About this rental
BOAT RENTAL: We offer to rent our personal boats to our guests, only. We own:
Flats Boat - 17 ft Ranger with E Tech 75
Bay Boat - 24 ft Bay Scout with 225 HP Yamaha
Open Fisherman - 29-ft Ocean Runner with twin 300 HP Verrado's
These boats are set up with everything you need to fish the Keys, including spot lock trolling motors, Chart plotters, Depth finders, and everything else including fishing tackle. In the pictures you will see all three boats tied up at the docks. Please call me if you are interested. I get 15 calls a day from insurance scammers from all area codes. You may have to leave a message.
The pictures will give you a pretty good idea about the property. The following will give you a good idea of what you should expect, and why, if you stay at our house.
We purchased this property for our family so we could all vacation here together. There are 14 of us. We have brothers and sisters and their families that also want to come down to spend time in the Keys. Our property here is set up so we will have everything we need and want in order to have a great time. When you get here, you will find the same quality arrangements for you as well. We aren’t real estate investors offering a rental property. We are a family with an awesome vacation home, and we want to share it, at a fair price, so other people can enjoy it as much as we do.
Our family will come down in between rentals. We rent for 28 days. If the Calander shows the dates you want are blocked off by the Smith Family, be sure to email or call me. IMPORTANT; Our family fully understands that our renters come first. If we have the opportunity to rent the property, our family will have to come down some other time. We all work in the family businesses. We have flexible schedules. If you have a question about availability, please call me, or send an email. We can look at the dates and figure out something for you.
Unique Benefits
FISHING AND DIVING. If you are fishermen or divers, Southern Sunset is an excellent property and location. Dockage for two boats. The 38-foot dock has a fish cleaning table, battery charging, and wash down hose. The Tiki Deck has an additional 14-foot dock that will accommodate up to a 24-foot bay boat, or smaller. Located on the ground floor, you will have 2 upright Bait Freezers and a COMMERCIAL GRADE ICE MAKER, 250-lb storage, 17-lb per hour. On the ground floor OUT OF THE SUN you will have plenty of room for all your dive gear, spear guns, fishing rods, coolers and other gear.
Cruise 100 yards to the end of the canal, follow the markers and you have a straight shot to Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, or American Shoal and beyond. Adolphus Bush Wreck - 15 miles, Key West Channel-21 miles, Sand Key Light-25 miles, End of the Bar-32 miles, Marquesas- 32 miles, Coal Bin Reef or Half Moon Shoal- 52 miles. If you want to explore the back country, it is 6 miles around the point to the Kemp channel bridge, 11 more miles to the edge of the Gulf.
In front of the house there is parking for four vehicles, and one boat trailer. Until he gets his house built, my most amazing neighbor will allow additional parking for our boat trailers there on his property next door. You will have plenty of privacy here with fences and lush landscaping enclosing the property on both sides.
Ready to relax? Sit on the Sunset Balcony, or Tiki Hut dock at the end of the canal, and watch the amazing sunsets across the bay. Thanks to the prevailing easterly winds, the canal is most often clean and clear. Swim & snorkel right off the dock. Launch our paddle boards from the easy access launch ramp. Paddleboard out to the bay and snorkel for Lobster. Use the outdoor shower to wash off the salt water.
Feed the plentiful Mangrove Snapper, Lane Snapper, Small Grouper, angle fish, and baitfish right off your dock. We have a resident 24-inch Barracuda. You will enjoy that for sure. We supply the first bag of fish food!!
If you want nightlife and shopping, it is a 20-mile scenic drive to Key West. Drive over in the evening and watch the breathtaking sunsets over the bridges and bays.
For outdoor dining here at the house, use the outdoor refrigerator and barbeque grill for family gatherings on the shaded ground floor. You have table and bar seating on the ground floor for 18. On the Sunset Balcony there is additional seating for 4 at the glass top table and chairs, plus 2 more at the Sunset Table for 2. Inside you will have a dining table for 6, which can be converted to a table for 10. In the kitchen is seating for 4.
If you find time for TV, you will have a living room with three loveseat recliners and a wall mounted 72-inch ROKU smart TV with cable, internet, DVR, and Wi-Fi. Plus, a smart TV (no cable) downstairs behind the bar in the outdoor living area.
The Smith family invites you to turn our house into YOUR house and enjoy your stay in the beautiful Florida Keys.
Area Information
We are located south of US 1, pretty much in the center, on the west side of Cudjoe Key.
To everything Key West, including the Airport - 21.5 miles.
To everything Marathon including the Airport - 29 miles.
Looe Key Reef Resort - Dive and Snorkeling trips, Dive Shop, PADI dive instruction. 4.9 miles Ramrod Key
Bahia Honda State Park. This is a favorite of folks that come down to vacation with us over the years. Especially kids. Snack Bar, Excellent snorkeling and beautiful beach area, clear water, great gift shop, a look at the old Bahia Honda bridge, and more. 14.5 miles on Bahia Honda Key.
Favorite Places To Eat
Our favorite restaurants - good food, good value:
Big Pine Rooster - 7.7 miles on Big Pine Key. Marcy is the hard-working owner. Find Soledad, the waitress with the super cool braids, and tell her John Smith sent you. What a sweetheart she is. If you bring "cook your catch", you have to eat here. Great food with a good price.
Boondocks Grill - 4.9 miles on Ramrod Key
Bobalu's Southern Cafe - 13.9 miles on Big Coppitt Key
Gieger Key Fish Camp - 14.4 miles on Gieger Key. Outdoor rustic dining on the canal. Excellent food.
Florida Keys Cafe (Great breakfast, great price) 8.5 miles Big Pine Key. The owners and waitresses are excellent, and so are the local clientele.
Inside Scoop
During Lobster season, you can paddle our paddle boards out of the canal and into the bay around 100 yards, and beyond. The bay, on average, is 3 to 4-foot deep. Secure the board to yourself, snorkel the area and pull the board around with you. You will find all types of bottom cover scattered around, grass flats with lobster holes, and plenty of lobster. Climb aboard, paddle a while, and drop over again.
If you are new to lobstering, study the rules, size limits, seasons. Be sure to tow the dive flag.
Amenities
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Rates
Rate Period | Nightly | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly | Min Stay |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aug 20 - Nov 30 2024 | $405 | 7 nights | |||
Dec 01 2024 - Mar 31 2025 | $420 | 28 nights | |||
Apr 01 - Apr 30 2025 | $405 | 7 nights | |||
May 01 - Jul 26 2025 | $405 | 7 nights | |||
Jul 27 - Aug 02 2025 | $490 | 7 nights |
Fees:
Cleaning after Check Out: $350
Tax Rate: 12.5%
Notes:
Tax rules:
Monroe County: 5.00%
State of Florida: 7.50%
Availability
Last updated on September 27, 2024
Map
Hosted by John Smith
Member since 2023
Year Purchased: 2022
About the owner: Hello potential renters. I am glad you are looking at our property here on Cudjoe Key. We purchased our house here in September 2022. It is the realization of a dream that started so many years ago. When you look through the pictures you will come across a couple of mighty cute boys, standing on the beach with the Long Key Bridge behind them. The dream started with them. We have lived in Florida since they were born, and every chance we could get we have been coming to the Keys, fishing and diving. 45 plus years later, they are grown and have families of their own, and we are all still addicted to the Keys. We all now live in central Florida, where they all work in the family businesses. We have wanted to own our own home here for so long. Martha and I wondered if it could ever happen. These homes are not cheap. Ha.
Why this property? We were on vacation two summers ago staying on Cudjoe Key at Venture Out. An excellent place, by the way. We never thought we could buy anything, but the wind was blowing, so all 10 of us spent three days looking at houses. Quite by accident, we ran across this house. By now, we knew the market, knew what to look for. It was in the right place, the right size, the right look, and the right value. We started on the purchase, never believing it would work out. I thought it would fall apart many times. With the perseverance of my amazing real estate agent, Dawn, and my equally amazing mortgage broker, Kristen, they shepherded this all the way through to the end. Even after signing the closing documents, we still could hardly believe it.
So, in September we headed down to get it ready for ourselves, and our renters. It is funny, even though the house was excellent, and in very good shape, once you start messing around, you continue to find things that will make it better. So, I moved in to work on the improvements, the family came down on weekends when they could to help, and six months later it was ready to rent. We are in love with this place. We can hardly believe it is so perfect.
We hope you will enjoy Southern Sunset as much as we are.
Photos
Reviews
SPECTACULAR SOUTHERN SUNSET - 5 STARS
No need for all the little details - this place is just SPECTACULAR! Our stay was absolutely INCREDIBLE! If you're looking for the PERFECT spot for ALL the Florida Keys activities, then this one is a must!The owners are AMAZING, and go that extra mile to make sure your stay is every bit of relaxing and enjoyable.THANK YOU AND SEE YOU SOON! LEONARD AND LESLIE
Stayed: August 2024 Submitted: September 09, 2024
Owner response
Leonard and Leslie, thank you for your kind review. It is a real pleasure getting to know you both and having you as guests at Southern Sunset. Thank you for already booking August and Mini Season 2025. The ultimate compliment for sure. Take care and stay in touch.
Cleanliness
10/10 Excellent February 1 to April 6, 2023. Liked: Cleanliness. This property is exceptionally clean and is equipped with many great features: It has 4 bedrooms, 3 tvs, large deck, dock, new kitchen equipped with everything you may wish for. I do not believe that you will find many homes that are as well-equipped as nice as this home. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Southern Sunset. Ted Leach Stayed 63 nights in Feb, March, April 6th, 2023
Stayed: February 2023 Submitted: May 18, 2024
Owner response
Ted and Linda are the most fascinating couple. We were fortunate to have them for 2023. They came back and stayed at Southern Sunset again this past January, February and March, 2024. They were kind enough to invite Martha and me to spend a weekend with them both times. We are about the same age. Their story is so interesting. Ted kept Martha laughing the whole time we were there with them. Great times with wonderful folks.
The sunsets are gorgeous - extremely relaxing
The location is amazing. You can sit in a cabana by the end of the canal and watch manatees and turtles pop up - John also has some fish food so you can feed the snappers and groupers that are in the canal. He tells me there is an eel that lives under the dock, but never did get lucky enough to see him. The house is adorable, decorated to the Nth degree. The notes on the property are meticulous and not one detail is missed. Beautiful landscaping too. Neighborhood is nice to walk. It was the perfect spot to decompress
Stayed: May 2024 Submitted: May 15, 2024
Boat Rental From Perfect Hosts
Wanted to drop a quick note of appreciation to John and Martha. My wife and I originally intended to rent Southern Sunset for the month of March. We have a large extended family and the property was perfect for all the comings and goings of different family members. Unfortunately, as time drew near, those members had a change of heart and we needed to cancel with John in lieu of a smaller place on Big Pine Key. So why the review? After corresponding with John for a few months, we really got to know him and developed a great relationship. Even though we had to cancel our stay at Southern Sunset, John was still willing to rent us one of his boats (a 29 ft center console w/twin Merc 300's) for the month. This is not normal as the boat is usually tied/rented to the occupants of the property. Fortunately, John was able to rent the property and the tenants did not require a boat, so John said we could still use it if we wanted. Super nice of John. John and his son, John 2, took us out fishing the day we picked up the boat to show us the proper operations and workings of the vessel. And it was a great day of fishing!!! Had a total blast with John as he is such a great guy to hang out with. The boat performed flawlessly for the entire month we had it, and it made our vacation one of the best stays we've had in the Keys. We did get the opportunity to see the property, Southern Sunset, and it was just as described in the listing. John has done a lot of work on the place and all the little extra touches he's done really make the place a perfect rental. We would definitely rent Southern Sunset in the future, not only because it is a beautiful property, but because John and Martha are such great people and gracious hosts. Thanks again John and Martha. We look forward to seeing you again next year!
Stayed: March 2024 Submitted: April 01, 2024
Owner response
Well, you had us when we found out you wanted to come down to celebrate your 40th wedding anniversary. We can’t think of a better use for Southern Sunset. We like to think SS has a romantic character. That is the way we like it. It is a little scary to turn our personal fishing boat and tackle over to folks we have only met through email. That is a lot of boat. But, it didn’t take long to see you guys were first class. We knew the boat would be in good hands. It is extremely gratifying to know the boat made such a difference in your vacation. That is what the boat rental idea was about. Isn’t it interesting that a simple boat rental would be the catalyst that would enhance our lives in this way? What a wonderful opportunity to meet your beautiful family, and then spend the day fishing together in the amazing Florida Keys. I was there to see Phil number 2 get his first Yellowtail Snapper. A very nice one I might add. I think he might have been as excited as I was. ha-ha. It was absolutely a pleasure to meet you and your family, and spend that time together. We wish you the best, and we look forward to seeing you next year.
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