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Carpe' Diem Heart of the Fl. Keys Specials

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Beauty of front gardens @ Carpe' Diem Marathon
Exterior detail
Beach
Gardian of the front gardens and all sailors at sea.
As alway we try to keep the drinks cold & the sun shining!

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4130.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer

Explore the area

Map
Marathon, FL
  • Florida Keys Country Club
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • The Turtle Hospital
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Sombrero Beach
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Marathon, FL (MTH-Florida Keys Marathon)
    ‪2 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Carpe' Diem Heart of the Fl. Keys Specials

****Hi Y’all, Connie here your owner/ hostess at Carpe’Diem Marathon Florida Keys. I are still accepting weekly reservations for summer/winter 2024/25 Seasons with some great specials throughout the year with reduced limited acceptance of no more than 4 guests at any time. My decision to do so after being one of the very first licensed vacation homes over 20 years ago was made not only as an extra safety measure but to ensure our guests have ample room to relax and enjoy our home during your stay. Please remember the number of guests you list at time of booking are the number of guests we are expecting upon your arrival, no exception without contacting us before your arrival date once your stay has been confirmed. As all our past guest know we will always try to accommodate that last minute requests when Grandma or your Grandchild decides to join in the fun. Please just contact us in advance so arrangements can be made. We would like to thank all our guests that have traveled down to visit our home and taking the time to leave your fantastic reviews in the past , summer season 2023 We are so happy y’all were able to enjoy not only our home but our beautiful island chain.**** Thank You All Again!

Carpe'Diem is located in the Heart of the Fl.Keys on the Ocean Side.
Mile Marker 50.3 on the island of Marathon. The style of our home is a ground level classic Conch home featuring just a couple steps both in the front entrance and out to the deck/dock area. This is a feature that has all but disappeared on our islands due to building codes therefore it is one of the few making it great for both children and seniors not to mention not having to carry everything up and down a flight of stairs. That was one of our primary reasons for opening our vacation rental at this location and speaking of locations we are located in in the middle of everything. A direct access canal to the Great Atlantic and minutes to the beach, transit service, shopping and fine dining. Being in the middle of our island chain makes easy to take advantage of exploring all our beautiful islands from a central location. Our home has been extensively updated and is absolutely beautiful and we look forward to welcoming back both old and new friends that suffer from the need to enjoy all the many beauties, relaxations, and warmth the Fl. Keys has to offer for all ages. As you can see we are already booking for the winter seasons and we have some wonderful weeks open plus once again they are calling for a early long cold winter so we hope to hear from you all soon if you are thinking of coming down to play by the sea in the sun. Our rates as you can see are very competitive for our amenities and we do have an insurance policy included in your final cost to protect against any unforeseen accidents that may occur during your stay however if not needed upon your departure it is refunded. .We do offer a really deep hurricane gamblers dicounts we offer starting in Sept and running through November for those of you with a brave heart. Please remember if we all have to evacuate or we are already gone on your Hurricane reserved week we all lose and there are NO REFUNDS. As always we have your keys to the Keys awaiting your arrival and thanks once again to all our many friends for your continued visits to our hide away in Marathon over the past 20 some years.
Remember to always contact us or book your dates early as island time openings are here today and booked tomorrow! We always keep the sun shinning and the drinks cold down here by the sea side!

For all who are thinking of visiting our island home let us tell you alittle about it.
We love to welcome our guests with our lovely island decore!
Our island hide away is a 3 bedroom, 2 full bath, ground level duplex home that features 50 foot of furnished dock which includes a six person spa tub and gas grill. Our dock also has the convienance of a step down feature for easy loading and unloading of your boat and is on a direct access canal to the Great Atlantic. We invite one and all to enjoy the beautiful water of the Keys when coming to boat fish and dive however please keep in mind that neither the Atlantic or Gulf waters are like any lakes you may be an accomplished sportsman on. They both require an experienced and safety minded boater to navigate it’s many obstacles, sand bars and remember a free online open water ocean safe boater courses are available and recommended for both old and new boaters before venturing out on what we call “The Big Water”

Our home features tile floors throughout the living room,lanai and kitchen areas with carpeted bedrooms. Our bedrooms have a king bed in the master, queen bed in one guest room and full bed in the other.
Our master bedroom has a beautiful screened in furnished lanai to relax on over looking the canal and it's bath features a seated shower encloser. The guest bath has both shower and tub which is located off main living room area.
You will love our kitchen which features a extra large refrigerator freezer,dishwasher,micro wave, electric stove with oven, coffee pot, 4 slice toaster, air fryer and instapot/slow cooker along with Rachel Ray cookware, fully stocked spice rake and round dining table with rectangular dining out on the deck. Enjoy setting the table either in the house or on the dock with our beautiful island tableware even if you did just call one of our many fine dining establishments for carry out. However, if you do choose to cook it's all there for you to use.

There are so many ways to arrive on our islands so may we just suggest a few:
You may want to fly into Ft. Myers and consider taking the four hour cruise across the beautiful Gulf of Mexico on the Fast Cat which runs out of Ft. Myers Beach to Key West. Everyone agrees this is a wonderful way to arrive and the view is breath taking as you zip along with the dolphins where the water meets the sky.
However you may also choose to fly into either Miami or Key West where rental cars are available or if you choose not to do the driving you may catch the Keys shuttle or coach service to our lovely island hide away.
Once you are on our island chain, we now have our new public shuttle service which allows you to island hop in both direction for as little as $3.00 round trip. This allows you to relax and enjoy all the islands of the fabulous Flordia Keys and Yes, we do still have our local cab service that will take you and your guest anywhere on our island of Marathon for the small fee of $10.00 a trip per car load.
The Flordia Keys are one of America's most beautiful gifts to all mankind and a life style experiance we hope to share with all of you. Come on down and take a relaxing break on island time at our much loved Carpe’Diem in Marathon hideaway.
So take advantage our always low prices and all the amenities our home and island chain have to offer you as our guests! Don't just go down South to visit, Go All The Way Down South and be our guests at Carpe’Diem in the Fabulous Fl. Keys.
See Ya Soon!
Until than: Remember to Seize The Day wherever you may be!

NOTICE*****
Saturday to Saturday Arrivals Only

Thank you for stopping by and your interest.
Carpe'Diem Vacation Rental
Owner / Agents - Constance Merando
PBR 2011-00081

Property manager

Carpe' Diem Heart of the Fl.Keys

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17
Perfect for supervised children over 5
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 23 kg per pet (limit 3 pets total)
Owner contact required before booking .
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
On-site 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 that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Marathon

Located in Marathon, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Florida Keys Country Club and Captain Hooks Marina and Dive Center are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Sombrero Beach and Bahia Honda State Park. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and ecotours.
Map
Marathon, FL

What's nearby

  • Crane Point Museum and Nature Center - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Florida Keys Country Club - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
  • The Turtle Hospital - 4 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Sombrero Beach - 5 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Vaca Key - 6 min drive - 5.4 km

Getting around

  • Marathon, FL (MTH-Florida Keys Marathon) - 2 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Keys Fisheries - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Carpe' Diem Heart of the Fl. Keys Specials pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 3 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Carpe' Diem Heart of the Fl. Keys Specials?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Carpe' Diem Heart of the Fl. Keys Specials?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Carpe' Diem Heart of the Fl. Keys Specials located?

Offering direct access to the beach, this Marathon holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Crane Point Museum and Nature Center and Boot Key Harbor. Sombrero Beach and Sunset Park Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 96 out of 141 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 25 out of 141 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 141 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 7 out of 141 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 141 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Marc W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location!

Nice little cottage on a canal! Perfect for boaters!!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

john f.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice Times

Really enjoyed our stay. Nice home, great location good times...
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Barbara W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Keys Holiday

Good location. Eclectic property
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lisa H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

March 2025

This home is in a very private setting on one of the canals in Marathon. The grocery stores are very close. The beaches, restaurants, attractions are all within a few minutes from the home. The dock is very nice. We even saw a a family of manatees in the canal. We had a very good time and appreciated that the owner did not charge us for our little dog. Nice place to visit!
Stayed 30 nights in Mar 2025

4/10 Poor

Faye B.

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy

Don’t be “lured” in by this VRBO

Fishing cabin at best
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Claudia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun week in Marathon

House was conviently located to all fun places and great food on land as well as In the water. Great place to visit.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

David F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay in the Florida Keys

We enjoyed our visit in the Carpe' Diem home in Marathon, Florida. Wish we could've had some better weather but who cares when you're in the Florida Keys. Connie, the owner and host, was always there when we needed local advice or to solve or answer a question. Would love to stay at Carpe' Diem again in the future. in the futuin the futurto stawwhen we
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Keys visit

Our stay was very nice. We appreciated the owner, Connie's, timely response to any concerns or questions we had. We also appreciated the fact that the home is dog friendly! The home was very well appointed in both the kitchen and the bathrooms. (I needed a large Band-Aid, and found one in one of the bathroom cabinets!) Marathon is in the center of the Keys, so made a good base spot, for touring all of the Keys. There are many nice restaurants on Marathon, and most have water views. We especially liked Havana Jacks on Key colony. There are also many nice city parks. Not crowded and free parking. Overall, a good place to stay!Marathon is in the center of the ke same thing
Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rick D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A little getaway

It was a nice place to relax and enjoy the great weather we had!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing

If you are tired of the corporate renting (with the box with a code on the door) look no further. This little house is charming being on the channel in a very quiet neighborhood. You may be able to enjoy watching the iguanas, fish jumping or a surprise visit from a manatee. The house is located at the halfway point between Miami and Key West, you can find plenty to do.... turtle hospital, aquarium encounter and the many beaches. But remember, you're on island time so just relax and enjoy the area while staying in this little house. The owner is very good at communicating with you and giving suggestions of things to do and places to eat. I will rent again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Angela G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent House in the Heart of the Keys!

This home is in an excellent, central location of Marathon and the Florida Keys. Connie, the host, has excellent communication and frequently checked-in to make sure we had everything we needed. She even brought us sweet NYE treats upon check-in. The house is beautiful and well-equipped. The outside space has a lovely deck on a canal that leads to the ocean. The house has everything you may need, from plentiful towels, to fishing poles, to beach chairs and more! The rooms are spacious and the beds are very comfortable. My husband had to work during our time there, and the wifi worked great. I would recommend this home to anyone traveling to Marathon and we would return. Thank you Connie!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

John G., Amherst, MA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Convenient Location and Great Host

The house is convenient to restaurants and beaches. Connie was very welcoming and most important for me, she welcomed my dog.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tonya H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for family trip!

Our family spent two weeks over the holidays at Carpe Diem. Great location! Well equipped with everything you need. Connie was an excellent host!
Stayed 14 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Adam D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just what we were looking for

Easy check-in, great location, plenty of space, great dock, pets allowed, house was as described, awesome hosts… what more could I say! would definitely stay again.
Stayed 14 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

William M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise in Marathon

This property is a great place to stay. It is convenient to everything in Marathon. The property is well kept and clean with excellent beds. Plus there's a canal right out the back door with fish, manatees, and of course iguanas. We highly recommend this property!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda W., Somerset

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location

The home was in a perfect location. Had everything we needed.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2020

2/10 Terrible

Sandy M.

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy

Unkempt and dirty

Ad doesn't represent condition of house today. Very old and tired. Patio didn't lock, screens broken. Not safe. Uncomfortable sofas. No yard for dog. House was filty.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Darrell S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place great hosting

Excellent
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Linda C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Stay!

We had a great time at Carpe' Diem. In the morning we would have coffee on the patio and watch a mama manatee and her baby swim. The house was quaint and comfortable. The kitchen has everything you need. The location was perfect, quite neighborhood close to Sombrero Beach, shopping and restaurants. We look forward to coming back.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Phil L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great guys trip!

This property is perfect for a guys fishing trip. We had a great time with everything we needed. Thanks Connie.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bill C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family getaway

Well kept property, creative decor comfortable rooms. Saw manatees in the channel, caught a 34" tarpon in channel. Gathered for conversation in living room. Center location in town for checking out local stores restaurants. Several places with excellent food. Did fishing charter , grilled our catch on deck/dock delicious! Fun interacting with local Iquanas. Great trip, great place to stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

C E.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice and comes with Iguanas

We had a blast. Nice house and canal deck area. Island furniture plus fun beach/Florida Keys touches everywhere, 3 big beds, 4 TVs.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

William J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Happy

Everything was fine, well equipped kitchen.convenient to restaurants and shopping. Happy with my stay,
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

David L., Inver Grove Heights, MN. USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Worked great for our family for the week

The house was nice and the kitchen was very well stocked so we could easily cook for the week. Connie was an excellent host and we would stay here again if we head to Marathon again.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eric F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation to remember

Great property on a very good location. Easy access to open water. Comfortable house. Plenty of amenities. Great dock with super easy boat access.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2020

About the host

Hosted by Carpe' Diem Heart of the Fl.Keys

Host profile image
Connie Merando your Owner/Hostess has been serving guests as their hostess on the island of Marathon since 2002 offering one of the first licensed weekly/monthly vacation rentals available to the public. I was formally a professional animal handler in the conformation field for over 30 years traveling the world with as many as 4 dogs at a time for clients from not only the USA but from around the world. After staying nearly everywhere and working not only with my clients but the general public for so many years at the shows I soon became an authority on not only K-9’s but lodging and conversational etiquette learning to solve the most drastic of problems. After retiring to the Florida Keys, fishing tournaments and partnering with a Charter Captain when the vacation rental market opened up in Marathon I naturally jumped into the opportunity to be one of the first to look for just the right location and become an owner. I wanted to continue to work with the public offering them a real taste of the old Keys experience while offering them the finest hospitality, relaxation and affordability so they too could experience just what the fabulous Keys had to offer. After 22 years as serving as the hostess I have met some amazing people that have enjoyed visiting our islands and just knowing them and the fantastic memories they have taken home after their visits has brought me great satisfaction and joy over the years not to mention all the K-9 friends they have brought along from time to time as I have never forgotten my attachment to my first love the K-9 world allowing them to visit as long as they bring their owner along. This is why I have enjoyed being your hostess all they years. No problem has ever been to big to solve as long as the sun shines down on one of the most beautiful locations in the world!

Why they chose this property

After looking high and low for just the right place that I myself would want to live in, that was quite, ground level and located in the very middle of the Keys but of course on the water I accidentally stumbled upon the neighborhood when going to pick up a friend for a shopping expedition when I suddenly found myself on a quiet dead end street one Saturday morning and was shocked as I didn’t know that the neighborhood even existed and after looking with numerous realtors had no idea the street was even back there had my friend not given me directions to her new home. At that exact moment a person was putting a For Sale sign in front of a duplex as the property was just about to be going on the market. I stopped the car went up to the gentleman and requested the information concerning its availability and about the realtor about to handle it. Driving on down to my friends home instead of shopping we spent the day discussing not only the home but the neighborhood and as the afternoon progressed I soon discovered what “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere ment in that neighborhood as we went to numerous homes on the street meeting different neighbors. They were friendly, welcoming and basically wonderful local residents that enjoyed meeting someone new. I was having a wonderful time on a road that ended at the Atlantic with maybe 8 homes, quiet, out of the way, and very little traffic with great neighbors! One neighbor even had the keys as the present owner had him keep an eye on it for her as she had moved back up North with her kids. So I saw the house the first time by a trusted neighbor and friend of the owner and with that I knew I had found what I had been looking for, quiet, relaxed atmosphere, on the water with the greatest of trustworthy friendly neighbors! A secret hide away, it had it all and I purchased it the next day! Carpe’Diem

What makes this property unique

Location,Location, MM50 and Location! Sun, Sun, Sun! Food, Food, Food! FUN,FUN,FUN!
This is the prefect locations to hang your sun hat in our island chain! In the middle of everything! You can either take the car or catch the shuttle bus and travel up or down the island chain. For $4.50 try the shuttle and get off in the different island communities or go all the way and do the Duval Crawl in Key West. Don't come to see part of the Florida Keys come to see all of it from Key Largo to Key West and everything in between. We are close to the beaches, shopping, restaurants, water actives, dancing and about everything you can imagine on the island of Marathon which by the way is only 6 miles wide and 10 miles long. The Sun as you know just keeps on shining down here when it's 40 below and their ah shoveling snow up North and we like it! Island breezes sway the palms at about 78 degrees down our way in the winter but once in a while we may have a cold snap of about 60 in the dead of winter.Enjoy the end of each beautiful day with a majestic sun set over our emerald seas. FANTASTIC! Food - Some of the best Chef's in the world are right here in the Keys. Choose from 5 star restaurants or Mom and Pop joints for some of the best fresh seafood you can eat. It doesn’t matter if you like to catch or buy your own fish and grill a quiet dinner on our patio deck, whichever the fresh produce and seafood will tantalize the taste buds and don't forget the Key Lime Pie!
FUN,FUN,FUN - You have just stepped into the twilight zone of FUN. Spend a day on the water on one of our party boats, take out a jet ski, spend the day like a beach bum up and down the island chain, snorkle or dive the reef, have a dolphin encounter, theater, take a biplane or helicaptor ride. parasail, water ski,and always plan to catch a sunset at the Sunset Grill, dance til dawn! The list goes on - like the saying goes,'If you want to try it the Keys have got it!' and at Carpe'Diem we know where it's at!

Languages:

English