Vacation Rentals by Owner

Ron & Gwen (Van Buren IN)

Guest: 7 days of heaven (Van Buren, Indiana)
Date of Stay: 03/24/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

What a beautiful home and a amazing view of the ocean from our bedroom window every morning. Coffee at the poolside while the grandkids did some fishing or swimming. The kitchen had everything needed to fix a grand meal, or we could just be a little lazy and dine at some great restaurants. We enjoyed our stay, but a week went to fast. Thanks Kate, for a time to remember in Marathon Keys.

Recommended for:Age 55+

Beautiful home!

Guest: Joc (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 03/10/12 Review Submitted: 03/22/12

Our family stayed at this beautiful home from March 10-17 2012 and had a wonderful stay. The home sits right on the ocean with an amazing view. We enjoyed BBQing and soaking in the pool every day! The home is well-decorated with unique sea-inspired art work throughout the house. We even had dolphins swim by one day! We loved our trip, and definitely recommend this house!

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

Beautiful home and setting

Guest: Barb (Kirkwood Mo)
Date of Stay: 02/25/12 Review Submitted: 03/09/12

We loved staying in this lovely home. First of all it was spotless when we arrived and such a relaxing and refreshing place to stay. The patio and pool area is amazing with the ocean as your backyard. We enjoyed eating many a meal on this great patio with this fabulous view. It is just like in the movies. We also took advantage of the great grill and all the house had to offer. This home is located in the center of the Keys which gives you easy access to anywhere you might want to go. It was a wonderful week in a wonderful home.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful home!

Guest: Rebecca (Grand Haven, MI)
Date of Stay: 04/02/11 Review Submitted: 05/11/11

Thank you Kate for the use of your beautiful home. It was a pleasure to stay in such a wonderfully maintained home. The pictures from the site don't do this property justice! The ocean view was extraordinary and with the beautiful weather and warm breezes we had the best vacation. The pool was a hit for our family; and the kids especially loved the mermaid. Your home is stocked with every kitchen necessity imaginable and was extremely easy to get used to! We didn't want to leave and will surely return to this paradise in the keys! Thank you for your generous hospitality!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Another wonderful week in Marathon

Guest: jd (new york)
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 03/11/11

Dear Kate I wrote a review in your guest book at the house but I just wanted to write you to let you know what a wonderful time we had again at your home. Everything was perfect and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. We love the why you have out fitted the house. We feel treated like we are family when we are at your home….wonderful furnishings, wonderful dishes and glasses and all we need in the kitchen. We are staying at Calini Beach in Sarasota Florida this week in a very nice condo but what a difference between you place and this one in regards to kitchen supplies……..You have spoiled us with your place. Saturday morning as we were preparing to leave we had two Dolphins right in front of your dock frolicking in the water………..it was too cute. Thanks again Eunice and family

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fabulous

Guest: Dave (CHicago)
Date of Stay: 01/22/11 Review Submitted: 03/11/11

WOW.......is all we can say......... Arrived late on Saturday and couldn’t believe what a wonderful home we had. Sunday we had a visit from a manatee........it was amazing to see this animal just swim right up to your dock and play there for about 5 minutes.........it took our breath away......... Thanks for being just what your ad says you are and providing such a wonder house for our stay. Dave

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful on All Counts

Guest: Dee and Peter (Reston, VA)
Date of Stay: 01/22/11 Review Submitted: 02/14/11

On our first full day, we were treated to a show by a Manatee that swam up to the dock, rolled over, and drank fresh water from the hose that we held off the end of the dock. He stayed for about 10-15 minutes, then swam away. We did not see him again after that but the birds (pelicans, gulls, doves, and many others) entertained us for the rest of our stay. The house is wonderful. It is well equipped; we lacked nothing. The view from the master bedroom and living room and kitchen can't be beat. It was a real treat to wake up each morning to see the sun rise out our window and to watch some of the fishing boats come back to port from their overnight outings. Proximity to excellent restaurants was also a treat. We walked the four blocks to Fish Tales a couple of times, a small restaurant with excellent food. But, beware: It closes at 6:30PM. We also enjoyed excellent meals at Barracuda, Herbies, Sparky's, Key Colony Inn, and Lazy Day's (excellent sunsets from here). We also went to the Sunset Grill, where we also enjoyed the sunset and drinks. Somewhat further away, in Big Pine Key, was the No Name Grill. It is hard to find, but a fun place where patrons have stapled dollar bills to every wall, ceiling, and rafter in the place. One of the real treats we had was to park the car at the southern end of Marathon (just before you begin to cross the 7 mile bridge) and walk the 2 miles across the old bridge to Pidgeon Key, stopping along the way to see rays, sea turtles, and sharks in the water below. Key West is less than an hour and a half away, a pleasant drive. We enjoyed seeing the "Truman White House," the Southern Most part of the U.S., and Mallory Square, the original center of Key West. It certainly helped that the weather was excellent during our stay in Marathon, about 60-70 degrees warmer than back home, and no snow.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

wonderful house and wonderful people

Guest: jd (new york)
Date of Stay: 12/11/10 Review Submitted: 03/12/11

We stayed at Million Dollar Baby for two weeks and wish we had booked two more. It just didn’t seem to be enough time. We had so much fun and the house was so perfect we didn’t want for anything. Kate and Mike are just the best property owners. The check in on us on our arrival and called during the week to make sure we were satisfied and that everything was going well. The house is awesome, clean and comfortable. We had the best night’s sleep ever in any hotel or rental house. I don’t cook but the kitchen had everything you could ever need. We had two barbecues, one charcoal for the fish my husband caught and one gas. Laura and I lounged on the patio reading and w on working on our tan or swam in the pool while the men were out fishing so we all had a fabulous time. We have already booked for next year and can’t wait to get back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Very Disappointed

Guest: Ryan (Virginia)
Date of Stay: 09/25/10 Review Submitted: 11/16/10

I was very disappointed to arrive at this property after a long day of travel to find that I could not access the property per the agreed upon terms and, when unable to reach the owner, had to check into a hotel for the first night at my own unreimbursed expense. In trying to resolve this problem, the owner was unpleasant, and content to blame me through a series of emails for calling a cell phone number (listed on the contract) upon my arrival at the property rather than a home phone number (granted, also listed on the contract). I would not return.

Owner response:I am grateful to address this dishonest renter. Ryan (in sheep’s clothing) arrived at our home at 8:30 pm on a Sat. night at the end of this past Sept. He was late checking in but this is OK as we offer our guests to check in using a coded lock box to retrieve a front door key for just this reason. Turns out our departing guest failed to return the key to the lock box (1st time every) and this is what caused the problem. Our house keeper lives 2 min away and all JW(the renter) had to do was call me at my land line home phone number that is listed BOLDLY at the very TOP of his contract and in min's he would have had a key and been in the house. Instead, he and his 3 friends saw this as an opportunity to pull a scam and drove to Key West (52min away) and checked into the Marriott $$$ hotel on Mallory square. At 9/25/2010 8:58:55 P.M. EST (taken directly from my saved email from him), JW sent me an email first alerting me to the Key problem. Then at 9:30 PM he placed a phone call BUT not to my HOME phone land line, but to my cell phone number that is listed only as a convenience, on the last page of the 3 page agreement. Sunday morning at 8am when I went on line and discovered his email, I rushed to call him extremely concerned (for him) over this situation. When asked why he hadn’t called me right away at my home that night before, he lied saying he had. Not SO. When I asked why he had driven so far from Marathon to Key West for a hotel room, he said Key West was the closest hotel they saw. When you visit Marathon you will see for yourself how ludicrous this statement is. He then nastily demanded (under threat of law suit) I reimburse him some $500.00 + for the 2 rooms he rented at the Marriott that night. I declined to answer his request till I check out his story. Once off the phone I called my housekeeper and had a new key in the lock box within mins. My cell phone, I keep in my car, was checked and the message from him at 9:30 pm the night before(it is archived) has him telling me that when he made that call, he had already checked into the Marriott and didn’t call me before doing so as he couldn’t find my phone numbers before then. SO he had made no effort to contact me, just went to Key West and was trying to get me to pick up the tab for it. I offer him a full refund to rent elsewhere but he refused to accept his money back. They stayed the week at my house without any other prob. He was a dirty renter, a bad guy. Never again and landlords beware.

Recommended for:

Great Home- Great Owners! Cant wait to visit again!

Guest: terri g. (Tucson, Arizona)
Date of Stay: 06/19/10 Review Submitted: 01/07/11

My extended family and I rented this lovely home in June of 2010. The home was everything the pictures and descriptions said it was! Lovely home, clean and most everything in working order. With a phone call or 2, everything that wasnt exactly perfect was taken care of. Owner was more than helpful and I feel we have become friends and I look forward to renting this home again and again. Unfortunately, I had to leave after just one day to tend to a medical emergency back home, everyone else stayed and had an incredible time. Thanks for the use of this wonderful home. Cant wait to get back to the Keys!

Owner response:Thanks Terry for such a lovely review of my home............I was so sad that you had to leave early but understood completely going to the aid of your injured son..........I sincerely hope he is doing well and I know the rest of your family stayed and looked after my home wonderfully. Realy cant wait for you to get back down here. Kate

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

Best Vacation Ever

Guest: Stan Switek (Huntington Beach, Ca.)
Date of Stay: 04/10/10 Review Submitted: 04/25/10

I've been fortunate to stay in some great places in my life. This has to be the best place ever. Perfect location. Fantastic views. Very comfortable in every respect. This place lacked nothing and was very well equipped. Dolphins feeding just off the dock in the mornings. A manatee & her baby swam up to the dock in the afternoon. A large shark swam by another day at sunset. My son caught a tremendous number of fish right off the dock. Surrounding area was uncrowded. People were friendly and helpful. Excellent restaurants. Great food stores and delis. The Cuban sandwiches are a must try. Owner was great to deal with. I would not hesitate to stay here again and look forward to an extended stay here in the future.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fishing in paradise

Guest: Hot tub (United Kingdom)
Date of Stay: 12/19/08 Review Submitted: 04/08/09

An excellent property matching the desription perfectly,well maintained. Perfect for peace and quiet,or as a base for sightseeing. Lots of restaurants nearby, Car required, Fish n Fun boat rentals near, great service, great fishing. Cook your catch on the barbeque provided. Try a Biplane flight from Marathon airport.

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/07 Review Submitted: 06/01/07

Best experience ever...we have rented many places around the world and this is our favorite now! 3 generations of family shared this house with ease. Simply the best decor, little elegant touches, and the sea grape tree on the patio was our anchor for dinner al fresco every night. Do not hesitate to book this house, it will change you! We want to sell everything and move to the keys!

Recommended for:

Guest: Mike & Janice (Weston, FL)
Date of Stay: 01/21/06 Review Submitted: 01/21/06

We stayed in this beautiful home August 2005 and can't wait to go back. The owners are a joy to work with and everything they say on the website is absolutely true about the home. Take them up on restaurant recommendations, they nailed it every time.

Recommended for:

Guest: Simon Milne (NyNy)
Date of Stay: 12/02/03 Review Submitted: 12/02/03

Sil-Keys you are wonderful Sil-Keys the house's divine Sil-Keys such a peaceful place I wish that you were mine. Had a awesome time, views to die for and the house! Really great. Thanks

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