Beach Paradise on the Gulf of Mexico

• First time to DI

  First time to DI

  • Guest L1960
  • Date of stay 05/11/13
  • Review Submitted 05/18/13
  We had a really great time staying here. The beach on the ocean side was a short walk across the street and the sound side was out the screened in back porch. Everything about the house was great. Saw dolphins and got lots of shells. The shrimp boats at night were cool. We had 5 people and 2 dogs and has more than enough room. Looking forward to our next visit.

  Recommended for: Pet owners, families with young children.

  Owner response: Hey that's great! Wonderful we could host a fun vacation for y'all. Please come back and enjoy, thanks for the kind words about our home, we love it too. Sincerely, Jim and Val

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• The ultimate relaxing vacation getaway!

  The ultimate relaxing vacation getaway!

  • Guest Lisa152
  • Date of stay 12/08/12
  • Review Submitted 12/13/12
  Like so many other Dauphin Island visitors, I came to DI as a child with my family during the summer. Summer is fun, but off-season is absolutely peaceful. Staying at Set Sail makes the getaway even that much better! This is one of the nicest homes on Dauphin Island. Although it is on the bay side of the main road, it is effectively on both the bay and the gulf. It is truly the best of both worlds. The bay offers a certain quiet peacefulness, more birds to watch, and a calm place to hang out in a hammock (added since the photos). We sat in the covered dock during a light rain, reading and enjoying the afternoon. Set Sail is just across from the beach, has wonderful views of both sunrise and sunset, and the full wraparound deck is perfect. We came in December 2012, with chilly weather but mostly sunshine. The gas fireplace really adds to the home's appeal and each evening we've used it. We have had no problems at all with the Internet, have enjoyed the huge kitchen and nearby year round seafood market, Skinners. We enjoy cooking and have had all that we needed to cook various dishes. There is plenty of dining room for all who can slep here...it is a large house. I have no reservations about highly recommending Set Sail and the owners. We will be back, and next time will bring more of our family with us!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Ready to come back--one of the best family vacations!!

  Ready to come back--one of the best family vacations!!

  • Guest Dee
  • Date of stay 06/16/12
  • Review Submitted 06/27/12
  Set Sail is a place all ages can enjoy. Choice of tidal pond on Sound side or waves on the Gulf side, wrap around porch, downstairs shower to wash sand off, sun deck, pavillion on pond(shade), roomy kitchen and living area, each bedroom opens to porch. Fishing, crabbing, looking for shells along the beach, relaxing(napping) on porch--'living the sweet life'! Summer vacation like when I was a kid. Old and young, in-laws and out-laws--we all enjoyed our time on Dauphin Island. A minor repair was promptly taken cared of during our stay--our thanks to the management on that. We can't wait to come back. See you next year.

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

  Owner response: Dear Denise, Thank you for your feedback, it's always nice to hear, and glad management was able to help you out quickly, they are the best, we couldn't do it without them! We certainly hope you come back, again, and again, and again :-) Jim and Val Cash

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Ready to come back!

  Ready to come back!

  • Guest Missing the Beach
  • Date of stay 03/10/12
  • Review Submitted 04/03/12
  We had an incredible time on Spring Break with our 3 kids and 2 dogs. Very roomy and the view from the living room was amazing to look out on the sound side or across the street at the Gulf. Our kids were able to walk so far out on the sand barges we could hardly see them and the water was only up to their knees, they did this everyday for hours, on the Gulf side we had the beach to ourselves. The kids tried to bring every sea shell home but we couldn't bring that many. The rooms were large and the kitchen was huge with plenty of seating. We got fresh seafood caught daily from Skinner's down the road and the Common Loon Cafe was great and the kids enjoyed it. Our 15 yr old son asked "Next time we want to go to the beach, can we come here?" So we are redy to come back. Any discounts for return guests? Thank You for sharing your piece of paradise with our family.

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

  Owner response: Thank you so much for letting us know how much you enjoyed your stay! I know what you mean about staying on the beach for days - our 5 yr old grandson was with us at Thanksgiving at Set Sail and spent hours with a little plastic shovel playing in the sand every day and was happy as a lark :-)

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

• What A Perfect House and Location for a Wonderful family get-together!!!

  What A Perfect House and Location for a Wonderful family get-together!!!

  • Guest Melinda
  • Date of stay 08/13/11
  • Review Submitted 08/23/11
  We stayed at Set Sail for 7 nights last week and had the BEST time! The house was in a perfect location with no houses immediatly next door like many on the island have. We had 3 families with a total of 5 adults and 3 kids and a baby and had plenty of room to not feel cramped. The kitchen was fabulous and super roomy so we could all help out with the meals and everything was there that we needed. The shower under the house was fabulous so we could clean off the kids before they tracked the sand in the house and they thought it was neat to have a shower outside :) I recommed it to everyone that wants a beautiful, quiet, peaceful vacation/beach house on the most wonderful, quaint island destination!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Vacation you'll always love to remember

  Vacation you'll always love to remember

  • Guest Tim
  • Date of stay 10/16/10
  • Review Submitted 11/19/10
  If you want to have a peaceful relaxing vacation, then Set Sail is the place for you. With water on both sides of you it's a place like no other. The beaches are white and soft like sugar. It was so quiet we though we might be the only ones on the island. The home is spacious with a great kitchen and an open floor plan with two living areas. Plenty of room for 2 families if that's what you need. There's a nice wrap around deck to enjoy the island and water views. There's also lots to do on the island and surrounding town. We really enjoyed our time we spend on Set Sail. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a wonderful vacation you will always have fond memories of.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 9/9

• Set Sail stands alone

  Set Sail stands alone

  • Guest Island fans
  • Date of stay 03/24/10
  • Review Submitted 04/07/10
  Looking for Island Time? Set Sail is the perfect hostess! This home is bright, sunny, simply decorated – no need to fret with little ones. Comfortable and open – The French doors in each bedroom welcomes the ocean breeze. You can hear the waves crash as you sleep, the island sun warms you awake. Cook in a kitchen to die for and eat under the stars behind a screened porch. Walk along the beach, collect buckets of shells and dry them along the deck railing that wraps around the house. (A great way to see your collection grow) Having never been to Dauphin Island before, my goal was to find a home that provided a Minnesota family a beach experience that could melt a 20 below zero day - before and after our visit. Our motto for this vacation was “Let’s do nothing … and take a nap afterward.” We had Skinner’s shrimp and shore lunches everyday, flew a kite over the ocean, had Humdinger’s at the Island Rainbow (by the way their pizza really is the best pizza in the world – not to be missed), found shells piled on top of each other, waiting to be picked up and brought somewhere else. And best of all, this home offers you plenty of space both inside and out. There is not another house blocking your view or even right next door. Set Sail stands alone. We came to the island as stranger’s … we left feeling “SOUL” good. We’ll be back.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 10/10

Fall 9/8/2012 - 11/30/2012: $1550/week
Winter 12/1/2012 - 3/15/2013: $1000/week, $2200/month
Spring 3/16/2013 - 5/17/2013: $1550/week
Summer 5/18/2013 - 8/2/2013: $1995/week
Late Summer 8/3/2013 - 9/6/2013: $1750/week
Fall 9/7/2013 - 11/30/2013: $1550/week
Fees:$100 pet; $40 damage; $95 cleaning; $25 booking 11% lodging tax (on base rate

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