Marathon vacation rental

Guest: Mario J.
Date of Stay: 12/21/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

This was my first experience with a vacation rental and I could not have been more satisfied. The unit itself was just as described, if not better, and had every amenity you could possibly need. The owner was gracious and on top of everything, excellent communication. The location is ideal as it is one hour from Key West and one hour from Key Largo offering a centralized location for all Keys activities. I fished with the kids off the dock and by the end of the stay had all the kids from the other units fishing with us. The fishing was great, we even grilled some of our catch. Thanks Big Time Bait and Tackle for the supplies and advice. I had my mother-in-law down for the first time in Florida and after continuing on to an Orlando resort all she could talk about was how great the Marathon condo was. Thanks Janet, and see you next year!

Owner response:Thank you for a wonderful review of our condo. We're so pleased you were happy with our unit and its central location to Key West and Key Largo. Glad to hear fishing was successful. Kids and family members really enjoy this part of the vacation, especially when you can just walk a few yards to the Gulfpointe dock and do a little fishing and also see some of the beautiful fish in the area. Thank you again for being our guests. Looking forward to your return next time.

Recommended for:

Thanksgiving Blessing!

Guest: Seeking Peace (Eastern North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 11/19/11 Review Submitted: 12/11/11

We spent a wonderful week at this condo. We cannot say enough about how much we enjoyed our time there. Everything about this listing is completely accurate and then some! Having never used a "by owner" site, we were very concerned ,but were relieved after the first phone conversation with the owner, Janet. All transactions were simple and any questions we had were answered in a very timely manner. Truly, one of the cleanest destination rentals we have ever stayed in!! The first morning we woke up and went on the porch to drink coffee- we saw a beautiful,complete rainbow- just stunning views!!! We loved the entire island of Marathon. We rented a car from Key West airport and drove up to condo. A very easy drive. There is no sign for Gulfpointe on the road so be careful to look for the entrance sitting back a bit. We always looked for the American flag at the bank as our landmark. No problem. We also rented a boat with Fish and Fun rentals.- Would not recommend them- we had some trouble with the boat and the refund.(only negative point about our whole trip) There are great places to eat that have already been mentioned in other reviews- all of which are very good!! The atmosphere was laid back anywhere we went. The kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms were stocked with everything you would need. The dock box had chairs, fishing poles, and toys for small children to use on the beach. - We felt like we had just gone to a "friends" house. We would absolutely recommend this condo and if we are down that way again- we will choose this location without hesitation! Thank you again, Janet for allowing us to be you guest!!!!

Owner response:Wow! What a great review. Thank you. It's wonderful to hear how our guests enjoyed their visit to the condo. Glad everything at the condo met your expectations, and you found great places to eat. Appreciate your informative comments about "Fish and Fun" rentals. This will be helpful to future guests who rent boats. Thank you again for your comments and for being our guests at Gulfpointe.

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

Paradise Found

Guest: Carole (Cleveland, Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 11/08/11 Review Submitted: 11/26/11

Our stay at Janet's condo was truly a vacation in paradise. The condo lacked for nothing. It is beautifully decorated and well maintained. My husband fished off the dock and caught many fish on both spinning and fly rod. We both enjoyed sitting on the lower balcony just a few feet from the Gulf of Mexico waters, watching the boats travel the Vaca Cut. Janet was very accommodating for our schedule and it was a pleasure to rent from her. This was our second vacation in Marathon and we look forward to a return visit. The Island Fish Co. is within walking distance, as well as Catch 53. Also, Keys Fisheries and the Sunset Grille are worth a visit. Sombrero Beach is my favorite little beach, and don't miss Bahia Honda State Park and the 7 Mile Bridge.

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

as advertised

Guest: Tony (Dahlonega, Ga.)
Date of Stay: 11/01/11 Review Submitted: 11/15/11

Having stayed at several condos in Florida, we found this to be one of the nicest ever. The unit was in great condition and well-furnished. The photos and description are accurate and we look forward to another visit. Great water views in a quiet setting.

Owner response:Thank you for a wonderful review and for being our guests at Gulfpointe. We're happy to hear that you were pleased with the condo, and that you especially enjoyed the views. Looking forward to your visiting us next time. Thank you again.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers.

Short and sweet

Guest: Brigitte H.
Date of Stay: 10/04/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

Wonderful apartment in a great and quiet location on the outskirts of Marathon in the heart of the Keys. Marathon has all the amenities you need in easy reach by car and this was the perfect base for our family (2+2) to explore . Well-equipped modern apartment on 2 levels with all mod cons and nice, spacious furnished rooms. Great fishing right off the dock too! Owner and neighbours really friendly and helpful too in pointing out the best local places to eat! Title says "short and sweet" which sums up our stay and feelings and this review: we doubt we could've picked a better place to stay than this if we'd tried!

Owner response:Thank you for a wonderful review. It's great to know that you enjoyed your stay at our condo and that you especially liked the central location of Gulfpointe in the Keys. Marathon is very well situated and not far from many good eating places and sights to see. Will pass the word along to our neighbors and let them know you appreciated their friendliness and help in choosing restaurants. Thanks again for being our guests.

Recommended for:

AMAZING condo will definately return.

Guest: Cathy F.
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/11/11

We just stayed at this condo last week for 7 days. There were 4 of us, plenty of room in this condo. Very clean, great kitchen area with everything you need to fix meals. So convenient to have the washer/dryer (along with detergent!) right there to wash clothes. Terrific view of the ocean out the back patio and beautiful breezes. Overlooks dock that looks brand new. Pool was heated as promised and very clean, good size, and refreshing after a long day at the beach. Complex is a mix of owners and renters, all very good quality people and very friendly. Close to Bahia Honda State Park which was our favorite beach to go to. In walking distance of very good restaurants and shopping....including "The Island" restaurant which is a local favorite and has GREAT food. Owner was very nice and easily accessible for any issues (we didn't have any)......and owner also had all updated brochures in the condo for us to look at for area attractions, sea maps, newspapers etc which was very helpful. Also had a book collection if you didn't bring a book you can use one to read on the beach. TV is brand new, big screen and couches are very comfy. King sized bed in master with AMAZING view off master bedroom patio (the best in the complex in my opinion). Tons of closet space and very nice master bath with double vanities and big shower had great water pressure which we loved. Also what was good was the Dockbox, located in the parking area below the condo.....owner had floats for us, fishing poles, sand toys for the kids to use. We were able to store our beach stuff in there. Many times we sat outside on the back patio overlooking the ocean and saw tons of flying fish and dolphins come through the channel. If you walk out to the dock you can fish ....we caught really nice snappers that made for a good meal. Dock looks brand new and very securely built for our boat. Also had hoses and fish cleaning table. Kids snorkeled right off the dock and saw lobsters. Tons of area fishing charters if you want to go out for a couple hours. Condo is in a great location in Marathon, it took us less than an hour to get to Key West one day and it was a nice scenic drive. We plan to reserve at this condo again next season but will stay for 2 weeks instead of 1 as we were truly sad to leave this place, absolutely gorgeous and our family enjoyed it very much.

Owner response:What a great review. Thank you. You listed all the reasons we love going down to the condo. Not only does it have a spectacular view of the Gulf, it is so conveniently centrally located in the Keys. The choice of walking to a few restaurants is also a great bonus. Looking forward to your next visit to our condo. Thanks again.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great location!

Guest: EMcC (Mississippi Gulf Coast)
Date of Stay: 06/18/11 Review Submitted: 07/22/11

We had a great time! Every morning I snorkeled while the others slept in. Then, I'd have breakfast and go fish from the dock. That really spoiled me, especially when I landed a 4 ft. Nurse shark the day before we left. The sunsets were beautiful. The property was gorgeous and well maintained. The location was convenient (easy in and out, close to everything in Marathon, and everything in the Keys was within an hour's drive).

Owner response:Happy to hear you had a great time at our condo. Thank you for your review. We too love the central location of the condo, sitting on the balcony and enjoying the beautiful sunsets in the evening. It's a great place to relax, fish, snorkel and just get away from it all.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

Planning our return trip already!

Guest: Ron & Deb (Croydon, PA)
Date of Stay: 04/30/11 Review Submitted: 05/11/11

This was our first time using home away.com and we are so very pleased with our find! The site was very user friendly, and I will definitely use it again for other parts of the country. Every picture was true to detail, the condo was lovely, well kept, clean and had all the amenities you could ask for. I would highly recommend this condo, the owner Janet, was wonderful and easy to work with, very caring and had good advice on where to go and things to do. We didn't want to come home! We are already looking forward to a 2 week stay next year! (We'll book as soon as we figure out dates!) You definitely need a car, but everything you could want is an easy drive away. The pool was excellent, fishing from the dock was fun, and the view was the best ever! Sunsets were better from the balcony than from some of the restaurants that advertised sunsets! For a most relaxing vacation, and with lots to do this is the place to go. There were lots of brochures on things to do and places to eat. Enjoy! We sure did!

Owner response:Thank you for your wonderful review about our condo. Delighted to hear you had a most relaxing vacation, and you were happy with the condo and its surroundings, and you found everything was an easy drive away. That's what is so great about being in Marathon -- it's centrally located to everything in the Keys -- beaches, sightseeing, shopping and some of the best restaurants. We're very appreciative of your comments, and look forward to having you as our guests sometime in the future. Thank you again. The Cunninghams

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

MARATHON WINNER

Guest: ROGER (East Wenatchee, Washington)
Date of Stay: 12/05/10 Review Submitted: 12/16/10

My wife and I stayed following a cruise. The listing description for this condo was the most accurate of any location we have ever visited. A spotless unit, comfortable, well equipped, and in a great location. Any destination in the Keys is easily accessible from Marathon. The visitor center is located just one block south. Sunset Grill, oceanside at the north end of Seven Mile Bridge, overlooks the water, has excellent food, and a view of the sunset. Their coconut shrimp was delicious. Janet was a pleasure to deal with. She has thought of every possible amenity to make staying in this Gulfpointe condo a remarkable experience. Highly recommended!!

Owner response:Thank you for a beautiful review and recommendation to our future guests. We too enjoy the Sunset Grill -- it's a perfect location to enjoy the sunset, have a great meal, and is among one of the several wonderful restaurants Marathon has to offer. We appreciate your comments and were very delighted to have you as our guests at Gulfpointe.

Recommended for:Age 55+.

PARADISE FOUND!

Guest: rosie (massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 10/09/10 Review Submitted: 11/06/10

There's nothing better than staying at a place where your every desire has been thought of and Janet's condo does this and more.From fishing poles to binoculars she has thought of everything you could want.Central in the keys it's an easy ride to Key West or Key Largo. Within a few miles there are restaurants, groceries and beaches.Sparky's Landing has happy hour 4-6 with .25 cent shrimp cocktails and buffalo wings and their regular menu is great as well. Lazy Days restaurant had the most incredible fish dishes I have ever tasted and the Colony Key Inn had fabulous Italian food (who would have thought?) We had a fabulous time at the condo,which was immaculate, secure and very comfortable. My husband absoutely loved it and we want to return a.s.a.p.!

Owner response:Thank you for a fantastic review about our condo and the Keys. It's so nice to hear that our guests enjoy the condo and all its amenities and also enjoy eating out at the many different and wonderful restaurants the Keys offer -- great recommendations too. Thanks again for being our guests.

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