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El Matador 437 - FREE TICKETS!! Your stay includes free tickets to many area attractions!

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On the beach
Interior
A heated pool
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
TV, books

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Entire condo

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Pool
  • Gym

Explore the area

View map
Fort Walton Beach, FL
  • Okaloosa Island Beach
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Okaloosa Island Pier
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Fort Walton Beach, FL (VPS-Northwest Florida Regional)
    ‪24 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

Outdoor pool, a heated pool

El Matador Unit 442, Gulfview

  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Air conditioning
  • Parking available
5.0 out of 5, Exceptional, 11 reviews
El Matador Unit 442, Gulfview

About the area

Fort Walton Beach

When you stay at this condo in Fort Walton Beach, you'll be on the beach, within a 15-minute drive of Okaloosa Island Beach and Destin Harbor Boardwalk. .This beach condo is 10.9 mi (17.5 km) from Destin Beaches and 9.9 mi (16 km) from Big Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park.
View more Condo rentals in Fort Walton BeachOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Okaloosa Island Beach - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center - 5 min drive - 4.2 km
  • Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island - 6 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Okaloosa Island Pier - 6 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Emerald Coast Science Center - 11 min drive - 7.7 km

Getting around

  • Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Lost Pizza Co. Ft Walton - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Stewby’s Seafood Shanty - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Shack - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Olive Garden - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Slim Chickens - ‬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 437 - FREE TICKETS!! Your stay includes free tickets to many area attractions!

This wonderful Gulf-front view rental has a commanding view of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and one of the two pools in the complex – one of which is heated in the cooler months. The living room and master bedroom have access to a large private balcony. You will enjoy sitting on the balcony, which is furnished with chairs and a table for your comfort and enjoyment. The floor-to-ceiling patio doors in the living room and master bedroom enhance your view of the Gulf of Mexico. The kitchen, which also has a view of the Gulf, comes equipped with all the comforts of home, including a full-size refrigerator, cook-top stove and oven, microwave, and dishwasher. All the utensils and appliances needed to prepare and serve meals are supplied for your convenience. This unit has 3 TVs - one in the living room, one in the master bedroom, and one in the second bedroom. The master bedroom has a king-sized bed and a separate vanity area. The second bedroom has twin beds, tv, and a computer station. (There is wi-fi reception throughout the unit.) The couch in the living room is equipped with a new, state of the art pull-out bed and mattress for the extra comfort of guests. The Gulf, the Sound, and the forever undeveloped dunes may be viewed from the second bedroom and from the kitchen window. The unit has a full bathroom (tub with shower), a power room, and a separate vanity attached to the master bedroom.

Free Wi-Fi.

This twelve acre complex has all of the amenities of a resort destination without the added resort fees.

El Matador Condominiums are located next to 17 miles of uninhabited beach. To make your Florida vacation unforgettable, our beach resort offers an array of amenities which includes two pools (one is heated seasonally), tennis/pickle ball and basketball courts, a fitness center, whirlpools, saunas, meeting rooms and more! Resting on over 12 acres, El Matador is beautifully landscaped and meticulously attended featuring lush palm trees and manicured lawn. The resort is accented by surrounding sugar-white sand, the sparkling surf, and is convenient to many unique shopping establishments fine restaurants and a variety of water sports.

Age Requirement: NO reservations will be accepted for singles under the age of 25 unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. A parent or legal guardian shall be allowed to supervise no more than 3 individuals under the age of 25. Parent or legal guardian MUST occupy the same room as those they are supervising. Any reservations made under false pretenses will forfeit all prepaid rents and deposits and will be required to vacate the unit.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned condo, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. There's a private balcony. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
Don't miss out on the many recreational opportunities, including a water park, a hot tub, and a sauna.
Featured amenities include laundry facilities and an elevator.

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach

Pool/Spa

  • Communal pool
  • Heated pool
  • Hot tub
  • Sauna

Internet

  • Available in the condo: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Electric car charging station on site
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Lift
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near an outlet shopping centre
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • Near the ocean
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Gym
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Water park
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Parasailing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkelling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks 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)
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Electric car charging station
  • Unit size: 1,042 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

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

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
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

Property is also known as

318255
Vrbo Property
2BR / 1.5ba Gulf Front With Beautiful Views of the Gulf Pool

El Matador 437 - FREE TICKETS!! Your stay includes free tickets to many area attractions! Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 15 out of 26 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 26 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 26 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 26 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 26 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Caitlin O.

Let me start off by saying, I have never left a bad review because we live so far away from the beach that when we do book a place to stay, I tend to look over little minor things that don’t matter because we are so excited to finally be on vacation. The few things I liked about this place, the view was excellent!, the pool was excellent. The balcony had plenty of seating so our whole family was able to sit and eat together. The kitchen was fine, well stocked and clean. Now to the bad. The furniture is super outdated!! The couch absolutely filthy and stained. There was a big crack above the couch on the ceiling. The chairs were also stained. The curtains concerning the deck, OLD! The bedroom with the 2 twin beds was a nice size but it had no lighting other than lamps. There were extension cords going in two directions for the TV, WiFi box, and lamps to light the room. I didn’t like this at all considered the 10 and 11 year old slept in that room. The bedroom with the king bed felt like you were sleeping on a boulder. If you like an extra firm mattress then this is the place for you. It was absolutely horrible!! Also there were yellow stains on the wall right by the king bed. And again outdated furniture. The bathroom shower and toilets worked fine but there was mold beside the air vent in the bathroom connected to the king bedroom. I didn’t notice it until check out. It needs to feel like the beach when we stay somewhere and I felt like I was at my 75 year old grandmas house.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kindra B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Excellent place to stay

Wonderful property to stay at
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Diana C.

Liked: Cleanliness

LOCATION

Location is wonderful, beautiful view to enjoy of the Gulf and the Pool is great.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shea S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Absolutely perfect!

Everything about our trip was wonderful. The room has an amazing view! Me and husband drank our coffee and ate our breakfast together on the balcony every morning. The beach was clean and the water was perfect. I have never seen such clear water! The water is shallow for a ways out making water play with kids awesome. Beach service is not included with this unit but is easily purchased beachside for around $40/ day. They promptly set out our chairs and umbrella every morning. There were some extra beach toys in the balcony closet which were a plus. El Matador grounds were well manicured and pristine. The sunset was breathtaking. The room had everything we needed to make our stay very comfortable. There is a memory foam topper on the master bed which I found very comfy. The kitchen had all the cookware we needed. We came fully prepared even packing the salt and pepper shakers so we were set for meal prep. It was our first family trip to the beach and everything was even better than I ever imagined it could be. If you are debating this unit and this complex, go for it! On a side note....Stewby’s is handy to the complex and the BEST place we found for grabbing a great, fresh, meal out.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Deborah G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Enjoyed

We have been coming to these condos for around 20 years ,and as always never one problem clean friendly ocean view is awesome.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2022

2/10 Terrible

Michael J.

Liked: Cleanliness

Not very good

If you don't care about sleep go for it. All the mattresses are TERRIBLE look at the king bed picture literally a hump in the middle. Wish we would have know we would have canceled. The most comfortable bed was the pull out couch and that speaks alot because those aren't comfortable. Now El Matador is a great location just don't get this unit until they do some updates.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

4/10 Poor

Amanda D.

Disliked: Cleanliness

Needs updated / cleaned

The room is very outdated , broken furniture , no decorations , the beds was very uncomfortable, and it wasn’t very clean. The light on the balcony was busted so we couldn’t use it. The front door lock is in bad shape , it wouldn’t hardly lock. I would not recommend waisting your money on this room. We’ve stayed at this resort a couple of times , never had a problem until this room.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

4/10 Poor

Jeremy H.

Not what we expected!

The location was great! The unit was horrible! First, the listing says it’s a 2 bath unit but it’s not. It’s a 1 1/2 bath jack and jill. The only tub/shower there was to use also didn’t hold water when trying to take a bath and the shower sliding doors would not slide without using both hands and muscling the door open. The shower door is also rusted all over and looks like the original door. Even the outdoor furniture was all rusted and looked like it was 50 years old. All the beds were horrible and the master bed, was literally like sleeping on the floor. We purchased and $100 plus mattress topper to try and make it decent but it didn’t work. And we now have an extra mattress topper that we don’t need. All the furniture looks, sounds and feels outdated and uncomfortable. The tv’s were also old and one was even an old computer monitor. The tv in the master was only about 18” wide! If you can’t provide a decent tv, then don’t provide one at all. We had to purchase several items just to stay in the unit. Trash bags, dish soap, dish cleaning brush, paper towels, and even a can opener. If I could include a picture on this review I would to show you how old the can opener was. The one in the unit looked to be from the 1930’s and all rusted up. There were not enough towels provided so we had to use the same ones over and over covered in sand. We even spent time washing what we had instead of playing at the beach. Besides not having everything provided “like home” as they mention in the listing, there were no extra amenity items like beach chairs, umbrellas, board games, etc……. We’ve never stayed at a condo where there were no items provided given the location of the condo and consideration for rain out days. Having to spend more money and time to provide items that should already be included is unexceptionable. Everything in the unit appears to be 40-50 years old and either not working or about to fall apart. The owners need to shut the unit down and do a full remodel with all new furnishings.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

Beverly S.

Wonderful property, not so great unit

I love the location of this property! However, if I stay here again, I will choose a different unit. The beds are HORRIBLE! Not comfortable at all. One of the twin beds was so hard, you might as well sleep on the floor. Loves the property itself nm it not this unit.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Natika P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Most beautiful location on Okaloosa Island

We have stayed several times at condos located at El Matador and we LOVE this location. It is backed up to a protected area owned by the Air Force, so there is less public traffic. It is an older resort but we still enjoy the stay. Lots of amenities on site. This particular condo was located in the perfect location. You see the Gulf the moment you step into the condo and the moment you step back outside the entrance. The unit is surrounded by amazing views in a fantastic location! Some of the decor and fixtures are a little out of date. That doesn’t really bother me so much. The floors have been updated to a beautiful tile and are no longer carpeted as in the photos on the listing. The tub wouldn’t hold water, but is a great sized soaker tub. My husband went to plug a charger into the outlet on the left hand side of the sofa and noticed the outlet end on the cord on the lamp was burnt. We did leave that lamp unplugged for safety reasons. Unfortunately there was some heavy machinery work being done on the building we stayed in and it was very loud at times, but I also understand this has to happen to update the units. I do want to say that there were mentions in other reviews about the beds. I want to elaborate on this, because when I saw firm I thought “firmer than usual”. No this is much different than that. With respect to the owners, if you stay here often and love these mattresses, then obviously I understand why you keep them. If you haven’t slept on these beds, they badly need replaced. The king mattress is not only hard as a rock, but has a hump in the middle. The twins weren’t comfortable either. We did not get one single night of solid sleep our entire stay. We even searched for reasonable mattress toppers in the area to salvage the trip but they would have taken a chunk of our budget and we didn’t know how we would get them home. I called the front desk and begged for a comforter or something to help but they had nothing to offer. They did say they have gotten several complaints about the king mattress. It is the first time I have ever come to the beach and looked forward to going home simply for a good nights sleep. I would also suggest upgrading the comforter to something less worn. If it weren’t for the bed, I would stay in this unit every single time I come to Ft Walton. I have several friends that planned to come this summer in which I planned to suggest the unit. If you do upgrade
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Andrei M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Five stars overall

Gorgeous location!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021

8/10 Good

Jami O.

Liked: Cleanliness

Oakloosa island

Excellent would love to come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

4/10 Poor

James M.

Disliked: Cleanliness

Cleanliness

We got there and there was sand everywhere, under the couches was trash. The kitchen counter was dirty. The mattresses were horrible!!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

John S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice and Quiet

Great beach access! The rooms and property are very clean although a bit dated, but has everything you need. A washer and dryer in the room would be nice but are available on each floor. Plenty of wildlife on the right side of the beach day and night to see.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness

Simply Amazing!

The best place we have ever stayed! At the end of the island, very private & secluded. Such a beautiful beach! We will be returning for sure!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Whitney N.

Liked: Cleanliness

Location

Great location with beautiful views; property is little bit dated; MBR mattress very, very firm; bring a hair dryer; otherwise, exceptional value
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Robb S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect view, right on the beach!!

This view from this condo was perfect. The location is close to convenient store, and about 5 minutes from the main road. We plan to come back next year! The only thing we could complain about was the beds. The king bed was so firm we had a little trouble getting comfortable. Twin beds were fine! Pull out couch was a little springy feeling. But overall we loved it.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2021

6/10 Okay

Sallie W.

#437

The view of the beach was great. The room needed a little TLC. The twin mattresses were so uncomfortable. Everything is very outdated. The chairs in the dining room were falling apart. The balcony table needed attention.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Manuel V.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great location for fun in the Sun

Loved the location, the beach area was not as crowded as other options. Check in was easy and the unit had everything we expected. We had multiple families staying at the same property and the only suggestion I would have (after seeing other units) is an update of the unit. It was clean but could use a fresh upgrade to make it a true 5* unit.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Elisha V.

Liked: Cleanliness

Needs updated

Room really needs updated and refreshed. The main bed is like sleeping on a board I actually looked to see if it actually was. We had no issues. For the price and right on the beach with a view these can be overlooked but if you can spend a little more I would stay somewhere a little more updated.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sandy J.

Liked: Cleanliness

We absolute loved this condo! The view of the ocean and beach was breathtaking!

Everything went perfectly with this rental! It was spotless! I loved being on the 3rd floor! The view was amazing! And just when we thought of something we forgot to pack I walked in the closet and found it, the box fan! Thank goodness y’all really have thought of everything! Thank y’all so much!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021

8/10 Good

Stefanie D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice location and resort

First time staying in this area. The location was nice and away from the busy areas but still close enough to find things to do and eat. The beach was lovely and we found 3 sand dollars which I've never been able to do anywhere else. The only complaints I have is that the beds and couch were super hard and uncomfortable. Also, the chairs on the patio all sat low to the ground so the view was obscured by the railing. Other than that, we really enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tim B., Gulf Breeze, Florida

Liked: Cleanliness

A great weekend getaway

Very nice property. The stay brought back memories of earlier stays at El Matador in the 1970's.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Megan T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful Emerald Coast Beach Access

We were very grateful to find a property where the second bedroom had two twin beds, which my kiddos prefer over bunk beds. There were a few times a second shower would have come in handy, but the one worked out. Like other reviewers, we felt the beds were over-firm, but I slept well (which doesn't come easy for me). The "seasonally heated" pool was not very warm (to my taste) but warmer than the other pool. Hot tubs and saunas are separated into men's and women's and required a key to access. Our only complaint was that the tub drained extremely slowly, so showers were often had in ankle-deep water. We had a great trip and if we decide to head to the Destin area again, we'd definitely reserve here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2020