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El Matador 361 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day

Beachfront condo near Fort Walton Beaches

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Photo gallery for El Matador 361 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day

A balcony with a view of the beach, a door, and a table with chairs.
Fitness facility
A beach with umbrellas and lounge chairs, a wooden deck, and a clear view of the ocean.
A coastal hotel complex with multiple buildings, a water tower, and a beach.
A resort with a pool, beach, and ocean view.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Entire condo

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 696 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
f, FL
  • Place, Fort Walton Beaches
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Santa Rosa Sound
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Okaloosa Island Beach
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Airport, Fort Walton Beach, FL (VPS-Northwest Florida Regional)
    ‪22 min drive‬

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About the area

Fort Walton Beach

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).
View more Condo rentals in Fort Walton BeachOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Fort Walton Beaches - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Santa Rosa Sound - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Okaloosa Island Beach - 9 min walk - 0.8 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

  • ‪Ocean Buffet - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Whataburger - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Beachview - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Olive Garden - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Gi Jade - ‬8 min drive

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 361 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)

Please note: This property does not allow children under 14 years of age.

Looking for paradise? You’ve found it at El Matador—one of the most sought-after beach resorts on the Emerald Coast. Nestled between sugar-white sand dunes and the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico, this gated community offers a peaceful and relaxing coastal escape. This unit features a fully equipped kitchen, three flat-screen TVs and high-speed WiFi, along with recent upgrades throughout to enhance your stay. Whether you’re relaxing indoors or enjoying the coastal breeze outside, this condo is designed for comfort and convenience.

Located at the quiet end of Okaloosa Island, El Matador provides a secluded setting while still being just minutes from the best of Fort Walton Beach and Destin. A short drive takes you to Destin—“The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village”—where you can enjoy deep-sea fishing, waterfront dining, shopping, and top-rated golf courses. Nearby attractions like Big Kahuna’s Water Park make for the perfect family day trip.

Back at the resort, enjoy a full range of amenities, including:
- Two swimming pools
- His-and-her whirlpools and saunas
- Tennis courts and fitness center
- Direct private beach access

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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
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • Stereo
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Elevator
  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

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

Things to do

  • Golf
  • Heated pool
  • Kayak
  • Tennis
  • Water park
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing 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

  • Garden
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Unit size: 1,035 square feet

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

There is no front desk at this property
Guests will receive an email with check-in instructions prior to arrival; access will be through a private entrance
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

Access methods

Private entrance

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 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
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. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a smoke detector in each accommodation.

We should mention

  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.

Property is also known as

1602-60861

Frequently asked questions

How close is El Matador 361 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 361 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 361 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 361 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 361 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 361 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

Is there free parking at El Matador 361 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day?

Free parking is not available at this condo.

Does El Matador 361 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day have a pool?

Yes, there's a heated pool.

Does El Matador 361 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 361 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 361 by AJH Rentals FREE BEACH SERVICE+ACTIVITIES! $300/Day Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 31 out of 49 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 49 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 49 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 49 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 49 reviews

7.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Darren S.

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

30th Anniversary at El Matador

Everything was wonderful. We will be staying again. This place was one of our favorites in the panhandle. Beach was great and and the close Beachview Restaurant was great we had no reason to leave the area.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Twana D.

Awesome 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: This condo is exactly how you see it in the photos, it is on the 6th floor but definitely not an issue! We will definitely be coming back! There was not a single issue with communication or resort, everyone was nice and it’s family friendly which I love to see! Thanks team for making my family’s vacation great!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jan A.

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

Vacation

This was an amazing vacation. I could see dolphins from the balcony!The location was great and the place was as described. Its on the end so its not around a lot of partying. I will for sure go back and stay in the same condo!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Ron P.

Sun and Gum in Fort Walton Beach

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: Great experience with absolutely no glitches. Nice accommodations and customer service was excellent!!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Linda H.

Loved it!!!

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: I was at the property for a week with 2 other ladies and we all loved our stay! The location is amazing, we loved the direct access to the beach from the condo and we really appreciate the daily beach setup, which avoided us having to carry more stuff with us every day. The check-in/out process was smooth. As someone who likes to eat in during my vacations, I was very pleased with the equipment in the kitchen! We would definitely come back again!
Verified review

8/10 Good

Lynn L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was great except the sofa bed. We bought a mattress topper and it was still terrible. Other than that great rental.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Christine B.

Good Beach time

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: So glad AJ Hollis could come through for us when previous renter backed out at the last minute, so aggravating! But we had a good unit, beach front, pretty much everything we needed.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Darlene S.

Hard to Say Goodbye

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Communication was great and check in/out was simple. The condo was spacious and well equipped. The living room furniture was very comfortable. The beds were not the most comfortable I've slept on, but not horrible. The view is EVERYTHING. We would certainly stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Loved it

The only complaint I will say I have about this unit is the sofa bed. We had a 16 year old and a 11 year old and the 2nd bedroom had a queen bed which it shows in the pictures a queen bed but I was thinking the pull out bed in the sofa would be good for them to rotate sleeping in the bedroom. It was not. It was very thin and made of nothing but springs so we had to go buy a blow up mattress. Other than that we very much so enjoyed our stay and have already reserved the condo next to the one we stayed in for next year through the owners.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Lawanna r.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

End of the line

The room was adequate but the only issue i had was it says laundry service in description, its a condo so you would exoect that in your actual condo, but no you have to use a washer/dryer down the hall and you have to pay like a laumdry mat and there is literally one each per floor. Also you cant use a float in the pool. The laudry situation was a great inconvenience and not being able to take my sit in float to the pool wasnt cool. I can say of the rental company my child left his nintendo switch and they did ship it back to me, which i was grateful for. All in all my biggedt issue was mo washer and dryer in the condo itself. I mean when your paying all that money and you expect from.the description to have your own in the room it was a great inconvenience. The carpet needs to be replaced also. Carpet doesn't go with beach life.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Jeff W.

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

Only positive is the view

Traveled 10hrs for this vacation, first time at this location, excited to get there and the condo was dirty. The spare bedroom smells musty like mold or just been sitting and not cleaned. The spare bathroom had poop stains still in the toilet and multiple pubic hairs on the toilet seat. Called management and they seemed eager to fix. A cleaner & Christine(property manager) came to the room, and the cleaner admitted out loud that the toilet was dirty and Christine told him to “ stop talking”. To add, the floors were dirty as my 12 mo old daughters legs and feet were black from crawling not even 45 minutes of being at the condo. The ceiling fans had 3 inch covered of dust and we had simply asked if this room had been cleaned at all because the shape it was in. This would’ve been a done and over with issue if Christine did not tell us “ you don’t have to stay here “ because we brought to their attention the dirty room. If paying a cleaning fee I would expect a clean area to stay. The condo just needs some serious TLC. Both bathrooms quarter round had black mold and having a baby on the ground just isn’t healthy nor safe. I expected to have some sort of customer service but seeing the way she treated her own employee we weren’t surprised. We got no apology or any sort of solution. It is convenient how they don’t have up close pictures of the bathrooms where the rust and mold on baseboards are horrible. Definitely need pics to show true state of condo Won’t be back
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Darla L.

Spring Break 2023

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Love the location and the staffed gate upon entry. Unfortunately, we have decided this will be our last stay at unit 631 until it is renovated. We had the opportunity to see into several other units occupied by other renters and were impressed by the renovations including kitchen and flooring. The flooring in this unit is very old and has many area that I imagine just don't clean well. Bathrooms need to be replaced. Small mold issues, shower had trouble draining, no opportunity to take a bath due to missing drain plugs but many issue for us was the condition of the carpet. I imagine that might be where the mold smell is coming from? There were new air fresheners placed throughout the condo. Maybe to cover the smell? Looks like some type of repair work was done in the main bathroom behind the toilet. Just overall, needs renovation. I imagine it is hard to clean...however I was not pleased to find a lot of hair and an old razor in the main bathroom shower. I also found hair in main bathroom sink and dirty paper towel in main TV area. Remotes were sticky. I cleaned the condo after my findings using Lysol wipes including kitchen area. I suggest the disposal should be cleaned as it has a smell as well. Fridge was very clean! Pans in kitchen cabinets had to be scrubbed before use due to burnt on food. Coffee maker had to be cleaned. I wonder if it was just rinsed after the last use? For the cost of the cleaning fee, I just don't believe I should need to clean the condo before use. I did not vacuum but the floor looked like it needed it. Decided to just wear shoes. I did call maintenance number to report lounge chair on deck was broken and plugs were missing. Their update was pull a bar chair out to the deck and look under the sink. They could come over if I really needed them too... We decided to just enjoy the beach and forget about the bathtub. El Matador is a great location, just not this unit. Old fashioned key entry.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kristi W.

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

Very clean

Very clean and up to date. Will definitely stay here again
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Nickki C.

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

Clean just needs updating

We stayed in 361 at the El Matador. The place was clean. The view was incredible of the Gulf and the pool. It definitely needs some updating but it was exactly what was advertised. There was a leak of some kind from the bathroom which the maintenance and HOA are in the process of fixing. Everyone was friendly and very helpful.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Michelle P.

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

Awesome View

Great location and awesome view from our condo.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Vicki S.

Snowbird view

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 rental through El Matador was sufficiently supplied with the necessities we needed for the duration of our stay. My only complaint was having the deck furniture inside our condo for the month because of painting going on on the backside of the building. . The view was beautiful, the sunsets stunning, and the decor of the condo was very comfortable.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Mark D.

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

Incredible location

everything you need .very roomy unit . didnt have hot water for 24 hrs.lots and lots of decor on walls. if there was anymore u would think it was a retail store.somewhat cluttered. too much decor everywhere.Great unit ,great location and great price
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021
Verified review

8/10 Good

Darla T.

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

Thanksgiving retreat

Love the apartment. Be aware that service for beach chairs do not extend into November
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2020
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Artemio B.

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

Beautiful view but won't be back

Beds where very uncomfortable and the roach that visited me other patio wasn't pleasant and seen more at the pool and other areas
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Carla H.

Spring Break

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: Property definitely needs updating, especially the kitchen. Was not the original room we booked.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Sal O.

Great Value and View

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We loved staying at the El Matador and this unit had an excellent view of the beach, pool, and gulf! Very comfortable accommodations except the washing machine was not working.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2020
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Connie P.

Favorite Beach Stay

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 many years. It is timeless and perfect. We love that it is on the end of the island; never feels crowded here.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Wanda M.

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

Great view, good location.

The condo needs updating and a deep thorough cleaning. Bedding needs to be replaced and needs new pillows. We liked El Matador but very disappointed in the unit we stayed in. The condo was not clean when we checked in after driving almost 600 miles and being very tired. I called the property manager and described the dirty floors, my husband wiped a spot on the kitchen floor and the paper towel was black with grime, dirty sliding glass doors with a child's handprints to the balcony, visible dust under the chairs, dirty bathroom floors. When we checked in my husband's first remark was that the unit didn't smell clean. The kitchen utensils had food stuck on them and the refrigerator was a mess. The realtor sent a lady named Theresa to clean the unit and within several hours she did a major cleaning. She was on her hands and knees scrubbing the bathroom floor when we left to go eat and spent the remainder of the evening waiting at my daughter's condo so Theresa would have time to clean before we could unpack. There was a remarkable difference in the smell and cleanliness when we returned to the condo about 10:00 pm. We also found a rusty razor blade under one of the patio chair cushions. The realtor discussed the issues with the owner. We hope to receive some type of compensation.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

8/10 Good

Cody H.

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

Really enjoyed our stay.

Easy.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Jan A.

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

Beautiful

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We loved the place!! Want to go back and will for sure stay in the same one!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019