Vacation Rentals by Owner

It is as comfortable as it looks

Guest: Dolly J.
Date of Stay: 04/14/12 Review Submitted: 04/28/12

What a great house and location. Had everything we needed. Guys caught everything from a Red fish to a lobster-all returned to the water. We had visits from little piggy and friends and iguanas. Great location no too far from anything. Good restaurants on Key Colony. Highly recommend.

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Great Vacation

Guest: Bill & Dolly
Date of Stay: 04/14/12 Review Submitted: 04/27/12

We had a great week here at Carole's Cottage. The guys enjoyed fishing in the Canal and caught everything from catfish to lobster - all safely returned to the water. The neighborhood is great for peaceful walks. We enjoyed visits from the iguanas and "piggy" next door. We couldn't ask for much more............

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Best Vacation Ever!!!

Guest: Mike & Sandy (Center Moriches, NY USA)
Date of Stay: 03/17/12 Review Submitted: 04/27/12

Everything about our vacation at Carole's Cottage was "5 star". Our second visit was even better than the first, we felt like we were coming home. The house is beautifully furnished, extremely confortable, well maintained and clean. Any questions are quickly answered by Carole. Every day started and ended on the deck enjoying the beautiful weather and views. Great for 1-2 famlies or ,like us, two people with invited friends.

Owner response:Really nice to hear how much my guests love my home. I couldn't have written it better. Thank you so much for your nice review and for your repeat business.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children.

Wonderful Stay!

Guest: Pat & Joe
Date of Stay: 03/10/12 Review Submitted: 04/27/12

Wonderful stay at "Carole's Cottage". Key Colony Beach is very peaceful and relaxing. Loved sitting on the deck late afternoon and walks to Sunset Beach (1 block)for the sunset.

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We LOVE the Keys and especially the community of KCB!

Guest: Tom and Martha (Chatham-Kent, ON, Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/28/12 Review Submitted: 03/22/12

We are repeat renters at Carole's Cottage and we already committed again for next year's visit. This is a spacious and clean home with very comfortable king size beds, linens, and all the conveniences of a *home*. Very professional, gracious, and friendly host with excellent communications. She cares about her tenant's vacation enjoyment and throughout the years, even though we haven't met face to face, I considered her a family friend. The property description listed is bang on accurate, the community is safe, the home is classic Florida, and we always look forward to our annual stay in KCB.

Owner response:Great Guests! This family knows how to enjoy life. They have been renting one or two months in Winter for the past four years and have reserved time in 2013 already. They are always willing to help out with anything that comes up during their stay and they leave my home in excellent condition.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Beautiful House

Guest: Morgan's
Date of Stay: 12/28/11 Review Submitted: 04/27/12

We had a good time at this beautiful home. It was our first visit to the Keys as we are from San Diego. The house is well put-together and user-friendly. The weather was a little windy. Wish you would have left keys to the Boat out front, ha ha ha. We had a great time and would enjoy coming back.

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Quiet, Relaxing, Perfect

Guest: Lori N. (Springfield, IL)
Date of Stay: 11/11/11 Review Submitted: 11/18/11

Our family, which includes our 21 yr old son, stayed at Carole's Cottage Nov 11-17th. The home is very well appointed, fully stocked, clean, and comfortable. Just about everything you could possibly need is provided. The home is all on one level which was a good choice for us. There is a great amount of living space, and that great outdoor deck on the canal which was so relaxing in the evenings. The Key Colony Beach community is very quiet, safe, and homey...just what we were looking for. Everything we wanted to do and see was just a short walk or drive away. We were there primarily to go shark fishing, and that was a great sucess thanks to Captain Chris Johnson at Sea Squared Fishing Charters. We also enjoyed the laid back casual dining experiences at Sparky's, Leigh Ann's Coffee House, and Cabana Breezes right there in KCB. Sparky's is great for catching the sporting events and enjoying a great meal. The Cabana Club is also very nice with the pool, beach, and pier access right there so close. Sunset Beach was also a great perk so close by, only a short block's walk. Key Colony Beach and Marathon area are perfect to access both upper and lower keys attractions. We especially enjoyed 7 mile bridge, Sunset Grill at the bridge, the Turtle Hospital, Bahia Honda State Park and the old Flagler RR bridge, Big Pine Key area, and No Name Pub. We also drove on down to Key West, and stopped in at Sloppy Joe's. Pedicab drivers are helpful in getting around Duval Street and the Hemingway House. We loved our experience at Carole's Cottage. We found it very easy to arrange and book our stay there. If you are looking for a similar experience, this is the place!

Owner response:I was pleasantly surprised to find this "excellent" unsolicited review on Homeaway. "The home is very well appointed, fully stocked, clean, and comfortable." "Just about everything you could possibly need is provided." "We loved our experience at Carole's Cottage." "We found it very easy to arrange and book our stay there. If you are looking for a similar experience, this is the place!"

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Mini Lobster Week on the Keys

Guest: Felicia, Philip, Gloria, Catherine, DJ and Justin
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 11/23/11

Our week went by very fast! We had such a fun time. The house is very nice and comfortable. We would return to this home anytime. Thank you so much Carole. Stuart, FL

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A Wonderful Stay

Guest: Esteban & Diana
Date of Stay: 07/05/11 Review Submitted: 11/23/11

We had a wonderful stay here at the "Cottage". Key Colony Beach is a cute little community. The kids loved the owls and the iguanas. thank you. Miami, FL

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Great Time

Guest: Patricia
Date of Stay: 06/11/11 Review Submitted: 11/23/11

We had a great time. The house was just right for two families - plenty of room and very clean. Hilliard, FL

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Carole's Cottage

Guest: Corky (Louisville,Kentucky)
Date of Stay: 05/23/11 Review Submitted: 06/14/11

We had a lovely vacation at your home. Fished every morning with coffee on the canal. Lovely walks to the Cabana Club. Your cottage was very spacious,warm and we felt like we were at home. The Sunset Park was lovely to view the ocean at sunset. We enjoyed the ability to access all the Florida Keys from your location and the eating establishments you recommended were excellent. We will return. Thank you for a wonderful relaxing vacation.

Owner response:My guests seem to love the "layout" of the house -- perfect for two couples - it has 2 King bedrooms each with private bath - one at each end of house with a large living space in between. Being ground-level, it is accessible for everyone with no steps to climb. We are located a block from Sunset Park. Our location in middle Keys is convenient to Key West, Key Largo and every Key in between. The Cabana Club is a big PLUS - a private club with access to the beach and pool - within walking or bicycle riding distance. The Keys are loaded with outdoor restaurants, each with different views of the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean and ALL with FRESH SEAFOOD. And, perhaps BEST OF ALL - just a couple miles offshore there are fantastic reefs to explore.

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

Spring Break

Guest: Kim, Kim, Elise & Jenny
Date of Stay: 03/26/11 Review Submitted: 11/23/11

The Keys hold a special place in our hearts. This is our 3rd time to rent on Key Colony Beach and our first time at "Carole's Lovely Cottage". The house was terrific - quiet and a very well-equipped kitchen. We had a great week in the sun; Bahia Honda & Sombrero Beaches; snorkeling; day trip to Key West; Theatre of the Sea and relaxing on the back deck. Your home is very comfortable and our stay made for a relaxing retreat from our busy schedules. thank you, Jacksonville, FL

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Month of February

Guest: Martha & Tom
Date of Stay: 01/29/11 Review Submitted: 11/23/11

We had another amazing month here wintering at Carole's Cottage. It was the perfect place to get away from Ontario's cold and snow! The weather was 75 every day with balmy, humid evenings -- tank top and shorts : ).....We love Key Colony Beach and we were very comfortable in our home away from home...will be back next year. Canada

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Month of January

Guest: Steve & Debbie
Date of Stay: 01/03/11 Review Submitted: 11/23/11

Wonderful to avoid the hard Ohio winter in the sunshine and balmy breezes at Carole's Cottage! Fishing was good. The house is most comfortable - love the bed! House would be perfect for two couples to share. Sunset Park was a daily priority - we met nice, interesting people who probably will remail friends. We hope to return soon. Dublin, Ohio

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Loved our stay..........

Guest: Jay and Lee
Date of Stay: 12/22/10 Review Submitted: 09/22/11

Bed very comfortable, clean, quiet and convenient to shopping & beaches. Loved Baracuda Grill and Spanish Gardens in Islamorada. Safe and clean. We will definitely be back for more Key Colony fun! Thanks and Happy New Year to all....xoxo

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A month a Carole's Cottage

Guest: R.Charles (Tulsa, OK)
Date of Stay: 09/27/09 Review Submitted: 10/23/09

My wife, toddler, and I spent a month at Carole's Cottage in Key Colony Beach, basically all of October 2009. The house was such a gem. When we got there, everything was clean and neat and pleasantly more than expected. Any time we had a question, we were able to reach Carole immediately. We rented a boat for the month and had it docked at the house so we could take evening boat ride. I hired a local guide (Bruce Coles he does business as Blind Dog Charters) (I had to plug him because I've had a lot of fishing guides and he's by far the best) we went out three times and caught more tuna, mahi mahi, queen snapper, tile, and grouper than I could fit in the cold-box to ship back. We ended up shipping back 60 lbs. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to stay at some pretty nice places and Carole's place was a dream. Highly recommend!

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

A great place to relax

Guest: Active sixties group (Gloucester, UK)
Date of Stay: 04/25/09 Review Submitted: 05/24/09

Not having been to the Keys before none of our group knew what to expect, but were reassured by the very helpful manner of the owner by e-mail and telephone. Also the reviews looked good. On arrival we found KCB ideally placed on the Keys and this property a delight. For two couples, the bedroom layout was perfect - no arguments about choice! We were impressed by the cleanliness and facilities. The locality had everything to keep us occupied from activities to shopping to relaxing. Although we had no contact with owner or housekeeping staff during our one-week stay, I have no doubt that had a problem arisen, it would have been promptly dealt with. These people obviously take pride in their property. I have no hesitation in recommending Carole's Cottage to anyone looking for a base from which to explore Florida Keys

Recommended for:Age 55+

Another wonderful stay at Carole's Cottage

Guest: Veekay (Kent, England)
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 12/02/08

We have recently returned to the UK from another great holiday staying in Caroles Cottage. As always, the home was beautifully clean and well equipped, and we had a great time as on all previous occasions. We arrived a little early and were met by Raquel, the lady who looks after the cottage. As always, she was very helpful and invited us to drop our luggage indoors and go deal with our boat rental while she finished cleaning the home ready for our stay. We have been to the Keys many times, and stayed in a lot of places, since we found Carole's Cottage however, we have'nt bothered to look elsewhere. The photographs don't do it justice, and we wouldn't hope to find more accommodating and helpful people to deal with than Carole and the people connected with looking after her Cottage. The fishing was better than ever this year, the facilities available at Key Colony Beach are second to none and the whole place has a peaceful, happy feel to it. Do yourself a favour and try a week or two - once you have, you will go back! Vic and Helen. Kent, England

Owner response:The best compliment a rental can have is a happy repeat guest! And we have been very lucky to host this family several times over the 13 yrs. we have rented our home(s) on Key Colony Beach. This beautiful island and the great fishing SPEAKS for itself.........no selling required. We keep our home as clean as possible for our guests and respond to any concerns immediately.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

perfect spot

Guest: Steve/Sandy (Melbourne, FL)
Date of Stay: 08/04/08 Review Submitted: 03/20/09

My sixteen years of visiting the middle keys and looking for the greatest place has been resolved. I've stayed in numerous rentals in Key Colony and Carole's Cottage is by far the best. Spacious, nicely furnished and great dockage. Carole has been very responsive when little issues came up, ie, a water leak in a main street line which caused a slight water pressure loss, and promptly called the City for us. Workers were out the next day. Only MINOR issues come up with her place but overall an excellent choice. I have booked my fourth year and plan to stay for a month!

Recommended for:Age 55+

dont waste your money, better places to spend it

Guest: ripped off 2 (jax. fl.)
Date of Stay: 07/05/08 Review Submitted: 11/20/08

not clean at all ,dirty dishes in cabinets ,a very bad roach problem ,housekeeping very poor ,limited supply of linens and towels, sent a lot of money to her sight unseen except what is on website and was very dissapointd when arrived and had driven so far and spent vacation money for family to have a nice vacation to arrive and realize what i had rented for a week whole family dissapointed... keys were beautiful but lot better homes to stay at in area.!!! customer service sucked once got your money

Owner response:This review is simply Sour Grapes from a family who failed to manage their teenagers and left our home in a deplorable condition. If you are interested in this property, call for references - our guestbook is FILLED with comments from satisfied repeat customers. This home has 2 suites at either end of the spacious floor plan - king beds and full baths. Very clean and updated kitchen/baths with gorgeous views. This home is owner-managed - which means you get personal service. We have housekeepers on a regular basis plus the owners spend 3 months at this home each year and do the deep cleaning and much of the maintenance themselves to make sure it is up to par for their guests.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

Waterfront cottage with Boat Dock

Guest: Kaitlyn (Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 06/02/08 Review Submitted: 06/16/08

Great location in middle keys and very comfortable accommodations. Like having 2 King Bed suites at either end of the house with lots of living space in between. Completely furnished kitchen . . . found everything we needed there.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

A single family home, not a duplex-love it!

Guest: Barrie B. (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 12/01/06 Review Submitted: 06/30/07

We have stayed in this home three times and love it! It's much nicer to stay in a single-family home versus a duplex! You really have your privacy. The sunroom offers extra space and your group will have plenty of room. Fishing off the dock is always fun. It's a close walk to Sunset Beach. We feel at home and we have everything we need. The Cabana Club is wonderful! Carole is very accommodating and answers questions right away. We hope to come back every year!

Owner response:This review - from a wonderful Michigan family of 6 - who we were fortunate to meet on one of our trips to the Keys - they have spent their Christmas Vacations at our home for 4 years. They are the "perfect" guests who take good care of your property as they own rental property on Lake Michigan and manage it themselves as I do.

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Great Vacation Home!

Guest: Carole S. (-)
Date of Stay: 12/01/06 Review Submitted: 02/02/07

Precisely as described to me in web listing and in conversation with owner. Private, well-decorated, convenient. Loved the boat dock and Cabana Club. Clean. Will come back and recommend to friends. Great snorkeling just off coast of Key Colony. Rates in line with other properties in area. Good value. Security deposit returned immediately (4 days).

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