Welcome to your home away from home on beautiful Marco Island!

If your idea of a great vacation includes white sandy beaches, warm Gulf water, amazing restaurants, a heated pool, and being able to walk to dinner instead of arguing over who has to drive, we think you’re going to love it here.

Our newly remodeled, third-floor condo at The Essex is a spacious 3-bedroom, 2-bath retreat located on the south end of Marco Island. It’s perfect for families, couples, or groups of friends looking for a relaxing island getaway with plenty to do within walking distance.

WALK TO THE BEACH

One of our favorite things about this condo is the location. You are within walking distance of two different beach access points, including beautiful South Marco Beach.

Grab your beach bag, put on your flip-flops, and in just a few minutes you can have your toes in the white sand looking for seashells, swimming in the Gulf, or settling in for one of Marco Island’s incredible sunsets.

And when we say “walk to the beach,” we mean actually walk to the beach—not “technically walkable if you packed hiking boots, snacks, and a survival kit.”

WALK TO GREAT RESTAURANTS & SHOPPING

One of the best parts about staying here is that you don’t have to get in the car every time you want something to eat.

Marco Walk Plaza is nearby and has several excellent restaurants, shops, and places to grab a drink or dessert. Some of our favorites include Marco Prime, DaVinci’s Italian Restaurant, The Oyster Society, Pinchers, and 2Shea’s Salty Dog.

You’ll also find Sunset Grille near South Beach, where you can enjoy a casual meal or drink right by the beach and catch a beautiful Marco Island sunset.

Whether you’re looking for steak and seafood, Italian food, fresh fish, a casual burger, cocktails, or just some ice cream after dinner, you have plenty of options nearby.

Fair warning: after a few days of walking to dinner and the beach, getting back in your car may start to feel like an unnecessary inconvenience.

ROOM FOR THE WHOLE CREW

The condo has three bedrooms and plenty of room for everyone to spread out.

• Primary Bedroom – King bed
• Second Bedroom – King bed
• Third Bedroom – Two full-size bunk beds, perfect for kids or additional guests
• TVs in all three bedrooms
• TV in the living room
• Two full bathrooms

The primary bathroom features a walk-in shower, while the second bathroom has a shower/tub combination, which is especially convenient for families traveling with younger children.

The bunk room tends to be a favorite with the kids. Give them their own TV and bunk beds and suddenly they may forget their parents exist—which, depending on the day, can be considered an additional amenity.

FULLY REMODELED & COMFORTABLE

We completely remodeled the condo approximately three years ago and wanted it to feel clean, bright, comfortable, and relaxing.

Updates include new flooring, countertops, appliances, furniture, and finishes throughout the condo. We also recently installed a brand-new heating and air-conditioning system.

And yes, we realize the furnace isn’t exactly the star attraction on Marco Island, Florida—but the new A/C definitely is!

The condo includes a full kitchen, so whether you’re making breakfast before heading to the beach, packing lunches for the kids, or cooking a full family dinner, you have everything you need to feel at home.

Of course, with so many good restaurants nearby, we completely understand if the kitchen’s main job during your vacation is keeping drinks cold.

TWO PRIVATE OUTDOOR SPACES

One feature we really love about this condo is having two covered balconies—one in the front and one in the back.

One balcony is screened in, giving you a comfortable place to enjoy your morning coffee, relax with a book, or wind down after a day at the beach without sharing your evening with every Florida bug that happens to be passing through.

Having outdoor space on both sides of the condo also gives the unit a bright, open feel and provides multiple places to sit back and enjoy island life.

HEATED POOL, TENNIS & PICKLEBALL

When you want a break from the beach, you don’t have to go far.

The Essex community offers:

• Heated swimming pool
• Tennis court
• Pickleball court
• Elevator access
• Convenient parking

Spend the morning at the beach, come back for an afternoon swim, play a little pickleball, and then walk to dinner. That’s a pretty good vacation day in our book.

THIRD-FLOOR LOCATION WITH AN ELEVATOR

Our condo is located on the third floor, which we think is a great spot—you’re high enough to enjoy the view and a little extra privacy without feeling like you’re living in the clouds.

There is an elevator, making it easy to bring up luggage, groceries, coolers, and everything else that somehow accompanies a family vacation.

There are also carts available to help bring your belongings upstairs.

Of course, you can always take the stairs if you want to get a little exercise. I occasionally do this myself, mostly so my wife can laugh at me when I reach the third floor huffing and puffing like I just climbed Mount Everest.

NO INTERIOR COMMON HALLWAYS

Another feature we really liked when choosing this property is that the units are accessed from the exterior. There are no enclosed common interior hallways to walk through before reaching the condo.

We love the open-air Florida feel and the added sense of privacy it gives the property.

WHY WE LOVE IT HERE

Our family has been coming to Marco Island for years, and it has become a very special place for us.

We love that Marco Island offers the best combination of relaxation and things to do. You can wake up and have coffee outside, walk to the beach, spend the afternoon swimming or looking for seashells, come back to the pool, clean up, walk to an amazing dinner, grab some ice cream, and be back at the condo relaxing before the night is over.

No complicated vacation itinerary required.

Whether you’re visiting with your entire family, taking a trip with friends, or getting away with your significant other, our goal is to give you a clean, comfortable place where you can relax and make memories.

We’ve put a lot of care into our condo because this isn’t just a rental property to us—it’s a place our own family enjoys and a part of Marco Island that we truly love.

So pack your swimsuits, sunscreen, flip-flops, and probably more clothes than you’ll actually wear.

Paradise is waiting.

We hope you enjoy Marco Island and our condo as much as our family does!