Everything we expected and more!

Guest: Family Trip Planner (Sulphur Springs, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/02/08 Review Submitted: 08/12/08

This cottage on Dauphin Island is a great place to vacation with family and/or friends (we did both). The description really doesn't do it justice. This is one of the most beautifully decorated and maintained homes we have ever rented. It really is gorgeous! The master suite was so comfortable as were the other bedrooms and baths. All were well appointed with high-end fixtures and amenities. The kitchen was to die for! Everything you could possibly want was there. Games were provided and the selection was great--for the kids and the adults. Some of us enjoyed the beach, while others took advantage of the private pool. We didn't eat out much, but we did take advantage of Skinner's Seafood and ate their steamed shrimp, potatoes and corn a couple of time. The history of the island is interesting and we toured Fort Gaines and enjoyed a ferry ride to Fort Morgan. This is the perfect place to relax and read! The owners have made sure that all the comforts of home are available to their guests. We plan on going back next year!!

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

GREAT HOUSE!

Guest: Whitney E.
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/08/11

We loved our time on Dauphin Island and this house made our time there that much better! It was great! We had 4 adults and 4 children (9 mos. to 4 yrs.). The pool was wonderful to have for when the babies were taking their naps. We loved the beach as well, although the private beach was the best in our opinion. It has a water slide that is great additional entertainment for the kids. The public beach was a bit of a haul with all the stuff you have to take for little ones. The house has everything you need and is a great place to stay. We would definitely recommend this rental! FYI - I recommend avoiding Barnacle Bills restaurant. The food is awful!

Owner response:I'm so glad that you had a great time, and that you got all the kids to take naps so you could enjoy the pool! That's one of the things we love about having the pool at the house. The West End Beach (that you mentioned as "private) is a lot of fun, and easy to get to. It's affordable, too, so we think it's a nice place to take the kids with easy parking and beach access. Thanks again for your stay, and let us know when you want to return! Julie

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, sightseeing, families with young children.

Amazing...highly recommend!

Guest: Sage A. (Springfield, Missouri)
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 07/28/11

my wife and I and our six children (ranging in age from 11-8mo) loved every minute of our stay. The house was amazing and stocked with EVERYTHING a family could need! We want to make it a tradition for sure!!

Owner response:Thanks for your kind words, Sage, I'm glad that your family enjoyed our home. Since our own family also vacations at our home, we try to keep it well-equipped! Thanks for your stay, and we look forward to having you return. Julie

Recommended for:Families with young children.

Dauphin Island, Alabama

Guest: P d.
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/28/11

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our stay in your home. It was even more beautiful than it was in the pictures. The home was spotless and very well equipped. Even though we had two days of rain, we had an amazing time. It was so peaceful there and we got a lot of much needed R&R. We went to Fort Gaines and the Estuarium and enjoyed that very much. Also had a day at the beach and that was a lot of fun. Did some jet skiing while we were at the beach. The kids enjoyed fishing, swimming in the pool, playing basketball, bike riding and just running loose. We had lunch at The Pelican Reef and the food was delicious, however, the buffet not so much. Their key lime pie was amazing, as were the cheese danishes from the Lighthouse Bakery. They were the best we've ever eaten, so much so that we went back three times for both the key lime pie and cheese danishes! Worth every calorie. Our only complaint is that there were no televisions in the bedrooms. Other than that, everything was just perfect! I highly recommend this home. To the Kenney Family, we say thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home with us.

Owner response:Thanks so much for your review and for your stay in our home. We never count the calories from the Lighthouse Bakery! So glad you got to enjoy! Julie

Recommended for:Age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.

Absolutely Amazing!!! We will be visiting again!

Guest: Amanda (Arkansas)
Date of Stay: 03/19/11 Review Submitted: 03/30/11

I fell in love with this beach cottage when I saw the photos online... when we arrived I fell head over heels!!! The photos actually do not do this home justice. Everything was immaculate, well organized, the layout of the home is ideal for two families or for parents with noisy teens/children. With the game room/4th sleeping area on the second floor along with a second master suite, it's perfect for the kids or a second family. The 1st floor is an open concept design with the kitchen open to the living area, a GORGEOUS master suite and another bedroom with adjoining bath. I have to give Julie kudos on the floor plan and the decor. The home has a very "cozy" feel. It truley is like being home away from home. The pool is the ideal depth for younger children and is completely secure...gates and railing all around the decks, upstairs and lower deck. Also perfect for lounging around when your "beached out". The outdoor speakers are great for pool party music or background music for outdoor dining. Walking distance, maybe a few blocks to the public beach or a small hike over a sand dune at the end of the road. Golf course also on the same street. Bikes are provided for riding the islands sidewalks and trails. The kids (and husbands) enjoyed the ping-pong table immensely. BBQ grill, beach/pool toys, scooters, bikes, helmets, video games, board games, kitchen items, skewers for ka-bobs, serving platters...almost everything you would think to bring has already been thought of and is there waiting for you. Julie, the owner, provided us with lots of great info on local restaurants and things to do. (You'll also find a binder at the house with almost every restaurant menu and info about the island) Must see/places to visit while on the Island, Fort Gaines (great for artisitc photography), the beach of course, Skinner's Seafood for FRESH everything, we loved the tree covered back deck at the Oar House Restaurant, if you forgot anything you can find it at the Ship-N-Shore, rent a scooter and ride around the island, ride the ferry to Gulf Shores for shopping, see the Light House, Charter a fishing boat or go to the fishing pier, the Estuarium is neat and has a great little gift shop, the souvenirs at Ft. Gaines are about half the price. Overall, the best vacation rental and experience we have ever had. I highly recommend this home or any others that the Kenney's own!

Owner response:Thanks, Amanda, for your wonderful review. It is always our hope that the families who visit our home will have a comfortable and fun experience in our home and on Dauphin Island. Thanks for taking the time to write about your stay. We look forward to your next visit! Julie

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

A Slide of Paradise

Guest: Joy's (New Orleans)
Date of Stay: 02/14/10 Review Submitted: 03/01/10

I called this home a slice of paradise. It was easy to get to, very convenience to everything - beach, restaurants, and attractions. What's great about this house it has lots of windows so you can truly enjoy the view and the beauty that surrounds you. It has great porches that over look the pool and the creek. Getting up every morning and enjoying a nice cup of brewed coffee and the fresh morning air was so awesome. It has lots of room and was very very clean. The kitchen was well equipped with pots, pans, cooking utensils...everything you can image. The owners are exceptional nice and go out of their way to make sure your visit is exactly everything you dream it would be. They provide a lot of information about the island of good places to dine, fun attractions and things to do. It is great. So, if you and your family are looking for a wonderful place to stay....this is it!!!

Owner response:Thanks so much! It was great meeting you and your family, too! I look forward to hearing from you when you are ready to come back! Julie

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

Island's best Ya'll come

Guest: The Texas 10 (Duncanville, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/18/09 Review Submitted: 07/30/09

This was a first for our family (10 ranging from 62-1 1/2) to visit the island.The house itself is fantastic. We loved cooking in the kitchen to playing volleyball in the pool. If we were'nt at the beach or exploring the island we were in the pool. A few of our highlightsinclude: Fort Gaines,Bellingrath Gardens, ferry ride to Fort Morgan (take bread to feed the birds) Lighthouse Bakery(call your order in) and the Oar House(crawfish). Our average weight gain for the family was 5Ibs. I really can't express what a great vacation we had by choosing this location. The property was well-maintained and well stocked with items you would need on the beach and in the house. The only thing we disliked was we only stayed a week. P.S. We didn't have any trouble with the mosquitoes

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

Great home for family vacation

Guest: Tisha P. (Memphis, TN)
Date of Stay: 06/06/09 Review Submitted: 06/16/09

I've been to Dauphin Island about 4 times before this trip in June 2009 and had always stayed at a house that was close to the beach, so I don't recall being bitten by many mosquitos. This house is nestled in an area with lots of trees and near a creek, which translates to many mosquitos!! Even though we packed plenty of bug spray, we were "eaten up" by mosquitos. Other than that, the house is definitely beautiful and well equipped. We especially enjoyed the wonderful kitchen (we did lots of cooking). The pool was a big delight for the kids and a couple of adults in our party. The surround sound in the living room was also a great feature when watching movies. The layout and space of the house was perfect for our large group of 11.

Owner response:Mosquitoes are seasonal in nature, and depending on the particular week and the weather conditions, you may or not experience a problem. This is true anywhere on the island, or along the gulf coast! :) Bring the bug spray, and enjoy the inside amenities if you happen to visit on a week when the bugs are out more than other times! We appreciate all our guests, and enjoy sharing our home on this beautiful, private getaway on the island!

Recommended for:Families with young children.