Pros: The condo was even better than we expected - very clean and spacious with comfy furnishings and beds. The kitchen had every small appliance you could need (we actually used the Belgian waffle maker), updated major appliances(although the electric stove top was super slow to heat up) with loads of dishes and counter and cabinet space.There are multiple hooks in entry hall for hanging gear and damp things. A/C worked efficiently and ceiling fans were appreciated. The location on the beach had a beautiful view from the enormous balcony and was off the beaten track, so it wasn't crowded at all. The location in the building was convenient to beach access (2nd floor, so we avoided the elevator most of the time). Pool area was clean and uncrowded despite the smallish size of the pool itself.
Cons: Grill is not in the pool area as stated and we had to hunt it down - it's actually at one end of the building near the parking lot. Hot water takes a long time to arrive, so expect to wait for it (we hate wasting water like that). We did not realize the beach chair and umbrella set up was not reserved specifically for the unit with our name on it, so each day we had to hunt around for a free one, and go out early to nab it. (Although the young man attending them was very helpful and friendly.)
Submitted on Jul 29, 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at surf dweller unit 205! Everything was as pictured and very clean! Brooks and Shorey were excellent to work with! Looking forward to coming back very soon!
Submitted on May 6, 2025
We came to Fort Walton Beach, and specifically the Surf Dweller, after nearly a 40 year absence. We lived in these condos when my husband was sent here to support some jets at Eglin AFB. Our second son was born in Fort Walton Beach and brought home from the hospital to the Surf Dweller. The gorgeous condo and spectacular views have always stayed with us. In planning our trip to the area, I knew we had to come back to the Surf Dweller. We weren’t disappointed. Our unit was beautifully appointed and spotlessly clean. The kitchen was very well stocked and the appliances in great condition. The balcony had loads of comfortable seating and best of all, the views of the sugar sand and emerald waters just as spectacular as we remembered. Its location was convenient to shopping and dining.Brooks and Shorey made the renting process easy and communication was well maintained before and during our stay. We loved coming back “home” to Fort Walton Beach and the Surf Dweller.
Submitted on May 4, 2025
Exceptionally clean, nicely decorated unit. Brooks and Shorey do a wonderful job making sure everything is simple.
Submitted on Apr 14, 2025
This is a wonderful condo we rebooked for next year. It is beautiful. The beach was beautiful great location. We had a wonderful time.
Submitted on Sep 29, 2024
Great condo. Very clean and only steps away from the beach. Loved having extra towel hooks in the bathrooms and hallway! Balcony has plenty of furniture with lots of room to sit and relax. The pool is located on the back of the property with no view of the beach, but we like to hang out at the beach more anyway. Overall a great stay and enjoyed our time here! Brooks and Shorey did an excellent job of making sure we had the check-in info and any information needed for our stay. Great property management company.
Submitted on Aug 13, 2024
Brooks and Shorey are consistently helpful and make the rental experience always great—been renting through them for many years!
Submitted on Aug 4, 2024
Great!
Submitted on Sep 27, 2023
Our vacation was wonderful. Hate leaving. Can’t wait until we can come back.
Submitted on Sep 11, 2023
Everything was exceptional about condo. Patio furniture was fantastic with view to match. Only cons for us were the master bed was too soft and we have usually had “leftover” or beginner condiments or coffee to start out stay. They did have trial bottles of shampoo and conditioner though.
Submitted on Aug 29, 2023
This unit was great! It was convenient to local establishments and activities. The view from the balcony was spectacular.
Submitted on May 30, 2023
My wife and I love this condo. It has been renovated and offers a very spacious and pleasant living arrangement.
Submitted on May 23, 2023
FIVE STAR RENTAL. Absolutely no issues. Good communication with the host, very friendly staff at the location. Stunning views of the gulf from the oversized balcony, with access to the master. Very clean. Plenty of room for a family. 10 min drive to all that Destin has to offer. Just a few steps to the elevator/stair tower, with direct access to the beautiful beach. You won't be disappointed. We will stay again.
Submitted on Dec 30, 2022
The rental experience is always easy with Brooks & Shorey.
Submitted on Nov 28, 2022
This was a beautiful condo! Everything a person would need! The view was so
Submitted on Oct 10, 2022
Very blessed wonderful time. Condo was very nice, accept the foam mattresses on the beds made sleeping at night limited. We are average size people, but felt like we sunk to the floor, suggest not using foam mattresses. Also, the vacuum was full. Thank you
Submitted on Oct 10, 2022
It was a great vacation spot for our family. Very relaxing and beautiful.
Submitted on Sep 27, 2022
Nice place to stay. The unit is very spacious with a great view of the gulf from the living area and master bedroom. The tennis court was very nice but the pool was kind of small. The furniture in the living area was not the most comfortable but not terrible.
Submitted on Jul 25, 2022
Both kids and adults enjoyed the location, especially the proximity to the beach and the view. We enjoyed several seafood dinners to go from Stewbey's just down the road.
Submitted on Jun 28, 2022
All in all the rental was great. Up to date interior and everything you would need to feel at home.
Submitted on Jun 21, 2022
Beautiful, spacious condo, easily sleeps 6. Great for our family and a couple guests. Ample dishes and kitchen gadgets. Chair service is great and building is small enough, that almost everyone can get a beachfront space. Stewbies- a great restaurant within walking distance.
Submitted on Jun 4, 2022
Surf Dweller Unit 205 is beautiful. You could not ask for a better view or a better kitchen. The room was very clean and bright. The kitchen was beautiful and well stocked. I only have two minor complaints - The beds are uncomfortable because they are too soft and the living couch and recliner are not comfortable. With that being said, we loved this unit and tried to book for April and next October, but the unit appears to be unavailable anytime in the future months. Brooks and Shorey are great to work with on booking and make everything easy.
Submitted on Oct 11, 2021
This is our 2nd time booking through Brooks and Shorey. They have been great both times. Unit was clean and as expected! This unit is just off the elevator and on the 2nd floor so quick to get back and forth to the beach!
Submitted on Oct 5, 2021
The condo was updated, clean and convenient. I would highly recommend this unit to those in search of all of the above.
Submitted on Sep 12, 2021
We had a wonderful week at this beach condo! The location is good, not too crowded at the beach. Every condo has a beach balcony facing the ocean(our favorite).Condo had everything we needed, was clean and well maintained. My only complaint was that the condo was supposed to be smoke free and I guess the person before us smoked in there. There was a faint smell of smoke and the trash bags in the trash cans smelled strong of smoke.
Submitted on Jul 5, 2021
wanted to take my mom on her dream vacay to the beach in Florida. The view, access to water, and balcony were my most important must haves and that is why I chose this condo.
The did have/ did not have:
Did have generous space. We felt very comfortable and there was plenty of parking. Did have keyless entry-big bonus for beach goers! No need to keep up with keys. Did have full size washer and dryer-the dryer did take a really long time to dry a small load towels (like hours). Did NOT have beach towels, bring or buy your own. Did have ice maker, careful though as the door panel sometimes fell off when using. This snaps right back on but is startling when it first happens. Does have tons of dishes, cups, kitchen equipment-just supply food. Does have keurig duo which is nice-the carafe side does make a bit of a mess when pouring so careful there. Did have starter shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry powder, dishwasher powder. Did NOT have dish soap, hand soap, any type of cleaner wipes/spray. Did have ceiling fans! Did have great AC. Did have screen doors-these look like they are coming undone so I did not use them.
Primary bedroom has super-soft mattress...you will love or hate. Looks like box spring, mattress, then thick foam mattress. I did not sleep well on this but I like a very firm mattress. The view from here is great though! The secondary bedroom was not used-it was very dark and uncomfortable feeling. It also had not been cleaned properly.
Maintenance responded within 10 minutes. Housekeeping responded within a little more than an hour.
Beach service: I saw chair/umbrella setup as early as 7:30am. Go down early if you want a spot! Several front/center chairs were “reserved” all day even though no one sat in them til after 2pm. I asked one family how they reserved them and was told they paid the attendant $100 per chair, some paid more some paid less but that seems to be the practice for guaran
Submitted on Jun 11, 2021
Spacious and clean. We had a problem getting the direct tv to work. But B&S sent a tech and resolved it quickly. We had a wonder vacation.
Submitted on Jun 1, 2021
So nice! This the third time we have booked thru Brooks and Shorey Resorts and each time we have been very satisfied with the property and accommodations. Will definitely book thru them again!
Submitted on May 18, 2021
Everything about this rental was amazing. We had everything you could possibly imagine and more. The view from
The balcony was breathtaking. We will definitely be staying at this place again. Same room and all.
One thing I would suggest is to supply some extra blankets. We had plenty of towels and sheets and pillows but maybe a throw blanket wouldn’t hurt.
Submitted on Apr 5, 2021
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this property! Perfect for a family or couples getaway. Ocean front views are fantastic and location is ideal! I would definitely recommend this property and would book this unit again!
Submitted on Mar 17, 2021
Perfect!
Submitted on Oct 12, 2020
We loved our stay! The condo was amazing and super clean. Plenty of room for all 7 of us. The fold out sofa bed was even pretty comfortable. One word of advice...bring your own blanket if anyone is using the sofa bed, there were sheets but no blankets. Other than that, the condo had everything else we needed!
Submitted on Aug 3, 2020
This rental by far has been the best! It was so nice, large and clean! We were on the 2nd floor,but the view was still amazing. We will definitely be renting again!
Submitted on Jun 28, 2020
The building was not the best, probably 4 star but the actual condo was amazing. Will definitely be staying there from now on.
Submitted on Jun 25, 2020
Great unit, clean, and perfect oceanfront unit. The balcony is especially nice to watch the waves roll in! The beach service was an extra bonus that our family enjoyed and made our beach set up easy.
Submitted on Aug 13, 2019
great place, not so busy. would recommend to all my friends and family
Submitted on Jul 31, 2019
The room was very large and spacious with plenty of sitting room. The balcony had plenty of furniture as well, and the view from the 2nd floor was perfect. You could see the ocean/beach from the room whether you were laying down or sitting up. The view was always perfectly at eye level. Planning to book the exact same room next time.
Submitted on Jun 27, 2019
This is our favorite rental. You can’t get any closer to the beach. The balcony is the biggest in the area. Close to the elevators but not noisy. The kitchen has been remodeled and is open to the living area. There is a nice flow from the kitchen to the dining room. It is fully stocked with everything you need. Every year when we come back there are new updates. You can tell the owners really care about this rental. We will definitely stay again!
Submitted on May 13, 2019
We absolutely loved our Surf Dweller rental and our experience with Brooks and Shorey. From the moment we booked the reservation, B&S sent us everything we could possibly need to get our trip off to a great start. The app with all of the information was invaluable. When our flight landed, we already had the entry code to the condo! Once we arrived, the condo was in perfect condition--beautifully decorated with all the amenities of home. The kitchen had EVERYTHING. Gorgeous views of the ocean from both the living room and the master, and the patio is spacious with comfortable furnishings. The beach was honestly immediately outside our window, with nothing between (the pool is in front, so it didn't block the view or the sound of the waves). Outdoor showers were lovely and the water was not too cold. Easy access to grocery stores and tons of restaurants, and much less traffic than on the eastern communities. We would book this condo again in an instant!
Submitted on Apr 15, 2019
My family booked 3 condo units and had a great time. The places are beautifully decorated.
Submitted on Sep 12, 2018
We had a good week. It was just four sisters and no husbands or boyfriends. relaxed and enjoyed the time away. W e will be back next year.
Submitted on Aug 27, 2018
The surf dweller is a wonderful place to stay; our condo was very nice, felt like home, super clean, beds were so comfortable, the views were amazing, sitting on the deck at night listening to the ocean watching the sunset was so breathtaking! easy and quick access to the beach. Beach was clean. We met amazing people! I would highly recommend this condo to others!! Will for sure stay here again. Thank you!
Submitted on Jul 3, 2018
VERY NICE UNIT HOWEVER THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR AND AT THE TIME WE LEFT IT HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED
Submitted on Jun 3, 2018
This was our first trip to Fort Walton Beach (flying from Maryland). We have three kids and we were looking for a second bedroom that had at least 2 full-size or queen size beds. Compared to the 2-bedroom condos I looked around the Okaloosa Island, I was drawn to Surf Dweller, particularly to unit 205 because of the updated kitchen, furniture, bathroom and flooring. I am glad they upgraded the floors to tiles so it was easier to deal with the sand when we come back from the beach. Even if there is a rinse-off section outside the building, it is still inevitable not to bring in sand. The bathrooms are all clean, the kitchen is fully equipped with everything we needed when cooking our meals, and there are plenty of seating available both in the family room and the balcony. There is also plenty of seating in the dining room and the kitchen counters. The beds were very comfortable (we've all slept in on most days, which means, the beds were very comfy). My family made a lot of great memories in this unit and out in the beach. All of the activities and stores were just within 20 minutes away or less. We like how the main road on Okaloosa is not very busy compared to route 98's traffic.
Submitted on May 14, 2018
Hello- we did have a great visit. The weather was great, the view was amazing, the accommodations was perfect. Roomy, clean, nicely decorated and convenient for elderly parents.
Submitted on Mar 7, 2018
This is a 2 Bedroom Unit in an older building. The unit was very spacious for a 2 Bedroom. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. The entire unit was remodeled and updated. The furniture was very nice. The beds were very comfortable. The property manager was very prompt in addressing a minor issue. This would be a great unit for 2 Couples. It would also be good for a family. The swimming pool is behind the condo with no view of the ocean. That was not a problem for us. Balcony was big. Kitchen had everything we needed. We would definitely stay here again.
Submitted on Mar 5, 2018
Nicely furnished in great condition
Submitted on Feb 25, 2018
The condo and furnishings were very nice. The only issue we experienced was the air conditioning not working properly. We reported it to the rental company and they sent someone out but is still didn't work. The whole week the condo never got cooler than 75.
Submitted on Oct 17, 2017
Totally beautiful condo all new appliances! Balcony is breathtaking!!!!
2 year with Brooks & Shorey vacation rentals, can't wait till next year❣️
Submitted on Sep 30, 2017
Condo 205 is very nice. Good size living space and nicely equipped kitchen. Both bedrooms are quite large with the master having a nice size walk in closet. The balcony is nice size with sliding doors out of the living room and master bedroom. Was larger than most 2 bedrooms we have stayed in. I would stay there again
Submitted on Sep 7, 2017