âą Cozy Gulf-view studio sleeping up to 4 guests âą Private balcony with bar-height seating for Gulf views âą King bed + sleeper sofa âą Fully stocked kitchen with stainless appliances âą Beach essentials provided âą Free WiFi + Smart TVs âą Free parking + EV charging available âą Located in a peaceful, low-density resort surrounded by nature
đ The Experience
Tucked on the far west end of Okaloosa Island, El Matador offers a rare, quiet beach experience surrounded by miles of protected dunes and natural beauty. Itâs the perfect place to slow down, spread out, and enjoy the beach without the crowds.
đïž Sleeping & Bathroom
âą King bed + sleeper sofa âą Full bathroom with tub/shower combo âą Fresh linens, fluffy towels + starter toiletries provided
đœïž Kitchen & Dining
âą Fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances âą Drip + Keurig coffee maker â âą Breakfast bar seating âą Dine indoors or enjoy meals on the balcony
đŽ Resort Amenities
âą 2 swimming pools (one Gulf-front, one nearby; seasonally heated) âą Direct beach access just a short walk away âą Fitness center âą Tennis, pickleball & basketball courts âą BBQ grills âą Coin laundry just down the hall âą There is a small elevator lift for those who don't want to use stairs
â OKALOOSA ISLAND â âą "Sugar Dunes" is ideally located on Okaloosa Island offering a lower density beach vacation. There arenât any high rises on OKI, so no more fighting for space or sitting in the 5th row! There are so many activities to enjoy, including: âą Okaloosa Island Beach: A pristine stretch of white sand and emerald green water offering parasailing, pontoon & jet-ski rentals, and a fishing pier! âą The Boardwalk with many shops and restaurants, beach volleyball, and a fishing pier + seasonal fireworks shows! âą Wild Willys Adventure Zone - Features go-karts, mini-golf, bumper rides, and more, catering to family fam! âą Destin â Just a short drive away you can spend the day enjoying the Harbor, Destin Commons, and a wide variety of shops, restaurants, golf, and spas!
HOUSE RULES âą Minimum Age: This property requires a minimum of one adult over the age of 25 stay at the property throughout the entire rental term. The primary guest is responsible for all additional guests. âą Pet Free Property - Per the signed Rental Agreement, any violation of the NO PET policy will result in immediate eviction, plus additional cleaning charges. Our building does not allow guest pets and Emotional Support Animals are not required to be allowed by law in vacation rentals. âą All reservations include a mandatory rental agreement to finalize your reservation that must be signed within 48 hours. âą CHECK-IN BEGINS AT 4:00 PM CST and CHECK-OUT IS BY 10:00 AM CST. âą Easy self-check-in is available via the keypad on the front door - a personalized code will be in your arrival instructions at check in time. âą No smoking/vaping/drugs/firearms allowed in our condo or balcony âą Max number of guests includes guests of all ages including infants/children to comply with our vacation rental permit, HOA laws, and local fire code laws. Exceeding the guest count is grounds for immediate eviction with no refund. âą Parking for up to 2 cars in the open lot
Wonderful location. Steps to the beach and pool. The view is a bit misleading from the pictures, but the balcony is wonderful. There was some storage type containers along the wall to the beach which distracted from the view as well as a lot of large items for disposal by the dumpster which was not in line with the property care overall. Communication at the beginning of booking was lacking but no issues during stay. Lots of eateries nearby.
The stay at El Matador was nice and relaxing. I had no issues with the condo. It was pretty nice as a matter of fact. I am working on transplanting myself from the greater Chicagoland region and am in the process of moving around to see where I would like to stay permanently. Okaloosa Island is a nice quiet place with very nice people if that is what you are looking for. I was here in mid February so I am not sure what happens yet when the "Spring Break" and "Vacation" seasons arrive. I am assuming that people keep the peace around the Ft. Walton Beach area and it doesn't get too crazy. I decided to relocate to the East end of the Island since I do not have a vehicle and the restaurants seem to be located over here. Overall, the Ft. Walton Beach area is a great place to relax and enjoy life if that's what you are looking to do.
Good and bad things about this property and overall just felt like it was okay at best. The listing photos, we felt, were a tad deceiving. The patio faces much more of the parking lot than shown. Additionally, the sand view in the photo and listing saying it is beach front which leads one to believe you are just an elevator ride down to the beach access however this particular unit is in the very front of the property- farthest from the beach so about 2 blocks equivalent to the beach which isnât bad but just a little misleading. For a studio, size was great. However the unit was not adequately clean. Floors left a black film on your feet and if you wiped them at all, paper towel came back black. Unit has a weird smell upon entry- a bit like mothballs. The bathroom is in DESPERATE need of an update and deep clean. The grout on the floor tile is black but you can see in the corner where it was originally white and felt grimy. The pull out sofa bed sheets had not been cleaned or changed and had food crumbs and hair on it. Additionally, we were given one roll of TP, one trash bag, and only 4 bath towels for 4 people for a 4 day stay. Elevator was out of order entire stay. However, the part of town the condo is located in is great. Hosts were kind, helpful and communicative when asked questions. Unit has potential but overall was a bit disappointing and needs proper cleaning
We loved the room, it was perfect for the couple. Everything was well managed and the view was good too. It was peaceful and loved the late night pool access.