Tranquil & Pristine at Lynn's Gulf Getaway--El Matador Resort!
About the property
- Condo1100 sqft
- Bedrooms2
- Sleeps6
- Bathrooms1
- Half Baths1
- Minimum Stay1 - 3 nights
Condo, 2 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s)
Our unit is just steps away from the sand with no streets to cross. Two elevators are available and there is a washer and dryer on each floor of the building. A grill is also provided at each of the five buildings and swimming pool.
Our condo unit is unique with its direct views of both the Gulf and sound from this top (sixth) floor unit! As you enter the Condo, you will be awestruck with the beauty of the Gulf waters through the sliding glass doors to the terrace in front of you. And, the kitchen window looks out to the boats floating on the Santa Rosa sound.
The condo is located in a very spacious resort. El Matador is a
gated community with 24-hour security. The guards are visible and located directly across from our building. The resort sits on 13 acres of land at the end of a row of condos and adjacent to 17-miles of uninhabited beach. There are two swimming pools on the property; two hot tubs and a fitness center overlooking the outdoor pool.
We hope you will check out our second home! We know you will enjoy our coastal decor and furnishings and countless amenities
provided for your vacation stay including beach chairs and equipment in our balcony closet.
Two Smart tvs are in the unit and complimentary wifi and more.
Our condo -- where memories are happy and the sun is bright!
Keywords: Condominium
Owner
Owner
- Response rate:
- 100%
- Response time:
- within one hour
- Speaks:
- english
- Calendar last updated:
- Apr 15, 2018
About Owner
Shane & Lynn Gunnning, Owners Shane and I have been married 33 years and live in Coopersburg, PA and the Jersey Shore. We have grown children and living now in an empty nest! Visiting our condo is a top priority, and we fly down often as time permits. Shane is a Senior Marketing Director with Intel, & I recently retired from a long & rewarding teaching career in business and technology.
Owner purchased this Condo in 2005
Why Owner chose Ft Walton Beach
After visiting all corners of our favorite state, we discovered the hidden secret: The Emerald Coast. The white snow-like sand that never gets hot and always squeaks when you walk....the turquoise-colored crystal clear calm water....the friendly southern hospitality...and specifically, the uncrowded location on Okaloosa Island--we fell in love with it all!
What makes this Condo unique
We examined many properties in and around Fort Walton Beach and Destin, Florida. What sold us on El Matador resort is the acreage and quietness. The 17 miles of undeveloped beach adjacent to this resort is total peace...
Amenities
- Internet
- Air Conditioning
- Swimming pool
- Heater
- Satellite or Cable
- Kids Welcome
- Washer & Dryer
- Hot Tub
- Parking
- TV
- No Smoking
Bedrooms
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6
- King size beds (1), Twin or Single Beds (2), Sleep Sofa or Futons (1)
Bathrooms
- 1 Bathroom, 1 Half Bath
Location Type
- Beach
- Beach ViewOur unit is very light and airy and has a full view of the Gulf from the master bedroom, kitchen, dining room, living room and even the bathroom.
- Ocean ViewFull Gulf view. The water and sand are visible from most rooms in the condo filling the sliding glass door when you walk in the unit.
- Resort
Theme
- Family
- Romantic
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- Iron & Board
- Air Conditioning
- Clothes Dryer
- Elevator
- Fitness Room / Equipment
- Hair Dryer
- Heating
- Internet
- Broadband AccessComplimentary
- Linens Provided
- Parking
- Sofa Bed
- Telephone
- Towels Provided
- Washing Machine
- Wireless Internet
Kitchen
- Ice Maker
- Coffee Maker
- Dishes & Utensils
- Dishwasher
- Freezer
- Grill
- Cooking Utensils
- Kitchen
- Kitchenette
- Microwave
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Toaster
Dining
- Dining Area
Entertainment
- Audio Tape Player
- CD Player
- DVD Player
- Radio
- Satellite / CableThere are three tv's in the unit--family room, master bedroom, second bedroom.
- Stereo
- Television
Outside
- Balcony
- Deck / Patio
- Outdoor Grill
- Tennis Court
- Terrace
Suitability
- Long-term Renters Welcome
- suitable for elderly or infirm
- wheelchair inaccessible
Pool / Spa
- Communal Pool(2)
- Heated Pool
- Hot Tub
- Outdoor Pool
- Sauna
- Shared Hot Tub
Attractions
- churches
- cinemas
- library
- marina
- museums
- playground
- restaurants
- theme parks
- water parks
- zoo
Leisure Activities
- antiquing
- beachcombing
- boating
- miniature golf
- outlet shopping
- scenic drives
- shelling
- shopping
- sight seeing
- walking
Local Services & Businesses
- fitness center
- groceries
- hospital
Sports & Adventure Activities
- scuba diving or snorkeling
- basketball court
- fishing
- golf
- jet skiing
- kayaking
- parasailing
- pier fishing
- sailing
- cycling
- snorkeling
- snorkeling/diving
- sound/bay fishing
- surf fishing
- surfing
- swimming
- tennis
- water skiing
- wind-surfing
Notes
- A true resort feel with plenty of grass and room to spread out. It's location at the end of the island affords true solitude and relaxation.
House Rules
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date. You must contact the owner directly to request cancellation.
61 Reviews
Latest reviews
Amazing location!
We visited for spring break with our 12- and 14-year-old daughters. We loved Fort Walton beach! It's a little off the beaten path, so we gladly missed out on the spring break madness of Destin while still taking advantage of dining and other attractions in Destin.
The El Matador is in a beautiful spot--at the end of a strip of condos/hotels with a long, long stretch of uninhabited beach. The common areas (lobby, laundry rooms) were pristine. Only one of the pools was heated (not sure if this is a seasonal thing), and the warmer pool was pretty crowded because temperatures were fairly low during our stay. The unheated ocean-facing pool is really gorgeous, as is the white sand beach. It's a little stretch of heaven--very clean, not at all crowded. On our last day, we saw a pod of dolphins in the morning and evening.
The unit is very convenient to the beach. It's in building one, so not ocean-front, but the walk to and from the unit is short and easy, even with chairs and beach bags in tow. The supply closet off the balcony had umbrellas and nice beach chairs, which was a great bonus. The unit has a beautiful ocean view from the balcony and from the master bedroom, which we enjoyed immensely.
As for the unit itself, I was very impressed with how impeccably clean it was. Hats off to the cleaning crew! The unit is fairly dated, but the only real downside of that is the bathroom, which is in need of some TLC, particularly the area with the toilet and shower. The bathroom is Jack-and-Jill style, which means there are two separate areas with sinks and mirrors but only one toilet. From the description I had assumed there were two toilets. It ended up being fine for the four of us--definitely not a deal breaker.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay here and would love to get back to Fort Walton in the near future. Lynn was a breeze to work with--she responded quickly when we were booking and also refunded our security deposit very quickly.
Great stay!
Great property! Such an easy walk to te beach and great view. Can’t wait to come back!
Very nice place and very quiet
Na
Great location. Quiet. Great for families.
This was our first time staying here. We really loved it. The quiet location was perfect for the four of us. I loved being able to walk down to a uncrowded beach. The pools were nice. The gym was incredible, as I used it several times that week. The condo had great decor. It was very comfortable. The only negative I had, was there was not any toilet paper or trash bags left after the first round. This wasn't a huge deal, because there was a store close, but I would have prepared for it if I would have known. Overall, I would recommend this for anyone looking to rent.
A great stay, thank you Lynn
We are a family of 4 with 2 kids ages 10 and 13. Stayed at Lynn’s condo second week in May for 6 nights. The condo like others described is very clean and well maintained. Everything in the unit worked (TV, Internet, Appliances etc.). Lynn was very easy to work with. The unit is on the sixth floor, building #1. There are 2 elevators in the building. Next to the elevator are a washer and dryer. Two dollars for a load of laundry, which I think is very reasonable. The unit is about 30 steps from the elevator (yes, I counted). During our stay it was pretty peaceful, we hardly heard any noise. There are two well maintained pools. The beach is about a 5 min leisurely walk from the unit. It is a great beach for walking and is pretty secluded. The waters had some allege but it did not bother us. We checked out other beaches in the area. They are just as nice and some had no allege. I would definitely recommend this unit.
Mel, you and your family were meticulous guests and we hope you will be able to return someday. It sounds like you have discovered a little piece of heaven in the air down at that El Matador Resort. We love it for the reasons you describe. As far as the water and the algae, that is hit-or-miss. Usually the water is turquoise or emerald green and clear and the reason we invested in this property. Thanks for choosing our condo and have a great summer Mel.
Very Peaceful.
We had a great time. The room was great and the beach was amazing.
Location
Our condo is located on an uncrowded island in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Okaloosa Island. It's approximately six miles from Destin. In Fort Walton Beach and Destin there are countless things to do and see. There is the Gulfarium that entertains vacationers of all ages with live sea life shows daily. There are many championship golf courses within a 15-minute drive! Miniature golf, adventure parks, go-carts are right down the road! For teens and people of all ages, a new boardwalk was built in Fort Walton Beach--two miles down the road. There are restaurants, volleyball nets, game rooms, souvenir shops, etc. to entertain the young and old. In addition, the Destin Commons, Silver Sands Factory Outlets and Santa Rosa Mall provide all your shopping needs. This is a fisherman's haven, too! Take a glass bottom boat tour and snorkel in the crystal clear turquoise green waters of the Emerald Coast! Then there is my favorite: sinking my toes in the indescribable baby powder white sand!