Skip to Main Content.
List your propertySupportTrips
Unlock instant savings with Member Prices
Sign in
Feedback
Entire home

"AIN'T LIFE GRAND"-KAYAKS, GOLF CART, PRIVATE BEACH, CRAB TRAPS!

Beachfront holiday home with private pool and kitchen

Photo gallery for "AIN'T LIFE GRAND"-KAYAKS, GOLF CART, PRIVATE BEACH, CRAB TRAPS!

On the beach, sun-loungers, beach towels
Exterior
Terrace/patio
Smart TV, fireplace, DVD player
Outdoor pool, a heated pool
Welcome to Ain't Life Grand, a 1800 sq ft house with a private beach and pool on the Mississippi Sound side of Dauphin Island. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets from this recently renovated home or take in the views from its Crow's Nest with 360 degree views.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8177 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Dryer
  • Washer

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

"AIN'T LIFE GRAND"-KAYAKS, GOLF CART, PRIVATE BEACH, CRAB TRAPS!

This house is a new rental in 2020. Ain't Life Grand is a 1800 sq ft house located on the Mississippi Sound side of Dauphin Island. This house is very special in that it has a private beach on the Mississippi Sound and a ground level pool. The "Gulf" side of the island is just a 7-10 minute walk or a 1 minute golf cart ride. The house has been recently renovated. Included in the rental are 5 sea kayaks, including single, tandem and kids kayaks, for exploring the canals and Sound. Dauphin Island is considered the sunset capital of the south and Ain't Life Grand gets some of the best views of sunsets on the island.

For the fisherman, Ain't Life Grand has a mooring post for your boat and will handle a boat up to 28 ft. The Sound is full of speckled trout, redfish, flounder, triple tail, ling (cobia), crabs, shrimp and much more. In the Gulf you will find all of the above, plus snapper, grouper, king mackerel, spanish mackerel and many other off shore species. There is a full fish cleaning station on the pool deck with sink, washdown and cutting board. Aint Life Grand even comes with 3 top of the line crab traps for that crab boil you love!

Ain't Life Grand is perfect for families and kids. The Sound, where the private beach is and house are located, is shallow and calm, perfect for kids and adults alike. For more surf and Alabama's famous white sand beaches just head to the Gulf side of the Island

Ain't Life Grand also has a Crow's Nest on the top of the house with 360 degree views The large back deck overlooks the pool and private beach.

The house layout is a 3 bedroom/2 bath. The master has a connecting bathroom and queen bed. Guest room 1 also has a queen bed and guest room has 2 sets of bunk beds so 4 can sleep there. Both rooms have a shared bathroom with shower and bathtub. The house sleeps 8 comfortably. There are 3 tv's, one in the main room, one in the master and one in the bunk bed room.

Outside you have a huge deck around the pool, a hot and cold outdoor shower, access to the beach and on the front deck, the house is a gas grill for cooking your catch. Under the house is parking for you ca, the golf car and the sea kayak rack. Also included is a large drum fan for those warm days and a compressor to blow up floats and tubes. Please be aware the Wharf was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and is not usable at this time.

You can charter most any size boat for fishing, cruising, dolphin watching, etc. And you can also rent boats at the Dauphin Island Marina.

Ain't Life Grand also includes all linens, Dish Satellite TV, and high speed internet. The kitchen is fully stocked with microwave, toaster, stove, pots, pans, blender, air fryer and even an ice cream maker.

You can rent a golf cart for your stay directly from the owners after booking for additional price. We upgraded the Golf Cart to a new 2023 Aerctic 6 passenger with a top speed of almost 27 mph! Great way to see the island and access the Gulf side.

The pool can also be heated to 90 degrees for an additional price, contact owner for more details.

Please do not print, sign and mail the contract to me. It is just an example of the contract for you to review. A week or so prior to your arrival, we will execute the contract via Docusign and will take care of heated pool/golf cart rental.

Finally, Hurricane Sally and Hurricane Zeta both did extensive damage to the house. We replaced almost everything, walls, ceilings, floors, much of the deck, insulation, subflooring, paint, etc.... It is basically like a new house! If you loved Aint Life Grand in the past, wait till you see it now!

Ask about our Snowbird winter multi week discounts!

Golf Cart rates-
March-October 675.00
November-February 500.00

Pool Heating Rates-
Sept-150.00
October-250.00
November-February-425.00
March-300.00
April-250.00
May 150.00

John

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach
  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • Heated pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Heated pool
  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Snorkelling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Unit size: 1,900 square feet

Similar properties

Exterior

BEACH FRONT GULF SIDE, huge decks and Ocean Views! Newly remodeled, like new!

  • Ocean view
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, 144 reviews
BEACH FRONT GULF SIDE, huge decks and Ocean Views! Newly remodeled, like new!

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
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

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
"ain't Life Grand" Private Beach Pool SEA Kayaks Golf Cart!

About the area

Map
Dauphin Island, AL

What's nearby

  • Dauphin Island Beaches - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Dauphin Island Public Beach - 2 min drive - 1.1 km
  • Isle Dauphine Golf Club - 7 min drive - 4.2 km
  • West End Beach - 8 min drive - 4.9 km
  • Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium - 10 min drive - 8.1 km

Getting around

  • Mobile, AL (BFM-Downtown Airport) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Circle K - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Pelican Pub - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Chevron - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Capt'n Snappers - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Pirate's Bar & Grill - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does "AIN'T LIFE GRAND"-KAYAKS, GOLF CART, PRIVATE BEACH, CRAB TRAPS! have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is "AIN'T LIFE GRAND"-KAYAKS, GOLF CART, PRIVATE BEACH, CRAB TRAPS! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at "AIN'T LIFE GRAND"-KAYAKS, GOLF CART, PRIVATE BEACH, CRAB TRAPS!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at "AIN'T LIFE GRAND"-KAYAKS, GOLF CART, PRIVATE BEACH, CRAB TRAPS!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is "AIN'T LIFE GRAND"-KAYAKS, GOLF CART, PRIVATE BEACH, CRAB TRAPS! located?

Nestled on the beach, this Silver Cay holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Dauphin Island Beaches and Dauphin Island Public Beach. West End Beach and Dauphin Island Heritage and Arts Council are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Reviews

"AIN'T LIFE GRAND"-KAYAKS, GOLF CART, PRIVATE BEACH, CRAB TRAPS! Reviews

10

Exceptional

10

Cleanliness

10

Location
Rating 10 - Excellent. 128 out of 130 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 130 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 130 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 130 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 130 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Cathleen J.

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

Perfect for family travel!

Perfect family home to gather with children and grandchildren for swimming, fishing, etc. Great views and peaceful environment!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erica C.

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

Perfect location

Great bay location. We now prefer the bayside of the island. Quiet and peaceful beach right in front the house. Get the golf cart, so fun to drive all over the island in it. Pool is such a great option when waves are rough or you are tired of the sand. Kids loved hitting the beach in the am and the pool in the afternoon.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Holly A.

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

Amazing!!!!

We loved our time on DI!!! This house was perfect for family. It is decorated beautifully, but still comfy and beachy! The pool and private beach in your backyard is awesome! The pool is gated and safe for little ones. There is access to the Gulf side beach just across the street from the neighborhood. It's a short walk, but the golfcart made it a lot easier. Driving the golfcart made exploring the island, running errands, and getting snow cones way more fun!! John was a great host! We will definitely be back!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cathleen J.

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

Perfect family getaway!

This property was fabulous for a small family gathering with the grandchildren. Great accommodations, clean, open and airy, and child friendly. Lots of activities such as the beach, kayaks, pool and the golf cart.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Adam B.

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

Nice and quiet

House is nice and clean, really enjoyed our stay. Kids enjoyed having the pool to play in. John is a great host.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan R.

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

Good house and host

House was excellent. The host was very helpful and good at communicating.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carrie P.

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

Island trip

Wonderful house, great pool, John and his family were great to deal with. Great experience, will do again. Great neighbors. Daulphin Island is a must see.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alicia M.

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

Wonderful house on the water!!

This house is wonderful, either for adults only or families. Very clean, and John is a WONDERFUL host!! I would recommend this house and host as a 10 if possible!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brenda D.

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

Awesome place

We had a great time,pool was perfect ,kayaks were great being close to water even better our host John was very nice . House was great , being able to rent golf cart from our host not having to wait on delivery was easier .we will be staying here again . Thank you
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Libby F.

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

Great Vacation

Can not say enough good things about this vacation. Location is great. Calm water for the kids to play in with easy access to the gulf. Enjoyed watching the dolphins (which came very close), walking the beaches and hanging out on the decks. The heated pool was a must during the winter and the kids (10, 8 and 4) plus the adults spent hours swimming a day. Will definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jody A.

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

Relaxing

We had 5 adults and a 14 month old, relaxing vacation with plenty of room. Small beach front was awesome, kayaks and pool also great. John was absolutely the best on communication!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Trena B.

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

A wonderful getaway

We had a wonderful time there. The islamd is amazing. We enjoyed the public beaches as well as our beach in the sound. This house was great. The gold cart is a must and the ONLY way to go about the island. We enjoyed the pool thoroughly and took the sea kayaks out. John was clear in his communication about the property and check in process. This was a perfect vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vera

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

Wonderful Vacation

This is our second year staying at "Ain't Life Grand" and both times were absolutely wonderful. The house was very clean and had all the necessities for a great vacation - the kitchen is fully stocked with everything one may need, the beds were comfy and clean, there were even toys for little ones that our toddler enjoyed playing with during our stay. John provided recommendations on what to do in the area and where to eat and shop, which came in handy. Overall, we had a wonderful time and are already looking forward to coming back next year.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

John C.

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

Spring Break

John is an amazing host! He set the expectations before we arrived. The house was right on the water with plenty of water toys. The pool was wonderful but would have loved a few loungers for sun bathing. We are from the Midwest so we were not familiar with the area. John helped and his recommendations were great but we found taking the ferry to Fort Morgan and going to Publix was better for us than Greers grocery. Our kiddos have a few allergies and Publix had more choices. I feel the best part of this trip was how laidback it was and you have no choice but to disconnect and stay in the moment. Our kids loved the freedom of being able to explore while feeling safe. Thank You John & family!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sarah K.

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

Lovely beach trip with kids and friends

My friend and I took our boys (11-14) on a beach vacation. We were able to relax, and the boys enjoyed the beach and the pool. They also played basketball several times at the park nearby. My older son said the sunset on the beach was his favorite memory. The property was great, and the hosts clearly maintain it to ensure guest have a great experience. Great hosts! I definitely recommend it.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dawn T., Elizabethton, Tennessee

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

Lovely, Peaceful place!

If you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing beach vacation, this is it! The house is lovely and very comfortable and the pool is great. The point at the house is like having your own private beach, we saw lots of hermit crabs during the day and sand crabs at night. The kayaks were awesome, we got to kayak with dolphins right out from the house! Dauphin Island is a peaceful little beach town with an aquarium and bird sanctuary. Plenty to do! We’ve stayed in quite a few VRBO beach houses and John is the friendliest owner we’ve ever dealt with, it was a pleasure!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Katie N.

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

Great Stay

Beautiful property and comfortable accommodations. John had great communication with me throughout the entire process. We had paid to have the pool heated for our stay. The pool did not heat up and I messaged John to let him know we were never able to use the pool and he responded immediately and refunded that portion of our payment, and even let us know after our departure that the pool pump had gone out and apologized for the inconvenience. Regardless of the pool situation, we had a great stay at Ain’t Life Grand!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heidi C.

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

Life Was Grand!

Hi there! I wanted to comment on what a lovely week my two adult children and I had staying at "Ain't Life Grand!" We returned from Dauphin Island three days ago and are already looking forward to returning as soon as we can! The owner's of the property are top notch! They have thought of everything to welcome newcomers to the island and their home! The private beach on the bay and the chlorinated swimming pool were having the best of both worlds at our feet. I would definitely recommend this property to anyone. The photographs are accurate and depict the many amenities needed for a visit to DI. The golf cart rental option was fun to drive around the island. Thank you for a memorable visit! ownwers of the p
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Whitney S.

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

Very nice

Very nice, as described and clean. Had everything we needed for cooking, nice grill that was clean on back deck, plenty of linens and beach towels. All appliances, ac, hot water, ect.., work great. House is right on the beach. Pool was clean & plenty big enough for 4 kids to play in. Outdoor shower and hose to clean off sand. Shaded parking under deck fit minivan easily. Restaurants we visited on the island were good and reasonably priced. Ample fishing opportunities on island and right at the house. Kayaks were fun to have available. Owner communicates wonderfully. He called a few days before with all the info we needed to be prepared for our trip. Responds quickly & knowledgeable about the island. Would defiantly stay here in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kyle U.

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

Awesome property, location and owner

We were a group of six. Four adults, a four year old and 18 month old. From the outset the manager was extremely communicative. Our trip wound up being cut short by hurricane sandy. John stayed on top of it the whole time and when it became clear it was time to get out, he let us know and we did. We made the most of our time there and made the right decision to leave thanks to John. It was tough leaving because the property is a blast. The deck spaces are amazing and the pool is perfect for little ones and not so little ones. Beds and furniture are comfortable. House is insanely well equipped with quality kitchen furnishings, good knives and cookware, good kayaks and a big air compressor for inflating toys. Being able to grill on the deck overlooking the sound is awesome. Views are incredible, and the sound is an ideal beach for kids. Gentle waters that can be waded out a long way. The gulf beach is a short golf cart ride away, but not being on the gulf side is a plus in my book as the sound is so much more play-friendly. I can’t say enough about this property or the host. We are already looking at dates for next year. You will not be disappointed with Ain’t Life Grand.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Morgan I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Super clean place and right on the beach!! Perfect place for what we wanted in a vacation home! We had such a blast!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ellie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We enjoyed this house so much. The bay / pool combo was incredible for us! We had direct beach access with no harsh waves or crowds. Plus the pool for when we were sick of the sand. And the gulf side was about a 2 minute golf cart ride away.The added golf cart rental is a MUST. We didn’t use the cars at all once we were there and put quite a few miles on that golf cart just touring the island. The sunsets were unreal on that beautiful back porch!And for those with young kids, there is an iron fence with gates around the pool now which was a huge bonus for us with a curious toddler. John was super helpful with check in and when we had bad weather moving in. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely wonderful vacation! It was the perfect spot perfect spot for privacy on our own little beach. We saw so many sea creatures from hermit crabs, blue crabs, seeing stingrays and dolphins!
Caught blue crabs with the cages provided.
Flounder
Pregnant stingray!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lisa H.

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

Definitely Grand!

This was our second time staying in this home. It does not disappoint...lots of room to spread out. With the heat, we were mostly in the pool. There were all kinds of floats to use and toys to play with. The beach is perfect and only a few steps away. We saw sting rays, alot of hermit crabs and dolphins twice! Hoping to be back next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amy W.

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

Perfect beach vacation!

We had the perfect beach week at this amazing property. Our daughter and her friend went from the beach, to the pool, to the kayaks, to shell finding, to searching for hermit crabs. There was so much to do without even leaving the house. We will be back for sure. It was a fantastic week!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025