Our Home Away From Home!!

Guest: Christy (Sebring, Fl)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/15/10

At first we were a little skeptical about the community rules, but after just one day at the Oceanfront Bungalow we understood why it was so important and how much the peace and quiet made our stay that much more enjoyable! The home was full of comfortable amenities that made our stay feel just like our home away from home (of course without the worries of day to day life). Linda has gone out of her way to make sure that any and everything you could possible want or need is there. From the propane grill outside to the luxury bedding, everything was just perfect! Thanks again Linda for providing such a wonderful vacation experience for me and my family! See ya next year!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Terrific Vacation!

Guest: Peggy H.
Date of Stay: 10/22/11 Review Submitted: 12/01/11

We love going to the Keys but I have to say this spot outdid them all. Just a cute little Bungalow sitting right out there looking at water, pelicans, sea gulls and dolphins! Wow. Caught some fish and cooked them up on your big barbecue right out by the water and ate there too. What could be better. We had everything we needed in the kitchen to cook with and loved the views from the house out to the water. It was equipped with everything, and was decorated so beautifully and the beds were super comfortable. Thank you for a wonderful stay.

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Absolute Heaven

Guest: Peggy H.
Date of Stay: 11/12/11 Review Submitted: 11/30/11

Sitting in the living room with the sliding door open, the ocean breeze blowing through the Bungalow, playing a little music and sipping on a margarita, absolute heaven! We're always a bit nervous when we go somewhere sight unseen but your place was everything you said it would be. I couldn't help but notice the 2 reviews that gave you 2 stars (and then noticed the other 35 of them gave you 5 stars!) and wondered if they got the wrong house! Beautiful decorations, well equipped kitchen, immaculate, very comfortable beds. We'll be back. Thanks so much Linda

Owner response:Thanks for taking the time Peggy and for your kind words. We absolutely do try very hard to make your stay perfect and appreciate your feedback. I have 35 5 star reviews as you mentioned (and my other listing has 42 - 5 star reviews), not sure what happened with those other two folks who couldn't be pleased, but we hope you'll come back again. Linda

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Alan

Guest: Robbie (Lutz, Fl.)
Date of Stay: 08/27/11 Review Submitted: 09/11/11

Linda, Thanks again for another gret year! This is the 3rd year in a row we have rented the Oceanfront Bungalow. We have been staying in Venture Out for about 12 yrs. and rented many different units. This is THE BEST DEAL in Venture Out. The location is perfect to the pool, marina, and easy access to the channel. The price is second to none.Thanks again Linda and we'll be back next year Alan

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

Paradise!

Guest: Sandy (Des Moines, Iowa)
Date of Stay: 05/28/11 Review Submitted: 08/22/11

We had such a wonderful stay at Oceanfront Bungalow and found everything to be exactly what we wanted and as advertised. What a pleasure, no surprises. Beautifully decorated, comfortable, very clean and so close to the pool we could just walk. Thanks also Linda for taking the time to write up all your recommendations for you favorite places to eat, fish, dive etc etc Our kids loved fishing right at the seawall behind the house while we sipped wine and watched them from the big open deck above overlooking the ocean beyond. Paradise! We'll be back.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Past guest

Guest: Disappointed visitor (Arkansas)
Date of Stay: 06/19/11 Review Submitted: 08/15/11

Good things about property- view,gated,safe property,nice pol,comfortable master bed,nice tv in living area NEGATIVES. Bungalow is a modular home , HVAC inadequate! Up to 84 degrees in mid day,using dryer during day made it even hotter as it was not vented properly and heated home even more, 2nd bedroom is front foyer, no freezer below house as advertised, chair customs on deck worn to point of discomfort when sitting on deck, ice maker does not work, cookware and baking sheets dirty,futon uncomfortable bought mattress topper to be able to use...not even comfortable seating, Internet access needs router, no headboard in master bedroom, window at head of bed made reading in bed almost impossible,very small lots ,many rv's at "resort ", owner was very rude when she read these comments in guest book---called me unflattering names. Note that many positive comments are provided by owner from guest book entries

Owner response:I can't believe I got 2 of you within a few months. Point by point here is my response: 1)HVAC inadequate! Up to 84 degrees in mid day,using dryer during day made it even hotter as it was not vented properly and heated home even more Response: We have the a/c serviced 3 times a year and shows the indoor temp at 78 on days that are 95 degrees + 2) 2nd bedroom is front foyer, Response: 2nd bedroom is in the front of the house, entrance to the house is to the rear. If you want to walk into the front of the house then you will walk through the bedroom, it is NOT a foyer. 3) no freezer below house as advertised Response: no where is it advertised that we have a freezer below the house, it says if you bring your bait cooler or freezer you must keep it below the house 4) chair customs on deck worn to point of discomfort when sitting on deck, Response: chair cushions are older and are being replaced but your comments about discomfort unjust 5) ice maker does not work, Response: ice makers break, if a rentor calls with something that does not work it is repaired within 24 hours. Did you call us? No. 6) cookware and baking sheets dirty, Response: this one had my property manager & housekeeper fuming 7) futon uncomfortable Response: a futon, is a futon, is a futon, this is a beautiful futon but you're right most of them aren't great, not like sleeping on a bed 8) Internet access needs router Response: We had high speed cable internet which functions perfectly but you wanted WIFI which is not what we had, but actually have now 9) no headboard in master bedroom Response: no headboard in master? 10), window at head of bed made reading in bed almost impossible,Response: really? 10) very small lots ,many rv's at "resort ", Response: so what? You're ON the ocean in the Florida Keys watching an ocean full of sea gulls, cormorants, pelicans etc 11) owner was very rude when she read these comments in guest book---called me unflattering names. Response: My property manager & housekeeper were beside themselves with your rude/accusing written comments for which their and my reputation rests.There was no name calling on my part. 12) Note that many positive comments are provided by owner from guest book entries Response: And many aren't. What are you implying? You can't please all of the people all of the time, but our track record after 7 years with the Bungalow and a huge repeat business speaks for itself.

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Bungalow Lacking Many Amenities

Guest: Victoria M. (League City, Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

My husband and I stayed at this small mobile home like bungalow. We rate this bungalow a 2 Star due to lack of amenities especially in the kitchen. Ice maker not operating, no paper goods (paper towels, napkins, foil paper, wax paper, and Ziploc bags), no Tupperware to store leftover food, no trash bags, no Cascade to wash dishes in dishwasher, no detergent to wash clothes, no baking pans only ugly cookie sheets, no small mixing bowls, large glasses were a few and mixed, no electric skillet, no hair blower, not enough hand towels, etc. Ralph Loren pillows were flat with no pillow protectors therefore few pillows were stained. Dishwasher was very noisy and screen door did not slide so my husband repaired it. The only thing we enjoyed was the ocean view and the cool breeze from the balcony and the comfy bed in the master bedroom. I cleaned the utensil drawers and organized them nicely. We left bottles of water, a pitcher of ice tea, margarine, and condiments in the fridge for the next guests to enjoy and new box of Cascade. This was an expensive trip due to buying many items needed in the kitchen including spices. Toilet paper and shampoo/conditioner were provided. There was no carbon monixide alarm. Smoke alarm in living room needed batteries. Didn't check the other alarms in bedrooms. Having ice is a must! One of the main reason of renting a vacation rental is to avoid the cost of dining out and not staying at a cramped hotel room. Also, no Wi-Fi (wireless Internet Service). A router is very much needed, too. You plug your laptop to the Internet cable and you have to sit on the uncomfortable low futon with your laptop on the wrought iron coffee table because the wire doesn't reach the kitchen counter. Water was very cold in pool and didn't get to swim..

Owner response:I'm almost tempted not to respond to this email because every so often one receives a "difficult" personality who reads into things that are not in the information packet or conversations had with me the owner or is just can't be pleased. I have dozens and dozens of repeat customers and extremely positive comments. We work extremely hard and spend enormous amounts of money to maintain our property and pride ourselves in having something fixed or replaced within 24 hours if it is broken. Of course things are going to break, but IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM YOU HOW DO WE FIX IT? To your point of the ice/maker being broken, a call was never received to tell us this and so how would be know? As stated in our information we give you 'starter' paper towels, toilet paper and supply you with Cascade, carpet cleaner and windex. Rentors are expected to buy whatever their needs are....you mention us not having wax paper, foil, napkins, ziploc bags. Most people wouldn't use wax paper and what type of foil and trying to keep an inventory of all of these things. You say condiments, a pitcher of ice tea, margarine that you left? We throw anything out that guests leave except for salt/pepper or vinegar as most everyone does not like to use other people's opened food. It's a cleanliness/safety issue. You complain of no shampoo and conditioner? We provide high speed cable internet connection instead of WI-Fi because Wi-Fi has created too many problems for people trying to connect. We wouldn't have a carbon monoxide alarm because there is no oil fired heat or any combustion in the house. Mute point. The smoke alarms are 'hard wired' and don't use batteries, to your point of changing the batteries in the smoke alarms. And lastly to your point 'the water in the pool was very cold" this is the beginning of June in Florida when it's between 85 - 90 degrees out. No the pool isn't heated when it's 85-90 degrees out because the temperature in the pool SHOULD be a refreshing 83 - 85 degrees. This response to your remarks is an exercise in futility for people like you. Best to stay home.

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Excellent vacation!!

Guest: Brian J. (Georgia)
Date of Stay: 04/03/10 Review Submitted: 01/07/11

The property was just as described. Very well maintained and from what we saw, one of the nicest units in Venture Out. Our 10 and 12 year old kids had a fantastic time too. They made very good use of the pool, tennis courts and bocce courts. We tied our boat up right outside our door and made a few trips out to Looe Key for snorkeling. All in all a wonderful stay.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Guest: Matt & Colleen Walker (Woolwich,Maine)
Date of Stay: 04/25/10 Review Submitted: 04/25/10

Linda,Thank you Linda. We had a wonderful time in Cudjoe. Your home was clean and comfortable. Thanks for the new grill. We used it almost every night.Matt

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Oceanfront Bungalow

Guest: NiME (Muskegon, MI)
Date of Stay: 02/27/10 Review Submitted: 03/11/10

Linda: Our family had a wonderful spring break at the Bungalow. The facility was extremely clean and organized. Our neighbors were warm and friendly. The pictures on the web site are a very accurate representation. Our family would not hesitate to recommend this property to friends and family. Best Wishes, Paul, Pam, Megand and Nick Muskegon, MI

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