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Private West Beach-front Home. New! Beach set-up included March - September!

Photo gallery for Private West Beach-front Home. New! Beach set-up included March - September!

Step out to the beach in our back yard.
Watch the sunset and let someone else take down and set up each day 9am-7pm
See and hear the waves. Watch your family play in the sand, swim, and fish!
Beach
Property grounds

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12167.2 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Gulf Shores, AL
  • Gulf Shores Beach
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Hangout Music Fest
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Gulf Shores Golf Club
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Gulf Shores, AL (GUF-Jack Edwards)
    ‪12 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bunk Bedroom

2 Single Bunk Beds

Guest Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Primary Bedroom

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms

Bunk Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Guest Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Primary Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Private West Beach-front Home. New! Beach set-up included March - September!

Update: At Marilyn's Cottage, we want to make your vacation the best it can be while you stay with us. Now included in all rentals in 2025 from March through September--- professional daily setup and takedown of 2 chairs and one umbrella. All you have to do is show up and relax (more chairs may be rented for additional fee) . Also, we have private dunes, with private beach access. And a volleyball net/area and your own path to the beach. Please see pictures. When deciding on a property, ask yourself -- Is it important to you to be on WEST beach, away from the condos, with your own private deck and back yard beach? If the answer is yes, then keep reading..... you have come to the right place.

Your favorite vacation memories await you at Marilyn’s Cottage. Imagine yourself right on the beach, away from the busy condos, in a private home all to yourself. Enjoy happy hour and dinners on the deck at sunset while you see and hear the waves of the blue ocean. Delight as you watch your family play in the sand and fish in the ocean, while you are sipping a drink on the balcony that’s all yours. If you stay at Marilyn’s Cottage, these are the memories you will make!!

Highlights: Marilyn's Cottage is a 3-bedroom, 3-bath Gulf-front single-family home on the beach (not a duplex) sleeps 10-12 on West beach Gulf Shores, a few houses past the lagoon bridge. The main living area boasts airy 20+ foot ceilings, and the second floor has generous 10 foot ceilings. Because of this, Marilynn’s Cottage is extra light and bright, and seems larger than most 3-bedroom spaces. The house is refreshed frequently by the owners. Some examples of recent replacements are: new kitchen cabinets, TV’s, dishwasher, stove, air conditioning unit, all new living room furniture, new mattresses, replaced bedding, replaced deck chairs, and a repaint out and inside.

Living: Marilyn's Cottage is perfect for multi-generational or family friends with kids. Each of the three bedrooms has its own bathroom, a seldom-seen feature for a 3-bedroom--- so you don’t have to share your bathroom with the kids while you’re on vacation! Upstairs in the master bedroom, there is an amazing view from its private balcony. This is our favorite sunset happy hour spot! In the upstairs bunk room, there are two sets of bunk beds - that sleep up to six people, along with an en-suite bath with tub. In the main level guest bedroom, there is easy access to the living space without having to climb any stairs. This is perfect for grandparents or little ones. There is one sleeper sofas in the living room, perfect those early risers or ones that make a lot of noise in the morning before you have had your first cup of coffee. There is plenty of furniture on the deck - along with a large picnic table for you and your family to enjoy. Finally, there is a convenient shower right off the beach - so you can wash the sand and salt water off before coming back inside to relax with your favorite beverage.

Appliances and Kid Stuff: course not everyone likes to cook when they’re on vacation, but the people who stay at MC are famous for cooking up meals in our well-stocked kitchen. There is one stove, microwave, dishwasher, blender, toaster, coffee maker/Keurig, and crock pot. There is a wet bar that is perfect for making iced drinks out of the way of the kitchen. The washer and dryer are large capacity - which is great when those laundry stacks start to pile up because you are relaxing. We also have a high chair, baby gate, and pack-and-play (for you to use your own linens). A special feature of the house is our toy closet, with trains, legos, books, games, and dolls.

Location: The real estate rule is location, location, location and this place has all three. MC is located on West Beach, right on the gulf, in walking distance past the lagoon bridge. There are private dunes right outside your door, with a private volleyball area.

Imagine the sound of waves gently lapping on the shore and the most gorgeous sunsets mother nature has to offer. This is the reason we bought this home. It is dedicated to the memory of our mother, Marilynn, who passed away in 2014. After her husband died at a young age, she raised 9 children on her own, giving them and everyone around her a happy, blessed life. She would have loved this house. Our home is your home, so sit back and soak in the panoramic views from Marilyn’s Cottage —there isn't a bad seat in the house!

Best Location. Beach Front. Private Beach. Big Deck. Value. Ocean Front. Ocean View. House. Beach Vacation

Property manager

Denise Edwards
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children will love the bunk room.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
All reservations are subject to owner approval within 24 hours of booking, pending conditional review of the questions below.
1) Reason for your stay 2) Age of primary renter (must be at least 25) 3) Will the primary renter be present? 4) How many people are in your party?
In consideration of all our guests, no pets or smoking is allowed. If discovered, security deposit will be forfeited and special cleaning fees applied

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 indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Gulf Shores

Located in Gulf Shores, this holiday home is in the city centre and on the beach. While the natural beauty of Gulf Shores Beach and Gulf State Park can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore The Wharf. Travelling with kids? Consider The Park at OWA, or check out an event or a game at Foley Sportsplex. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Gulf Shores, AL

What's nearby

  • West Beach - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Gulf Shores Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Hangout Music Fest - 6 min drive - 5.3 km
  • Waterville USA - 7 min drive - 6.1 km
  • Gulf Shores Golf Club - 11 min drive - 9.1 km

Getting around

  • Pensacola, FL (PNS-Pensacola Intl.) - 73 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Hangout - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Sunliner Diner - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Pink Pony Pub - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪De Soto's Seafood Kitchen - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Burro Azul - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private West Beach-front Home. New! Beach set-up included March - September! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Private West Beach-front Home. New! Beach set-up included March - September!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private West Beach-front Home. New! Beach set-up included March - September!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Private West Beach-front Home. New! Beach set-up included March - September! located?

Located in Gulf Shores, this beachfront holiday home is in the city centre and within a 10-minute walk of West Beach and Gulf Shores Beach. Lagoon Pass Park is 0.3 mi (0.4 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 85 out of 103 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 103 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 103 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 103 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 103 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

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

Wonderful family vacation

We really enjoyed our stay at Marilyn's cottage. The location and proximity to the beach were fantastic and the views from practically every room in the house were amazing. It was so nice to have the beach chairs and umbrella set up and take down every day. The child gates and, high chair, pack-n-play and children's toys were an added bonus for our family. Check-in was a little confusing. We got a text from the management company telling us to check in at at their office but the address was from a location they had moved out of over a year ago. I'm so glad I called before we drove to the wrong place. Once that was cleared up check-in was very easy and the staff was friendly. Denise, the owner, was so thoughtful and easy to get in touch with. Somehow the American Girl dolls at in the toy closet went missing (I know. Who does that?!) and Denise bought some and had them sent to the house the next day so our girls could play with them. We would have been fine without them, but really appreciated how she went above and beyond for us. As others mentioned, the bathrooms and kitchen are a bit dated, but they are perfectly functional. We had no issues. The kitchen was well stocked with cooking items and the house was very clean up on arrival. We would absolutely stay at this rental again and recommend it to other families, especially to those with smaller children.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Billy O.

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

Great Spot

This our third timing renting Marylins Cottage. We love it, and we hope to be back again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura P.

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

Great stay

Home was amazing, location was great, overall everything was great. Would def stay again
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brittany D.

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

Perfect spot for relaxing!

We stayed a week at Marilyn’s Cottage and throughly enjoyed our stay! We normally stay in the heart of Gulf Shores in a condo, but wanted something more laid back this time. The beach here was never crowded which is what we loved most about it! Prime location right on the beach and just a short few minutes drive to most restaurants and shops. House itself could use some updating, but worked for what we needed it for. Bed was comfortable and no issues. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly H.

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

Lovely home

Location of this home is wonderful! We had a great time.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nicole S.

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

Great week!

We has great trip! The house was everything we needed! The owners were fabulous to work with!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joey V.

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

West Beach Vacation

We had a great vacation in Marilyn’s Cottage! It was very clean and very comfortable. Our favorite thing about the property is the short walk to the edge of the ocean with no elevators and no crowds. The house is in a quiet area that makes for a very relaxing vacation. We highly recommend Marilyn’s Cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anna W.

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

Beautiful beach stay

We stayed for a week in April and had a wonderful time. Right on the beach, clean home and very homey feel!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brad M.

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

Great House and Location

House was perfect for our party of eight (4 Adults, 4 kids) Amazing access to the beach. Plenty of parking and house was in a great location. Home owner and management company both had amazing communication pre trip and during. Will book again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly P.

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

Oceanfront Oasis!

Perfect stay for our family vacation! Great communication with owners - Denise answered all of my questions in a timely manner and was quite hospitable. Loved the proximity to the beach - made it easier to run back and forth from beach to house with an infant and a toddler. We utilized the high chair - and while our littles didn't use the collection of toys, I would think it would be great for a family with children a little older than ours. The location is fantastic - just a short drive to shopping and restaurants. We will definitely keep this in our "favorites" when traveling to Gulf Shores!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ken P.

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

Loved it!

Right on the beach. Excellent service.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lori T.

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

Excellent Beach Home

This location was perfect. The size of the house was perfect for our family to enjoy one another but still spread out and have our own space. The beach was right out the back door. We were still close enough to drive to eat and do activities. The kitchen was equipped with everything we needed. Very happy with our stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eric H.

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

Great place

Great property, location, and owner! We had a great week. We had a small confusion at check-in, but I was able to contact the owner Denise and she fixed it quickly. She had some recommendations for our stay and checked in periodically if we needed anything. The property was perfect for our family of 5, I’d recommend this property to anyone! Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ryan M.

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

Great Experience

We had a great stay. Everything was well stocked and very clean. The location was perfect. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jason W.

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

Gulf Shores Vacation

Great house! Great beach! Great location! Will definitely stay here again!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

John H.

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

Great Family Vacation

We stayed a week at Marilyn’s cottage and had the best vacation ever! The house is located in a great area convenient to everything and we just loved staying on the beach and being able to walk to the ocean whenever you want without getting in a car or having to walk across a street or anything. It was Fantastic. Plenty of space for my family and we enjoyed all the amenities. Everything was clean and organized for our arrival. Communication with the host Denise was superb and she went above and beyond taking care of a few requests. Thank you so much Denise for letting us stay at your beautiful place and making our vacation the best ever! John
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

John L.

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

Spring Break 2024

We had the time of our lives!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Abby B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Beach house

House was great. Location is close to condos across the street so beach was pretty busy, had to go out early to mark our spots. Frustrating to pay more to stay right on the beach then be super crowded with everyone across the street also using it. But the house is great and the owners checked on us frequently and were super nice!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rachel G.

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

Late August Beach Trip

This was our third late August Gulf Shores trip. It's quiet, cheaper and still great weather. Best thing about the property is the beach access and large deck with new patio furniture that was not pictured which was a nice surprise. Very kid friendly for our three year old. Clean property and had most of what we needed for the week. Will need extra trash bags, dishwasher and laundry pods. No beach toys or chairs/umbrellas so bring your own or rent them on the beach which we did both. Property management doesn't clean the grill so use an onion and the grime will come right off. The coffee pot didn't work but management dropped off a new one same day. Owner checks in with you frequently to see if you need anything which was nice. We would stay again.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amanda W.

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

Beautiful

Marilyn's cottage has been tastefully redone and sits right on the beach.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2020

10/10 Excellent

Sue D., Marion, IA

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

Amazing family vacation home

Marilyn's Cottage was the perfect vacation home for my husband and adult children. The stunning views from the huge deck was our favorite part. The living space had comfortable seating for our party of seven. We enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend this vacation home.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

8/10 Good

Walter D.

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

Beach Stay

Beautiful house and property. Was upset that the State was pumping/dredging in “sand” from the canal causing the ocean to literally be black and was not told this before hand.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jason L.

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

Family Vacation

Great Place to Stay, we went in off season and it was very peaceful. If you’re staying longer than two days you will need to bring your own trash bags and dish detergent. They only put two bags and enough detergent for two washes. I know this is not the Host fault but I’d have conversation with cleaning crew. VRBO is horrible, they sent me chechin instructions that were not true. Sent me to an abandoned building to get keys. Thank goodness the Host responded quickly and took care of everything. Was unnerving driving 12 hours and thinking you got scammed.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura B.

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

Perfect Beach Getaway

We had ages ranging from 11 to 77 and all thoroughly enjoyed our vacation. The property is in a good location; far enough away from the busiest areas but close enough to stores and restaurants. The view from the house was beautiful and we loved how convenient the beach access was. Everything in the house was in great working order and we found that the property was as listed.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff K.

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

Amazing views and location

The views were even better than the pictures. The deck was very spacious and we enjoyed the house immensely. Overall, an amazing place right on the gulf. Don't be afraid to let the host (Denise) know of any issues you might have, she was very responsive and helpful and appreciated my feedback on a few things (rust on a patio set, and a loose blind harness). She offered to fix them before we left, but we were fine just enjoying the rest of our time there. :)
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024

About the host

Hosted by Denise Edwards

Host profile image
My husband and I have been married since 2002, and we have 3 wonderful children. We love and work hard and are grateful for all the blessings God has given us. From the moment we walked in Mariylyn's Cottage and saw the ocean right there, we knew it was going to be a special part of our lives. Our family spent much of the covid year at the cottage, creating irreplaceable memories here. Now, it's your turn! This is our only rental property and we take a lot of pride in ensuring our guests have the fantastic vacation that they have been waiting for.

We hope you have a wonderful and relaxing vacation at our happy place!

Why they chose this property

We bought this home to honor our mother, who passed away in 2015. She had a tough life living through WWII and helping the War effort, getting married and having 9 children to only lose her husband to cancer. Her spirit, faith, and dedication to prayer helped inspire us to buy this home and make it the best it could possibly be. We had a fantastic childhood - only now as adults do we know how tough it must have been for her. She helped us to have some truly wonderful memories and we want you to have the same experience in her home with your family. God Bless and THANK YOU for considering our property.

What makes this property unique

There are a lot of new properties that have popped up since Covid. Marilyn's Cottage is special because IT IS ON West BEACH. It's NOT a duplex, it is NOT just a "water view" or a lagoon view - That is what we love about it. Just a short drive away from awesome seafood, fun bars, or just walk out our back door and take a two hour walk on the never-ending beach (at least it seems like it never ends). Alabama people are friendly - so talk with everyone on your walk. It was natural for us to own our dream home here.

Sit on our private deck, watch your very own private sunsets, go fishing in bring home dinner, play volleyball or sports on the beach and meet the neighbors or best of all - just don't do anything - except sit and relax and soak up the Alabama Sun!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests