Just another day in Paradise...

Guest: Relaxed at last... (Northwest Indiana)
Date of Stay: 01/03/12 Review Submitted: 01/26/12

First of all we would like to thank Jon and Kris for sharing their beautiful home, it is even more beautiful than the pictures show. The furnishings and decorations are all top notch. The kitchen has everything you can think of to make a gourmet feast including seasonings! Julie keeps the place spotless and responds promptly to any questions or concerns you might have. There were a few minor repairs needed while we were there and they were handled quickly and no expense was spared to make things right. I would highly recommend this house to anyone looking to relax in a beautiful tropical setting with easy access to Key West. If you feel they need for a little adventure/exercise it is a great neighborhood to walk in with a walking path easily accessible and kayaks provided at the house. We also rented bikes from Big Pine Bicycle rental. They were reasonable and for a small fee delivered and picked them up at the house. Whenever we come to the Keys we have a few favorite restaurants: Pepe's in Key West, No Name Pub in Big Pine Key and Hogfish on Stock Island. Though our favorite thing to do is pick up the fresh fish, shrimp or lobster from Fishbusterz on Stock Island and create our own feast! This was easy to do in the gourmet kitchen and seating was no problem for 6 adults on the lanai. We had the pleasure of staying at the house during a full moon and the moon reflected on the water is breathtaking as are the multitude of stars visible in the sky. Despite being on vacation we made the effort to get up early and watch the sun rise over the water while drinking a cup of Baby's Coffee, another favorite local spot. We have rented multiple times in the Keys and this was the most pleasant experience yet, the owners care about their house and renters. While the deposit required might seem high, it is consistent with the quality of the residence and was returned immediately upon our return. We returned home on Saturday and the deposit check was here by Wednesday! We will be sure to return to visit with our local cat and iguanas as well! Thanks again ;)

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

PHENOMENAL vacation house!

Guest: 2BEKS (CA)
Date of Stay: 09/27/11 Review Submitted: 10/13/11

We rented the Bayside Beauty for the USS SPRUANCE Commissioning from 27 Sept to 4 Oct 2011. There were 6 adults and 2 children in our party. We had a hefty order to fill - needing something close to Key West, on the water, with a pool, with an elevator, that slept 8 comfortably - this filled the bill and more! The pictures are EXACTLY what you get. BEAUTIFUL! The home was spacious enough for 8 of us, we LIVED on the screened in porch and down by the pool/water. The bedrooms were super comfy and even the pull out couch was decent. The home is stocked with EVERYTHING that you can possibly need - tons of dishes, silverware, glassware, pots, pans, etc - perfect! The owners and the caretakers are a DELIGHT to work with - very accommodating and always prompt with responses to questions. Location wise - about 20 mins to Key West. Also good to note that the only grocery shopping (big store) is also about 20 mins out (either north or south). There is a cute little restaurant not too far away (Mangrove Mamas) that we ate at once - really good! Not really in the "thick of things" for shopping/touristy things - much more secluded and peaceful. EXACTLY what we wanted though. The ONLY improvement that could possibly be made to this property is to put a 3/4 bath downstairs in the laundry area. Having a toilet, sink and shower down there would have made this property perfect in every way. :-D But this is just being picky. LOL! All in all - we'd go back in a heartbeat and can't recommend this property enough! Thank you!!!

Owner response:Thank you, Jennifer. We're very gratified that you enjoyed staying at our home. The only reason that there is not a full bathroom downstairs is that the county won't allow it. If they did, we'd have both a bedroom and bathroom down there.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Fantabulous!!

Guest: Caribbean Girl (Greenville, SC)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 08/01/11

This house is just as great as the pictures show, if not better. The house was very clean inside and out, including the pool, which is all very important to me. The only issue we had with the house is noone wanted to leave. We could have stayed forever and been very happy sipping colodas by the pool, fishing or kayaking on the bay, so much fun! You will not be disappointed in this home. The owners and property keeper were friendly and easy to deal with. And for those who may worry, we got our deposit check back within the week we returned home. It is close to Key West but far enough to be peaceful. This was definately a great choice!

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

Total Luxury

Guest: Evelyn (South Alabama)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/16/11

My family and I just spent our vacation at this Bayside Beauty. You can definitely trust the pictures on this one. The home was just as magnificent as the pictures, plus a little more! I am from the south, and yes, I love to be barefoot. I immediately took off my shoes and felt that the floors were very clean. This matters to me as I have stayed in condos where the accommodations appeared clean, but after taking off my shoe...not as thoroughly as it should have been. The home is beautifully decorated and everything you can possibly need is furnished at the home. The grounds around the home are gorgeous...very tropical. We enjoyed a lot of our time relaxing under the shade of pallms trees...coconuts included. The site manager is there to welcome you with a friendly smile and all the local info you need to know. She continues to be available, via a simple call, if you have further questios or needs. The owners are fantastic as well. Emails were answered promptly each and every time. Our vacation mattered to the owners and they were accommodating in every way. Our vacation experience was well enriched by staying at the Bayside Beauty. I will try to book this home each time we visit the Keys.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Fantastic Tropical Getaway

Guest: Tom (Gulf Breeze, Florida)
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 06/07/11

Our experience was phenomenal. This home made it easy to truly waste away in paradise. It was the perfect setting to regroup with family who live far away. The home was clean, and well equipped. The gardens were lush and the pool was gorgeous. Kris and Julie were just a phone call away for any questions. We enjoyed snorkeling and kayaking right in the back yard. The boat lift was great to have. We rented a deckboat with a full bimini and had easy access to Marvin Key in the back-country, as well as, Looe Key offshore at the reef. The pool was so refreshing and loved the hammock! Swinging in the hammock turned into 3 hour naps for different family members. Great location - Key West is only 16 miles away and a wonderful local restaurant (Mangrove Mama's) is only a couple minutes from the front door. We have already recommended this home to friends. Cannot wait to return for our next reunion.

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

Even Better than the pictures!!!

Guest: Russ (Clayton, GA, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/09/11 Review Submitted: 04/27/11

The pictures of this place really caught my eye and then when I read about how well it was equipped I made my reservation. However, in the back of my mind I was wondering if it would really be that nice when I got there and saw it in person. Well, now that I've been there I can answer that question with a resounding YES . . and more. First of all, the owner Kris and the property manager Julie, are great to work with. They not only handled all the administrative rental business efficiently, they also were great sources of information for local activities and interests. In regards to the property, the first thing I noticed when I pulled up was the beautiful landscaping that provides for a very lush, quiet and private setting. The house itself is equipped for just about anything you can think of. It even has an elevator and since I must use a wheelchair to get around, it was a necessity; and it worked flawlessly during my stay. The only problem with this place is the "tough" decisions it requires you to make . . "Do I swim in the awesome pool or the beautiful crystal clear bay?" . . Should we have drinks on the bay-side dock or enjoy a raised view from the expansive screened lanai?" You'll figure it out. Of course you can have a fantastic vacation if you just stayed at the house; but it's location provides a perfect home base for day trips to the other Keys. My family and I made a couple trips to Key West and had a fantastic day at Bahai Honda State Park that included seeing a waterspout . . very cool. We all had a great time at this beautiful home and hope to stay there again sometime. You can't go wrong with this place.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

ALL YOU COULD ASK FOR

Guest: Harry (Porter Ranch, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/26/11 Review Submitted: 04/12/11

We stayed in the Bayside Beauty in March 2011 and found the house to be even better than portrayed on the website. The house was spacious, elegantly decorated, and had every convenience that one could want during a fabulous Keys vacation. The location on Sugarloaf Sound is stunning with gorgeous views from the house, the lanai, and the dock. Also, it was an easy drive to Key West. The pool was beautiful and the grounds were well manicured and attractive. Kris was extremely helpful in answering our questions before our arrival and Julie, who greeted us on our arrival was a gem!! The house was spotless and any questions that we had were handled efficiently by Julie. Also Kris handled all administrative details in an efficient and professional manner. We were very comfortable in this fantastic home and would definitely return to the "Bayside Beauty" the next time we are in the Keys.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Fantastic Vacation!

Guest: Chipie (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 01/29/11 Review Submitted: 02/11/11

Our stay at this home was a delightful. The owner Kris was very accommodating. My husband and I, along with our 1 year old daughter, my sister and my parents, rented this home and enjoyed it very much. The house is beautiful! It’s very nicely decorated and fully stocked with everything we needed. My family loves to cook, so we made very good use of the large kitchen. We enjoyed the home cooked meals on the lanai where the view of the bay was lovely. The house resides in a very quiet residential neighborhood, perfect for a family to relax and enjoy the warm sun of the Florida Keys. The pool was perfect, and we spent most of the time lounging there and fishing off the deck. Although my husband didn’t catch much, except a bunch of tiny fish, it was entertaining and we all enjoyed it. We used the kayaks, and paddled around the bay. Much fun was had by all. The woman who takes care of the home, Julie, kept the house in perfect condition, and very clean. She was also very helpful in recommending two great restaurants. As per her recommendations, we tried The Square Grouper, and Bobalus Southern Café. Both had great food. Overall, we had a wonderful vacation, and would definitely consider renting this home again.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great home for a family reunion!

Guest: none (Idaho)
Date of Stay: 12/24/10 Review Submitted: 01/08/11

"Our stay at "Bayside Beauty" was absolutely extraordinary! The home is gorgeous and the accommodations for our family were perfect! There are two large beautiful bedrooms , one with an equally beautiful bathroom. The other smaller bedroom is perfect for two kids. We had one little one who enjoyed the pool but we could also feel confident in his safety because the access to the pool and dock could be controlled by a locked door and porch in the upper house. The sea kayaking off the dock was just the best and was ideal for everyone in the family as the bay is protected , or braver souls can venture around the key into much more challenging waters. The owners even provide various child and adult life preservers to accompany those paddlers. The kitchen and great room are perfect for a family reunion , as all can be engaged in different activities whether it be cooking, eating, watching the big screen T.V . or even swimming and still be connected to each other by the openness of this lovely and spacious home. The owners, as well as the staff who care for the home, are accommodating , friendly and went the extra mile to make us feel welcome and attended to. Kristan, the owner, even phoned grocers in the area to check their hours for Christmas Day since that is when we were worried about obtaining food! The home is cleaned by Julie who is very attentive to detail as well as friendly and very well informed about the area. Dwight is a very capable neighbor who helped us promptly with just a small plumbing issue. The house is close to Key West, a spectacular beach called Bahai Honda, and any other amenity you might have. The neighborhood is beautiful and safe. This home is a discovery in paradise that we would love to return to sometime in the future! "

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

Family Reunion in an Extraordinary Setting!

Guest: none (Idaho)
Date of Stay: 12/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/07/11

Our stay at "Bayside Beauty" was absolutely extraordinary! The home is gorgeous and the accommodations for our family were perfect! There are two large beautiful bedrooms , one with an equally beautiful bathroom. The other smaller bedroom is perfect for two kids. We had one little one who enjoyed the pool but we could also feel confident in his safety because the access to the pool and dock could be controlled by a locked door and porch in the upper house. The sea kayaking off the dock was just the best and was ideal for everyone in the family as the bay is protected , or braver souls can venture around the key into much more challenging waters. The owners even provide various child and adult life preservers to accompany those paddlers. The kitchen and great room are perfect for a family reunion , as all can be engaged in different activities whether it be cooking, eating, watching the big screen T.V . or even swimming and still be connected to each other by the openness of this lovely and spacious home. The owners, as well as the staff who care for the home, are accommodating , friendly and went the extra mile to make us feel welcome and attended to. Kristan, the owner, even phoned grocers in the area to check their hours for Christmas Day since that is when we were worried about obtaining food! The home is cleaned by Julie who is very attentive to detail as well as friendly and very well informed about the area. Dwight is a very capable neighbor who helped us promptly with just a small plumbing issue. The house is close to Key West, a spectacular beach called Bahai Honda, and any other amenity you might have. The neighborhood is beautiful and safe. This home is a discovery in paradise that we would love to return to sometime in the future!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.