Reviews for Marathon Vacation Rental - VRBO 217104ha - 2 BR Marathon Area House in FL, 2 BR Florida Keys Home & Private Island Pkg W/ Boat, Kayaks & Snorkel Gear

Private Home, boat and Island

Guest Leisa from St. Louis, Mo
Date of stay 06/24/12
Review Submitted 07/08/12

Just returned from a “Fantastic” week at 6th street home including our own private boat and island (exclusive to this home). Wish we could have stayed forever. This was definitely our best vacation to date (a bucket list vacation). I would describe it as all inclusive; a lovely home with all the comforts of home and a rustic private island with our own private boat. I say the island is rustic, but the island contained lots of shade, picnic table, hammock, a gas grill, eco-friendly restroom, and a cottage to get out of the elements if desired. The property managers Jim and John were extremely friendly, helpful, and always returned my calls to insure our trip was perfect. This property is setup so that you can fly in and enjoy your stay. For the guests use they have snorkels and fins, coolers, fishing poles, life jackets, wakeboards, and several kayaks on the island. The snorkeling and fishing around the island was so fantastic that there was no need to “pay” a local outfit to take you on a “crowded” trip. The home location was convenient to Kmart, Grocery Stores, and great restaurants. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely home and island retreat with us!

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

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Amazing!

Guest Daniela
Date of stay 10/27/11
Review Submitted 10/30/11

November, 2011 I have to say that this was really the best vacation ever! We got to relax & have fun with the family. The house was comfortable and clean but our favorite part was the island! My father in law that is a boat captain & marine mechanic insisted on fishing from the boat as we would get more fish and after not so much luck and 3 days later the crew decided to try from the dock at the island (like me and the kids have insisted!) we got so much snapper from the dock that not only we were able to cook our own fresh fish but bring some back home! It is also pet friendly so we really got to bring the hole family including the hairy ones (they enjoy it as much as we did) This is a place that will make you forget of any stress and you wish you can stay there! The location is excellent close to everything like supermarkets, restaurants (there is a small fishery/restaurant right on the outside main road with great fresh seafood and a very friendly staff not to mention the food was awesome!), not a bad drive to key west if you want to go out at night. We just cant wait on going back! Daniela S.

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

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Our best family vacation ever!

Guest stephanie k.
Date of stay 07/23/11
Review Submitted 07/31/11

We had such a wonderful time on this vacation, I just wanted to take the time to comment on this property. We stayed during mini-lobster week and had such a great time diving for lobster off the island, it was great. We traveled with several children and this island is the best place for kids. The kids caught crabs, fished from the dock, snorkeled every day, traveled around the island in kayaks and just had a generally fun time playing in the mangroves and exploring the island. They have been talking about their "private Island" since we got home. Location was great for exploring the rest of the keys as well. An hour or so from key west or key largo, so we were able to go to both as well as Bahia Honda park for a great beach. Lots to do around here for kids. The kids really liked the Theater by the Sea in Islamorada. It was nice having the boat to just run out to the island and back to the main house whenever we wanted to. The property manager "Kokomo Joe" really made our vacation special. He was always around for advice, to help us with the boat, he even found us fishing poles for the kids and helped the kids chop a fresh coconut up with a machete. They really thought that was special. The house is small but very clean and well maintained, the manager came several times throughout the week to clean the outside and the yard and make sure everything was in order. Having the washer and dryer was very helpful with all of the children. It was also nice having the full kitchen to cook meals. Not a fancy place but a great base for your vacation to sleep, cook meals, do laundry and shower. I definitely would recommend to anyone with children, they will love the island. We saw snapper, nurse sharks, spiny lobster, crabs, sea urchins, many types of coral and fish while snorkeling. Caught fish easily off the dock at the island. No sandy beaches on the island, but there are several very close by in marathon if you want. Coco Plum is a nice beach and they let dogs go there, Annies Beach in Islamorada was nice, Bahia Honda is a white sand beach and good snorkeling for little kids, and Sombrero Beach right in Marathon was very nice with white sand and a playground for the kids. Really a vacation to remember for us. The kids haven't stopped talking since we got home.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Owner response: We are so happy to you here your family had such an amazing trip. We pride ourselves on providing great costumer service, a wonderful atmosphere, and a all around amazing experience. We hope everyone will try out this unique vacation that will be garunteed to be an experienced unlike any other!!!

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Family Vacation

Guest Mikki
Date of stay 07/09/11
Review Submitted 06/12/12

We were very nervous about what our vacation was going to be like. We drove our 4 kids (ages 11, 10, 9, &8) down to the Keys from Birmingham not knowing how things were going to go. I have to say, from the moment we pulled into the driveway to the moment we left at the end of our week was the BEST 7 days of our lives!!! The house served as our landing pad and the island served as our main place to play, it worked out perfectly!!! The "Johns" were very helpful and were there immediately to take care of any problems. Actually, the only problem we had was with the boat that took us to the island but it was taken care of very quickly and did not delay us in anyway. The house is very basic but served all of our needs. The island house served as a shelter and a place to house our food while there. However, we did not use the island house much as we spent most of our time outside. The kids did NOT argue one time while on this vacation- that should sum it up for most families. There was so much to do, they caught hermit crabs, snorkeled, kayaked (BTW- all of the kids were kayak experts by the time we left), jumped off the dock, swam, fished... it was endless. The days we did not go to the island we explored the beaches around the Keys and made a day trip to the Miami Zoo (I highly recommend)!!!! If you are looking for a great family get away without all of the bells and whistles (that seem to distract from the together time) then this will really fit the bill. We will return to "our" island!!!!!

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

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FUN IN THE KEYS

Guest TPMac
Date of stay 08/09/08
Review Submitted 01/14/09

Myself and my teen daughters, who each brought a friend, took our first trip to the Keys and LOVED IT. It was a very fun and relaxing experience! First, we were impressed with the knowledge, assistance and friendliness of Rick, Property Manager, who met us upon our arrival. He helped us get acquainted with the area and get our luggage in. The home was roomy, clean and bright - very tropical! Exactly what we expected. Furniture was comfortable and clean, we were pleased that we had internet service. While we didn't watch much TV, cable was available. Kitchen had a big table for dining and playing games. The bathroom/shower served our needs and was clean. Plenty of towels were availabloe, and the washer and dryer were a nice touch. We spent more time outside than in - the yard was great for grilling and sunning. Rick also showed us how to operate the boat and showed us how to get to our island! We spent many exciting days at our "private island" The cottage provided relief from the sun when we needed it. The swimming and snokeling were AWESOME - saw so many fish and creatures. Water was clear and warm! The boat was perfect for commuting to the island and enjoying the underwater show along the way. We saw fish - manatee - lobsters - crabs - dolphins - WOW! The location is perfect for visiting Key West or any of the Keys towards the mainland. The local sights and eateries were fantastic, lots of fresh fish and seafood! We are going back - it was a good price and they were very easy to work with. All questions were answered and information was readily available. We had a great time!

Recommended for: Families with teenagers

Owner response: Great!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/7

Functional

Guest FourGirls
Date of stay 06/09/08
Review Submitted 11/16/08

The exterior of the house was as described & shown. Inside, cleanliness & comfort were issues: the shower curtain liner in the tiny bath was covered in mold, the very uncomfortable and small sofa in the living room was so soiled that we wouldn't sit on it unless we threw a blanket over it first. The beds had all seen better days & were sagging & not comfy-they need to be replaced. The clothes dryer burned our clothes, even on a low setting. No complaints about the neighborhood-it was mixed as most Keys neighborhoods are and we didn't really spend much time at the house - except to sleep. Pam is very helpful & answered all our questions prior to arrival in a prompt, professional and courteous manner. Rick, the major domo, was really nice and very helpful. The private island looked much better as pictured than reality proved it to be-the interiors of the structures were dirty & smelled, the kayaks at the island were dirty & smelly so we didn't use them. The waters in this area are filled with sea grass-you have to go further South to get crystal clear water for swimming & snorkeling. However, having the little boat was nice because we could cruise around, throw out the dive flag and snorkel just about anywhere. Restaurant selection is not the best & cuisine was limited in this area. There is a little Italian place within walking distance that was good. Otherwise, be prepared to eat typical dressed up, same ol' fast food- like burgers, shrimp, etc..... or cook for yourself. We had good weather the entire stay & enjoyed travelling down the coast & going in to Key West. Strike Zone Charters in BPK gave us some very good snorkeling. Bahia Honda beach turned out to be our favorite place. We spent many of our days there swimming, snorkeling & having picnics. The water and area there are beautiful-it was so relaxing. You must have a car to get around. We weren't expecting to-die-for luxury on this trip, but this cute little house could really use a thorough cleaning & updated furniture for guest comfort.

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Owner response: Update: Since June 08, we changed property management companies and ongoing regular maintenance has improved. We continue to insure cleaning and maintenance is being preformed. In addition, the sofa in the living has been replaced, new washer and dryer, and the home's interior and exterior has been painted. New mattresses have be added. The cottage is a rustic structure on the island and we strive to keep it clean and cheerful!

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Relax and Enjoy

Guest LoRu
Date of stay 03/29/08
Review Submitted 04/08/08

We had a fabulous visit. The house was a great space for our family of 10. The four bedrooms and four bathrooms were clean and well kept. The pool was small and shallow, but perfect for our young children. Walking out on the dock to view the gulf was great and we were visited by many sea life including pelicans, lobsters, and a manatee. Very fun!

Recommended for: Families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 12/14

Guestbook Comment

Guest Anonymous
Date of stay 01/01/07
Review Submitted 01/07/07

We had a wonderful time at the two 4 bedroom houses in Marathon---the setting was beautiful, the houses were spacious and perfect for our family reunion, and the weather was unbelievably good. Everyone in our family (age range 6 months to 78 years) enjoyed our stay; the houses were great, and there were plenty of nearby attractions to keep everyone happy and occupied. We definitely recommend the houses to others! It was an unforgettable, wonderful way to close out the old year and bring in the new.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/7

Guestbook Comment

Guest Tanya Scholl
Date of stay 07/01/06
Review Submitted 07/06/06

We really enjoyed our time in Marathon. We enjoyed the island--what a nice addition to the water front home. We would definitely like to come back in the future!!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/3

Guestbook Comment

Guest Jessie & Linda Prado
Date of stay 05/01/05
Review Submitted 05/24/05

Jeanne, we had the most wonderful time in the keys. The island was great, we spent most of the time there, so peaceful. Snorkling was very good, we even saw a manatee swim under the dock, and four dolphins came up to the dock another day. Stingrays circled the island every day, they were very colorful. We will definetly come back again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest Maxine and Mike Rosen
Date of stay 01/01/05
Review Submitted 01/26/05

Thank you for allowing us to enjoy our island vacation in paradise!!! We and the dogs loved it and hope that you will allow us to come back again!!! Best, Maxine and Mike Rosen

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/2

Guest comment entered by owner

Guest Robinson
Date of stay 11/10/04
Review Submitted 11/09/04

Comments from survey sent when damage deposit returned. -Did you enjoy your trip to the Florida Keys? "Yes!!!" -Did our home meet your expectations? "Yes!!!" -Was the home clean when you arrived? "Yes!! John & Pat were great!" -Do you plan on staying in our Florida Keys homes again? "Yes, please..." -Any other comments. "We had a great time - no problems at all - great experience, would recommend to all. If you ever have any cancellations, let me know- I would love to go back. Thanks"

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Guest comment entered by owner

Guest Jackson
Date of stay 11/10/04
Review Submitted 11/09/04

Comments from survey sent when damage deposit returned. -Did you enjoy your trip to the Florida Keys? "Very much." -Did our home meet your expectations? "Yes." -Was the home clean when you arrived? "Yes." -Do you plan on staying in our Florida Keys home again? "Yes." -Any other comments? "Have some great pictures and a lot of great memories."

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Guest comment entered by owner

Guest N/A
Date of stay 09/06/04
Review Submitted 09/05/04

Welcome to our home. Please feel free to let us know your comments regarding your stay. 262-650-0246

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Vacation Rentals by Owner

2 BR Florida Keys Home & Private Island Pkg W/ Boat, Kayaks & Snorkel Gear [#32546] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (14)

Private Home, boat and Island

Private Home, boat and Island

Amazing!

Amazing!

Our best family vacation ever!

Our best family vacation ever!

Family Vacation

Family Vacation

FUN IN THE KEYS

FUN IN THE KEYS

Functional

Functional

Relax and Enjoy

Relax and Enjoy

Guestbook Comment

Guestbook Comment

Guestbook Comment

Guestbook Comment

Guestbook Comment

Guestbook Comment

Guestbook Comment

Guestbook Comment