Wednesday, January 24, 2018

What to Expect when you Arrive to a Property Managed by Keys Holiday Rentals?


When staying with Keys Holiday Rentals you can expect the best hospitality and quality in each individual property we manage. You are sure to be impressed with the cleanliness and attention to detail we put into every property. Beyond that, the sheer selection of rental properties available is immense and we are certain you won't be disappointed with the number of waterfront properties with dockage we have to offer!

Are you bringing your furry family member with you on vacation? No problem! We have many properties that are pet friendly. A number of properties even have pools! Whether you are looking for a weekly or monthly property, a cottage, condo, or house... Keys Holiday Rentals are sure to have something to fit your needs!

All properties have different rates, availability, and seasons. It is important to speak with our Guest Coordinator to understand the different seasons and get the best rate possible.

Below are a few questions we get asked often when planning for an arrival…..

·         Where to I get my check-in instructions?
A few weeks prior to arrival, you will receive an invitation via email from Glad to Have You which will guide you to download the Keys Holiday Rentals "APP" via your Apple or Android smart phone. This APP contains arrival instructions, reservation information, details on your vacation rental property along with local recommendations. Everything you need to enjoy your stay will be right at your fingertips. If you aren't using an APPLE or ANDROID smart phone, we ask you to call the office and arrival instructions be emailed to you.

·         How do I check-in?
Personally greeting our guests and escorting them to their vacation property is one of our favorite tasks.  Depending on the location of the property to our office, we either meet you there or have you come to our office on the way to the property. Then we will personally escort you and gladly answer any questions you may have to help you get your holiday started without delay.

·         What supplies will be there?
In addition to bed linens and towels supplied by the property owner, it is our pleasure to include the following complimentary start up supplies in each of our properties:

General: Tissues; Wisk HE laundry detergent for two loads.   Kitchen: 1 roll paper towels; 3 Cascade dishwasher pods; Dish towel; Dish Rag; Starter size Palmolive liquid dish soap; New scrubby sponge; 3 trash bags (13 gal size).  Bathrooms (Each): 2 new rolls of toilet paper; Liquid pump hand soap; Bath body bar; Personal size shampoo and conditioner.

The Keys Holiday Rentals staff is made up of professional and highly trained locals who have endless knowledge and recommendations. The company has built a reputation for client satisfaction, and we are devoted to making your rental experience a pleasant one. During your stay if you have any concerns we will be sure to address them in a prompt and professional manner. Our guests have come to expect the best when staying with Keys Holiday Rentals and we will continue to provide this at all levels.

Consider spending your next vacation with us! We would love to meet you and personally welcome you to The Keys!

The Staff at Keys Holiday Rentals
83247 Old Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
P.O. BOX 257,  Islamorada, FL 33036
Office:  305-664-8808   eFax:  1-305-938-0773


Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Activity & Restaurant Recommendations


Next time you stay with Keys Holiday Rentals, dining at Kaiyo Grill & Sushi is a must! It's Islamorada’s first Asian fusion and sushi restaurant and one of the Florida Key’s preeminent culinary experiences. In 2010, Kaiyo’s celebrated chefs extended the restaurant’s signature fresh sushi fare to include Wood-Fire grilled cuisine. So incredibly yummy!

The History of Kaiyo Grill & Sushi
Kaiyo Grill & Sushi is located at mile marker 81.7 of Islamorada’s famed Old Highway. Formerly known as the Albury House, the classic “Conch House” dwelling was built by Ed Albury for his family after the Labor Day storm of 1935.

The house was then owned by Viola Moody Howe, a long-time resident of Islamorada Florida, from 1968 until her death in 1980. Throughout those years, Viola’s daughter, Sylvia Wells, and her grandchildren often lived with her. Viola loved roses and spending time in her garden. She was always intrigued by the mystery of what might grow from the miscellaneous seeds she threw in her compost pile. Today, you can find a plaque on the property that reads, “Viola’s Memorial ‘Mystery’ Garden, Viola Moody Howe, 1913-1980.” Look for it when you visit this popular Islamorada restaurant!

Sushi MENU

Dinner MENU

Children's MENU

Dessert MENU

Nestled in downtown Islamorada in the heart of the Florida Keys
Beckoning locals and travelers who appreciate great food and exceptional service, Kaiyo Grill & Sushi is lauded for the freshest sushi in all the Keys, featuring Yellow fin Tuna and Sea Urchin, and classic Thai Green Curry. Heartier fare comes flaming off the grill including signature dishes like Wood-Fire Grilled Filet Mignon with gorgonzola and shiitake mushrooms, and hardwood grilled Rack of Lamb finished with a honey and brandy glaze. Kaiyo quickly became one of the most popular restaurants in Islamorada with its global flavors and cool vibes. Inside, the aromas, sights and sounds offer an alluring atmosphere, while al fresco dining on the wrap-around porch features cool breezes, garden scents and a glimpse of the sun slipping behind the mangroves of the Florida Bay.\

KAIYO GRILL 
81701 OLD HIGHWAY
ISLAMORADA, FL 33036
305-664-5556


HOURS: Tuesday through Saturday 5PM to CLOSE

Here at Keys Holiday Rentals we love to recommend area attractions we promise will be a treat. The History and Discovery Center offers a great opportunity to soak up some of the best history of the Florida Keys...




The activities of the Foundation are based on a close working relationship with the management and owners of the 15,000 square foot Florida Keys Conference Center located in Islamorada, Florida at the Islander Resort.
The Conference Center is a wholly owned facility of the Islander Resort. The Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation have a 50-year lease for 7,500 square feet within the Conference Center.


Only an hour’s drive from mainland Florida, the new building that houses the conference center along with a large two-story ocean facing porch, serves as pre-function space for reunions, tournaments, corporate meetings and celebrations of all kinds. Events can easily be taken off the porch and right onto the lush garden area, just steps from the beautiful beach. Fully accessible, it may be used for weddings, receptions, outdoor meetings or just lounging at the end of the day by the ocean.
The Florida Keys Conference Center is located on the same 25-acre oceanfront property as the Islander Resort and serves as a premiere Florida Keys destination for weddings, receptions and corporate events.



Though once the second largest community in the Florida Keys outside of Key West, walking past the few ruins left on Indian Key paints a poor picture of what was once a thriving village. Now, visitors to the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center in Islamorada can see a permanent model of the island showing how it might have looked circa 1840.
“This exhibit provides our community and visitors a better appreciation for the complexity of life on Indian Key,” said Discovery Center Curator Brad Bertelli, who spent months working with a designer, model maker and other trade professionals. “In addition to the model, artifacts discovered on the island as well as first-hand descriptions and summarized accounts of life on Indian Key, both prior to the Seminole attack of 1840 and after, are presented.” The artifacts are on loan from the Florida Division of Historical Resources.
“If not for the generosity of Ken and Dee Meeks, long-time Islamorada residents, this model would not be part of today’s reality,” said Executive Director Jill Miranda Baker. “We are tremendously grateful to Ken and Dee for understanding the importance of preserving and sharing this island’s unique history, and providing the financial support to bring this exhibit to fruition.”
The Meek’s were honored at an unveiling event on May 18, prior to opening to the general public. Supporters and friends of the Discovery Center were on hand to celebrate, including Islamorada Chamber Board members and ambassadors. 

Legends of the Line


The first of our permanent exhibits, Legends of the Line, opened on June 19, 2014. Legends of the Line is the first of the permanent exhibits that will be displayed at the Discovery Center. The exhibit consists of two mounted fish (bonefish and permit) several historic photographs mounted to the wall, as well as two fishing poles used by President Bush, Sr. and his grandson while fishing with one of the legends included in the exhibit, George Hommell, Jr. One of the images on display is of the President and his grandson fishing with the poles. Also included in the exhibit is 1965 advertisement for Camel cigarettes featuring another of the legendary fishing guides, Jack Brothers. The exhibit also includes a 46-inch touchscreen monitor where viewers can explore a host of legendary fishing guides and fishermen who frequented the Upper Keys from 1915 through the 1960s and beyond… men like Zane Grey, Ted Williams, President Herbert Hoover, as well as legendary fishing guides like Captain Bill Smith (the first ever to catch a bonefish on a fly rod), Bonefish Bonnie Smith, Jimmie Albright, Rodney Albury (whose first client was FDR), George Hommell, Jr. and Billy Pate as well as a host of others. In addition to the fishing guides, the exhibit also explores how fishing developed into a new industry in the Florida Keys, tourism–as well as the role the Overseas Railway and Overseas Highway played.
Pirates, Wreckers and Salvage – From the alleged exploits of Black Caesar, perhaps the Keys most famous pirate, to Captain Ben Baker, the King of the Florida Wreckers who was not only a successful wrecker, but a Key Largo pineapple farmer, Pirates, Wreckers and Salvage delves into the facts and fiction of those men who plied their trade along the dangerous Florida Reef. The exhibit also explores the efforts of men like Art McKee who braved the underwater realm to salvage the treasures lost to the sea.
Spanish Treasure Fleets focuses on the 1733 Treasure Fleet ravished by a September hurricane off the coast of the Upper Keys. Learn about the routes used by Spanish sailors as well as stories of the ships that sank in the shallows from Key Largo to Key Vaca. Artifacts on display for this exhibit were salvaged from local wrecks.
First People. From the origins of aboriginal peoples who first settled along the shores of Lake Mayiami to the Calusa and Tequesta who traveled up and down the island chain, First People explores the indigenous people of the Florida Keys. The exhibit uses a mixture of artifacts and firsthand early European accounts to tell the story of a people who called these islands home over 1,000 years ago

Location

Keys History & Discovery Center is open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and is located at 82100 Overseas Highway, MM82,  on the property of the Islander Resort. General admission is $12, $10 for seniors and active military, and children 13 and under are free. Contact us at 305-922-2237.





Wednesday, January 10, 2018


Brock Haus on the Gulf
Available SPRING & SUMMER 2018


BOOK NOW or call us at 305-664-8808 for additional information. 

This end unit townhouse sits on the water's edge with breathtaking views on all 3 sides! The main living area faces the Florida Bay, one side faces the inlet leading to the marina basin and the back faces the marina. The panoramic open water views from this unit are simply incredible!

The unit is impeccably maintained and offers comfortable and inviting accommodations. The main level features an open living area with new furnishings, dining area with table and seating for 6 plus a fully equipped kitchen. In addition there is a half bath and stack washer/dryer for your convenience. Upstairs there are 2 large bedrooms and 2 full baths. The main bedroom offers a king bed with en suite tub/shower and vanity. The second bedroom offers a queen bed plus a trundle with two twin beds. The hall bath features a tub and shower.

If you are bringing a boat you will love the convenience of docking your boat in the unit's boat slip just steps from the front door. The slip  accommodates a boat up to 36' in length. Proof of $300,000 property liability coverage is required when docking a boat at Futura Yacht Club.   

This beautful bay front condominium complex is conveniently located on the Tavernier/Islamorada border. Amenities include a large swimming pool, club house, tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, sandy sunning beach and onsite parking for boat trailers.  

PROPERTY FEATURES

  • 2 Bedrooms/2.5 Baths
  • Extraordinary Bay Views
  • Direct Bay Front
  • Boat Slip for (up to 33' boat)
  • Inviting Tropical Decor
  • WiFi in Unit
  • Central A/C
  • Ceiling Fans
  • Easy Living Open Floor Plan
  • Sleeps Maximum 6
  • Bedding:  King; Queen; Trundle; Queen Sleeper
  • Fully Equipped Kitchen
  • Refrigerator
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Range/Oven
  • Blender
  • Coffee Maker
  • Toaster
  • Pots and Pans Included
  • Dishes and Flatware Included
  • Linens Included
  • Washer/Dryer
  • Open Balcony
  • Ground Level Patio
  • Charcoal Grill
  • Outdoor Furniture
  • Lounge Chairs
  • Sandy Beach
  • Swimming Pool
  • Concrete Dock
  • Boat Slip
  • Dock with Elecricity 
  • Dock with Water
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

  • Located at Mile Marker 88.5  
  • Convenient commute to Miami or Lower Keys
  • John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park  MM 102.5 
  • Dolphin Cover MM 101.9
  • Jacobs Aquatic Center MM 100
  • Wild Bird Center MM 93.6
  • Harry Harris Park MM 92.5   
  • Rain Barrel Artists Village MM 86
  • Founder's Park MM 87 with community pool, white sand beach, picnic areas, skateboard park, basketball court, driving range, and amphitheater
  • Theater of the Sea (Dolphin, Sea Lion Shows - Swim with the Dolphin Programs) MM 84.5
  • Holiday Isle Beach Resort & Tiki Bar MM 84
  • History of Diving Museum MM 82.9
  • Cheeca Lodge MM 81.8
  • World Wide Sportsman, Shopping, Morada Bay and Pierre’s Restaurants MM 81
  • Robbie's Marina - Feed the Tarpon MM 77.5
  • Islamorada Tennis Club   MM 76.8  
  • Anne’s Beach MM 73 (Oceanside)
  • Long Key State Recreation Area MM 67.5 
  • Dolphin Research Center MM 58  
  • Key Colony Beach Golf & Tennis MM 53.5  
  • Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
  • Windsurfing, Waterskiing, Wakeboarding
  • Kayaking, Canoeing
  • Sailing, Parasailing
  • Park tours
  • Kiteboarding and paddle boarding
  • Birdwatching
  • Bowling
  • Charter Boats for Deep Sea or Backcountry Fishing
  • Bike Trails
  • Movie Theaters
  • Shopping
  • Gourmet or Casual Dining
  • Fabulous Waterfront Restaurants
  • Fishing – Deep Sea or Back Country
  • Fishing Party Boats 
  • Private Captains and Boats for Charter
  • Boat Rentals
  • Fitness Centers