Chic Redfish Key West Style Cottage at Yellowdog in Matlacha

• Not great for dogs and not worth the price!

  Not great for dogs and not worth the price!

  • Guest Mallory M.
  • Date of stay 09/29/13
  • Review Submitted 10/08/13
  When I found this place online, I was SO excited. Unfortunately it did not live up to it's online appearance. I will start with the good things: the inside was decorated adorably, very clean, and I loved the setup. (All very important things!) The problem was that the one of the main reasons I chose this place was because they were dog friendly. I wish I had known that there would be virtually NO WHERE to walk them unless you crossed the very busy highway which the cottage is directly on. Even when you cross the street, it's less than ideal for anyone with dogs. We ended up actually putting the dogs in the car and driving them to a nearby neighborhood everytime they needed to be walked. We were also less than thrilled with the customer service. There was no one there to greet or help us upon our arrival and there was a lot of confusion about how to get in to the actual property. After about half an hour of phone calls and playing with locks, we got in. When we walked into our cottage (The Redfish) it was stifling hot. We were told that the a/c was supposed to be turned on the day, but the cleaning lady had forgotten. It took a little while to cool down, but once it did that aspect of the cottage was fine. They did end up getting the lock on the main gate working, but it was the most complicated lock I've ever used. (Not a standard padlock) And when you get back to your cottage and it's night time, there is not a single light to see your way. Without having someone shine my phone, it would have been impossible for me to get in, not to mention a little creepy because you can't see anything at all. Main Points: Good- very cute, clean, and has everything you need if you are staying out of town Bad- Not great customer service, confusing entrance, no lights and a little creepy at night and MOST IMPORTANTLY: NOT GOOD FOR DOGS! I only write this because I wish someone would have painted a true picture prior to me booking, especially since it was one of the most expensive places I found when looking. Hope this helps some other pet parents!

  Owner response: This guest had some valid points and we were very apologetic for the issues she experienced. There was some miscommunication we had with getting our gate fixed; I didn't realize the lock itself was being changed until the guest had trouble. I felt very badly for that. It is fixed now and is a regular lock with a lock box. Regarding the dogs, we have our dogs there very frequently and never have any issues. We've had dozens of guests bring dogs and this is the first time we've gotten negative feedback. If you are unsure, just give us a call or email to ask questions before booking. Thanks!!

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

• Thank you!

  Thank you!

  • Guest The Talbots (New Orleans, LA)
  • Date of stay 01/13/13
  • Review Submitted 01/28/13
  We had a great time! We look forward to doing it again next year!

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

• Slice of Paradise

  Slice of Paradise

  • Guest Kim and George (Ocean City, MD)
  • Date of stay 03/22/12
  • Review Submitted 04/04/12
  Thanks for sharing your little slice of paradise with us. The Redfish is so adorable, exactly what an island cottage should look like. It doesn’t get any better than this!

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

• Awesome little paradise!

  Awesome little paradise!

  • Guest Curt and Karen (Minnesota)
  • Date of stay 02/20/12
  • Review Submitted 04/04/12
  We loved our stay and will very likely be back. Thank you!

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

• What a fantastic little spot

  What a fantastic little spot

  • Guest Guro, Espen, and Emil (Oslo, Norway)
  • Date of stay 03/14/12
  • Review Submitted 04/04/12
  The cottage is charming and the surroundings are awesome! We have enjoyed being your first foreign visitors and we will definitely recommend the place to our friends back home.

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

• Thank you for the hospitality

  Thank you for the hospitality

  • Guest Jim and Claudine (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
  • Date of stay 03/03/12
  • Review Submitted 04/03/12
  We enjoyed coffee on the porch watching the birds fish. Your cottage is lovely and we enjoyed exploring the area.

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

• Island Time

  Island Time

  • Guest Bruce and Marilyn (Geneseo IL)
  • Date of stay 02/07/12
  • Review Submitted 02/21/12
  We were transported to "island time" as we walked through your gate. The cottage is charming in every way, but it was those hours and hours, morning to midnight, on the dock that will pull us back to Redfish in Matlacha. We might even be able to tear ourselves away enough to do a little exploring next time!

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

• Romantic Getaway in an Idyllic Setting

  Romantic Getaway in an Idyllic Setting

  • Guest yogastacy (gulfport, florida)
  • Date of stay 10/21/11
  • Review Submitted 01/09/12
  When my husband & I needed to get away for some much needed R&R; with a touch of romance, our weekend at Yellowdog fit the bill perfectly! Once we stepped through Yellowdog's gate, we immediately started to relax. Owners Chris & Linda (accompanied by their 'smiling' golden retriever, Tiki) acclimated us to the property & provided us with suggestions for local restaurants/activities to enjoy during our stay. We had reserved the Redfish Cottage & found it to be remarkably spacious, comfortable & beautifully decorated. The unobstructed view of the bay & its mangrove forests were a romantic backdrop for sunset cocktails on our waterfront back porch. The highlight of our trip was the next morning: breakfast on the waterfront deck followed by a leisurely paddle board trip through the mangrove maze next to Yellowdog. There were dolphins feeding in the shallows, Ospreys overhead and not a soul in sight. What an amazing (and surpisingly easy) way to enjoy the beauty of Matlacha! We didn't have to move our car the entire weekend. We walked to local restaurants (Andy's & Bert's), made a few purchases from Yellowdog's chic boutique & strolled through their impressive gallery filled with works from local artists. Many thanks to Chris and Linda for all they did to ensure our comfort & happiness during our stay! We look forward to returning to Yellowdog & exploring Matlacha by boat.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, girls getaway, pet owners.

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

• Our dogs loved it!

  Our dogs loved it!

  • Guest The Golden Crew (St. Petersburg, Fl)
  • Date of stay 12/27/11
  • Review Submitted 01/02/12
  You couldn't ask for a lovelier, more serene place. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. Pete and Susan, Duncan, Dora, and Ellie, the Golden Crew

  Recommended for: Pet owners.

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

• Solitude and Relaxation on the Water

  Solitude and Relaxation on the Water

  • Guest Lesa P (Ft. Myers, FL)
  • Date of stay 12/02/11
  • Review Submitted 12/26/11
  The Yellowdog is by far the nicest accommodation we''ve stayed at in Matlacha and the surrounding area. It was a well appointed little cottage with a full kitchen and all the comforts of home. It could not have been decorated any cuter, tasteful and tropical. It was amazing to step out our door and watch the mullet jumping and the dolphins swim by. They also had kayaks and stand up paddle boards that you can slip Into the water right from their docks. It is pet friendly which was also nice and the compound is secure so Fido can roam safely once inside the Yellowdog gate. I am already planning a girls' weekend getaway, can't wait to return.

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

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

Fees and Rental Conditions:

• Pet Fee: $25
• Refundable Damage Deposit: $250
• Property Damage Protection: $49
• Tax Rate 11%

Cancellation policy:

Policy available by contacting owner when booking.