Vacation Rentals by Owner

Just Right

Guest: Vickie&Terry (Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 01/01/12 Review Submitted: 03/01/12

This was a great fit for us. My husband stayed for 2 months and had his boat right there, with easy access to fishing. The neighbors could not have been nicer. I visited 3 times and could launch our kayaks from the property and paddle down the canal to the big water. The Square Grouper bar and grill became our regular destination and was walkable too. The owner was always available if we had questions. We booked for next year.

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

Guest: Cheryl Cidern (Brick, NJ)
Date of Stay: 01/12/10 Review Submitted: 01/12/10

Thank you for allowing us to stay in your home. As always, the home was clean, spacious and beautifully kept. It was great to be close to Key West without having it in our backyard, especially with two kids. Having all the amenities of home allowed us to enjoy some dinners on the patio. Our son enjoyed fishing off the canal while I enjoyed Bahia Honda State Park Beach. As we have made your home our yearly vacation spot, I will definitely be calling you to return. Thank you again.

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Guest: John & Jeannie Wierman (Goose Creek SC)
Date of Stay: 08/19/09 Review Submitted: 08/19/09

We enjoyed our stay at your beautiful home. The house was clean, in a great location, quiet,peaceful, and the price was very reasonable. We will definitely be return visitors and will recommend your place to our friends.

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Guest: Paul and Tracy1 (Brick, New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 06/18/09 Review Submitted: 06/18/09

Lois and Ed, Thanks so much for renting your wonderful home to us. We go to the Keys several times every year and this was by far the BEST! Your home is very clean, comfortable and had everything someone could possible need. Your location is wonderful, it took us 18 minutes to get to Key West. We were able to enjoy the partying without having it right outside our door! We enjoyed our cocktails, dinners and breakfasts on your deck with waterviews in every direction. We will definately be back and you CANNOT beat the price!!!A++++++++

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Guest: Laurie & Mike
Date of Stay: 05/26/09 Review Submitted: 05/25/09

Lois and Ed, We had a wonderful time at your beautiful place in the Keys. It was hard to leave. We have decided warm weather trumps the cold hands down and will probably go for it again next year. Your place was as nice as you described it on VRBO. Thank you for sharing it with us. Laurie and Mike

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Guest: Joan M.
Date of Stay: 01/14/09 Review Submitted: 01/13/09

My husband and I wanted to thank you for letting us rent your house. It was perfect, much nicer than the house our family rented on Big Pine. Thanks again. Joan

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Guest: Derek DeGutis (Lanoka Harbor, NJ)
Date of Stay: 09/11/08 Review Submitted: 09/11/08

Well.... what can we say except WOW & THANK YOU!!! My wife and I stayed in your home to extend a business trip, that was the best 5 days of the trip... The back porch was AWESOME with a nice bottle of wine and the nice breeze.. Your home had all the amendities one could ask for. My wife was so excited to be away and it was her first trip to the Keys, your home was the Icing on the Cake for her!!! We definitly will be back in the Spring we hope!!!! Thanks again and will and would highly recomend!!!! Derek & Casandra

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Guest: Melissa & Steven
Date of Stay: 08/26/08 Review Submitted: 08/25/08

Lois, We missed Shangri-La the minute we left and headed back home. We really enjoyed staying in your home. It was a great place to come back to after a long hot day on the water. My son and husband enjoyed the fishing holes they found, and the spear-fishing opportunities they encountered. I enjoyed diving Looe Key. My daughter Charise and I had a five shark encounter that she is still talking about. It was her first time diving there, and she had never spotted a shark on a dive before. We also got to see 2 absolutely gorgeous spotted rays majestically gliding through the reef during the dive. We took the boat out on the bay nearly everyday to see the sunset. Sunsets are always beautiful, but when they set (and reflect) on the water they become spectacular. We also got brave a took our boat out fishing at night for the first time ever. We caught our limit of yellowtail everytime we went out. One night, we stupidly did not check the forecast and got caught in a horrific storm, but even the harrowing 8 mile ride back in (pitch black with 4-5 ft. seas) was an experience we will be talking about for a long time. We spent alot of time out at Content Key. Whether snorkeling or diving, fishing, spear-fishing or lobstering - Content Key satisfied us all. We have had several grouper and hogfish dinners since we returned home, and we have lots of lobster yet to sample. We were fortunate to have fantastic visibility the entire week we were there. We drove to Islamarada one day and finished our back-to-school clothes school shopping for our son Christopher at the World Wide Sportsman. We also spent our last afternoon/evening in Key West walking through Mallory Square. We truly miss being at Shangri-la. Thanks for everything, Melissa

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Guest: S. Nendze
Date of Stay: 08/14/08 Review Submitted: 08/13/08

Dear Lois & Ed, Just a quick note to let you know what a wonderful time we had at your "Shangri-La" home! We just arrived back home in Citrus county florida and of course are all exhausted from the long drive. However, our stay at your house on Cudjoe was fantastic even inspite of our rough start. Your home was comfortable, spacious, awsome location, wonderful neighbors, and with all the amenities we needed. The kitchen was stocked with all the utensils needed to cook many homemade meals and large enough to do so with more than one cook in the kitchen at a time:) The gas grill was gassed up and ready to go and was so nice to compliment our dining experience in the keys:) I can't say enough nice things about your home and our stay there. We would like to stay there again next summer, but this time for a month. What is your monthly rate in July, August, or even September (I home school my three boys)? Thank you again for sharing your home with us. We really enjoyed our stay and intend to return. Finally we found a place we want to go each summer we go to the keys! Sincerely, S. Nendze

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Guest: R. Harfst
Date of Stay: 04/21/08 Review Submitted: 04/20/08

Dear Ed and Lois:Thank you for your timely return of the security deposit on the rental of your home in Cudjoe Key. It was only one indication of the generally businesslike and efficient manner with which you handled this rental. Jo Ann and I have rented homes and/or apartments both in the United States and in Europe. It’s always an exciting and somewhat unpredictable venture. Right from the beginning your dealings with us were helpful and reassuring. This knowledgeable approach to long distance rental continued without interruption through the conclusion of our rental and the return of the security deposit. We are, shall I say, knowledgeably grateful.Your neighbor was very generous with his information and thoughts on various matters, Fort Jefferson, diving possibilities, best way to approach Looe Key, common sense kinds of issues that are necessary at the beginning of a venture in a new area. He was very helpful and proved to be a very pleasant neighbor. We read all of your information, both mailed to me originally and also in notebook form at the house itself with great interest. It produced a number of experiences which made our visit there memorable. Among them the trip to the Dry Tortugas, the Conch Train and especially two meals at the Square Grouper stand out in my mind.My family and I have been in the Keys five times since the late 80’s. Shangri-La, is the best rental that we have had there from many number of different standpoints, structure, furnishings, location, the list goes on and on. Suffice to say that we were and are very appreciative both of your handling of this rental and of Shangri-La itself.Thank you for the opportunity to spend our vacation in a home in which you have clearly invested a great deal of time and effort both in creation and in maintenance.With best wishes, speaking for our party of four, I am,R. Harfst

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Guest: Perry
Date of Stay: 04/16/08 Review Submitted: 04/15/08

Thank you. We had a good time, all went well. Everything was there that you would need. All kitchen utensils, bedroom and bath linens and towels were there. Nice to have a canal at the back of the house, marina for putting boat in very close by. Neighbor was helpful with boating information too. Cudjoe Key is a great location, beautiful water, very close in to Key West, great vacation spot. (comments submitted directly to owner from guest)

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Guest: Debi and Dale (Corydon, IN)
Date of Stay: 03/25/08 Review Submitted: 03/25/08

You have a very beautiful setting. The house was very roomy and comfortable. We found it a quiet change from Spring Break on Key West-exactly what we were looking for. Thanks again!

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Guest: Susan W.1 (Charleston, SC)
Date of Stay: 02/19/08 Review Submitted: 02/19/08

I've been meaning to email you. But, as usual, when we got home we had to hit the ground running. We had a wonderful time at your house! What a lovely spot. We did do a lot of kayaking and biking and eating. The water is so clear and shallow that we went all over the bay and saw plenty of nice fish: sharks, parrots,snappers, we even saw a flamingo on our last day!? He/she was out off of that little mangrove island to the left as you leave the canal. What a wonderful sight. Our vacation was so relaxing. Nothing at all like our stays in Key West. The neighbors were quiet and very nice too. The Square Grouper was great and Mangrove Mamas was also a favorite. We ate at the house a lot too. Having the fish market right down the street was really convenient. We will certainly be looking forward to staying there again next year and will recommend it to friends as well. Thank you again. Best, Susan

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Guest: Capt. Cindy Frank
Date of Stay: 02/15/08 Review Submitted: 02/14/08

We had a great time, your place was perfect. The wind was kicking most of the time but we did manage to get out and catch some yellowtail and mutton and mangrove snapper. We ate them all of course. We will pass the word onto friends about how nice your accommodations and area are.....we liked how off the beaten path it was compared to Big Pine, Marathon, etc. We may be calling you again about next year! (comments submitted directly to owner from guest) Thanks! Cindy Fair winds, calm seas and flying fish!

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Guest: Colleen O'Reilly
Date of Stay: 12/04/07 Review Submitted: 12/03/07

Lois and Ed, We had a great time. We returned home tonight, to Minnesota, to a lot of snow. Just wanted to drop a note and thank you for letting us rent your house. It was absolutely PERFECT!!! We all had a great time and wish we were still in Key West. You have a very nice place there. We did all the dishes before we left and started the laundry (sheets). We did not have any troubles at all and nothing went bad for us. Thanks again, what a wonderful place! (comments submitted directly to owner from guest) Thanks Colleen O'Reilly

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Guest: Ron L.
Date of Stay: 07/16/07 Review Submitted: 07/15/07

We had a very enjoyable vacation. You have a very nice place. We look forward to possibly going again next summer. The sunsets on the bay are beautiful! We found the neighbor to the north to be quite friendly and helpful. Also, the owner of the marina was quite hospitable. All in all, a very enjoyable experience. (comments submitted directly to owner from guest)

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Guest: Tom Bruhn (Harkers Island, NC)
Date of Stay: 05/15/07 Review Submitted: 05/15/07

The house was very comfortable, convenient, well equipped and as advertised. We enjoyed our stay very much.

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Guest: Gary M.
Date of Stay: 04/29/07 Review Submitted: 04/28/07

Just wanted to let you know that we thoroughly enjoyed our time at your home in Cudjoe Key. Your home is in a great location for us, is well furnished and everything that we used, worked. The only disappointment was that I didn't catch the tarpon I was hoping for - but there is next year! (submitted directly to homeowner by guest)

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Guest: Gary44 (-)
Date of Stay: 04/08/07 Review Submitted: 04/08/07

This is a lovely, clean, modern canal front home, well furnished and in a great location to enjoy the lower keys without the business of Key West - tho it is quite close enough if one wanted to take it in.

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Guest: Stanley Bishop (Hamilton NJ)
Date of Stay: 03/07/07 Review Submitted: 03/07/07

For my first extended stay in The Keys Shangri-La couldn't have been better. I like to fish so the proximity to Cudjoe Bay, convenient docking on the lagoon, and brief run to the reef was a great bonus for me. We appreciate the clean and neat style in which the house is kept, and very easy to keep clean. The spacious decks and screened in upper deck made for a very relaxing and enjoyable vacation for all of us! This was one of our most enjoyable vacations, we will surely want to return to Shangri-La!

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Guest: Gary42 (-)
Date of Stay: 01/03/07 Review Submitted: 01/03/07

Lois & Ed, I hope you had a great holiday! I had a great time at Shangri-La , the weather was very nice and the house was more than the pictures could ever show. The neighbors were very helpful and friendly. My family came down for the first week and wished they could stay longer. I was by myself the rest of the time, but found plenty to keep me entertained. I rented a kayak for the time I was there and spent most of the time out in the bay. I am planning on returning next January and will keep Shangri-La at the top of my list. Thank-you for allowing me to stay in such a beautiful home, Gary

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Guest: Ken
Date of Stay: 10/12/06 Review Submitted: 10/11/06

Thank you for the notice on the security deposit. Other than the weather and a minor lure accident, all was great with this year’s trip. We really enjoyed the house and thought it was extremely clean and comfortable. The one thing that we could have used is a fish cleaning table at the dock. Another suggestion we thought of was maybe to add another fridge or freezer (freezer might be better) to the downstairs porch for bait. That way your guests don’t trash or stink up your indoor fridge with bait and chum. Also, with your boat on the lift, it blocked much of the light from the house to the dock at night. When we came back in from a night trip, the shadow from your boat made it a little difficult to see sometimes. We had lights on the boat, so it was not all that bad. Please don’t think I am criticizing the house, because I am not. We had a great time and really enjoyed the house. I’ve been making this trip for about 20 years and this is definitely one of the cleanest, nicest homes we have rented. I just thought I would point out some of the things we noticed, in case you were looking to add to the house. (comments were submitted directly to homeowner from guest) Regards,Ken

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Guest: Bill and Carolyn
Date of Stay: 08/22/06 Review Submitted: 08/21/06

Carolyn and I wanted to thank you for the rental of your home in the Keys. We cannot begin to tell you how much we enjoyed our time there. We found the accommodations exactly as described, and exactly what we had hoped for. I also would like to inquire if the house has been booked for the same time period next year. We are beginning to think about our plans for next year. Please let us know. (Guest submitted comments directly to homeowner) Thank you again, Bill and Carolyn

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Guest: jim fisher1 (punta gorda fl)
Date of Stay: 08/15/06 Review Submitted: 08/15/06

this was the first time staying in the cudjoe area. the home was great,clean and cool. we had no problems with the home at all and would recommend this rental to our friends. jim fisher

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Guest: Miquel
Date of Stay: 07/08/06 Review Submitted: 07/07/06

Our stay at your place was wonderful as it allowed our family to relax and enjoy the beautiful Keys. This was especially memorable as we had the opportunity for the first time to meet and get to know the fiance of our eldest son Erik, whose wedding we celebrated yesterday. Your place provides all the facilities needed by travelers like us on extended trips, like the washer/dryer, and having special touches such as the grill on which to prepare delicious local fish makes a distant place seem more like home. We also much enjoyed the screened deck for reading and relaxing, and the open deck for sunning. Thank you for making your place available to us. (comments were submitted directly to homeowner from guest)

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Guest: Randy
Date of Stay: 06/29/06 Review Submitted: 06/28/06

We had a blast...thank you. I was surprised about the trees & plants that were lost due to the hurricanes and also the new homes to the left. Your neighbors are from my neck of the woods here in Jacksonville.

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Guest: Gregg
Date of Stay: 06/05/06 Review Submitted: 06/04/06

Loved your place. We had a great time. Weather was great, diving was great. We managed 7 dives and 4 offshore fishing trips. (submitted directly to owner from guest) Gregg

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Guest: Scott M.
Date of Stay: 05/29/06 Review Submitted: 05/28/06

We had a great time at your house. The house was very nice, clean and well equiped. The two of us spent most of the time boating and fishing. Had a few sucessful days fishing and many fun days in the keys. (submitted directly to owner from guest)

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Guest: Tisdahl/Lattier
Date of Stay: 05/17/06 Review Submitted: 05/16/06

We stayed at your place 2 years ago. We loved it. I saw you are booked for the time we requested but if you have a cancellation please think of us. Oh yeah, we loved your place so much we moved to Miami from Chicago. Thanks!!!! (submitted directly to owner from guest)

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Guest: STEVEN AND JENNY (EAGAN MINNESOTA)
Date of Stay: 05/16/06 Review Submitted: 05/16/06

DEAR EDWARD AND LOIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US SUCH A GRACIOUS VISIT IN YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME IS CLEAN AND BRIGHT, CHEERFUL AND SPACIOUS AND MOST IMPORTANT PRIVATE. A PERFECT SETTING FOR A VERY RELAXING GETAWAY. ALL THE AMENITIES NEEDED RIGHT THERE IN THE HOME. IT TRULY WAS THE BEST! THANK YOU AGAIN. SINCERLY STEVE AND JENNY.

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Guest: Thomas Tully (Hampton Bays, New York)
Date of Stay: 04/19/06 Review Submitted: 04/19/06

I just wanted to thank you for accommodating us with the rental. The house was great and we had a great time. I also want to thank Ed for calling and checking up to make sure that we had every thing we needed. He was very helpful and gave us great advise after our own plans to rent a boat fell through. His suggestions helped create a great vacation. We are already looking forward to next year for another trip if the house is available

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Guest: dee dee (Alton Bay, NH)
Date of Stay: 01/12/06 Review Submitted: 01/12/06

Very clean and spacious, with all the comforts of home. Owners very accommodating at the last minute. We rented this home with only 1 weeks notice and everything went very smoothly. I would highly recommend this home for a family vacation or group of friends, but it does not provide needed privacy for a honeymoon couple or romantic getaway.

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Guest: l. muranga (pt pleasant nj)
Date of Stay: 01/09/06 Review Submitted: 01/09/06

A very nice place to vacation. Very clean & spacious and all the necessities. Enjoyed the restaurants in the area and had lots of fun in Key West! Will definitely be back.

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Guest: Kim175 (Jacksonville, FL)
Date of Stay: 12/12/05 Review Submitted: 12/12/05

The property was fantastic and the owners were accomodating with last minute plans due to Hurricane Katrina. Our original rental property getting destroyed was a blessing in disguise. The property was clean, private and very nicely done. The owners take as much pride in their rental property as one would of their everyday home. I would definitely stay here again. Thank you for a memorable vacation.

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Guest: Ann Lirette (-)
Date of Stay: 07/16/05 Review Submitted: 07/16/05

The house was very comfortable and perfect for a family getaway. We enjoyed trying to identify the different types of birds, fish, and other animals. We went kayaking daily in the bay and enjoyed snorkeling and diving at Looe Key often. We'll definately return.

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Guest: Henry Sitron (Elkins Park, PA)
Date of Stay: 03/17/05 Review Submitted: 03/17/05

We have been here since 1/1/05 and are enjoying this clean and easy to care for property. The owners are are careful to to keep this home in top shape.

Owner response:Looking forward to having you return again next season!

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Guest: Doug T.
Date of Stay: 04/03/04 Review Submitted: 04/02/04

Thanks again. You have a wonderful house! (comments submitted directly to owner from guest)

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