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Mellon Haven - Island Cottage

Photo gallery for Mellon Haven - Island Cottage

An aerial view of a coastal area with a bridge, beach, and residential buildings.
A spacious kitchen with a central island, white cabinetry, and a dining area with a sofa and chairs.
A kitchen with a wooden island, stainless steel appliances, and a chandelier.
A small house with a porch, a picket fence, and a number '913' on the wall.
A covered outdoor area with a wooden deck, picnic table, lounge chairs, and a small kitchen area.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Matanzas Inlet
Sleeps 5•2 bedrooms•3 beds

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View in a map
St. Augustine, FL
  • Place, Matanzas River
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Matanzas Inlet
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Place, Fort Matanzas National Monument
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Airport, St. Augustine, FL (UST-Northeast Florida Regional)
    ‪41 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

2nd

1 Double Bed and 2 Single Beds

Master

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Main

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Outdoor Shower

Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Mellon Haven - Island Cottage

This 1924 Beach Cottage was part of the original Mellon Estate located on the Summer Haven Island. Literally steps from the Atlantic Ocean (one of the best surfing spots in St Augustine), it is the perfect hideaway to escape to the Island! Equipped with WIFI, they will never know you are working remotely! This is a great quiet area to spend some time with your family a bit removed from the popular activities nearby. The home is updated, and features a screened porch that doubles the living space. The hardest part is going home.

Beach Access Update after the storm: The beach is accessible! The south end is best accessed during low tide. The north end, near the inlet has not changed, best access is a little further up from the old walkway. The national park on the other side of the inlet is open and has a great boardwalk. There are multiple beaches 3-5 min drive for additional access at low/high tide in both directions. We are happy to send photos if needed.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
Pets allowed with approval + fee of $75 per animal
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking please.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2001295vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

St. Augustine

Located in St. Augustine, this holiday home is near the beach. Cafe Eleven Restaurant & Catering and Florida Agricultural Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Fiesta Falls Mini-Golf and Palm Coast Lanes. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and cycling.
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Map
St. Augustine, FL

What's nearby

  • Matanzas River - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Matanzas Inlet - 12 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Fort Matanzas National Monument - 2 min drive - 2.4 km
  • St. Augustine Beach - 18 min drive - 17.0 km
  • Castillo de San Marcos National Monument - 33 min drive - 28.5 km

Getting around

  • St. Augustine, FL (UST-Northeast Florida Regional) - 42 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Circle K - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Matanzas Inlet - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Sandbar Pub - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Commander’s Shellfish Camp - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Viola's Pizza and Pasta - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Mellon Haven - Island Cottage pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Mellon Haven - Island Cottage?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Mellon Haven - Island Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Mellon Haven - Island Cottage?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Mellon Haven - Island Cottage located?

Situated near the beach, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Matanzas River and Matanzas Inlet. Faver-Dykes State Park and Fort Matanzas National Monument are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 30 out of 33 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 33 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 33 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 33 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 33 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Justin H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place

This is a great place for a small family.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Rebecca P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Overall the house is just as shown in the pictures. Pros: Quiet cute neighborhood. Very well stocked!! They made great use of the limited space - very functional and tons of extras (large shampoo and conditioner, cooler, beach chairs, great coffee makers, etc.). Communication was perfect. Outdoor shower was great! Loved the porch. Close to matanzas inlet which is where we spent majority of our time.Cons: Transitions between rooms are dicey - we all got stubbed toes (wouldn’t recommend this for older occupants and was rough on toddler toes- note: there were signs but toddlers can’t read and we - adults - still managed to trip a few times). We didn’t realize it but during high tide we had no beach access which was a major bummer. Even during low tide, the beach entry to the north was hard to access bc you have to climb down through the rocks (difficult with todddlers!). Could use some clean up on outside (a few wasps nests).
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sarah S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect beach cottage!

Very charming perfect little beach cottage. The beach is beautiful as well :)
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Moe H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect hideaway

Everything was perfect. Amazing hosts, propert, and neighborhood. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Janice W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mellon cottage

Enjoyed this charming cottage and would love to visit again
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

diane j.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Last Summer Excursion

We all had a great time, check in was easy and painless. We were just down the road from Marineland which the kids got to interact with the dolphins! The house was well equipped with everything needed. We will be back for a future stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Melissa J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Summer "Heaven"

We loved the cottage, and the town. We look forward to coming back when the weather is cooler!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Daniel M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute little cottage

Fully stocked and furnished amenities. Kitchen was fully equipped. Rooms were cute and unique. Porch was amazing. Property owner was very polite, helpful, and prompt. Lovely area. Will definitely be back again
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Nancyanne W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Get-Away

Walking in the door you feel at home right away. It’s an adorable house with a fantastic screened porch in the back, a nice little yard, fun front porch and convenient parking. It was perfect in so many ways for my week at the beach with my two Goldens. The beach was an easy walk from the house and the neighbors were very welcoming too. It was a great vacation in a great beach community spent in a great little house.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Patrick H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Daytona 500 & St. Augustine

Instructions to find and access the property were very clear. Amenities were as described. Property is very close to the beach, and we heard no noise from the neighbors. Very peaceful. Short drive to St. Augustine. Bed was very comfortable, and excellent bath towels. We didn't use the screened-in porch area, but it looks perfect for warmer weather enjoyment.We had a very nice stay and would like to return during beach season!Patrick & Tanya
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Steven R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beach Cottage in Summer Haven

This is a beautifully restored beach cottage in perfect condition. The screened in back porch area was wonderful. We spent all our evenings out there. The Host, Linda, was wonderful; immediate responses to all questions. Attention to detail was impressive. So many little extras were provided that I would not have thought of. We'll be back.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Thomas K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication

our stay

Overall the property was very cute and clean. But, there was some disappointments. The electricity in the house often dimmed and flickered. The neighborhood is pretty run-down. We were led to believe that we had beach access nearby. There was no safe access to the beach and much of the beach was not safe due to hurricane damage and debris.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug, 2023
Hi Thomas & Linda I am heartbroken that your stay did not exceed your expectations! We typically have such positive reviews and many repeat guests. Since your stay I have had an electrician out to the property and he was unable to duplicate the "dimming and flickering." I'm not sure if you are aware that Summer Haven is considered part of HISTORIC FLORIDA? You might have noticed the coquina lantern posts at the end of the street...this is the exact location of the original Mellon Estate (think Carniege). We definitely offer an alternative environment to the cookie cutter neighborhoods and condos in the area. Summer Haven is one of the most desirable islands. Each of the homes have substantial worth and are consistently attended to. As with the entire Atlantic Ocean coastline, weather rearranges the beaches and in turn the counties move tons of sand on a regular basis to maintain and prevent erosion. Just south of the popular Mantanzas Inlet, there are over 7 beaches within 5 minutes from the cottage. There is consistent access from our neighborhood as this is one of the most popular surfing access points. I have updated our listing to be sure the descriptions are super clear, and I hope you will visit us again! Linda
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Linda C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A wonderful week at a charming cottage

The cottage is in a quiet area away from A1A, so no road noise. Opening the front door reveals a delightful living room, flowing into the dining/kitchen area. The kitchen is stocked with every you need to cook. Appliances are well done. The back deck/porch area is the best place to spend early morning with coffee and make plans for the activity of the day. Linda has a great eye for decorating the cottage. She also informed of a minor internet interruption and notified us when it ended. She is a great host. Thank you for a great week.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Bob P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Short notice beach stay

We needed to find a pet friendly rental on very short notice and were able to book the site the day before arrival. The owner is very responsive to our needs. The DVD player mentioned in amenities was missing and the owner had Amazon deliver a new Bluray player. The house itself is old and quant. The back porch is fantastic for relaxing. As others have mentioned - the bathroom shower is in a claw foot tube and suitable for folks under 5 feet tall due to shower height. The outdoor shower is where you want to shower off. It is by the back porch and sufficiently private for use - nice wooden enclosure. The beach at Matanzas inlet is a 3 minute drive and is a very nice beach! Palm Coast beaches, 10 minutes south. However, the ad description under amenities needs updating - it mentions a short walk to the beach. It is a short walk to where the beach used to be before Hurricane Ian. There is currently no beach at the end of the street, only rocks. If you turn left at the rocks and follow the rocks towards the inlet, the rocks end at a damaged beach house and some sand starts at the bottom of a steep drop off. If you are somewhat acrobatic, you might be able to carefully climb down there. The best option is to drive to the inlet parking lots north of the bridge and access the beach or inter-coastal side from there. If you drive south there are some pull offs on the beach side that can allow access - half mile south. Overall, a nice place to stay and enjoy the area!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Aug, 2023
Bob - glad you enjoyed your stay! You will be glad to know like all along the coast of Florida the beach is ever changing, this beach is used daily by many surfers and locals that are continually modifying and improving access. Linda
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jose A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Charming little cottage, we loved our stay here! Super comfortable, had everything we needed for our week long vacation. The outdoor shower and sun deck were absolute must, perfect after the short walk from the beach (btw there is a pathway on the rocks very easy to access the beach) verry much enjoyed our stay. Thank you Linda
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hidden Gem

Easy living, wonderful beach, and secluded from the hustle and bustle lifestyle.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Marie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beach haven

5 days of beachy goodness! Quintessential beach cottage, a short stroll to a nearly empty beach, and the perfect screen in porch for afternoon napping and dinner at the picnic table. Dogs loved their morning and evening strolls. Linda was quick to respond and wonderful to work with, made the entire process easy peasy. We didn't want to leave.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sweet rental close to the beach

We had a wonderful beach vacation at This quaint space. I used the outdoor shower the entire time as the indoor one was too short for me. If you like a private place away from the hustle and bustle, this is your spot. My only complaint is that the mattress in the 1st bedroom wasn’t great for my back. The bed furthest from the door was much better. Overall, I recommend this place for up to 4 people. I miss it already!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amy R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Everything you need

This place exceeded our expectations. We over packed, this place has everything. Well equipped kitchen, plenty of towels including beach towels, beach chairs. The screened porch is great it added extra living space for our family of 4 and a dog to spread out. Easy walk to the beach which was never crowded. Easy access to fun touristy activities. Highly recommend, we would definitely return if in the area.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

mike r.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Beach House

We had everything we needed along with great weather and a beautiful beach with nice people. Our dog was in heaven as were we every day.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

MichaelMl B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Secluded Beach

Great little house that feels bigger than what it is. The screened-in, back porch definitely added to the experience as we spent most of the time there. The beach is a well-kept secret and was sparsely populated despite a busy weekend. Can either walk or areas for parking right at beach entrance. Host was great to work with and made everything easy. Will return.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Cristina G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ideal beach getaway for those with pets!

While there was some construction going on at the adjoining homes during our stay, the location was otherwise ideal for quick jaunts to quiet beaches. The large back porch was a godsend during the rainstorms and for drying suits. We mostly showered in the outdoor shower as the tub inside isn’t easy to use for folks taller than 5’ :) be sure to pack bug spray!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

LeShan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Perfect Getaway!

A fantastic long weekend. The cottage was adorable, relaxing, perfect location and the owners were so helpful and accommodating. Esau access to a much too. It is the first trip in a very long time that we relaxed.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Karen K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Stay

Love this little house! Perfect location, primitive beach... We went for Mother's Day, my 27 year old, me and my pup. Loads of fun. Great beach and setup. Thanks!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Hope S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay!

My husband and I, along with our two pups, were looking for a relaxing beach weekend and this was the perfect place! The neighborhood is nice and quiet, steps from the beach, and a short drive to restaurants/groceries/etc. The cottage itself was so cute and the patio was a beautiful place to relax. Linda was also a great host and the check-in/check-out process was a breeze. We hope to come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022

About the host

Hosted by Mark & Linda

Host profile image
We've been hosting short term rentals for over 10 years, this is our latest, and most favorite addition! If we could just move in and stay at this one...life would be grand! Enjoy!
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