Bayside Beauty

• Great Vacation!

  Great Vacation!

  • Guest Toronto, Canada
  • Date of stay 04/06/13
  • Review Submitted 04/15/13
  This vacation was easily 5 stars! Our family of 7 could not have asked for more. Everything listed was as described. The house was clean, and because there was a beautiful tropical breeze the screened in lanai was used all day and night. When the house is fully opened, and fans on - no air conditioning was needed. Only one day when there was no breeze at all did we need the air on and it also worked - keeping the house very comfortable. Julie, the gardener and housekeeper was amazing. All her recommendations we used were great. Bobolu's Pizza at mile marker 10 has fantastic pizza. Mangrove Momma' s also was good. They had a great band there too and a few of us enjoyed a night out there. Fancie Fish at Mile Marker 22 has fresh fish you can pick up for supper. The pool was amazing. We used it all week and it seemed as though our grandchildren never left it. In fact, whenever we went somewhere, we were always excited to get back to the house and enjoy it some more. We used it to practice snorkeling, as a trip to the coral reef was recommended but weather conditions on the day we planned would not permit. (We will do that next time.) Night swimming in the pool, not to be missed. Lay on your back and watch the stars through the palm trees. Star gazing on the clear nights was out-of-this-world. We saw shooting stars too! We also swam off the dock a little and the water was warm - you can swim over to the shallower area and the water is very clear. One of the highlights of our trip was the rental of the Sweda's beautiful boat, captained by Captain Larry White. A day in paradise is all we can say (5 stars go to Captain Larry) With a 7 and 9 year old he showed us a great day fishing in the shallows and we caught enough fish for two dinners and then off to a beautiful private beach for swimming. We were unsure if it would be too much for the kids but they loved every minute of it. It was a breezy week but Friday no wind so the sea kayaks were out first thing and used all day. Even our nine year old grandson had no trouble with using the kayak. You can fish off the dock and we caught small ones that we threw back and we even saw a barracuda that seemed to live there. The house was extremely comfortable and spacious. We cooked many meals in their great kitchen and ate on the big table on the lanai. Great music system and tv's. Lots of towels, great bedding and the beds were very comfortable. We loved it!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• Gorgeous Villa!! (continued)

  Gorgeous Villa!! (continued)

  • Guest NH Family Vacationers
  • Date of stay 01/20/13
  • Review Submitted 02/03/13
  (continued from previous) The central air conditioning system worked perfectly, including in the bathrooms. The ceiling fans in the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and porch worked great and helped keep a very comfortable airflow throughout the house. The large porch outside the living room runs the full length of the house, has couches and a large table with six chairs, and is fully screened in -- which made it a tranquil and comfortable place to sit and eat dinner, enjoying the beautiful weather without being bothered by any insects. You can also darken the porch by lowering the electric shades that cover the screened walls of the porch. The pool outside is gorgeous and large, and very clean, with a bridge over the middle. Our children had a terrific time swimming in this pool. The pool area has plenty of seating, and a cozy hammock which we also enjoyed. The villa is right on the water and has a boat lift, and also has three kayaks (which we regretfully did not have a chance to use because the winds were too strong while we were there and the water was too rough). The villa, like many others in the area, is built on stilts. For those who have difficulty walking up the flight of stairs from the parking area among the stilts to the villa itself upstairs, there is a fully functional private elevator. This is a thoughtful piece of equipment that makes this villa accessible to anyone. The street-side of the villa is beautifully landscaped, and the semicircular driveway is neatly paved with decorative paving stones.There is ample parking area for at least three cars, and probably even more, along the driveway and among the stilts beneath the house. There is a utility room beneath the stilts, near the pool, containing a washing machine and dryer. This room was musty and humid, and can use some air fresheners and a new air conditioner, but it served its purpose and the washer/dryer worked well. In summary, we are grateful to the owners, Kris and John, and the property manager Julie, for allowing our family to enjoy a terrific vacation in this home. We highly recommend it to anyone traveling to the lower Keys, and would be thrilled to stay here again on our next trip to the area.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

  Owner response: Thank you Zalman and Gila. It seems that this site did not post your entire review as the first page is missing. I'd like to respond to the laundry room being musty. It shouldn't be musty at all because we put a new air conditioner in there last spring, and there is a big ceiling fan. We normally go to the house each year and clean out the storage / launday area, Clorox the walls and floor, and make it smell wonderful. However, we haven't been able to get there this year yet because of illness. I'll speak with our manager, and see if she can spiff it up so that it's not offensive to anyone. Thank you for letting us know. We respond very quickly to any and every concern that our guests may bring up.

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• Paradise

  Paradise

  • Guest Jerry
  • Date of stay 12/29/12
  • Review Submitted 01/19/13
  This beautiful house had all that was needed for a perfect stay in paradise. Ocean kayaks, a hammock on the water, a large pool, palm trees with lush landscaping and three refrigerators to keep the beverages cold. a peaceful and quiet neighborhood and only 16 miles from Duval St. Kris and John made everything so easy and Julie was always nearby if needed. Our family us already beginning to plan our trip for next year.

  Recommended for: People with disabilities, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

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• leslie

  leslie

  • Guest Leslie
  • Date of stay 12/08/12
  • Review Submitted 12/18/12
  This was one of the best weeks of vacation I have had in years! The house is described accurately, easy to get to. The neighborhood is quiet and easy to find, the neighbors are from all over and very friendly. All of the living space is upstairs, with an enclosed lanai which increases the square footage significantl;y and you always can feel like the outdoors is indoors. The view is the bay which is like having a private spot to yourself. We kayaked and sat on the deck for hours, feed fish off the dock. The pool is a free form lap pool and the heater was fabulous for the cooler evenings. The house is inpeccably maintained and outfitted with every thing you could need. You are only about 12 miles outside of Key West and can go up to Marathon or above with ease. Lots of resturants which are local without having to go into to town if you don't want to. I highly recommend this as a destination, and will look forward to returning next year.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• Wonderful home in Sugarloaf

  Wonderful home in Sugarloaf

  • Guest bird dog
  • Date of stay 11/03/12
  • Review Submitted 11/11/12
  We just got back from our stay at this wonderful house. The home was extremely clean and well equipped. We spent alot of time in and around the pool enjoying the view and a beverage. The property manager (Julie) is outstanding. She met us at the property and gave us the grand tour. Many great places to eat nearby. Our favorite is still Mangrove Mamas for a taste of the keys. It has new owners that were wonderful and has started serving breakfast.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• Helene, PTC. Ga

  Helene, PTC. Ga

  • Guest Ga,Ca,Mi girls
  • Date of stay 10/13/12
  • Review Submitted 10/26/12
  Our stay at the Bayside Beauty was the very best! We were down there with our family to celebrate our Anniversary. We loved the house but we spent most of our time on the deck and in the BEAUTIFUL pool. We were also able to tie our boat up to the dock which was very convenient. We drove the boat out to Looe Key, several times and the snorkeling was amazing! We were so comfortable t the house that we only went into Key West one time. We had dinner at the Commodore, which is right on the water. A very nice and elegant place. This is a perfect home for a family reunion. Kris and John were extremely helpful in setting up our stay. They were gracious and very attentive to all the details of the house. I also want to say that, Julie, their house manager, was a doll and so very helpful in answering our questions. She even accepted some packages for us that were delivered to the house!! The home was immaculate and there were amenities included that you don't usually find in a vacation rental, like lots of towels, bedding, cleaning supplies, dish and laundry soap, even spices! The listing description was right on. Thank you Kris and John for a wonderful vacation at your lovely home in the Keys. I will definitely recommend Bayside Beauty to our friends!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• As presented and then some

  As presented and then some

  • Guest Hoot
  • Date of stay 09/30/12
  • Review Submitted 10/11/12
  The grounds are lush, the water beautiful, the location quiet and private. The home is very comfortable but you won't spend much time in it. I don't recall turning on the TV! Just the right distance from Key West. We would love to return.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

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• Private and quiet. Will not disappoint.

  Private and quiet. Will not disappoint.

  • Guest Uncle Geek
  • Date of stay 09/16/12
  • Review Submitted 09/25/12
  Bayside Beauty is located in the upscale neighborhood of South Point. Our September rental period was peaceful and quiet. Your hosts, John and Kristan, are obviously very special people, genuinely concerned with their guests, and attentive to our special needs for wheelchair accessibility. The lift from ground level caught our attention to this home. It is an essential feature for wheelchair users, yet also convenient for anyone having trouble negotiating a flight of stairs. Kris went out of her way to make sure no major barriers were in the home and small obstacles such as the 4” step from lanai into the living area can be accommodated with a small ramp. Tropical landscaping with heavy foliage wrap and shade the pool in intimate privacy. My wife loved a morning swim. September in the Keys is hot and humid, but the pool temperature was comfortably cool. There is a well-trained school of mangrove snappers off the dock that can pinch a shrimp off a line faster than a politician can grab a Dollar from your pocket. The waters can be quite shallow outside the channels, which made the area great for kayaking. We did not see many powerboats and had all of Sugarloaf Sound to ourselves. At night, the large, waterfront deck becomes an excellent, stargazing platform. Far enough from more developed areas of the Keys, Sugarloaf skies are less polluted by urban lights. The sky sparkles with the Milky Way clearly visible. Time it right and you may be treated to a wonderful display if your visit happens to coincide with one of the many annual meteor showers that occur throughout the year. We will definitely return for a future visit.

  Recommended for: People with disabilities, age 55+.

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• Maureen

  Maureen

  • Guest Maureen
  • Date of stay 08/11/12
  • Review Submitted 08/23/12
  This was a beautiful place to stay! My family of three children (ages 10-13), my husband, and my 80 year old in-laws came to the keys for the first time. This was really a wonderful place to stay. My kids loved the pool! We have never stayed anywhere with such a beautiful and large pool. We also enjoyed kayaking in the bay and looking at the reef and the beautiful sea life in the clear water. We took many trips into Key West just 15 miles away and rented bikes from a bike shop in Big Pine. We also went to Boondocks (in Big Pine) to play miniature golf. Our washing machine gave us some trouble during the stay and the property manager was on top of it and got it repaired as quick as possible. Also, to note that we received our security deposit back in the mail just 5 days after we left. That is the fastest we have ever received our check back from previous rentals. I would definitely recommend staying here! (The place also has an elevator to help those who have difficulty with stairs)

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• Phenomenal Rental Home & Owners - Renting Again

  Phenomenal Rental Home & Owners - Renting Again

  • Guest Renee S.
  • Date of stay 03/17/12
  • Review Submitted 08/08/12
  As seasoned renters in the Keys, we can't say enough about the beautiful home, the accomodations, the property manager, and the owners who made our stay an enjoyable and memorable one. Our experience was such that we are renting again there next year. The home itself was beutiful, exceptionally clean, well kept and very well equiped. We rented a boat and kept it right at the dock for gulf and reef access. The owners and manager are truly phenomenal and genuine people who are very well organized; not the case with other rentals we have had. We alerted them that one pool filter may have stopped working and they were already addressing it in 15 minutes to make sure our stay was unimpaired. They all put a great deal of care into making sure your stay is an exceptional one. We would highly recommend this place.

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Please email for rates because certain weeks are very much in demand, and
therefore more expensive.  Likewise, the month of September costs the least.
Security deposit: $1500 required to hold reservation.
Cleaning Fee: $175.00
Pool Heating Fee: $100.00 / week during winter months

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.