Location: Islamorada, Islamorada Area, Florida Keys, Florida, USA (Upper Matecumbe Key; 90 minutes from Miami Int'l Airport) View Map
Accommodations: Cottage, 2 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 2 Baths (Sleeps 6-8)
The Kottage is a free-standing 2 bedroom/2 bath villa located on a small resort property nestled in a native hammock on Florida Bay. The Kottage is a “conch-style” cottage which was just completely remodeled and renovated and is completely new, from the tile floors to the new tongue-and-groove ceiling.
The property is directly on Florida Bay on Upper Matecumbe Key, and the Kottage is approximately 100 feet from the water. The Kottage is fully air-conditioned and has ceiling fans throughout. The bedrooms can accommodated up to 6 people and with the queen-size sofabed in the front room, two more. The appliances, and furniture are new.
We provide pillows, sheets, blankets, and towels and all of your cooking and eating utensils. A washer and dryer are provided for your convenience.
A television with cable tv, a VCR and DVD player, and a stereo are provided for rainy day entertainment. Smoking is not permitted inside the Kottage.
The property is beautiful, based in a native hardwood hammock, extending from US 1 to the bay. It has a protected boat basin which will accommodate boats up to 26 feet. There is a launching ramp for boats up to 17-18 feet, and a swimming area right off the property. Larger boats can be launched at one of several nearby ramps. Rental boats and fishing charters are available locally.
Guests renting the Kottage are able to visit the Village of Islamorada Founders Park with its olympic-size pool, beach, and ball fields. The nearby area has a multitude of restaurants, historic sites and nature preserves, shopping and many activities for children. Local shopping for clothing, souvenirs, and fishing and boating needs is plentiful. Grocery stores are convenient. There are several local attractions if you need a day out of the sun. Key West is a day-trip away.
Islamorada is the Sportfishing Capital of the World. You're minutes away from the best back country (bonefish, tarpon, permit, snook, redfish), blue water (sailfish, dolphin, wahoo, cobia) and reef fishing (grouper, snapper, yellowtail) in the entire Florida Keys. There is quick access to the ocean-side both east and west around the key. Fishing off of our jetty in the evening is alot of fun for the kids. Magnificant snorkeling and scuba diving sites abound in the local area. A wide range of boating activities are available year round since our area of the bay is well protected. Sea Kayacking and canoeing along our shoreline is popular. Of course water skiing and knee-boarding are a hit with the kids.
In addition to the rare and tropical flora which abounds on the property, the fauna which call the property home will entertain you during your stay. An osprey (called Ozzie by the locals) sits atop the trees in the area during the early evenings. We have an octopus in the marina who will look after your shrimp bucket if you leave it in the water. He may even play tug of war with you in the morning, and has been known to become a land animal when he is looking for a handout.
Pete, the Great White Heron, frequently stations himself on the seawall. When you have had a successful day fishing he always seems to have gotten the message and is waiting for you upon your return to the dock. Watch your fillets carefully. If you get diverted, you will see how fast these creatures can move where food is concerned. His cousins, the pelicans, are usually right behind him when the fish cleaning begins and are just as brazen. And don’t be surprised if you walk out to the boat basin and find Izzie, the Iguana sunning himself .
The Kottage is an unique place, and the people who visit, both owners and guests, feel very special about the property. The privacy is wonderful, the accommodations are new and clean, the property peaceful, and the access to the fishing is the best in the Keys, indisputably. We hope you will also find it as special as have we, and will add your name to the growing list who return to enjoy the most gorgeous sunsets and the best fishing and diving in the world.
The Keys Kottage generally rents for 1 week intervals, from Saturday to Saturday. If the Keys Kottage is what you are looking for, please contact us and to reserve the dates. The reservation will be confirmed upon receiving a check for 25% of the total cost of the rental including tax and security deposit.
We look forward to your visiting our little piece of paradise, and are sure you will have a wonderful and special visit. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at any time.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning: Brand new Mitsubishi split airconditioning throughout the Kottage
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking: Assigned parking place conveniently located next to Kottage
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer: Boattrailer parking available
- Beds
- Queen Bed: Master bedroom
- Twin/Single Bed: 2 twin trundle beds in second bedroom, sleeping 4 in individual beds
- Convertible Bed: Queen-size sofa bed in living room
- Crib: Available with advance notice
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: Fully equipped with new appliances
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- View/Location
- Waterfront, not Lake/Oceanfront. Ask for details: The property is directly on Florida Bay. The Kottage is approximately 100 feet from the marina.
- Communications
- Telephone
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Spacious Deepwater Boat Basin and Launching Ramp. Rental includes free dock space for one boat under 26 feet in length.
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly: Well behaved dogs welcome. No cats or birds, please.
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Parasailing
- Jet Skiing
- Swimming
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Sport fishing paradise, including flats fishing for bonefish and permit, back country fishing for redfish and tarpon, reef fishing for snapper, grouper and yellowtail and blue water fishing for sailfish, dolphin (mahi mahi), wahoo, cobia and marlin, all within 15 minutes of our marina.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
$1295/week (up to 4 adults); $60/person/night (over 4).
Rates DO NOT include Taxes (12.5%) & Refundable $100 Security Deposit.
Special Fall Rate of $1095/week Labor Day through the week before Thanksgiving.
Special Discounts for multiple weeks. Deposit of $500 to hold the
reservation. Balance due 6 weeks before arrival.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 1991
Why the Owner Chose Islamorada
We were introduced to this property in 1984 by very close friends, Phyllis & Bob Mitchell (VRBO#34491) who had just purchased their unit. It was love at first sight, the open views of Florida Bay, the magnificent sunsets, the privacy and great boating facilities. It took 7 years for another unit to come up for sale and when it did we jumped on it in 1991. In fact, it took two years to completely remodel the unit, every weekend and vacation. We enjoyed being there so much that when we finished and began to rent the Keys Kottage to special guests we had to buy another unit (VRBO# 72385) and start all over again, just so we could spend our free time there. In 2008 we completed a total renovation of the Keys Kottage with new everything from floor (actually sub-floor) to ceiling making it brighter and more comfortable than ever before.
The Unique Benefits at this Cottage
The Keys Kottage, and the property we know as Holiday House, is a unique property unlike almost anything in the keys. It is small and private, yet the owners and guests who vacation here are warm and friendly. We are centrally located in the heart of Islamorada and convenient to restaurants, grocery stores, tourist attractions, marinas and fuel docks and access to the back country or the patch reefs and offshore fishing. And without a doubt this is the finest location to watch the most gorgeous sunsets over the water,........ and if you're real lucky you just might see the green flash!
Dolphin and sealion performances, birds, and other flora and fauna of the Keys
Great food and they will prepare your catch to perfection
All of your fishing and outdoor needs and backcountry and offshore charters
Owner's Map of Islamorada
We're Bernie & Linda Holzman and the Keys Kottage is one of two units we have on this property. We're originally New Yorkers but have lived in Florida for more than 30 years. Our kids grew up on this property and we consider ourselves very lucky that we have had the opportunity to enjoy it and help develop it into a special vacation destination for families and couples who love the water, boating, diving and fishing as do we.
Property Photos
- Our Pelican Greets you at the Front Door - Islamorada Area/Islamorada, FL - Florida Keys Vacation Rental Lodging on Upper Matecumbe Key
- The Keys Kottage is a conch-styled villa nestled in a native hardwood hammock - Islamorada Area/Islamorada, FL - Florida Keys Vacation Rental Lodging on Upper Matecumbe Key
- The Kottage floorplan provides plenty of room for everyone - Islamorada Area/Islamorada, FL - Florida Keys Vacation Rental Lodging on Upper Matecumbe Key
- The front room has a queen-size sleeper couch for comfortable relaxation
- The front room dining area is light and airy
- The kitchen is fully equipped with new appliances
- That's a queen-size bed in the master bedroom
- The second bedroom can sleep four
- The View as you Leave the Boat Basin for a Day of Fishing or Diving
- The boat basin provides protected mooring for boats up to 26 feet
- Pete the Great White Heron guards the marina
- Orchids are just one of many species growing throught the property
- Backcountry fishing for snook, as well as bonefish, tarpon, permit and others
- Offshore fishing for marlin, as well as dolphin, sailfish, wahoo and kingfish
- Snorkeling and scuba diving is fantastic on both sides of the island
- A typical Keys sunset seen from our seawall. A fine way to end a great day
Guest Comments (23)
First (10) of (23). View all comments
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #33938
There have been 34020 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2005.
This listing was first published here in 2004.
Date last modified - July 03, 2009
Positive Rating
Dick & Anne Broyhill , Hopewell, VA
Positive Rating
date entered: 04/11/2009 homeowner-added comment: On December 8, 2009 Ben H sent us the following comments: "Bernie, Just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thank you for the great time we had at your Keys Kottage!!! We Your place was great and the overall layout of the property and dock really was spectacular. We will definitely be contacting you about renting the unit again hopefully in March sometime. Thanks again and we’ll be in touch, Ben
Positive Rating
date entered: 04/12/2007 homeowner-added comment (although Jim & Sherry stayed in Bayside, their comments are very informative about the area in general): On Monday, April 9, 2007 Jim and Sherry L. wrote.... "Dear Bernie, We enjoyed alot the Bayside rental last week. Everything about the rental was as promised or better. We rented two kayaks for the week from the friendly business next door and used them about every day, going to the lagoon north and to the Lorelei south. The grocery a little to the south was terrific for us. We ate out one night at Lazy Days, one lunch out at the Lorelei on a kayak trip. All the other renters were welcoming to us and our children ages 6 and 3 had plenty of playmates. Thanks for helping our first visit to the Keys to be an extraordinary one. Regards, Jim and Sherry L" And on April 10, 2007 they added..... "Several comments occurred to me since the earlier note: (i) the nearby dive museum is extraordinary, the artifacts and presentation are worthy of the Smithsonian with the additional amenity that you can touch about everything, (ii) .... there was reliable wireless internet via a network called "Holiday House" the entire visit--it helped us locate Islamorada points of interest, and there was a DVD player though we didn't try to use it, too busy, (iii) we gratefully used your letter of introduction to enjoy a half day at Founder's Park, (iv) we spent a half day also at Theater of the Sea, (v) we chartered a half-day eco-tour with Ann's Easy Adventures (from World Wide Sportsman) to snorkeling at Port Antigua beach and to history and bug collecting at Indian Key, (vi) we walked five minutes to Paradise Yoga just across the street. It was too windy the day we tried to go to Lignumvitae, we are saving it for the return visits. We hope to thank you in person next time. Thanks again and regards, Jim" guest name: Jim and Sherry L. guest city-state/province: Charlottesville, VA
Positive Rating
April 27, 2005 Gretchen D. sent us this comment: Mr. and Mrs. Holtzman, Good afternoon, we just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to stay in your beautiful kottage last week. We had a great time and couldn't have asked for anything more in accommodations. The boat basin was so convenient for fishing and the property was an absolutely relaxing environment.. We had a great time and look forward to our next trip. If you have any questions, please feel free to call. Thank you, Jeff and Gretchen D. Gretchen D. Quality System Administrator Product Development Technician Boston Whaler Inc. and then in a separate email she added: You can also add in there that all of the residents were very friendly and helpful. Thanks for the great experience! -Gretchen guest name: Gretchen D. guest city-state/province: Edgewater, FL
Positive Rating
Don Arch , Orange Park, FL
Positive Rating
Mike M ,
Positive Rating
John M. , Chelmsford, MA
Positive Rating
Bernie, Just wanted to write and say we had a great time down at the Keys Kottage. The house and property were as advertised and in excellent condition. On top of that, the weather was great and we enjoyed their company of the other guests. The renovations looked great.
Positive Rating
Jody ,
Positive Rating
Patti & Larry , Hiwassee, Virginia