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El Matador 168 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Jul26

Photo gallery for El Matador 168 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Jul26

A heated pool
Dining
Interior
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire condo

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 696 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
  • Pool
  • Hot Tub
  • Gym

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire condo to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

El Matador 168 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Jul26

Free Activities are Included with your stay - a Free $300 Per Day Value! As a Thank You for staying with us, you will receive complimentary admissions to popular activities and attractions, Everyday of your stay. Check Out -> Only Valid for Short Term Rentals. Not available for Per Diem Stays, Guest of Owner Stays.

1 Free admission everyday to -> Shalimar Golf Course - Round of Golf, Big Kahuna’s Water Park - General Admission, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park - General Admission, Wild Willy’s Grand Prix The Gator: Adult Admission, Sea Blaster - Beach or Sunset Dolphin Cruise,
Sea Blaster - Snorkel Admission, Cruisin Tiki’s - Evening Sunset Cruise.

Looking for Paradise? Here it is at the El Matador! Has to be the most sought of family vacation resort on the Emerald Coast. A secluded condominium nestled between the beautiful white sand dunes and the sparkling Emerald Waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

El Matador is truly a beach resort. Just two miles down Santa Rosa Blvd at the end of the Island you will find us – secluded but still just a few minutes to all the amenities that Destin and Fort Walton Beach have to offer. Just six miles down Hwy. 98 you can enjoy Destin – “ The Worlds Luckiest Fishing Village” – charter a private trip or take the kids out on a group boat and catch dinner. While in Destin enjoy fine restaurants, shopping, and golfing on some of the best golf courses in the Panhandle of Florida. Hard to believe that you might need a day off from the beach but if you do take the family to Big Kahunas Water Park in the center of old Destin. Much more than just a water park… it’s a day of fun!

Back at the El Matador enjoy the large grass areas between our buildings just right for family fun and games. With two pools, his and her whirlpool, and saunas just right for your tired muscles after a game of tennis on one of our courts, or in our fitness center. We are located at the end of Okaloosa Island a small barrier Island between Fort Walton Beach and Destin. This gated community with thirteen miles of undeveloped beaches to the west is sure to have you longing to return.

Property manager

Chris, Sher, Austin

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach

Pool/Spa

  • Communal pool
  • Heated pool
  • Hot tub
  • Sauna

Internet

  • Available in the condo: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Elevator
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • Near an outlet shopping mall
  • Near the marina

Things to do

  • Golf
  • Gym
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Water park
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Parasailing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Gated community
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Unit size: 1,038 square feet

Similar properties

On the beach

Island Surf 4 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Aug23

  • Pool
  • Hot Tub
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
8.6 out of 10, Excellent, 22 reviews
Island Surf 4 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Aug23

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

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
Onsite 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 there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

1602-60764

About the neighborhood

Map
Fort Walton Beach, Florida

What's nearby

  • Okaloosa Island Beach - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island - 6 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Okaloosa Island Pier - 6 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park - 6 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Emerald Coast Science Center - 11 min drive - 7.7 km

Getting around

  • Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Whataburger - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Stewby’s Seafood Shanty - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Slim Chickens - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Lost Pizza Co. Ft Walton - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Olive Garden - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does El Matador 168 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Jul 26 have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is El Matador 168 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Jul 26 pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at El Matador 168 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Jul 26?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at El Matador 168 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Jul 26?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is El Matador 168 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Jul 26 located?

Situated on the beach, this condo building is within a 10-minute walk of Santa Rosa Sound, Fort Walton Beaches, and Okaloosa Island Beach. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center and Ross Marler Park are also within 3 mi (5 km).

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El Matador 168 by Alicia Hollis Rentals Open Jul26 Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 48 out of 61 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 61 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 61 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 61 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 61 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10

We have been coming here since 2012. We love it here, it’s family friendly and safe. We have stayed at several of the buildings and we always have a rear stay at any of them. We will be back
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10

I almost don't want to say how happy I was with our stay so I can keep it for myself. This is definitely an older building, but has been updated. The property has fantastic views of the water. Very clean!!! Close proximity to laundry if needed. Realtor very responsive and helpful. We will be using this property again when we visit the area.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Out at the end of the strip away from the madness. Was everything we need for our adventure. Will stay there next trip too. Very nice place for the money. Others we looked at had the same features, but about $1000 more for a week.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2019

10/10

For an older building, we were impressed. The kitchen had everything you needed to cook with. Very well stocked. The living room furniture was updated from pics shown. The building was quiet. Right on the beach. I do agree with other reviewers that the very larger TV armoire should be removed and just a larger tv mounted to the wall would open up the room so much! We had a lovely stay and will totally recommend this place to our friends and family as well as book again next year!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

8/10

We were very happy we chose this unit at El Matador. The master bath was roomy, the beds were comfortable and the view from the balcony was nice. The walk to the beach from this building (1) wasn't bad. We walked about 2.5 miles down the beach to the pier one day. Nice area for a family vacation or quiet getaway as a couple.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2024

10/10

We had a great stay. This is our 3rd stay at El Matador, first time in 168. Condo was very nice and had everything we needed, to sleep, cook, eat, relax, and have fun!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10

We rented this need it for a long weekend and we’re not disappointed. Unit was clean and comfortable when we came in plenty of room to relax when we were at the pool or the beach. Great location to see Sea turtles. Property itself was well-maintained pools were very clean and attended to daily.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

8/10

Good
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10

After what could've been a huge mishap (broken air conditioner) was turned into a great week by the property management team. They constantly kept us updated on the status, ultimately we stayed in the condo they moved us to. I can't say enough good things about them! We did visit 168. It was clean, well stocked and had a wonderful view. We are already planning on coming back next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

2/10

Ac didn't work all week couldn't sleep due to sweating. I feel like we should get money back from owners since we paid good money for the stay
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: This is an average condo that is an economical option for an outstanding beach. It appeared that the condo was serviced, however, the doors and walls are in need of being wiped down and cleaned. The toilet seat in the master bathroom is damaged and chipped. I see in previous reviews that this was already identified. It is recommended that you bring a thick mattress pad as the master bed was very uncomfortable. There was way too much extra furniture and fake shrubbery. This condo was be so much better if the owner minimized the stuff and maximized the quality. The couches were dirty so we covered them with sheets. The blender does not work. We borrowed the neighbor's. And the fridge sounds like it is about to stop working... it makes a lot of noise. The television in the living room is quite small... the owner really should consider getting rid of the giant tv amour and mounting a large 70" on the wall... it would give so much more space. Also, replace the dirty cloth couches with durable leather couches that are easy to clean. Overall, a good condo... despite my many critiques, I'd stay in again.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Our unit was clean and nicely appointed with a nice relaxing balcony view of the ocean. The beach front is beautiful with white sand & clean beaches. It is also less crowded as it is next to the military base & no other condos to the west of property. It is in Bld.#1 which is looking out over a parking lot, then the main swimming pool & boardwalk to beach.The Matador landscaping was well maintained & there is another pool nearby with a workout room & hot tub(must have code to enter). Staff was friendly & helpful and the 2 chairs & umbrella service was great. The only issue with the unit is the towel bar in master bath falls out of the wall first time you take towel off or bump it (minor problem). We also were told the property is no smoking yet there were lots of smokers outside on the grounds but the condo complex interior did not smell of smoke. I would have to give this property a thumbs up. P.S You need to bring extra paper towels,trash bags, baggies etc for kithen if planning on cooking much. Reccomendations while there: The Indian Mound Musem is interesting & good for a rainey day, Stewby's Restaurant is about 2-3 miles inland but great local food for the price (casual order at counter place), the Ft. Walton- Okaloosa Boardwalk is close (nice restaurants & has a nice public beach area), Destin Boardwalk is much larger with more restaurant options but is a few miles farther & lots traffic congestion on weekends & holidays.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10

A little pricey.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10

Condo was clean and well stocked especially the kitchen. Had nice ocean view. Beach was very nice with great location.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021

8/10

Loved the location. It was busy but never felt crowded. We didn’t know there was a different code for the sauna and whirlpool until the last couple days. We asked the guard shack. Nice having 2 pools. They smaller one was hardly crowded at all. Having beach service for the week was nice because who wants to pack chairs and an umbrella! Communication could’ve been better re: maintenance and AC tech needing in and out of the property while visiting. We had multiple unexpected visits, things happen and we made the best of it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the condo. It was a great location next to the beach, provided 2 pools and a workout room for me which was excellent because I don’t like to miss a whole week of my workout program. The only thing that was a bummer was that I couldn’t figure out how to get into the sauna/whirlpool and there was really no guidance on where to go if you had questions. I did not try to reach out on the app because it wasn’t a hoof deal just a bummer that we couldn’t walk in and relax with my girls. I already plan on finding a bigger place next summer in that area to bring my extended family! If there wasn’t so many of us we would go ahead and book this condo for sure. Thanks for a great vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10

Will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10

Rental of the property was made very easy via VRBO and the great communication with Alicia Hollis Realty!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10

It was so nice to be at the end of the beach where you could spread out away from other people. The condo was very nice and clean. It did not have a washer/dryer in the unit, but there was one a couple doors down near the elevators. We enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Amazing experience. Condo and area was beautiful. We hope to be back!
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2021

10/10

We absolutely loved spending our family vacation at the El Matador. We was in unit 168 and had the best view. The condo was clean, very family oriented and safe for our children. We will definitely be spending more years to come at the El Matador for our vacations. It was very quit and people didn't disrespect anyone or anything on the property. I would consider buying a condo there so me and my husband can retire when that time comes.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2020

10/10

Very nice condo, very easy access to the beach.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Overall we had a great vacation. Location was perfect since we were right there on the beach. The unit seems to need some updates. The master bedroom toilet seat had chunks of paint missing where you could see the wood and one side of the bed mattress would make a squeak noise every time you moved (not great if you are a light sleeper). Also, wished the clean spare pillows were labeled somehow in the closets because some of them had pillowcases (which one of them had a stain on) on them and others not. Wish there was a light blanket for the sleeper sofa as well. The unit also needs new paint because some the the baseboards/walls/doors had stains on them. The kitchen was fully stocked with utensils, pans, etc which was nice since we cooked often.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020

10/10

5 stars across the board! We had everything we needed and more, including a sea view from our unit. The unit was beautifully appointed and very clean. We would definitely stay there again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2020
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The staff was very helpful and friendly. We loved our room. We enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2020