Reviews for Truman Annex Vacation Rental - VRBO 50666 - 1 BR Key West Condo in FL, Truman Annex - 1BR/1BA - Renovated Corner Unit with Great Reviews!!!

Pros & Cons

Guest Al S.
Date of stay 02/16/13
Review Submitted 03/21/13

Overall this is a nice property for a week or two in our favorite U.S. vacation destination. We stayed 2 weeks 2 consecutive years and might have returned if we were not looking to extend our KW stay to one month and/or if Landlord offered a monthly discount (he told me he does NOT offer monthly rates). Just show up with clothes since most everything else is provided. A couple of complementary bikes would have been nice (a few landlords offer them). However, Moped Hospital is within walking distance and offers the cheapest bike rentals in KW ($80/wk for 2). Note that Landlord is raising weekly rent to $1900 for 2014, which seems a bit high for a small 1-BR condo with no opportunity to share costs. That said, here is a summary based on our 2-year experience: Pros: Terrific location (quiet yet close to Duval and beach); secure parking space; spacious living room with 2 sets of double doors open to small rear patio; clean and well maintained premises; nice kitchenette fully stocked with utensils and appliances; small but adequate rear deck (quite pleasant except when next door tenants, who are almost within whisper distance, are not out smoking cigars as happened to us one evening this year); outside table and chairs for outdoor dining; tropical landscaping; nice community pool; good closet space; extras like beach towels, cooler, and chairs; overall a good ambience. Any maintenance issues are quickly addressed. Owner lives nearby (much of the year) and is easy to deal with. Cons: No in-house wireless (suggestions to piggyback unsecured service or use public service in pool area resulted in numerous dropped connections, slow load speeds, and reboots); uncomfortable plastic deck lounges (could use cushions); old gas grill (but still works and LL may purchase new one); uncomfortable bed mattress (soft and lumpy); small screen TV (however there is cable service); upstairs and right side neighbors who seem to be reasonably quiet but with no guarantee as next door appears to be a rental (you can hear loud noise and muffled loud conversation through the walls but in neither year was it a serious issue). Again, this is a very nice property and you should be confident that in choosing it you are getting a no-surprise, quality KW rental experience. Prices have gone up, as noted, and having only 1 bedroom, you can't split rent with a second couple to save $. That said, you will not be disappointed. We would rent again if we need a week or so of KW r&r.

Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

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Great Place - Fabulous Location

Guest Patty
Date of stay 12/08/12
Review Submitted 01/10/13

It has been just short of 1 month since I returned from my first trip to Key West and I am still having withdrawals! I don't think we could have picked a more perfect condo to stay in. It was well maintained, airy and bright, just as shown in the pictures. The two sets of french-doors opening up to the patio were just fantastic, as was the large patio. Very private too, with a table, four chairs and two lounge chairs. The condo was the perfect size for the two of us, and with the two futons in the very large living area, two more could have slept comfortably. I also loved having the convenience of a washer/dryer. The location was just perfect - walk to everything. We did have a car, though it was parked most of the time in the space that is provided within the gated community (another plus). The pool in the Shipyard portion of the Truman Annex is a great size, with a large deck area and plenty of lounge chairs.The owner, Dick, was an absolute pleasure. Loved speaking with him. We tried to squeeze in as much as possible during our stay. Zachary Taylor Beach rocky, but very nice. Higgs Beach not as rocky, but lots of seaweed. The Beach at Bahia Honda State Park was nice, but it is about a 45 minute drive back up the Keys. Best find was the Sugaree Shack on Petronia, between Duval and Whitehead. A very small (three or four tables) restaurant, with a bar on the other side. Great value. Favorite place to hang and watch the local musicians was Willie T's. Short walk from this condo. Also Charlie Mac's on Southard. All in all I would recommend this condo to anyone looking for the perfect spot to enjoy their Key West experience. Dick, I had the greatest time, everything I could have wanted and more. I am already trying to figure out when I can vist Key West this year, and am hoping your condo will be available when I do! Thanks again!

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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Great Place

Guest R S.
Date of stay 12/01/12
Review Submitted 12/13/12

Great condo- great location- walk to everywhere - Dick is very concerned that everyone be comfortable and have a good time. and if you need anything, CALL him.. he is very easy to work with. Will definately be calling him to rent again. Stores, shopping, pier, bars, and every kind of exhibit you want- butterfly museum, hemingway, little white house, ghost tours, etc. But very affordable condo and everything you need at hand. I would and already have recommended this to a couple of friends. One restaurant I personally did not like was Finnegans Wake-- bad service and seriously greasy food. Brazilena was good, pricey but good.. plan to spend a couple of hours there - take your time - no need to rush, they also had good service. More things to do and see.

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Fantastic condo & great location

Guest ANDY
Date of stay 10/20/12
Review Submitted 11/02/12

This was our 2nd year to stay at this condo for the week of Fanasty Fest, and we are already booked for nex year, you cant beat the location to Duval street just 2 short blocks, the ship yard annex is so nice an quiet,an the unit itself has everything you could ever need, its very very well kept, always so very clean, and the owner, what can I say he is the greatest person to deal with, we just love hanging an talking with him he is the greatest, this year we got to meet his wife, fantastic lady, dont know how she puts up with Dick though, LOL just kidding Dick, if your planning a trip to Key West an this condo is available grab it believe us you will not go wrong. Thanks for everything Dick and looking foward to next year, take care.

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

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Loved it

Guest HawaiiTraveler
Date of stay 07/14/12
Review Submitted 08/14/12

What a great condo, location and owner! Dick was so easy to work with, very responsive and flexible, even when we had to change our dates at the last minute. The condo was as pictured and described, well maintained and clean. It was great to be close to the main entrance but far enough away from the street to avoid the noise. And we loved being able to have our dog with us. The bed was comfortable and the kitchen was well stocked with pots and pans. We will definitely be renting this unit again.

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Fantastic

Guest HawaiiTraveler
Date of stay 07/14/12
Review Submitted 08/14/12

Such a charming place, and owned by a charming guy! Dick was so easy to work with, even when we had to change our dates at the last minute. The condo was exactly as pictured and described and we loved being close to the main entrance, but far enough off the street to avoid the noise. The kitchen was well stocked with pots and pans and we were glad for the dishwasher. We will definitely be renting this unit again.

Recommended for: Age 55+, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Nice Condo in a Great Area !!

Guest Ryan
Date of stay 06/11/11
Review Submitted 06/26/11

We were guests in this condo from June 11-18. Condo is in a great area of Key West which is very close to Duval St, Fort Zachary Beach, and all of the action. When we arrived at the Condo we found it had not been cleaned so we immediately contacted Richard who scheduled the condo to be fully cleaned the next day. Richard was concerned that the cleaning wasn't done and did his best to take care of the problem immediately. Overall, I didn't consider this a problem...as we were on the beach and out while the condo was cleaned the following day. We would certainly stay at the condo again and will likely call Richard next year to book again. Its very nice having the washer/dryer along with refrigerator in the condo. The Shipyard pool is very nice and perfect for a day away from the beach. We found the condo to be a great deal compared to any of the hotels in Key West.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

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Memorable 25th Anniv.!!

Guest KW bound!
Date of stay 06/02/11
Review Submitted 08/24/11

I realize this review is much later than our trip, but this summer proved to be the busiest yet. We enjoyed our stay at Richard's property and wouldn't hesitate to book again. Learning the parking situation was a little tricky but one call to Richard and things were fine. Any communication with him was comfortable and entertaining. Great sense of humor. I checked a lot of properties prior to this booking and even looked them up while we were "jet setting" on our scooter around the island. So glad we chose the location we did! It is, in fact, in walking distance of so much. We brought our own scooter and bikes and used both when we wanted to venture our farther or scoot up to Publix. The condo neighborhood is quiet and the neighbors are friendly. The chickens and roosters are charming! I did not care for the "beach"at Ft. Zachary State Park. Those are not just rocks in the sand, more like mini-boulders! Now, I know KW is not a beach destination but it's worth the drive to the other beach. Most of the restaurants were fine. We alternated between cooking a few meals at the condo or dining out. We especially like Schooner's Wharf and there was a new one called Babalou (spelling?). Excellent Mahi-Mahi sandwich. Kermit's key lime cheesecake was great BUT still enjoyed Key Lime Factory on Front Street just a tad more! YOU MUST eat at Blue Heaven. Just a couple blocks from the Annex and breakfast is well, "heavenly". Never got back for dinner. I guess we just have to come back! You don't have to indulge to enjoy the night life. However, it was hard to pass up some of the speciality drinks at these most colorful and downright awesome bars and eateries! The musical talent at all these places is amazing as well. We tried a couple touristy things to do. Went with Fury for sunset cruise. The night we went was one of the few we could actually see the sun set and there was unlimited champaigne! Need I say more. What a way to celebrate 25 years of marriage! We tried the kayak/snorkel trip with the clear kayaks. I can't remember, but I thought it was called Big Cat. Two young guys run it. Not sure how the cost pp compares with service but we still had a good time. Snacks provided were a little peculiar but after all, we did pay for snorkeling and kayaking. Mallory Square is a must every night as something is always different. Richard said this was not just Southern Florida. KW is a in a world of its own. Can't wait to go back!!

Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Fantastic!

Guest Reid
Date of stay 05/07/11
Review Submitted 05/21/11

This was our first trip to Key West and this condo unit was the perfect place in the perfect location. 2 blocks from Duval and right in the middle, Mallory Square was a 20 minute walk to the left and Southern Most was a 20 minute walk to the right. We arrived on Sat. and once we picked up some groceries, I returned the car on Sunday and never needed one the rest of the week. The booking process was very smooth and the directions and getting the keys was flawless. The unit was very clean and well kept. The whole Truman Annex area is fantastic. Very secure and quiet. The pool was very nice with plenty of chairs and the friendliest people. Having filtered water was a real plus and even though we didn't use the grill (too many dining out options) it was nice to have one available. We're both now infected with Keys disease and would book this unit again without hesitation for our next stay. Thank you!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Pefect

Guest Kathy
Date of stay 04/16/11
Review Submitted 04/27/11

We've been to KW at least 10x. By far, the Truman Annex is the best place to stay if you are looking for safety, location, and peace and quiet. The kitchen is equipped with everything you need to make light meals. There is a nice pool in the complex that has lots of chairs and umbrellas. This very clean condo is conveniently located 2 blocks from Duval, and a 15 minute walk to the harbor. Things to do: Mallory Square (where everyone gathers to see the sunset and street entertainers) is also a 15 minute walk. If you take a taxi from the airport (approx. $20 each way) you do not need to rent a car at all, unless you want to day trip up to other keys. Fort Zachary Taylor is about 20 min. walk, or an easy bike ride away. Within this gated community is President Truman’s White House, that has a nice tour. We love to take one of the schooners or catamaran rides out of the harbor to kayak and snorkel. There is so much to do in KW that one week is never enough. Try to walk over to The Blue Heaven for a relaxed and delicious breakfast (2 blocks away on Thomas St.). blueheavenkw.com • We haven’t had dinner there yet, but we hear it’s also wonderful. Can’t wait to go back to this wonderful paradise!

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

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Great condo and location

Guest Stuart J.
Date of stay 01/15/11
Review Submitted 02/15/11

The condo is located at the centrally located part of Key West called the Truman Annex and, in particular, the "Shipyard" section of it. It's a nice complex with plenty of parking and nice amenities like a pool. Everything is within walking distance since you're essentially located in the middle of Key West, a walk from the infamous watering-holes on Duval St as well as nice shopping and not too far a walk from the beaches. The condo is nice and clean with a queen bed in the single bedroom and two fold-out futon couches that convert into queen size beds-- a nice feature for a family or close friends. About the only "improvement" I could suggest was upgrading the "classic tube" TV set with a modern LED 50" flat screen TV-- a nice to have feature since Key West does get cloudy/rainy days, plus it's nice to have in the evening for relaxation. In short, it's a nice place to stay and look forward to the opportunity to stay there again! :)

Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Fantastic time at Fanasty Fest

Guest ANDY
Date of stay 11/20/10
Review Submitted 11/03/11

Wife an I stayed here for the week of Fanasty Fest,couldnt ask for a better location,condo was just perfect,met the owner,fantastic man.enjoyed talking with him, cant wait to go back next year again,see ya next year Richard

Recommended for: Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Could not have been better

Guest Brenda
Date of stay 11/13/10
Review Submitted 11/30/10

This property is fabulous. Excellent location, close to everything. Very clean and well equippped. Would definitely stay here again.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Wonderful Vacation

Guest CJS
Date of stay 09/06/10
Review Submitted 09/27/10

We stayed in this condo from Sept 6-11 and had the most wonderful vacation. The apartment is extremely clean and close to all places you will want to visit - 2 blocks away from the center of Duval Street. Everything is in walking distance; not once did we have to take a cab. The pool is very quiet and relaxing and the beach is a little walk, but as close as you can get considering it is a state park. Having a full kitchen and washer/dryer was a big help. I would definitely recommend this condo to any couple or small family. Can't wait to go back!

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

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Great Spot

Guest NCHans
Date of stay 05/07/10
Review Submitted 05/17/10

My wife and I stayed here last week (May, 2010) and really enjoyed ourselves. The location is perfect (close to everything, yet very peaceful and quiet), and the condo was well maintained and clean. Also, the owner is very friendly and eager to work with renters to insure they get the most out of their stay. We would definitely stay here again if we travel to Key west in the future.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Excellent Location/Really Nice Condo

Guest Kathy and Jamie
Date of stay 11/01/09
Review Submitted 11/18/09

We have rented this unit for the last two years and will do so again in the future. It's always been clean and fresh when we arrive. The owner is extremely accommodating and fun to talk to. The condo has enough necessities to get you through the first day or so with toilet tissue and paper towels and the ice maker is wonderful. The kitchen is well stocked with dishes, pots and pans, useful utensils. BONUS: the sink has filtered water so you don't have to buy bottled water. There's an abundance of towels and sheets. The W/D allows you to pack fewer clothes, too! The deck is very peaceful and a relaxing place to have your coffee in the mornngs and an early dinner at sunset. The gas grill comes in handy when you just want to eat in for a change, and the microwave works well for all those restaurant leftovers. There are shops and restaurants within a few blocks, as are some really fun bars. The sunset from the Fort behind the Annex is just as awesome as Mallory Square. Security has never been an issue with the condo or our vehicle; we've always felt safe and use common sense as we would anywhere else (lock the doors, lock the vehicle, be observant but not paranoid when walking in dark areas). If you're not inclined to walk a lot, bikes or mopeds are great for getting around since vehicle parking is so limited and the streets so narrow. Cabs are cheap and there are some major grocery stores and liquor stores on N. Roosevelt if you can't find what you need at Fausto's or the corner deli. It's always a fun experience and we highly recomment this condo!

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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Great 8 Day Key West Vacation

Guest GRW
Date of stay 12/05/08
Review Submitted 06/14/09

Have been to Key West ten times and this unit is in one of the best Old Town locations. Since we did not have a car we rented bikes for the eight days - the best way to get around KW, both day and night. But if you have a car, the unit comes with a designated secure parking space. The unit is in a very safe area and was very clean with a great deck - perfect for happy hour before grilling or going out to eat. The best beach is only a few minute bike ride away. The pool was very nice, too. All the major sights are short bike ride away. The owner was great to work with and I would recommend this condo to anyone. Can't wait to come back! We had a great vacation.

Recommended for: Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

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August 2008, 4-days-stay

Guest Schaggi
Date of stay 08/20/08
Review Submitted 09/02/08

Condo very good located, very quite and central. Regarding cleaness was it ok, but lots of ants in the bathroom, amenities ok, but nothing to get excited, especially beds. Small swimming-pool. Unfortunately unsafe area, appartement was burglered during our absence. Owners didn't take any responsability. Regarding the price, appartement isn't dialy cleaned, would recommend staying in a B+B.

Recommended for: Age 55+

Owner response: If this renter would have notified me of the ants in the bathroom while there, I would have sent someone to tend to the problem. As for the size of the pool, it services 200 condos in the Shipyard, and I have never had another tenant complain, nor heard complaints about the smallness of the pool while there myself. This is a gated community, so it is certainly not unsafe-providing that the tenant locks the doors. The officer I spoke with confirmed that the 'burglar' simply walked into the condo, and furthermore, this was the first call about a 'break in' that he had ever received in the Shipyard. While we do not offer daily cleaning, and certainly you can get that if you go to a bed and breakfast, we do offer a full kitchen, laundry, private living area and private deck which you do not get at a b and b. Every option has its trade-offs. When the renter notified me of her loss, I offered compensation of two or three extra days at no expense. Insurance does not cover tenant property and it is the tenant's responsibility to lock the doors-at 1700 miles away I can't simply stop by to check the doors each time a tenant goes out.

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A Week without Cold or Snow

Guest gbmw
Date of stay 01/01/08
Review Submitted 01/22/08

The location was great for walking to all the attractions! If you didn't want to walk a cab ride cost around $5-$6. The condo included items needed for the week. The only problem a well stocked grocery store was not available. If you drive bring your own condiments, papertowels, toilet paper and a few dinner items. It was great that the condo was located close to the gate. My daughters and I did all of the tourist things - Hemmingway's Home, Butterly Conservatory, Light House, Southern most point, Bar Crawl, Haunted walk, sunset @ Mallory Square, Aquarium, Ft. Zachery. We had a ball.

Recommended for: Girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

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Vacation Rentals by Owner

Truman Annex - 1BR/1BA - Renovated Corner Unit with Great Reviews!!! [#50666] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (19)

Pros & Cons

Pros & Cons

Great Place - Fabulous Location

Great Place - Fabulous Location

Great Place

Great Place

Fantastic condo & great location

Fantastic condo & great location

Loved it

Loved it

Fantastic

Fantastic

Nice Condo in a Great Area !!

Nice Condo in a Great Area !!

Memorable 25th Anniv.!!

Memorable 25th Anniv.!!

Fantastic!

Fantastic!

Pefect

Pefect

Great condo and location

Great condo and location

Fantastic time at Fanasty Fest

Fantastic time at Fanasty Fest

Could not have been better

Could not have been better

Wonderful Vacation

Wonderful Vacation

Great Spot

Great Spot

Excellent Location/Really Nice Condo

Excellent Location/Really Nice Condo

Great 8 Day Key West Vacation

Great 8 Day Key West Vacation

August 2008, 4-days-stay

August 2008, 4-days-stay

A Week without Cold or Snow

A Week without Cold or Snow