Accommodations Grade: A
Simply wonderful. This condo is located in a complex called Esplanade which is a mix of shops, restaurants, and condos. It had the space we needed with 3 bedrooms all with connected closets and bathrooms. It has a large kitchen and living area and a fantastic covered deck. The pictures showed that the unit was very close to a bar/restaurant (CJ's) and we were a little worried about the possible noise. But those worries went away quickly as we found it not to be a party vibe. In fact it was pretty cool to be in such a lively setting each evening. Two evenings featured live music which was awesome to watch from the deck and it was done by 9:00. We also found that when we closed the deck doors the music and noise was pretty much nonexistent. It was also so nice that one of us could run down to CJ's quickly to grab some happy hour drinks to go while the other watched the kids at the condo. Miami Vice's were a big hit with us.
The condo was spotless when we got there and the owner had thought of everything. There was even kids' and grilling utensils available. There was extra sheets and plenty of towels which came in handy.
Pool Grade: A+
The pool was the highlight for us. Evidently, July is a quiet time in Marco and we often had the pool to ourselves. There were a few times when we had to share the pool, but we spent 2-3 hours there a day and the majority of the time no one else was there. We did not know that the pool was heated and that it was salt water, both were awesome for us. The kids will swim in anything, but having the heated pool made it very comfortable for my wife and I to get into the pool with them. Also, it was nice to not have to deal with all the typical pool chemicals.
Two minor things I will mention about the pool. First, it is a few minutes walk from this particular unit. We really didn't find it to be a problem, but certainly not as convenient as if it were right out the door. Secondly, the hot tub jets were sporadic and would come on and off seemingly without rhyme or reason. But it was still very relaxing.
Beach: B
Tigertail? More like TigerFAIL. The beach was a looong walk from where you park, much longer with kids. It is the closest to this condo, but we spent most of our beach time at South Beach. It's a little more of a drive but well worth it for us.
I understand people may prefer to be right on the beach, but for our needs this place was perfect. Lots of space and an awesome pool!