Excellent vacation getaway for some much needd R and R!

Guest: Jess (Indianapolis)
Date of Stay: 08/26/11 Review Submitted: 09/04/11

We stayed for one week while my girlfriend was home for R and R from overseas. This truly is a Hidden Treasure! The prime location on the water made for some relaxing fishing and swimming along with some cold drinks in the hot tub. We used the full kitchen all week and enjoyed time at the tiki bar, as well. The only thing that could have made this trip better was more time there! Thank you so much for sharing your home with us!

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

Soulful Tropical Elegance!!!

Guest: William S.
Date of Stay: 08/10/11 Review Submitted: 09/01/11

Wow!!! That was our when the gates to the "compound" opened. Don't you love it when a place exceeds your expectations right off the bat! We shared this lovely paradise for 10 days in August and our souls have yet to return, if you see them, send them back. Really, what a beautiful, elegant, fully provisioned gem. The location is perfect and literally "hidden." Removed just far enough from the intense energy of Key West, which is also fabulous, the hidden treasure provides a reclusive base from which to access everything Key West has to offer. Shawn set up guides, a fantastic boat (requirement), restaurant recommendations, etc., etc. Loved it!!! The only issue is booking space, it fills up quickly!!!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

It is a hidden treasure

Guest: Jim&Pat (OC,NJ USA)
Date of Stay: 04/01/11 Review Submitted: 05/03/11

House was wonderful and as described. Water access and views. Swimming,snorkling,kayaking,feeding fish, right off the back deck. Cool breezes, hardly needed A/C. Greenery and water features made relaxing easy and almost mandatory. Was a good month. Should of brought the boat. Very well stocked kitchen (spices and condiments included). Shawn was a gracious host. Highly recommend a month here.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, girls getaway.

Honeymoon Haven

Guest: C and E W (Jacksonville, FL)
Date of Stay: 03/20/11 Review Submitted: 03/29/11

My husband and I spent our honeymoon at the Hidden Treasure. The home was beautiful and accommodating. We spent most of our time in the house even though Key West was only 2 stop lights away. It was so relaxing an peaceful. Shawn and Adele have done a wonderful job and were very friendly. I would definitely recommend staying here as words cannot explain the experience and the pictures hardly do it justice. Thanks Shawn and Adele! - Courtney and Erik

Owner response:Thank You Courtney, I am so glad you decided to spend your honeymoon at The Hidden Treasure. It truly is a magical place and perfect for romantic getaways. When you come back for your anniversary we will have Sarah, the 70 foot Schooner pull up to the house and take you out for a sunset dinner cruise! All the best Shawn and Adele

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

zen-like living

Guest: peggy (waynesville, mo)
Date of Stay: 03/06/11 Review Submitted: 03/18/11

The world disappears once you walk through the gate and look down the pathway. Shawn and Adele have done a spectacular job of making a getaway spot where you can 'center' yourself and let all the issues of the day melt away! Shawn was fabulous and pointed out not only the 'hidden treasures' of the property but shared info only the locals know about the area - where to eat, what to do, etc. Totally conflicted as I can't find enough words to describe how awesome this place is but hate to share how much we truly enjoyed it as it will make more competition for us to find free time on the rental calendar for us to come back - and we are coming back for a longer time on the next trip. All in the party - family members - joked about how horrible a parent I was in 'forcing' them to 'suffer' in such a luxurious setting as they soaked in the hot tub or enjoyed the scenery from the roof top deck after a day on jet skis or checking out the Key West sights. Like MacArthur said in the Phillipines - we will be back!!!! Thanks huge bunches to Shawn and Adele for creating such a perfect vacation spot. Truly hated to leave and I have the broken fingernails from being drug away to prove it. ;-)

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

The Perfect Place

Guest: Missing the Treasure (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 11/21/10 Review Submitted: 01/31/11

Hidden Treasure worked for my family on so many levels it's hard to put into words. From the minute you enter this Polynesian paradise you start to transform, shedding stress and anxiety so much more than one would ever think possible. The magic of Hidden Treasure is it's much more than just beautiful tropical gardens, high-end amenities and incredible ocean and mangrove views; it's that you're surrounded by what's obviously been a labor of love by the homeowners, experienced and felt in every amazing detail. From the chef worthy kitchen with literally every utensil/pot/pan/accessory you could desire (trust us, we did Thanksgiving for the extended family without want), to the Zen meditation bed over the Koi pond that flows to the Buddha waterfall, you encounter a focus on the details that transcend other vacation homes (and we've seen many). You bask in a life well lived and traveled through the unique touches throughout the home, including actual shipwreck treasure found by the homeowner. I'm actually torn; I want to keep going on about how great it is, but I also want this treasure to stay hidden so we can come back, over and over again! If you want to experience Key West (with Duval St. just minutes away) but feel like you're living in your own nature preserve oasis, then really don't waste a second looking elsewhere - this truly is the best to be found (and trust me here as well, when we wanted to extend our stay and the Treasure was booked, we looked and looked, but found NOTHING that even came close).

Owner response: Thank you so much for the glowing review. With guests like you who needs friends! The great thing about the Hidden Treasure is that it is a magnet for like minded people. It was such a pleasure to meet your beautiful family and watch you emerse youselves in the Key West life style. I think John knows more about lobster fishing at this point, than we do. Our home is always open to you and we eagerly look forward to sipping champagne with you at next years Christmas parade. Fondest Regards, Adele and Shawn.

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

Beautiful house on the water

Guest: F&D (Charleston, SC)
Date of Stay: 11/06/10 Review Submitted: 11/16/10

What a wonderful vacation! This house is beautiful and we felt so at home and relaxed. Perfect location, on the water and just 5 miles from Duval St! I definitely recommend that you rent a boat. You don't have to go far to do some fishing, or you can just cruise around and enjoy Key West from the water. Shawn was a great host and even though we just got back, we are already looking forward to the next trip down.

Owner response:Thanks for submitting a review Fernanda, It was great to have you both here. Maybe next time we can all dive the Atocha site together. Call me soon, the calendar is filling up quick! See you soon, Shawn

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers, sightseeing, pet owners.

Paradise

Guest: Peg (Gulfport, Florida)
Date of Stay: 10/04/10 Review Submitted: 10/22/10

This is a gem. It is a tropical-Asian influenced setting with first class amenities. We, and our two adult children, had plenty of room to sleep and play. We met Shawn upon arrival, and he was helpful beyond the call of duty. His tour of the cottage and its many features was most helpful. Everyone in town commented on what a great guy Shawn was, from the bait shop owner to the owner/bartender at "The Porch" on Duvel. His restaurant suggestion of "The Cafe" was right on too. Loved the food. We also appreciated the easy bike into town. It was about 5 miles and riding along the water was amazing! I would recommend this place for those wishing to kick back and relax--there is nothing like having that first cup of coffee on the water--and those wishing to see the many historic sites of the Keys.

Owner response:Ahhh, thanks Peg! It was great to see you guys pull up to the house with your bikes. We are a big biking family and Key West is made for Biking. If you really want to get into the nooks and crannies of Key West biking is the way to do it, in fact I will leave a biking map at the house for the next time your here. P.S. Adele just bought a "Fender Blender" so now we can make smoothies and and fun blended drinks while we ride! Let me know if you want to borrow it. : ) Cheers, Shawn

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, girls getaway.

Perfect Vacation

Guest: Tina (State college, PA)
Date of Stay: 09/18/10 Review Submitted: 10/06/10

Where do I start? The Hidden Treasure was surreal. Shawn was a gracious host spending hours when we arrived answering questions, showing us around the Island and even taking us to the store! The home was clean, well kept and truly unique. The custom rock shower, ponds, gardens, tiki bar, gourmet kitchen were all as advertised and more! We highly recommend renting a boat as this was a perfect home to boat in and out of and the best way to see the Keys from the water! Captain Bob in Marathon was great and we docked a 29 FT Grady right off the back dock with ease and convenience! We snorkeled on the reef, scuba, fished, kayaked and enjoyed grilling our feasts outside around a very cool tiki bar. The hot tub was a great relief at the end of every adventurous day. We truly had an amazing time!

Owner response:Thank you Tina, It was a real pleasure having you and your friends at the house. The way you enjoyed your vacation is exactly the way we pictured our guests would enjoy Key West and the house. It truly is a Hidden Treasure, offering every amenity to vacationers who enjoy the water. We look forward to having you back! Cheers, Shawn

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

Guest: Sue and Lou (-)
Date of Stay: 05/30/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/10

Arrived 4 weeks ago, at dark after traveling all day. When Shawn opened the front gate to welcome us in we were transported into a twinkling oasis of sounds and fragrances that initially excited us, then soon carried us to a much needed relaxation. The inspiration of love and beauty for this house's development was felt everywhere we looked. The winged and and crawling visitors in residence were also entertaining. Being our first visit to to Key west we had to go fishing. "Duck" , the owner of the "Tiki Boat" next door, gave us a great thrill and filled our dinner plates with the most delicious fish we'd ever had. Highly recommending his entertaining style and fishing skills. Then to balance the Qi, we tried paddle boarding, with Tara McCabe for the first time. She introduced us to the boards and also showed us some yoga poses while in the lagoon. It's our hope to return here to recapture more of this environment and these surrounds. Thank you Shawn & Adele for sharing your home. Sue and Lou Princeton , MA

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