On the beach.Within a 10-minute walk of this Okaloosa Island condo, you'll find Fort Walton Beaches and Okaloosa Island Beach. Also, Santa Rosa Sound is within half a mile (1 km) and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center is within 3 miles (5 km).
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center - 4 min drive - 4.5 km
Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island - 5 min drive - 4.9 km
Getting around
Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) - 20 min drive
Restaurants
Whataburger - 8 min drive
Gi Jade - 8 min drive
Stewby’s Seafood Shanty - 10 min drive
Lost Pizza Co. Ft Walton - 10 min drive
The Beachview - 7 min walk
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 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day
FREE BEACH SERVICE INCLUDED!
Enjoy Free Activities with your stay — a $300+ per day value! As our way of saying thank you, you’ll receive complimentary daily admissions to popular local attractions. (Valid for short-term rentals only. Not available for per diem or guest-of-owner stays.)
Each day, you will receive a ticket to each of the following:
- Shalimar Golf Course - Big Kahuna’s Water Park - Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park - Wild Willy’s Grand Prix - Sea Blaster (Dolphin Cruise (Beach or Sunset)) - Sea Blaster (Snorkeling Trip) - Cruisin’ Tiki’s (Evening Sunset Cruise)
This 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom ground-floor condo is located in Building 3 at El Matador and is beautifully decorated in light, coastal tones. The unit features updated bathrooms with walk-in showers and offers a peaceful patio view overlooking the landscaped grounds, the pool, and a partial view of the Gulf. Its ground-floor location makes it especially convenient and a great option for families, with easy outdoor access and space for kids to play.
Located at the end of Okaloosa Island, this peaceful resort offers a quiet, private beach experience while still being just minutes from the shopping, dining, and entertainment of Fort Walton Beach and nearby Destin. Head just a few miles into Destin—known as “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village”—for fishing charters, waterfront dining, golf courses, and attractions like Big Kahuna’s Water Park.
Back at the resort, enjoy a full range of amenities, including: - Two swimming pools - His-and-her whirlpools and saunas - Tennis courts and basketball court - Fitness center - Direct private beach access
With miles of beautiful sugar-white sand beaches just steps away, this condo is the perfect spot for a relaxing and family-friendly beach getaway.
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 not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
General
Gated community
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
No pets allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome.
Events
No events allowed
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
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.
Property is also known as
1602-114180
Frequently asked questions
How close is El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day to the airport?
This condo is 11.6 mi (20-min drive) away from the Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.
Does El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day have an airport shuttle?
Airport shuttle services are not available at this condo.
How close is El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day to the beach?
This condo is on the beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!
Does El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day offer free breakfast?
This condo does not offer free breakfast.
Is there a casino at El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day?
No, there is no casino at this condo.
What time is check-in at El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
Is there free parking at El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day?
Free parking is not available at this condo.
Does El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day have a pool?
Yes, there's a heated pool.
Does El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day have a spa?
There are no spa services available at this condo.
How close is El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day to downtown Fort Walton Beach?
This condo is 1.6 mi away from Fort Walton Beach.
El Matador 316 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day Reviews
Reviews
8.2
Very good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was somewhat dirty.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Have vacationed in FWB for 32 years. We stayed in this particular unit 12 years ago. The condition of this unit was awful. The same furnishings and in horrible condition. To find a piece of chewed gum on the floor was a little much. I was very displeased in the condition of this unit.
We loved this unit on the ground floor of Building 3 at El Matador. The pool was steps away and the grill was so convenient. Overall we were happy in 316 and hope to rent here again in the future.
We loved it. Location great, beach not crowded. Room was clean and just as expected. Property owner was plesant and check in and out was easy. We'll be back. 😊
Holly B.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
From a partner site
4/10 Poor
Laurie L.
Oct 17, 2020
Long/Riley August Vacation 2020
Rating Details:
The property manager was somewhat unhelpful.
The vacation rental was very dirty.
I was happy with the location.
I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
We had a wonderful time; love this condo, but .... it wasn’t very clean. We found food under several pieces of furniture. Also, found a large bug! 😬
Laurie L.
From a partner site
2/10 Terrible
Denise D.
Jul 18, 2023
Disappointed in El Matador Unit 316
Rating Details:
The property manager was more than helpful.
The vacation rental was somewhat dirty.
I was very happy with the location.
I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
The furnishings in this condo were absolutely so old and run down plus the condo had not been cleaned very well. In addition, we had trouble with roaches, which you call Palmetto bugs, but they are roaches. I’ve stayed in many condos at El Matador over the past 25 years and this one was horrible.
Denise D.
Verified review
8/10 Good
Claudia N.
Jun 10, 2023
Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy
Pros and cons
PROS- Location is great! Right in front of the pool and the beach. Grill and big green space just steps away. The condominium is quiet, clean and organized. Kitchen has everything you need. Laundry unit is right in front of the condo which is super convenient. The kitchen and bathrooms were pretty clean.
CONS- The condo floors were really dirty. My kids feet and knees were black. We found an empty juice bottle under our bed. We had to buy a mop and mop all the floors. The furniture is old so inside the drawers has a strong old wood smell.
Overall I would recommend it. If you can get past the dirty floors and the drawers smell, you will have a great time there. The location is amazing and staff is friendly. Pretty good.
Claudia N.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
From a partner site
6/10 Okay
Kathy E.
Jun 28, 2022
Lacking a few essentials
Rating Details:
The property manager was adequately helpful.
The vacation rental was clean.
I was more than happy with the location.
I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Not a bad unit overall. Floors need cleaning. One walk across the floors barefoot and you have dirty feet. There was not a broom in the unit - which is key to keeping sand out! There was not a fly swatter - which is key to getting rid of the flies. There is mold in the shower - yuck. King size bed is not comfortable, it's hard. And the kitchen is poorly stocked. We did appreciate and use the free beach service.
Kathy E.
From a partner site
2/10 Terrible
Samantha B.
Jul 27, 2025
Pictures are old and out of date
Rating Details:
The property manager was somewhat unhelpful.
The vacation rental was very dirty.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
This is the second time in this specific condo and years of coming to the El Matador with my family for reunions. This condo specifically out of the 6 that my whole family used that week was in the worst conditions. The pictures used to advertise this condo are not accurate. The couch and chair are worn and have stains and you feel dirty sitting on them. The floor rug is not the same and the one there has a bucket worth of sand in it never been taken out to shake out. The master bed mattress is beyond firm and old and the comforter doesn’t get washed and has stains all over it. The fan in the master bath doesn’t work. The kitchen floor is sticky and has stains. The worst part is the sliding door this unit has never replaced their door making it impossible to open with one hand and no child can do it. Disappointed and so dirty we came home early and the owner didn’t care about our experience. The amount of money they are charging is ridiculous to the age and lack of care in this condo. Again our family has 6 condos and our family felt horrible for us having to stay in this condo for the same money. We won’t be back after going there for 30 years.
Ground floor is always a plus for us!! Easy to pool and beach.Sliding back patio door was very hard to open and close. Would stay again .
Lisa M.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2026
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Samantha B.
Aug 9, 2022
Perfect Room for a Perfect Vacation
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:
Ground floor access for our young kids and big kids to go back and forth to and from the pool was a great pick. The room was clean, came with everything we needed. The larger beds in the second bedroom helped us out, we were comfortable with 2 toddlers and 2 teens in that room. The facility was clean and we felt safe the whole time leaving things on our patio and our slider open for our children.
Samantha B.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Earl S.
Jul 19, 2022
Great vacation
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:
We had a wonderful vacation and we’re very happy with our stay in 316. It has everything we needed, was very convenient, and had fantastic AC. The included beach service is also very nice. We will be back and I would gladly stay in this unit next time.
Earl S.
From a partner site
6/10 Okay
Kathy E.
Jun 29, 2022
Lacking a few essentials
Rating Details:
The property manager was adequately helpful.
The vacation rental was clean.
I was more than happy with the location.
I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Not a bad unit overall. Floors need cleaning. One walk across the floors barefoot and you have dirty feet. There was not a broom in the unit - which is key to keeping sand out! There was not a fly swatter - which is key to getting rid of the flies. There is mold in the shower - yuck. King size bed is not comfortable, it's hard. And the kitchen is poorly stocked. We did appreciate and use the free beach service.
Kathy E.
From a partner site
6/10 Okay
Bill P.
Apr 15, 2022
FT. WALTON BEACH
Rating Details:
The property manager was more than helpful.
The vacation rental was somewhat dirty.
I was happy with the location.
I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
DISAPPOINTED.
Bill P.
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Marsha C.
Oct 10, 2020
Our Wonderful stay at ElMatador
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:
Our condo was Wonderful! When we first walked in we could smell how clean it was and everything looked extremely clean as well. We were not happy with being on the first floor at first but it didn't take long to realize that this was one of the best rentals we have ever had on Okaloosa Island. The convenience was SO Nice! We will definitely be back!
Marsha C.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Sally M.
Oct 5, 2020
Awesome
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:
We have been coming to El Matador fir over 35 years! We always use Alicia Hollis and we are never disappointed in either of them! Great Family Vacation destination!!
Sally M.
From a partner site
4/10 Poor
Laurie L.
Aug 14, 2020
Long/Riley August Vacation 2020
Rating Details:
The property manager was somewhat unhelpful.
The vacation rental was very dirty.
I was happy with the location.
I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
We had a wonderful time; love this condo, but .... it wasn’t very clean. We found food under several pieces of furniture. Also, found a large bug! 😬
Laurie L.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Angela B.
Aug 1, 2020
Vacation 2020
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:
It was very simple and easy. You can book online or over the phone. The staff are very helpful.
Angela B.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
john M.
Jun 6, 2020
Beach 2020 at the Elmat
Rating Details:
The property manager was more than 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:
Rental experience was very positive. I found the folks at Alicia Hollis very helpful and accommodating. We first staring staying at the ElMat 40 years ago and loved it. With our young grandchildren, the lawn area is excellent.
john M.
From a partner site
4/10 Poor
Oct 5, 2019
-Ok Stay-
Rating Details:
The property manager was more than helpful.
The vacation rental was clean.
I was more than happy with the location.
I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
We stay at the El matador every year for the past 6 years. Have had several different rooms but always a ground unit. This unit was very disappointing. This condo is very outdated, cooking pots, pans and utensils are not anything that of normal use and the pans to cook on stove top need to be trashed. Not much seating area in the living room and very uncomfortable to sit in. Outside on the patio the tile is broken and my 3 year old cut her foot on a piece of the broken tile. I would not recommend this unit until updates happen and repairs are made.
From a partner site
6/10 Okay
Phillip M.
May 10, 2019
One week stay
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was somewhat dirty.
I was very happy with the location.
I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Like the location of unit 316 and have stayed there before. Unfortunately the owner has not paid attention to the kitchen furnishings so if you like to cook you own meals, you might want to select another unit.
Phillip M.
From a partner site
8/10 Good
kay m.
Mar 4, 2019
March on Okaloosa
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was very 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:
We had a wonderful location . Great choice for relaxing.
kay m.
From a partner site
6/10 Okay
Kristy H.
Aug 18, 2018
EM 316 Family friendly
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
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:
We have rented condos at El Matador through Alicia Hollis for 20+ years. Always stay here and always will. However, this stay was not what we expected. We had 4 adults. Needed 2 King and/or Queen beds. What we got was 1 King and 2 fulls. Since they have 2 beds squished into the guest room, we couldn't change or even walk around in that room. The master was great, but they took off part of the guest bathroom to make the master bath bigger. As an adult, the guest bath wasn't big enough to shower, shave or do your makeup. I will definitely stay again but I will re confirm what we booked is actually what is will be there when we arrive.
Kristy H.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Karen M.
Jul 21, 2018
Great beach vacationi
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:
We have rented at El Matador with Alicia Hollis for years. This year was the same great experience as always.
Karen M.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Denise M.
Jun 16, 2018
Vacation 2018
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:
Relaxing, peaceful, well deserved!