Entire home

10 Steps to the Gulf Beachfront, Dog-Friendly Home w/ 2 Decks, AC, WiFi & W/D

Beachfront holiday home with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for 10 Steps to the Gulf Beachfront, Dog-Friendly Home w/ 2 Decks, AC, WiFi & W/D

Exterior
Living area
Property grounds
Beach
Living area

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12147.3 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

View map
Dauphin Island, AL
  • Place, Dauphin Island Beaches
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, West End Beach
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Place, Dauphin Island Public Beach
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Airport, Mobile, AL (MOB-Mobile Regional)
    ‪75 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

4 Single Beds

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Dining area

About this property

10 Steps to the Gulf Beachfront, Dog-Friendly Home w/ 2 Decks, AC, WiFi & W/D

Beach, Love & Happiness

Our calendar is updated in real-time & our nightly rates are accurately displayed. Simply enter your desired dates and click 'Book Now!'

You can't get much closer to the Gulf of Mexico than Beach, Love & Happiness - a spacious, beachfront escape on the white-sand shores of Dauphin Island. And at just 10 steps from the cool gulf waters, this four-bedroom home will give you a vacation you won't soon forget.

Built in 2005 and well-equipped for a beach-going family, this elevated home features wonderful spaces to gather both inside and out. Come up from a morning spent beach-combing, swimming, or stand-up paddleboarding to enjoy two levels of gulf-front decking that run the length of the house. The air-conditioned interior has plentiful windows that frame views of the gulf, and a layout that brings together the kitchen, the dining room, and the living room in one social space. The kitchen offers stainless steel appliances (including a dishwasher) and seating for 10 at the adjacent table.

Additional amenities include a washer/dryer to take care of your swimsuits and towels each day, free WiFi throughout the house, cable TV, and a picnic table outside on the deck - the perfect spot for morning crosswords, post-beach lunches, and evening cocktails at sunset.

Things to Know
Full kitchen
Dog-friendly for a nightly fee

This property is managed by Vacasa Alabama, LLC.

If you are bringing a dog on your trip, the pet fee is already included in your quote when selecting ‘Yes’ to pets. If you would like to add more dogs, please contact us.

Parking notes: There is free parking available for 4 vehicles.

Please note: this home resides in a noise-sensitive area and the owners participate in our Good Neighbor protection program. Our smart home technology will alert our team if excessive decibel or occupancy levels are detected, allowing us to reach out directly with a reminder of maximum occupancy and quiet hours. This technology is privacy compliant, and only monitors the presence of decibels and devices-not any personal conversation or information. Thank you for supporting our efforts to be good neighbors!

Damage waiver: The total cost of your reservation for this Property includes a nightly damage waiver fee, plus tax if applicable (the “Damage Waiver”). (A discount may be applied for stays of 28 nights or longer, if permitted.) The Damage Waiver covers you for up to $3,000 of accidental damage to the Property or its contents (such as furniture, fixtures, and appliances) as long as you report the incident to the host prior to checking out. The Damage Waiver fee eliminates the need for a traditional security deposit.
More information can be downloaded from the "Rental Agreement" on the checkout page.

Due to local laws or HOA requirements, guests must be at least 25 years of age to book. Guests under 25 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the duration of the reservation.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Ocean view

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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
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
Dogs only. Max of 4.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the premises.
For information about quiet hours, please refer to the listing description.

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 first aid kit

About the area

Dauphin Island

Located in Dauphin Island, this holiday home is on the beach. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by Fort Morgan, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan Beach. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Dauphin Island, AL

What's nearby

  • Dauphin Island Beaches - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • West End Beach - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Dauphin Island Public Beach - 8 min drive - 4.2 km
  • Isle Dauphine Golf Club - 14 min drive - 7.4 km
  • Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium - 18 min drive - 11.2 km

Getting around

  • Mobile, AL (BFM-Downtown Airport) - 52 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Circle K - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Pelican Pub - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Chevron - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Capt'n Snappers - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Pirate's Bar & Grill - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 10 Steps to the Gulf Beachfront, Dog-Friendly Home w/ 2 Decks, AC, WiFi & W/D pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at 10 Steps to the Gulf Beachfront, Dog-Friendly Home w/ 2 Decks, AC, WiFi & W/D?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 10 Steps to the Gulf Beachfront, Dog-Friendly Home w/ 2 Decks, AC, WiFi & W/D?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 10 Steps to the Gulf Beachfront, Dog-Friendly Home w/ 2 Decks, AC, WiFi & W/D located?

Nestled on the beach, this Dauphin Island holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Dauphin Island Beaches and West End Beach. Dauphin Island Public Beach is 2.7 mi (4.3 km) away.

Reviews

8.2

Very good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 31 out of 60 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 60 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 12 out of 60 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 60 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 60 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

4/10 Poor

Katie S.

Be Aware

We loved the location and layout of this house, but be aware, it has roaches.

10/10 Excellent

Debi B.

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

Awesome place

Great for beachfront dog lovers!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Robbi T.

Vacation

Loved the location being steps from the Gulf!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Bryan N.

Great location

Great location. Nice house but needs a little work and has a cockroach problem.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Susan E.

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

Amazing view!

When this place says on the beach it is literally on the beach. We loved it so much. We will be going back to this island!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

kris v.

Beach Love and Happiness

This is great home right on the water. We were amazed at how close you really are. We loved our stay, as did our dogs. Plenty of room to spread out. The elevated deck chairs were perfect for enjoying the water. We cooked several meals and the kitchen had a fairly good amount of what we needed minus wooden spoons and skewers for shrimp. It’s a good location for the gorgeous sunsets and very close to the west end public beach to get the full sunset view.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Trayce H.

So many roaches.

This house is in desperate need of pest control. There were so many roaches, we had to spend considerable dollars on roach spray and still were killing huge cockroaches the entire week we were there. We actually considered leaving the first day because you couldn’t sit on the balconies without seeing them every few seconds. The planks on the wooden stairs and porch were in bad disrepair, scary for toddlers. It is right on the water which is nice, but the owners need to put a lot of work into this for it to be on par with other Vacasa rentals. Amenities are extremely low, including no coffee pot and they do not provide gas for the grill. That’s right - there’s a grill, but you have to bring your own propane, which they don’t tell you. The tub drains are backed up, so you stand in water while showering. WiFi does not allow some devices to connect, either because it limits the number or simply denies older laptops and tablets access. Bring your own toilet paper - they gave us 1 roll for the week. No dishwashing soap. Just little things that become serious inconveniences when you’re on vacation on an island with a bunch of kids. Prepare for camping with plumbing.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Charles H.

Definitely Beach, Love & Happiness!

2nd stay at this house. It's awesome being able to go down stairs to the sand and you're right where you need to be! The couch and love seat had been replaced since last year and they are SO comfortable!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Cindy C.

Great location

Awesome location and unit. To make it the best ever: fix the outside stairs(some are wobbly and may cause future injury); fix outdoor lights on lower and main level; master toilet has trouble flushing; outdoor hose leaking water will not stop.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Joan M.

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

Fantastic location!

Great place! We loved the unobstructed view and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. I am so glad that we opted for the gulf side of the island, especially in the winter months when sunshine is at a premium. We were lucky with the weather, in the 60s and no rain. The whole place was clean and seemed to have fresh paint throughout. The wooden floors were worn and appropriate for a beach house. We loved them - no worries. Although the kitchen and baths aren't newly remodeled, they were clean with new shower liners and quite adequate. The kitchen did not have a lot of counter space, but with the huge wood table, it wasn't an issue. This VRBO had no spices or oils (not even salt and pepper), a roll of paper towels, 3 dishwasher tablets, small amount of liquid dish detergent, small soap bars in the showers and at the each sink, small shampoo and conditioner in each shower and several extra trash bags. We brought extra supplies because we had asked beforehand, but just be prepared. Communication was quick and easy.We would not hesitate to book again. This is a great place and reasonably priced!
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2025
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Kayla V.

Better than expected!!!

The house was really nice with plenty of room. Very clean. Very comfortable & fantastic location (right on the beach just steps away from the Gulf!). Vacasa was a great host!! They delivered us a tank for the gas grill & on our last day, we had issues with the upstairs AC & Vacasa responded immediately. Would definitely recommend............. only issue was that the upstairs king bed was a little uncomfortable but other then that, it was great!!!!!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

2/10 Terrible

Debra L.

This house is awful!

I wanted to like this property so bad because of its location. And I now believe that is probably it’s only advantage. There are a few things about it that are acceptable. The appliances are relatively new, it does have space for a large family without difficulty, and the beds are fairly comfortable. Otherwise, it is a complete disaster. First of all, there was no street sign anywhere so we had to guess on where to turn to even get to the house. It would’ve been nice if someone in the local Vacasa team had told us that. The house is in desperate need of attention and repair. The hardwood floors are completely worn bare, and old wood is showing. There are holes above almost every window where drapes have been removed and no one has bothered to patch them. While it appears that relatively new living room, furniture has been purchased , it does not change the fact that very little attention is given to this home by the owners, and that is obvious. We could not find a hairdryer or washcloths in any part of the home, so we went and bought them. After a few days, our guests actually found a small travel size hairdryer, tucked underneath a sink almost impossible to see. It was the only hairdryer for a home that was supposed to sleep 12 people. And there were no washcloths anywhere. The TV did not work in the queen bedroom, and a technician had to come out and repair it. Thus, we had to cancel plans in order to be home for that person to show up. The worst part of this experience was the home is obviously sinking into the sand because it is so close to the surf so it has a tilted floor toward the ocean. A storm came while we were there and surf water was rolling underneath the home and came up into the driveway almost dumping water into our car! We were very fortunate to get out in time. Not one single person from Vacasa checked on us, responded to our panic text, or called to even see if we were alive. We had no warning of the storm , and this house is certainly not safe in those conditions. There are numerous other small details that I will not list in this review for time purposes. However, I cannot consciously recommend this home to anyone and we will never stay there again even though we visit Dauphin Island every year.

8/10 Good

Kris V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is our second stay here. It was clean and smelled great. Some upgrades have occurred since our last visit but a few things need attention like some areas on the deck, especially the upper deck, and the floors. I wasn’t too concerned about the floors as we travel with dogs. The location is outstanding and the kitchen is well stocked. We would stay there again.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Josh T.

Fun vacation

This was a great property for our family vacation to DI!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tania W.

July 4th vacation

Everything! The location of the home, the helpful texting app, and the island itself. I can’t say enough good things about our stay here!

8/10 Good

Ann P.

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

Spring break 2025

The stay, communication with management, the beach access all was great! Other than the lights not working around the stairs everything was perfect. I would recommended repairing the lights as it is a hazard should you have elderly guests with vision issues.
Watched from the deck.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ashley S.

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

We loved it so much

It was a great stay we loved being on the beach my kids had a great time it had plenty of space for all of us! Would definitely book again
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brandon H.

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

Spring Break Family Vacation with Wife and Four Kids

rove down from Iowa with my wife and four kids in our minivan during Spring break. We had never been to Dauphin Island or even Alabama before though we saw pictures of the home on the listing and of the surrounding area and decided to book and drive down. We had a very memorable and fun experience and the kids loved it. The white sandy beach in front of the home was great. We loved how close we were to the West-end beach on the island. The ocean front view from the home was beautiful, especially from the two decks. We enjoyed the sound of the ocean from our beds at night. We liked the picnic table to eat at and chairs to watch the kids from the deck and the sunset. The climate control made our stay comfortable, though we often didn’t use it due to temperate weather and having the doors open. The home water was warm during showers. The washing machine and dryer were nice which we used daily along with the dishwasher and three bathrooms. The refrigerator was very clean and they had things to prepare food including a pizza cutter. We plan on staying here again based on our positive experiences next Spring Break in March, especially if we can get another great deal. Only criticisms would be replacing two noisy ceiling fans (bearings) and cleaning the outside of the windows for a better view of the ocean.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen H.

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

Great Location

Beautiful home directly on the Gulf. Just steps away from the water. Our family enjoyed the house. It was very clean and well equipped with everything we needed to enjoy our family weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tim F.

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

Perfect Fit

Two families stayed in the home for a week - it was the perfect size for our group of 4 adults and 5 kids. We appreciated the sleeping arrangements and the very large dining table. There was plenty of space for everyone, and the location right on the beach can't be beat. Thank you for a great week!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Patricia R.

Five star money, but not five star stay.

We loved the house being on the water. We did not love the queen sized sheets and coverlet on the king sized bed downstairs. We did not love the one towel, one washcloth and one hand towel per bathroom. We did not love the only three teaspoons and the only two drinking glasses, one being badly chipped on the rim. We did not love the roaches.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Shannon P.

Beach, Room and Happiness!

Roomy house right at the waters edge! Huge deck for sunrises and sunsets! TV’s were great! Beds were all comfy (did not use the bunk beds so cannot speak on those). Yes, there are some things that could be spiffed up, but it’s a beach house with people and sand in and out so be realistic. The only complaint from me is the water entry in front of the house. Beach erosion uncovered some unsightly objects one day, but the next day they were all covered up. We spent the days at the beach to the right of the house as you face the ocean. Great area! Would rent again, for sure!!

10/10 Excellent

Marissa V.

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

Love this place!!

We absolutely loved this house! I loved how easy everything was to book it, and find it. I gave a 5 star on everything except for communication. Hurricane Helene was sending us big waves and our property was flooding. We didn't want our truck flooded so we packed up and left 2 days early. Shortly after we left I received a call saying we could park inland and they would transport us to and from the house. I was impressed with this, however I wish I would have gotten the call sooner. Everything else was perfect!!! We definitely will be staying here again sometime.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amber G.

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

Great location

Love the west end. This is right on the beach. House is all you need. Deck has awesome views all around. Will stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

6/10 Okay

Alicia

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

Needs Improvement

Overall my family enjoyed our trip due to our time together and the proximity to the gulf. However, the home needs maintenance improvements, driveway maintenance and a deep cleaning. We first noticed that there were food crumbs in many drawers, mildew in the shower (had to replace the shower curtain) and unfinished floors. We also had difficulty pulling in the side street due to the thickness of sand. We messaged Vacasa the day we booked the property to ensure we wouldn’t have any issues driving a sedan. They stated we wouldn’t. The driveway was completely inaccessible and we constantly had difficulty pulling in and out of the side street where Vacasa stated we could use as backup parking. When we called on two separate days once arriving to inform them we needed a solution for parking, they never contacted us back with a solution.On a positive note they offered to come out and fix the cleaning issues but we declined since we had already brought our items in and traveled 10 hours.The greater issues were parking and the lack of maintenance upkeep. We also had palmetto bugs(flying cockroaches) inside and outside the house. However, I am not sure if they are avoidable. Overall great location to the beach but we won’t be renting again or renting from Vacasa again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

About the host

Hosted by Vacasa of Alabama

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Languages:

English, French, German, Italian, Spanish