No other private Caribbean Island resort presents its exclusive homes with such enchanting elegance as Sunset Key. When I took the 5-minute ferry ride from the Key West dock to preview this luxury villa, I was so inspired that I authored a poem about it. Now, I know this is an unorthodox way to introduce a Key West vacation rental. But at VHKW, we strive to offer you something unique, a little bit ahead of the trend, and in this case a playful sonnet - a 14-line poem, each line with ten syllables.

But in case you’re not charmed by playful island poetry, we understand. Following the poem we offer a detailed description of the property - the grounds, special amenities of the home and Sunset Key. Even if you are only half as captivated as we are, you’ll want to stay at this luxury 2BR 3BA home that we call Sunset Sonnet Luxury Villa.

The exclusive island of Sunset Key,
A luxury stay for family.
A ferry ride from Key West’s scurry,
Near the action but far from hurry.

Turquoise waters surround the land,
Crescent beach with soft white sand. 
Crowning sunsets, pastel skies,
Towering palms, yachts sail by.

Stately stands this villa with tower,
Tropical scenes for happy hour.
Next to garden oasis pool,
Gorgeous home is truly a jewel.

Castaway your blues, come gaze at the sea,
Enjoy island time in luxury.

Getting There: Only 500 yards and a 5-minute ferry boat ride away from the Key West dock, when you arrive, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to an exotic island estate somewhere in the Bahamas. Exclusive for guests only, the ferry operates 24 hours a day, so when you get carried away into the charms of Old Town Key West, it’s there to carry you back home.

We begin our tour as the ferry pulls up to the iconic Sunset Key boat-house dock, which serves as the main entrance to the island. With views of the white sandy beach and coconut palms on either side, the scene is exotic and luxurious at once. As you approach the preeminent manor house on your right, you’ll recognize that it’s the headquarters for the resort amenities. These include the 5 Star Latitudes Restaurant and the bar staged perfectly as a gazing point out to sea. 

I savored the short walk to the 2BR 3BA Sunset Sonnet Luxury Villa, through the perfectly manicured tropical grounds of this exclusive neighborhood. Brilliant red and orange bougainvillea, exotic flower vines, white picket fences and garden trellises, freshly cut hedges, and towering palm trees along the pathways. You’re sure to appreciate the unique opportunity to walk around an island absent from the noise and pollution of cars - a remarkable experience alone.

Grounds and Porches: 

The front of the property is across a pathway from the Sunset Key tennis courts. A wide garden arbor leads to a tall privacy gate, that steps into the front garden. Another access point is from the oasis swimming pool garden, where the house stands along the perimeter. From either approach, you’ll step up onto a covered porch. Notice how expansive the covered porches are as they wrap around three sides of the plank walled building, on both first and second floors.

Both porch floors have multiple French doors to maximize the opportunity for indoor-outdoor living. Porch furnishings and a hammock provide places to relax and dine outdoors and assure the pleasure of a prominent view of the gardens and the swimming pool. This is what the Caribbean Island lifestyle is all about. But it gets even better - a spiral staircase leads to the covered roof top tower, designed for enjoying the famous Key West sunrises and sunsets.

The neighboring homes of Sunset Sonnet Luxury Villa vacation rental are situated in manicured tropical gardens surrounding the swimming pool. With only ten other private luxury homes sharing the pool and gardens, exclusivity is assured. Another premier feature is access to the 5-star hotel amenities of Sunset Key, including order-in dining service. Though you are in a private home, at your service is a central concierge and security program on a private 27-acre tropical resort island, which includes an ocean-side and the award-winning restaurant and full bar, Latitudes. You can also arrange for access to the full-service luxury spa and gym, and use of the tennis courts.

Interior Layout:

Our tour begins at the main entrance which steps though a double set of French doors. Directly to your right is the spacious great room, where travertine floor tiles, white ceilings, and pastel green walls bounce around the light. The interior designer created an upscale resort island ambience by using a combination of classic and island furnishings, throughout the home. 

Downstairs:

Great Room - The open-concept great room assures ample space for your family to comfortably relax, entertain and be entertained. It is set with the living room grouping on one side and kitchen on the other. A focal point is the large plush sectional sofa, easy-chair, and the entertainment center. Snuggle in and watch the 70-inch flat screen TV or play video games. A round wooden dining table and wood and seagrass chairs are placed for easy access to the kitchen.

The spacious L-shaped kitchen is stylishly done-up in white, a natural complement to the pale green walls. Custom cabinets with Corian countertops, glass top electric range, space-saver microwave, a double stainless-steel sink, Viking refrigerator with bottom drawer freezer. The kitchen is outfitted with all the accessories you need to cook a feast. There is also a laundry closet, just past the refrigerator, with a full-size stackable washer/dryer.

When it’s time to casually nibble and imbibe, enjoy sitting at the spacious kitchen island. When you want to sit down to dine outside, your choice is the round glass dining table on the covered porch. 

Downstairs Bathroom - A full bathroom with double wide shower is positioned between the kitchen and the front entrance. This provides not only a family and guest bathroom, but also as a pool bath to rinse off sunscreen and any sand that hitch hikes on your swimsuit when you come inside from a day at the pool or beach. 

Office Space - On the wall behind the sofa, and beneath the staircase, the office is set up for working remotely with quiet privacy. The compact layout is nicely set with a built-in L-shape desk, a comfortable office chair, and bookshelf. A sash window provides natural light and a garden view, so you don’t feel sequestered. 

Upstairs:

Unique staircases are one of my favorite features of luxury Key West homes. A focal point in this house is the modern-colonial staircase set at the  back of the living room. The inside is closed in with a pastel green wall and trimmed in white to set off the angular style of the staircase. The khaki-colored wall on the outside is calming and flat wall railing is painted white to further accentuate the clean architectural lines.

Wooden stairs and white risers lead to the 2^nd floor. The landing becomes a gallery hall leading to the master bedroom and the guest bedroom, on opposite sides of the house. 

Both bedrooms have wood floors, multiple windows for viewing the garden and pool below, and doors leading to the 2^nd floor covered porch. Each bedroom has a full en-suite bathroom. 

Bedrooms: 

Master Suite - Let’s start in the master bedroom with en-suite bath. At the top of the stairs, turn left, to find the master suite at the end of the gallery hall.  Tastefully furnished with a king size dark wood and wicker bed and wicker chair, walls are painted soft khaki with white trim. Double French sliding door flow naturally to the 2^nd floor covered porch, where you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of the swimming pool and gardens below.

The en-suite master bathroom provides an oversized glass block and tile shower. A single sink with white vanity and sink is topped with a mirror that spans the width of the wall. There are plenty of shelves and cabinet space to store personal items. 

Guest Bedroom Suite - Returning to the hallway, we walk to the opposite end of the house, to the guest bedroom suite. Walls are painted the same pastel green as downstairs and trimmed in white. This room is furnished with two twin size beds, (that can be pushed together and made into a king), and a small flat-screen TV is mounted in the corner for easy viewing from the bed. A single French door, next to the bathroom, leads to the 2^nd floor wrap around porch, providing private outside access, for a spectacular view of the gardens and the pool. 

Rooftop Deck: Just outside the master bedroom, a custom spiral staircase takes you even higher to the intimate outdoor rooftop room. This is the place-to-be for sunset, star gazing, and attitude adjusting. A premier spot in the house, it offers fresh tropical breezes, and a wide-open view … all you need to bring is a margarita, a cold beer, glass of wine, or a cup of Cuban coffee. Plan to make memories that last a lifetime.

 Bedding Summary:

• Master Bedroom - King size bed
• Guest Bedroom - 2 Twin beds (can be made up as a King size bed)

Parking and Transportation: If you are driving to Key West, parking passes are available to park a car at the covered hotel parking garage on Front Street. Steps from the garage you’ll find the private dock where you catch the - regularly scheduled ferry that runs to Sunset Key. The five-minute, 500-yard boat ride gives the feeling of being transported to a glamorous destination and once on the Sunset Key dock, home is a short walk away.

House Amenities:  Covered roof-top deck viewing tower with private sunset view, covered wrap around verandah porches on the 1^st and 2^nd levels with pool garden views, mature tropical landscaping, electric grill, shared oasis style swimming. Interior amenities include a fully equipped kitchen, laundry closet, central air conditioning, office, Wi-Fi, 70-inch flat screen TV in the great-room, small TV in guest bedroom and Jacuzzi in guest suite bath.

Resident Guest Amenities and Activities:

Resident guests at Sunset Key have access to a nice array of resort amenities. Here the lifestyle is designed to provide ‘world-class luxuries’ that are usually only available at much larger luxury resorts including:  an award winning beachfront restaurant, Latitudes, offering Continental and Island Cuisine; full bar; order-in dining service, full service Spa, white sand beaches, tennis courts, grocery deliver, regularly scheduled ferry service (water taxi), and more.

Sunset Key Area:

Sunset Key is a gorgeous 27-acre private tropical island located approximately 500 yards off-shore from Key West, where the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico meet. Paradise grounds are perfectly manicured and lushly landscaped with palm trees, tropical flower gardens, white picket fences, winding walking paths, and narrow brick roads. From here you’ll experience some of the most stunning sunsets you’ll see anywhere in the world.

The Sunset Key neighborhood has a premier collection of luxury island villas and cottages built in classic Key West architectural style with wide sitting porches, tin roofs, wrap verandas, and white picket fences. Designed for the discerning traveler, Sunset Key is a relaxing and quiet resort island, offering 5 Star hotel resort amenities. Staff are committed to preserving our fragile ecological environment and the property is a certified Green Lodging facility by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. They are committed to making efforts to reduce water and energy consumption and solid waste.

Key West Activities:

The ferry from Sunset Key takes you to the 'main island' of Key West, where you’re steps from Front Street, Mallory Square, and Duval Street. Plan to walk around and discover what you love most about Old Town within a short walk. Choose from local and national and international cuisine, famous nightlife, craft breweries, wine tasting, homemade ice cream, boutique and souvenir shopping, art galleries, the Historic Seaport Harbor Walk, Custom House Museum, Lighthouse Museum, the Shipwreck Museum sunset sailing, reef snorkel and dive trips, Fort Zachary State Park Beach, and more.

We also recommend that you take the time to explore beyond the blocks immediately around the dock. Downtown Old Town Key West and the surrounding waterfront area, is where the settlers of late 1800's built the first shipping docks, warehouses, grand wooden homes and shot gun cottages that stand side-by-side as one of the largest and most impressive collection of turn-of-the-century Victorian gingerbread architecture in the United States. Today, most of these alluring structures have been restored and renovated to stand in their gleaming glory.

Restrictions: This is a SMOKE FREE house. Absolutely no pets please! We do not accept guests less than 25 years of age unless accompanied by a family group or guardian.

Notes: If you are planning a festive event, such as a wedding or reunion, please contact our staff for further information on how Sunset Key can provide you with fact sheets on available gathering and meeting facilities. It is not possible to stage an event in the home, but we can assist you with the perfect setting on Sunset Key, close by. This home is intended for a family, professionals and executives who are looking for a private estate home with upscale Quality Amenities.