errand feel like part of the vacation. Families who plan to stay put need shade, chairs, and room to breathe. Summer visitors who skip the canopy end up calling back for one.
What Does a Typical Bundle Look Like?
The ideal combination varies by season. Spring and fall tend toward golf carts, bikes, and beach chairs. That combination covers mobility and beach comfort without overcomplicating the arrival. Summer changes those priorities as heat makes shade more important than mobility. A canopy can stretch a two-hour beach day into a full one.
The conversation is never about recommending the latest package. It is about building the right one for who’s traveling and how they want to spend the week.
Sea turtle nesting season also affects some recommendations. The team factors your travel dates into the plan and follows Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidelines.
Ready to put together the right setup for your trip? Plan your gear delivery with Fun and More Rentals before you arrive.
Experience on the Island Makes a Difference
For more than 25 years, Fun and More Rentals has helped visitors find the right equipment for their vacation. The business started with a single bike and grew into one of Anna Maria Island’s most complete rental fleets.
With all those years of customer conversations behind us, the team has heard almost every vacation scenario. Families with toddlers, teenagers, groups with grandparents, and couples who want nothing more than a kayak all have different needs. Every call draws on that depth of experience to create the right rental plan. The result is a gear list that fits the actual trip, not a generic package.
“One of the first places to start is, are you traveling with children, and then how old the children are. Because obviously, parents are prepared, but are they prepared for the beach? So then we will suggest items for young children. They may have a stroller, but our beach joggers have 10-inch wheels that roll over hard-packed and soft sand. That means you can walk the beach with your toddler or newborn, which isn’t possible with a regular stroller. And then we ask them, what do you guys want to do? Do you go to the beach every single day and just lay out? Or do you discover the island? Do you go for dinners and lunches? Do you want to go for ice cream? Do you want fresh seafood? When you want to get around the island, that’s when a golf cart or bikes come in.”
— Duane Gartman, Owner, Fun and More Rentals
What Happens After the Booking Call?
By the time the conversation ends, families know exactly what will be delivered, when it will arrive, and how to use it. They won’t have to scramble on arrival day to figure out what they need and where to get it.
Free delivery means the gear is waiting at the door before anyone puts on sunscreen. The golf cart arrives with a one-on-one safety walkthrough so the driver understands Anna Maria Island road rules before the first turn. The beach setup is already in place, giving families one less thing to think about.
Street-legal golf carts must follow Florida Department of Transportation operational standards. The safety briefing covers exactly what that means for drivers on AMI roads.
With those details covered, families are free to enjoy their vacation while Anna Maria Island takes care of the rest.
Answers to Common Questions
What happens during a Fun and More Rentals vacation gear booking call?
The call works more like a planning session than a transaction. The team asks about your group, your children’s ages, your daily pace, and what you want to do on the island. Those answers shape a gear recommendation specific to your trip, not a generic package.
Why does it matter how old my children are when booking vacation gear?
A child’s age plays a big role in determining what works best on Anna Maria Island beaches. A standard stroller sinks in soft sand, and infants need a shaded place to rest. Knowing ages upfront means the right gear arrives and you don’t have to make adjustments on the first day. For related information, you can read our post about golf carts and child safety seats.
When does a golf cart make sense for a family visiting Anna Maria Island?
A golf cart makes sense when a family wants to move around the island together. It reduces parking stress and keeps the group on the same schedule. From ice cream trips to dinners out, golf carts make getting around much easier. Most families who cover ground during the week find a cart indispensable by day two.
What does the golf cart safety walkthrough cover?
When the cart is delivered, a team member explains Anna Maria Island road rules, speed limits, passenger guidelines, and how to operate the cart. The walkthrough covers everything a driver needs before pulling out of the driveway. It isn’t a quick handoff but a thorough conversation that prepares drivers to head out safely.
Can I add gear items after my initial booking call?
Yes. If you realize mid-trip that a canopy or beach wagon would help, same-day additions are possible in many cases. Planning ahead is always easier, but the team also handles requests that arise after arrival.
Is a beach jogger the same as a regular stroller?
No. A beach jogger has large, air-filled wheels, typically 10 to 16 inches in diameter. These wheels are designed to roll over sand without sinking. A standard stroller has small, hard plastic wheels built for sidewalks and smooth floors. On Anna Maria Island beaches, a standard stroller stops moving the moment it hits dry sand.
What gear can Fun and More Rentals deliver for large or multi-generational groups?
The rental fleet covers beach wheelchairs, golf carts for groups of all sizes, baby gear, kayaks, paddleboards, and bikes. A single booking call helps families choose the right combination for everyone in the group. We touched on some of these issues in a recent post about how golf carts enhance multi-generational trips to AMI.
The Call That Builds the Whole Week
By the end of a conversation with our team, a family should know what’s being delivered, when it arrives, and how to use it. They don’t have to guess, make last-minute hardware store trips, or realize too late that an important piece of gear is missing.
Free delivery ensures everything is waiting at the door when families arrive. The safety briefing prepares drivers to operate the golf cart safely and legally. With the beach setup already in place, families can head straight to the shore.
Once everything is ready, all that’s left is to enjoy Anna Maria Island. Start the conversation with the Fun and More Rentals team and have the gear plan sorted before you leave home.
About the Author
Duane Gartman is the owner of Fun And More Rentals. Based in Holmes Beach, he has spent nearly 25 years building the island’s most complete vacation rental fleet. Fun and More Rentals offers a Best Price Guarantee and free delivery to rental homes across Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach.
ABOUT THE EXPERT
Duane Gartman is the owner of Fun And More Rentals, the largest vacation equipment rental company on Anna Maria Island. With nearly 25 years in business, Duane started with just one bicycle and built a fleet that now serves thousands of families each year. Fun And More Rentals is known for its free delivery and pickup service, Best Price Guarantee, and a focus on making island vacations effortless from arrival to departure.
