We are a small romantic cottage on a tropical island named Conch Key; It's a quaint Old Florida Keys style lobster fishing village located about 10 miles from Marathon. Close to various state parks and beaches.
Centrally located we are the exact midpoint of the Florida Keys, or the halfway mark between the mainland & Key West, making us a perfect home base for day trips & sightseeing.
We offer a quiet underdeveloped island with an easy relaxing pace of life consisting of small residential streets, where you can take a leisurely stroll or bike ride on our bikes(no traffic)to explore the island, look for our hidden cove & beach, take an ocean water swim off our private dock, or take a nap under the large Tiki hut in our hammocks and still embrace the authentic charm of the Old Florida Keys.
You can embark on a scenic adventure, launch the kayaks and fish the flats, explore the island waterside, paddle to surrounding sandbars or other island beaches & scenic waterways (close by) accessible by small boat or kayak only. All our guests may enjoy the use of our bicycles & kayaks without charge.
On a beautiful historical water view setting, the back yard opens to a large Tiki Hut with electricity, ceiling fans, and night time lighting on the water. Under its roof you'll find swinging hammocks and dining table, perfect for relaxation & cocktail hour or outside dining & BBQ. Scenic & on the water, manatees, tropical fish & Loggerhead turtles often come by to visit. Daytime or shine a light into the water at night and you'll see tropical fish, lobster, octopus, and other sea life passing around our dock.
Your next door neighbors Steve & Jeff, professional commercial lobstermen, will sell you fresh caught, off their boats, lobster and stone crab when in season; or ask your other next door neighbor Captain Dan, professional captain & fishing guide to take you on a 1/2 day or full day charter on his boat and catch your own fish without having to drive anywhere, just wake up, step off your back porch & onto his boat. After a beautiful day on the water Captain Dan will help or filet your fish. You can cook them on the grill as soon as you get off the boat, or take it to many of the local eateries that will cook your catch for a delicious meal.
If you like to fish without a boat, we are located within walking distance of the dedicated world class Long Key fishing bridge ( apx. 3 miles long). Day or night you can cast your bait from land or bridge, for tarpon & many other variety of salt water fish. The bridge is also a great place take a bike ride, go for a walk, or jog if you are a runner, and catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset over the water.
For our guests who own or bring boats, the boat launch is only about a block away from the cottage. Our large dock will accommodate a boat up to 23' in length (no additional charges) & there's plenty of room on property to store you trailer (again no additional charges). There is immediate Bay & Ocean access for flats or deep sea fishing, lobstering, diving, snorkeling and other water activities.
To qualified boaters we can also offer (with additional charges & booked in advance with a minimum 7 night booking) Small Motor Boat Options (SMBOs) - small motor boat rentals available with the cottage booking only, capable of being used for island hopping, scenic on water exploring, and boat only accessible island beaches. Our boats are capable of getting under the many smaller lower height bridges dividing ocean & bay, allowing more opportunity & easier access to island beaches & skinny water exploration of scenic waterways etc. They are not for use in deeper ocean side water, if you are interested in a Deep sea or larger boat rental, we can certainly help guide you to a close & practical boat rental company.
Tastefully furnished, the cottage is a cozy 2bedroom/2bath romantic getaway with WIFI internet access. Accommodations are comfortable for 2 guests on each queen size bed, and if necessary 1 guest on the couch (a bit crowded). The 2nd bedroom/bath is attached to the cottage but accessible by a private front porch courtyard entrance/exit, not through the body of the main cottage, providing an extra level of comfort & privacy for 2 couples traveling together or families, but may be unsuitable for younger children. Each side includes its own bathroom, Direct TV with premium channels, & separate thermostatically controlled central a/c & heat.
Families please provide the ages of any children in your initial inquiry to receive our best possible rates.
THIS IS NOT A PARTY HOUSE RENTAL, NO LARGE GATHERINGS. We love great guests that are respectful of our neighbors & our property on this quaint island & thus allow no more than a respectful number, or limit of non-booked guests at any time during your stay.
We apologize in advance as Expedia owned VRBO/Homeaway hotel/motel based platform programming & logarithms don't always mesh well with our practical needs & policies concerning online homeowner rental. It works but does not always work flawlessly, PLEASE NOTE the following:
1) OUR CANCELLATION POLICY
On December 14, 2018 HomeAway/VRBO is unilaterally and forceably categorizing our property as having a no refund cancellation policy. This is not the case. Although listed as a no refund booking, we will honor the following policy:
ALL Advanced Bookings require a non refundable $500.00 RESERVATION DEPOSIT for each week or part of a week booked (because it makes the dates unavailable for others who would otherwise book the property), until 60 days prior to the check in date when the balance and all monies are due & non refundable.
CANCELLATION REQUESTED PRIOR TO 60 Days before the check in date receive any payment minus the reservation deposit.
2) ESTIMATED RATES (the "enter dates for accurate pricing" tab) from the VRBO/Homeaway site are based on a 2 bedroom 2 bath rental for 2 couples, or a maximum of 4 guests (sharing 2 queen size beds). That estimate may not accurately reflect minimum stay requirements, pricing, or other conditions for HOLIDAY/SPECIAL EVENT PERIODS or ADDITIONAL GUESTS. For example, LOBSTER MINI SEASON (usually the last Wednesday & Thursday in July) REQUIRES A MINIMUM 7 NIGHT BOOKING & increased pricing. We may edit any quote & send it back for your approval prior to booking a reservation.
*1BEDROOM/1BATH COTTAGE RENTALS OPTION
The cottage may be rented as a 1br/1bth rental at a cheaper rate for 1 couple only, who do not need a 2nd bedroom. We lock the courtyard 2nd br/bth so that it is unavailable. The 1br/1bth rental option requires a minimum 7 night booking.
The "enter dates for accurate pricing" tab (or any estimating tab) will not provide discounted pricing for 1br/1bth rentals (*see RATES & AVAILABILITY section/'additional info about our rates'- 1br/1bth rates).
For *1br/1bth rental inquiry, click on "send e mail" (inquiry only, not automatic booking), request a quote with the initial inquiry prior to online or automatic booking, in order to receive the discounted rate (as we must edit the pricing manually).for the 1br/1bth option.
The courtyard 2nd br/bth is never booked or available for booking to another party during a 1br/1bth cottage rental, insuring your privacy & exclusive use of the property.
RENTAL AGREEMENT
We require a copy of your Drivers License with signed rental agreement (provided by attachment in our answer to your inquiry) during or immediately after you book.
This is definitely a NON-SMOKING and absolutely a NO PARTY/NO PET RENTAL.