Entire home

Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island

Photo gallery for Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island

A beach with waves and a clear sky. - Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island (Dauphin Island)
A beachfront house with a balcony and a staircase leading to the upper level. - Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island (Dauphin Island)
A wooden beach house with a balcony, a staircase, and a sandy beach in the background. - Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island (Dauphin Island)
A spacious kitchen with white cabinetry, a central island with stools, and a dining area with a wooden table and chairs. - Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island (Dauphin Island)
A modern kitchen with white cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and a central island. - Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island (Dauphin Island)
Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island provides amenities like golfing on site and laundry facilities. Guests can connect to in-room WiFi.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 14

Popular amenities

  • Ocean view
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Add dates for prices

About this property

Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island

  • 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.

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

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  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
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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

Pets not 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

About the neighborhood

Located in Dauphin Island, this vacation home is on the beach. Travelers 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. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and cycling. Visit our Dauphin Island travel guide
View more Vacation Homes in Dauphin Island
Map
AL, Dauphin Island

What's nearby

  • A beach with a long stretch of sand and sparse vegetation, leading to the ocean under a sunset sky.
    Dauphin Island Beaches
    1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • A wide beach with clear water, a sandy shore, and a distant ship.
    West End Beach
    11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • A naval ship with a large gun, a tall skyscraper, and a cloudy sky.
    Mobile Bay
    19 min drive - 20.1 km
  • A coastal residential area with colorful houses along the beach, a clear blue sky, and the ocean in the background.
    Fort Morgan Beach
    57 min drive - 19.1 km
  • Dauphin Island Public Beach
    8 min drive - 4.9 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • Circle K
    13 min drive
  • Islanders Restaurant And Bar
    11 min drive
  • Chevron
    13 min drive
  • Pirate's Bar & Grill
    14 min drive
  • Island Rainbow
    11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island located?

Nestled on the beach, this Dauphin Island vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Dauphin Island Beaches and West End Beach. Dauphin Island Public Beach is 2.8 mi (4.6 km) away.

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Gulf-Side Beach House, Sleeps 14, Gulf Views, Dauphin Island Reviews

Reviews

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.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 12 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 12 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 12 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 12 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 12 reviews

9.4

Cleanliness

9.4

Location

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

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.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house and great location. There is a house directly in front of this one giving some obstructed views, but steps from the water is what we wanted and exactly what we got! Great communication from the rental company leading up to arrival, reminders of trash day and ease of contact for checkout too. Great experience for our family
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice floor plan. The kitchen had the best utensils and starter items that we've ever had. The bedrooms were roomy with excellent linens. Plenty of bath linens. Our family loved this place and want to come back. My step daughter said it was the best vacation place she's ever stayed. The Gulf being just a few yards away and the bay inlet on the other side the grand kids wanted to stay longer. THe 5 year old wanted to stay forever. We've stayed at several areas in past years but, Whale of a Tail is at the top of our stays!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness
No views of beach due to houses nearby. Property had some maintenance issues and some cleaning issues.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

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 .
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy

House

The only problem we had was the cockroaches on the bottom and a couple inc the house .
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

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.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

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.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

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.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

quiet family beach time

pretty nice comfortable place on beach
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Property

Nice property.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

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!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022