6/10 Okay
Janet U.
Dec 11, 2025
Disliked: Cleanliness
Janet U.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2025
Entire home
Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water!
Family-friendly beachfront vacation home with in-room kitchens
Choose dates to view prices
Photo gallery for Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water!
Reviews
9.49.4 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 14
Popular amenities
- Ocean view
- Kitchen
- Washer
- Dryer
- Air conditioning
- Outdoor Space
Explore the area
Dauphin Island, AL
- Dauphin Island BeachesPlace, Dauphin Island Beaches1 min walk
- West End BeachPlace, West End Beach11 min walk
- Fort MorganPlace, Fort Morgan57 min drive
- Mobile, AL (MOB-Mobile Regional)Airport, Mobile, AL (MOB-Mobile Regional)61 min drive
Room options
About the neighborhood
Dauphin Island
On the beach.Within a 10-minute walk of the vacation home, you'll find Dauphin Island Beaches and West End Beach. Also, Dauphin Island Public Beach is within 3 miles (5 km) and Dauphin Island Heritage and Arts Council is within 6 miles (10 km).
What's nearby
- Dauphin Island Beaches - 1 min walk - 0.0 miles
- West End Beach - 11 min walk - 0.6 miles
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium - 16 min drive - 7.2 miles
- Fort Morgan Beach - 57 min drive - 11.7 miles
- Fort Morgan - 57 min drive - 11.7 miles
Getting around
- Mobile, AL (BFM-Downtown Airport) - 53 min drive
Restaurants
- Circle K - 13 min drive
- Chevron - 13 min drive
- Pelican Pub - 13 min drive
- Pirate's Bar & Grill - 14 min drive
- Capt'n Snappers - 14 min drive
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water!
Welcome to 003 Whale of a Tale on Dauphin Island’s premiere West end! The search stops here for your perfect beach house to accommodate the whole family. Formerly known as The Key of Sea, this home is now upgraded with all the extras needed for a large extended family or group of friends. Enjoy the option to make a communal pot of coffee or a quick single K-cup, discover a high chair for the little ones, and marvel at the impressively-stocked kitchen! From an InstaPot to a Henckels knife set, this is truly a chef’s kitchen with all the tools required to cook for and feed a crowd. A portable laptop desk and high speed internet are also available so you can actually work remotely, a rare thing on Dauphin Island! The house comes equipped with smart TV’s in all bedrooms and an array of board games for the occasional rainy day. Generous accommodations include two gulf-side master suites (King, King), a third bedroom with two sets of Queen over Queen bunks, a fourth bedroom with two full beds, and a Pack-N-Play for a baby or toddler. The home is ideally suited for large families with a separate bathroom for each of the four bedrooms. As it is offset from the house in front of it, this 2nd tier gulf house provides phenomenal water views from the covered back deck, an outdoor shower, and easy Gulf access just steps away. Visit Whale of a Tale and leave with your own tale of a fabulous beach vacation!
No parties or events allowed at this location. Occupancy must be observed at all times. Primary renter must be over age 25 and must be present during the entire stay. No pets allowed.
Things to know about our Dauphin Island Rentals:
All linens are provided
Charcoal grill provided
You must be at least 25 years old to rent
Additional Charges: Cleaning fee, 11% lodging tax, non-refundable reservation fee and damage waiver, optional travel insurance.
Saturday to Saturday reservations required during peak summer season. ADSFR Fishing Rodeo weekly rentals only.
No parties or events allowed at this location. Occupancy must be observed at all times. Primary renter must be over age 25 and must be present during the entire stay. No pets allowed.
Things to know about our Dauphin Island Rentals:
All linens are provided
Charcoal grill provided
You must be at least 25 years old to rent
Additional Charges: Cleaning fee, 11% lodging tax, non-refundable reservation fee and damage waiver, optional travel insurance.
Saturday to Saturday reservations required during peak summer season. ADSFR Fishing Rodeo weekly rentals only.
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Property amenities
Beach
- On the beach
Internet
- Available in the house: WiFi
Parking and transportation
- Parking on site
Kitchen
- Blender
- Coffee/tea maker
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Dishwasher
- Ice maker
- Kitchen island
- Lobster/crab pot
- Microwave
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Stovetop
- Toaster
Dining
- Dining table
Bedrooms
- 4 bedrooms
- Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
- 4 bathrooms
- Bathtub or shower
- Shower
- Towels provided
Living spaces
- Dining table
- Living room
Entertainment
- Games
- Smart TV
Outdoor areas
- Barbecue grill
- Outdoor furniture
- Patio
Laundry
- Laundry facilities
- Washing machine
Work spaces
- Desk
- Desk chair
Comfort
- Air conditioning
- Heating
Pets
- No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
- Smoking not allowed
Location highlights
- Near a health/beauty spa
- Near the bay
- Near the marina
Things to do
- Golf
- Basketball nearby
- Birdwatching nearby
- Cycling nearby
- Ecotours nearby
- Fishing nearby
- Golfing nearby
- Jet skiing nearby
- Kayaking nearby
- Motor boating nearby
- Snorkeling nearby
- Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
- Swimming 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)
- Deadbolt lock
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25
Check-out
Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Special check-in instructions
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
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
Safety features at this property include a deadbolt lock
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.
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 and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.
Property is also known as
29953
Frequently asked questions
How close is Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water! to the airport?
This vacation home is 37.1 mi (53-min drive) away from the Mobile, AL (BFM-Downtown Airport) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.
Does Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water! have an airport shuttle?
Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.
How close is Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water! to the beach?
This vacation home is on the beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!
Does Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water! offer free breakfast?
This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.
Is there a casino at Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water!?
No, there is no casino at this vacation home.
What time is check-in at Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
Is there free parking at Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water!?
Free parking is not available at this vacation home.
Does Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water! have a pool?
This vacation home does not have a pool.
Does Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water! have a spa?
There are no spa services available at this vacation home.
How close is Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water! to downtown Dauphin Island?
This vacation home is 4.3 mi away from Dauphin Island.
Wonderful Family Friendly, Gulf View New Construction Home - Steps to the Water! Reviews
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 8 out of 10 reviews
10 - Excellent
8
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 10 reviews
8 - Good
1
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 10 reviews
6 - Okay
1
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 10 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 10 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
9.2/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Shanela C.
Dec 20, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Enjoyable Gulf Vacation!
Visited Dauphin Island in mid-September. We were joined by family members a few days into our stay.
The layout of the house was great, with each bedroom being situated at each corner of the house. The open floor plan allowed for all of us to be together without being too crowded.
We enjoyed being close to the beach. The deck across the back of the house was a definite plus. Many pleasant hours were spent there in the evenings, and we had a few meals on the deck as well. Love those ocean breezes!
Be mindful that the view does include the house in front of this one.
This is our second visit to Dauphin Island, the first visit was over 9 years ago. We have stayed at other locations on the Gulf, and all agreed Dauphin Island is our pick! We are looking forward to a return trip.
Shanela C.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2023
8/10 Good
Renee G.
Jul 29, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
House
The only problem we had was the cockroaches on the bottom and a couple inc the house .
Renee G.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
10/10 Excellent
Christina W., Greeneville, Tn United States
Jun 28, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Whale of a Tail was Wonderful!
There were 11 (one a toddler) of us in this house for a week and we all plenty of room. We all loved the fact that each bedroom had it’s own private bathroom.
The kitchen was well stocked and the owners have provided internet in case you need to work remotely.
The beach is just a few steps off the stairs from the back deck.
This was our first visit to Dauphin Island and it is very remote. No grocery store and not many restaurants. We cooked in a few nights which is the best way to go for dinner here.
I highly recommend this house for your next stay!
The only drawback to this house is that there is no lift for your luggage or groceries. You have to carry everything up a flight of stairs to the front door. We still loved the house though.
Christina W.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Sarah C.
Jun 12, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
We love Whale of a Tale
We had the best week at Dauphin Island.
Whale of a Tale was a beautiful beach house that accommodated our family perfectly.
The beds were comfortable, the kitchen was stocked with plenty of pots/pans to cook meals and the washer and dryer was so helpful keeping up with our laundry.
The back deck was our favorite part.
So relaxing.
We spent most of our time on the porch and right down the steps at the beach.
We loved Whale of a Tale and can’t wait for our next trip back .
Sarah C.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Lori L.
Apr 12, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Whale of a Time
Beautiful house located nearly on the gulf with the water a few steps away. Well worth the money. The deck is amazing! Only thing to note is that there is a new house being built to the left of the house which partially blocks the view of the gulf. This is not reflected in some of the pictures. You still have a view through the two houses on the left and right of property, plus the wonderful sounds of the waves. We would stay here again.
Lori L.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023
10/10 Excellent
Jade S.
Oct 12, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful home
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! The home was extremely clean and had all that we needed. We will be back!
The house actually sits behind another home on the beach, but it did not bother us.
Jade S.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
10/10 Excellent
Chad S.
Jul 26, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
quiet family beach time
pretty nice comfortable place on beach
Chad S.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
10/10 Excellent
Betsy D.
Apr 12, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Great Property
Nice property.
Betsy D.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
10/10 Excellent
Audra H.
Mar 29, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely
Loved the house! Had enough room for our nine people it was comfy it was clean and it was so close to the beach!
Audra H.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022