Vacation Rentals by Owner
Gorgeous Oceanfront, Heated Pool, Free Wifi, 350' Pier [#204445] | View Property
Islamorada
House, 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths (Sleeps 8)
From $2200/wk
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Traveler Reviews (17)
A Week in Paradise
Guest: Richard
(Norfolk, VA)
Date of Stay: 02/25/12
Review Submitted: 03/07/12
Upon arrival the only thing everyone in the group could say is WOW! The view was incredible and the weather was great. With three couples staying in the house everyone was comfortable but the time spent inside was minimal. We spent days by the pool and nights on the patio. The Pier House is exactly as advertised, with pictures and discription as they really are.The house is so private you may not be able to find another like the Pier House. We had a great week and look forward to returning.
Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.
LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!
Guest: Dawn M.
(Menlo, Georgia)
Date of Stay: 09/10/11
Review Submitted: 09/20/11
We took the whole family encluding a 2, 3 and 4 yr old, we did also get them in the ocean once, but they did prefer the pool best. The adults on the other hand, did enjoy the ocean we snorkled, fished and even caught a few lobsters! Caught enough snapper off the dock to have a fish fry one night and it was GREAT! The house is very comfortable, like being at home! I really enjoyed taking naps on the outdoor couch with the cool breeze blowing!!! We brought our boat and went to a reef "Hens & Chickens" not far from the house and it was beautiful!!! Shanie was great to work with! Thanks for everything! This was a vacation our family will never forget!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Felt LIKE HOME but with a better view : )
Guest: Stacy H.
(Ooltewah, Tennessee)
Date of Stay: 08/20/11
Review Submitted: 09/10/11
Very accomodating, comfortable, clean rental home. No, it's not a 5 star hotel or house with all the stuffy, fancy, plush fufu stuff but it is a 5 STAR LAID BACK Florida Keys OCEAN vacation rental. This was our 3rd trip to the Keys in the last 10yrs. and we throroughly enjoyed this place for our family (5 adutls, a 4yr. old) because we come to the Keys to sit back, relax and get away from the "real world", thus why we stay away from tourist trap beachy resorts/areas. Snorkeled SOME (really not tons to see, gotta be honest) and we did let the 4yr. old walk around in the water during lower tide, but really she had rather swim in the pool (and proud to say she did her first full length solo swim across the pool with no floatation device : ) - great memory). The private pier was a big deal for us, being we love to fish and it was exactly as expected-GREAT! We caught all kinds of fish: sand sharks, snapper & some we never got to see because they stole all our line off the poles! Saw numerous rays, a couple dolphin, crabs and pretty little fish. When not fishing, it was very relaxing & peaceful just sitting on the end of the pier and enjoying life. Next comments not negative IF you know the Keys very well and IF you are not expecting beautiful pristine white beaches as far as you can see. It's the KEYS - IT'S THE, raw untouched by maintenance cleaning crews, OCEAN! Yes, there is sea grass. Yes, sadly quite a bit of trash that does/is washed up but you can't blame the owners-one could TRY to keep clean but as oceans do, the tides come & go da. Turned a negative into a positive by reinterating to the 4yr. old why we don't litter and why we all need to be concious and concerned about littering. Only adding this because it is a fact, the way it is and if you do expect an emaculate shoreline etc. you will be dissappointed. BUT we did walk the semi-rocky shoreline and found some cool natural ocean "stuff": shells, coral, driftwood etc. and plan on making our own natural souvenior with these pieces. Back to the house - best way I can describe: it was "our comfortable lived in home" for a week. The grounds are well kept & private (unless you don't like a family of peacocks as your neighbors that come over, quite often, to visit.) Shanie is great to work with thru the booking process etc. & deposit refund returned quickly. If you want info. pronto best to call rather than e-mail, she's a busy lady : ) 12 Thumbs up to returning!
Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Forgot to say.....
Guest: Michele W.
(Atlantic Beach FL)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11
Review Submitted: 08/09/11
....all furniture and beds are extremely comfy and clean, there is NO apt. bldg. next door, the downstairs is a spacious, bright little efficiency with a fridge and coffee maker, and the first reviewer was obviously just being mean, or is incredibly picky and not laid-back enough for ANY PLACE in the Keys!!! You can just count that review out when you are deciding whether to stay here or not! :-)
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
WONDERFUL in EVERY WAY!!! :-)
Guest: Michele W.
(Atlantic Beach FL)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11
Review Submitted: 08/09/11
On the first day, I knew this was going to become our go-to vacation home in the Keys! This was our second Keys rental home experience, and unlike our first, this one really exceeded our expectations! If you haven't rented in the Keys before, you don't realize what a disaster it can be, and this home is so far above your typical rental that it totally deserves 5 stars! The view is breathtaking, the pool is perfection after a day of snorkeling off the pier and the house is adorably charming, clean and full of everything you could possibly need for a fantastic vacation! Shanie has gone above and beyond in making sure that you will feel right at home with tons of kitchen supplies, towels, pillows, blankets, sheets, toys, etc etc etc, and you really just need to bring yourself, your clothes and your food and you will be all set! She has been so wonderful to deal with that I feel like I have a new Keys BFF! :-) Even after two weeks here, I am STILL not ready to leave! It's THAT GOOD!!!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Wonderful Vacation Rental
Guest: N.B.
(Lee's Summit, MO)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11
Review Submitted: 07/18/11
This was our first experience with a vacation rental and didn't really know what to expect. We stayed at the home the week of July 4th. Shanie is wonderful to deal with and went out of her way to be helpful. The house is even better than the pictures, and the property was so peaceful. We spent most of our time on the pier fishing, snorkeling by the pier or sitting by the pool watching the peacocks. Our adult children said it was the best vacation they have ever had and the most relaxing. I would highly recommend this house as a vacation rental. We definitely will rent this home on our next trip to the keys.
Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.
First VRBO experience and it was AWESOME!!
Guest: Jeri
(Midwest)
Date of Stay: 05/28/11
Review Submitted: 06/16/11
First I would like to thank Shanie for her responsiveness in the booking process and whenever we had a question. This was our first rental of this type and we hadn't had a true family vacation for years. There were 6 of us including one toddler. We stayed the last week of May/first week of June. The house is exactly as it is pictured but you don't get a true sense of how pristine it is until you see it. When we opened the gate to drive into the property my adult daughter started jumping up and down and clapping! The setting is beautiful, house is clean and comfortable and room for everyone. We fished off the pier, swam in the ocean and pool, and had a great outdoor BBQ for the holiday. There is not a true beach until low tide and then you have about 3-4 hours where you can play in the sand and swim in the ocean without going down a ladder off the pier. My boys loved the kayak also. It is like being in your own world, the privacy is so great. There are beautiful peacocks that run free near the property. We had everything we needed in the house from beach towels, to kitchen ware, and washer and dryer. The house is bright and festive. The grocery store and CVS are very close, as are a number of small restaurants. There was a strong wind off the ocean when we were there and my understanding is that varies by time of year that you are there. We had very brief rain twice and the rest of the time the weather was fantastic! House is stocked with toys for kids and pool/sand toys. We went to Anne's Beach which is about 10 miles south for the day so my grandaughter could play in the ocean. It is a sand bar that stretches for a mile with 2-3 foot water. She had a blast. Everyone voted this the best vacation ever and we highly recommend this property and this owner. We can't wait for the next time! We also received our deposit back very quickly on our return. Thank you Shanie!!!!!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners.
A place I'd visit again
Guest: Jenn
(Iowa)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11
Review Submitted: 03/24/11
My family just returned from a week in Islamorada - we had a great time! The house is exactly like the pictures show, you get what you see, a bright, open and clean property! Shanie, the owner was extremely responsive and accommodating. She helped us prepare for our trip with useful information about the property and surrouding area. While we were there, she arranged for a contact for us, should we have additional questions, and that was very much appreciated. We had problems with the pool heater, but a maintenance person was sent out immediately. We had two children with us and the area was great for that. We visited Theater of the Sea (Great Dolphin show!) watched a beautiful sunset at Morada Bay restaurant and chartered a boat with Easy Adventures, that was very kid friendly. I'd recommend this property to families or couples looking for a quiet, private get away. We never saw any of the neighbors and had the whole area to ourselves the whole time. The sunrises were beautiful and the weather was great. Thank you!
Recommended for:Families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Heavenly Vacation Spot
Guest: Peggy
(White Lake, MI)
Date of Stay: 12/18/10
Review Submitted: 01/07/11
Our family, plus pets, had a wonderful time in this beautiful home and location. Once you open the gate to the property you will be in awe of the stunning view that is yours during your stay. Although the pictures are accurate it is even more impressive in person. Bathrooms and kitchen are all large, clean and well stocked. Pool and yard are clean and pool is heated. Kayak and ping pon were a nice bonus and we made use of both. Beach may get things washed up - what do you expect - this is the ocean after all so blame the polluters offshore. We found the property to offer everything needed for a perfect getaway to rest and relax in the sun and plan to return again.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway.
Wonderful!
Guest: Eileen
(NJ )
Date of Stay: 11/27/10
Review Submitted: 12/12/10
What a nice private vacation spot! You will love this place. The only downfall was the seaweed/garbage in the "beach" area. Other than that - it was a great place to stay. We enjoyed thoroughly!
Recommended for:Families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.
Very Nice!
Guest: Kimba
(West Palm Beach, Fl)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10
Review Submitted: 08/09/10
Our family REALLY enjoyed our stay. The pics showed here is 100% the same as what you get. The Ocean Beach area was a bit dirty but the property area is nice, clean, the pool was very refreshing. The neighbors did not bother us a bit. The owners are very occomodating and made sure our money was 100% guaranteed should the oil spill went down to the Keys. We are from WPB Fla and still found this house to be a Tropical Paradise! We will be sure to come again! Thank you for a very relaxing and enjoyable family vacation! dunnagain2010
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.
nice place
Guest: Bob
(West Melbourne)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10
Review Submitted: 04/13/11
We stayed here for a week last July and it was great. The pool made the place, it was even a little chilly from time to time because of the great ocean breeze. I would not pull a boat down the drive but I would pull a trailer; so dump the boat in the water before you get there and pick it up on the way back. Overall the house was great, so was the owner. We will come back soon.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.
Great for families, relaxing and privacy
Guest: tdmroz
(New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10
Review Submitted: 07/21/10
We had a fantastic time at this property. The pool was fantastic and was thoroughly enjoyed by the whole family. The beach on the property is a nice plus. The view cannot be beat. It was wonderful to wake-up to that view/sunrise each morning. The house itself is fine but honestly we spent little time indoors. We also found the property very private. Didn't see any neighbors except one person enjoying the ocean on the weekend - a very nice lady who gave us some wonderful tips. Finally, the owner was very responsive to our questions both before and during our stay. We booked the property before the Gulf oil spill and the owner provided great information and generous terms for canceling should the oil get to the Keys. In our opinion, it made the trip fairly low risk in view of the current situation in the Gulf.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Fisherman Beware
Guest: Debbie Terry
Date of Stay: 04/24/10
Review Submitted: 02/19/11
I'm sorry that you felt this way. To clarify, there is not an apartment complex next to the house or even one close by. There are 2 private homes as you drive down the long driveway to the house. Even though the driveway is narrow, no one has ever had a problem with cars or boats down the driveway. We actually came over to the house as soon as we received the call that there was a problem getting down the driveway. The gentleman who was driving the truck obviously, was not familiar with driving a truck and trailer and did hit the ladies fence in the front. So she did come downstairs because she was upset, but we took care of that and she was fine. As far as the tupperware, I did contact the cleaning lady after I received the call several days after the departure. Unfortunately, I tell the cleaning lady to throw everything out of the fridge and freezer after every renter. She had already thrown it out several days prior and was taken out in the garbage pick-up. I emailed the renter and left her a message to apologize. I wish I would have known sooner so I could have stopped it from being thrown out. It's sad that there are unhappy people in this world that try to hurt other people. The worst part is that this was not the actual renter that wrote this review. This was a friend that came by for a few days to visit the renter. I spoke to the actual renter and she apologized for this lady's behavior and said this was no reflection on her.
Recommended for:
Fishermen Beware
Guest: JoJo04
(Jacksonville, FL )
Date of Stay: 04/24/10
Review Submitted: 06/12/10
The home has amazing view, great dock and nice pool. Beds are horrible, what little furniture is available is dirty and uncomfortable. Only one king bed upstairs, the other room has twin beds. Downstairs is a cave with a "prison mattress". If you bring a boat do not make the mistake of trying to tow your boat to the house. You cannot turn around and you will spend hours trying to slowly back your way down the narrow drive to the main road without damaging your car & boat. And there was no room for our trailer either. I really do not believe this property is suitable for people bringing boats. And right outside the "Gates of Paradise" the driveway is shared with a bldg that appears to be two slummy apartments and the another home that belongs to a woman that hates this rental property and those that rent it and definitely let us know upon arrival. The beach area could be nice but they do not pick up the trash/debris, so instead it is very nasty to look at and definitely not inviting. I live 7hrs away and I left a personal item, I called the owner three times to ask if the cleaning staff had not discarded it if they would please mail it to me I would send the money for the postage (just a sentimental piece of tupperware, 30 years old that is a memory of my Mom). and I never even got a call back and do not understand why because we were not on bad terms, until this review we never shared our dissatisfaction, we tried to make the most of our trip since we were there and had paid a lot of money.
Recommended for:
Islaparadiso
Guest: Kevin & Amanda
(Knoxville TN)
Date of Stay: 09/10/09
Review Submitted: 09/22/09
The property is beautiful, exactly as advertised, and the owners are very nice people. There were no issues with our stay, and even off-season the area has plenty of activities. Don't even bother with a bathing suit, you won't need it. Pack light because you won't want to leave the private pool area!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.
Best Placed we've stayed in!
Guest: Jim from AL
(Spanish Fort, AL)
Date of Stay: 06/06/09
Review Submitted: 07/14/09
We've been coming to the Keys for many years and this is the best place we have stayed in! Great location, perfect for boating, fishing and the pool is a huge plus! The downstairs / upstairs split made it a perfect choice for out two families that shared the house. Communication with the owner was very easy.
Recommended for: