Key West question

Fins in Low Places · Post by **Fins in Low Places** » June 9, 2003 8:26 am

My wife and I are planning a trip (our first) to Key West this year in mid July for our anniversary (our fifth). It just so happens that we going during Hemingway Days. First question, where to stay? We want to be on the beach and near Old Town without paying too much. I can't quite spring for the rooms at the Hyatt, Hilton, or Pier House. I have a room reserved at Wyndham Casa Marina for $125/night, but I can cancel. Does anyone have any experience with his property? I also welcome more suggestions. Also, what places/events are not to be missed.

Thanks!

ZeroDuval · Post by **ZeroDuval** » June 9, 2003 9:08 am

You will enjoy the Hotel...........

It is a little walk to the far end of Duval Street (hogsbreath, Sloppy J's) but it is not to bad. Walk there cab or pedicab back, it is not that bad.

CoconutBreeze · Post by **CoconutBreeze** » June 9, 2003 9:15 am

You have to have the Key Lime Pie, Climb the lighthouse, see Hemingways house, of course have a Cheeseburger in paradise. There is this little french place for breakfast down on Duval, but I cannot remember the name.

freddyfishstick · Post by **freddyfishstick** » June 9, 2003 10:00 am

"My old red bike, gets me around, to the bars and the beaches of my town"

Rent bicycles and you can be anywhere on the island in no time, they are cheap and the riding is easy! We halled the keets all around the island on bikes!

You might also try some of the inns near Duval ( mango tree inn is very nice and a block from Jimmy's bar! Innkeepers are very nice)

You will have a blast!!! The french place is callled Banana Cafe'

LNDSHRK · Post by **LNDSHRK** » June 9, 2003 10:33 am

ZeroDuval wrote:You will enjoy the Hotel...........

It is a little walk to the far end of Duval Street (hogsbreath, Sloppy J's) but it is not to bad. Walk there cab or pedicab back, it is not that bad.

good call...the hotel is fine, not too far from anything. you can pretty much walk anywhere, it's all really nice.

vafins · Post by **vafins** » June 9, 2003 10:38 am

don't bother trying to spring for a hotel in Mallory Square, the cruise ships block out the view. Try www.treetopinn.com we rented the carribbean house back in November and loved it. They have some properties closer to Mallory Square that may end up less expensive than a hotel.

spooner the dog · Post by **spooner the dog** » June 9, 2003 12:08 pm

i think that your choice of hotel is great..things to do and not to do
DO: mallory square at sunset
rent a bike
capt tonys saloon
hogs breath( call a friend with internet and wave to him on the hog cam
margaritaville(unfortunatly the chz burger in paradise is less than spectacular)
southern most point of the USA(take the chezzy picture)
hemingways house
walk the beach
go to the FAT TUESDAYS and drink a grain train..it will get u primmed up
find an old local at capt tonys and ask hima bout key west u will be entertained for hours and hours
drink mass quantities of coronas and margarittas( please have one for me and of course jimmy buffett)
DONT:
rent a scooter or the little carts(full on pain in the butt and way to expensive
ride the conch train(way to hot and u feel so much like a tourists that u may start to break down and cry
go to the t shirt shops and get a real bad shirt with a real bad saying
rent a jet ski or anything else out by the beach( way to many rules and way to many restrictions on where u can go)
dont wear the white socks up to yer knees with sandles over them( u may get beat up
forget yer suntan lotion!!!

Well those are my sugesstions but i dont think u could have a bad time in key west trust me..

Son of a Sailor · Post by **Son of a Sailor** » June 9, 2003 12:59 pm

Good call on staying at the Casa Marina. I actually just booked a trip down to KW for the end of July (the week after you're there I believe).

I'm staying at the Wyndham Reach Resort, the sister to the Casa Marina. Both are great places as I've stayed at the Reach before (when it was owned by Marriott) and had a chance to visit the Casa Marina. Both hotels have some of the best beaches & setups on the island (in my opinion even better than some of the places at Mallory Square).

Bikes & scooters are a great way to get around. Do some haggling with the scooter guys, if you're interested. My friends and I swung a good deal with a rental place down there and got scooters for the week, and it worked out to be about $20 bucks a day! It's a good way to get around. I think I'm going to try bicycling it around this time.

Definitely don't miss the sunsets, each night is different. And one more good restaurant bar place to not miss is the Conch Republic Seafood Co. It's located down near at the marinas (http://www.conchrepublicseafood.com/). Good food, great drinks and music. I went there for lunch a couple times and had a blast.

Enjoy your trip!

vafins · Post by **vafins** » June 9, 2003 1:44 pm

The cemetary is also a very interesting spot to visit along with Fastbuck Freddies and Schooner Wharf is another "must see"

Phinford · Post by **Phinford** » June 9, 2003 2:03 pm

My husband and I were there in April, we stayed at Southernmost Hotel.
Short walk to everything. We went to every place that had live music that we could. Loved Captain Tony's. Got to meet the man himself. Very Cool.
Check out George Wright if you like country, he does 8-12 at Captain Tony's during the week. Also, not sure who she is but there is a great Janis Joplin soundalike doing the day show at Sloppy Joes. Also, had a great time at the Green Parrot and eating lunch at Blue Heaven. Loved every minute and would go back in a second. Have a great time!

Fins in Low Places · Post by **Fins in Low Places** » June 9, 2003 2:19 pm

Thanks to everyone. I think we are going to keep the Casa Marina based on the good things we have heard. I got a pretty good price at the Conch House, but we like the idea of being on the beach. I was told by the Conch House that Smather’s Beach is under a health warning and that they are advising their guests to swim at Ft. Zach. Anyone know anything about this? The next step, and the most painful, for us is the air. It looks like we are going to fly into Ft. Lauderdale and rent a car. There is about a $400 difference in airfare into Key West vs Ft. Lauderdale. I have always wanted to drive the keys anyway. It should be a nice trip over, but I dread it coming back. Anyone think it is worth the money to fly into Key West?

Thanks again!

Post by **SMLCHNG** » June 9, 2003 2:21 pm

Fins in Low Places wrote: I have always wanted to drive the keys anyway. It should be a nice trip over, but I dread it coming back. Anyone think it is worth the money to fly into Key West?

If you're time is limited? Fly into KW... if not? The drive is great.. make some stops along the way.. and enjoy the view!!

Capt Garry · Post by **Capt Garry** » June 9, 2003 2:30 pm

Be sure to see Michael McCloud at Schooners Wharf. He plays pretty much daily from 12-4pm (i think) He takes Mondays off or something like that. Great music right across from Key West Bight...

freddyfishstick · Post by **freddyfishstick** » June 9, 2003 2:43 pm

Drive to KW! We flew once and the time involved with the layover and the flight, it was about the same amount of time as driving and driving provides a much more phun and relaxed way to get to KW!

Oh Ft. Zach is a great beach! Better than Smathers in my opinion, its a little out of the way but a short bike ride, some shade and more of the locals beach.

Capt Granite · Post by **Capt Granite** » June 9, 2003 2:48 pm

PETE & WAYNE(SJ),DAVID GOODMAN(HOGS),Mike McCloud(Schooner...
Trails of margaritaville tour(Plalaiden Magic Shop next to Capt Tony's).....Schooner Warf bar 9pm The Magic Of Frank Everhart! This guy is great,also my best bud in the world!

vafins · Post by **vafins** » June 9, 2003 2:55 pm

We have only flown into Key West, but that is because we flew on frequent flier miles so price didn't matter. I hear the drive from Miami is beautiful. I agree with Freddy that with layovers and waiting for luggage, etc.. takes just as long as it would to drive - if we ever have to pay to fly we'll definitely drive from Miami

Son of a Sailor · Post by **Son of a Sailor** » June 9, 2003 3:00 pm

Definitely drive

We're doing the same thing again... Flying Jet Blue into Ft. Lauderdale and renting a car for the drive down. It's not that long of a drive (about 3 hours straight through), but there are plenty of places to stop and explore.

The drive from Miami through the Keys is worth it, every bit!

msu#1 · Post by **msu#1** » June 9, 2003 3:07 pm

spooner the dog wrote:i
DONT:
rent a scooter or the little carts(full on pain in the butt and way to expensive
ride the conch train(way to hot and u feel so much like a tourists that u may start to break down and cry
go to the t shirt shops and get a real bad shirt with a real bad saying
rent a jet ski or anything else out by the beach( way to many rules and way to many restrictions on where u can go)
dont wear the white socks up to yer knees with sandles over them( u may get beat up
forget yer suntan lotion!!!

Well those are my sugesstions but i dont think u could have a bad time in key west trust me..

Spooner your behind the times, Wearing your socks up to your knees is back in, but the have to be the kind with the colored stripes at the top, you wear them with long shorts so you get about two inches of skin showing, your right though about the sandels still a no no with socks.

Oh and here's my tip

Go to Irish Kevins' and if a guy named Jarod is singing, tell him to F off!!!!!

That guy is a a-hole, He said some real vulgur things to the girls I was with when we walked in, and then kept calling me a "N sync boy" why I have no clue!!

hikingontuesday · Post by **hikingontuesday** » June 9, 2003 3:57 pm

I would drive from Ft. Lauderdale. Avoid Key Largo and hit the Tiki Bars just north and south of Big Pine Key. Great Conch Chowder!!

TigerStripePHead · Post by **TigerStripePHead** » June 9, 2003 4:22 pm

Casa Marina is well worth it. The rooms are nice, private beach right there... And KW is not really big enough to be far from anything.

The drive down is great. Rent a convertible, put on some sun block and relax....

as for do/don't do - that's pretty much been covered. The Conch Train is pretty hokey, but you do get a pretty decent history of KW and get your bearings pretty well.

One caution - be careful in the water. Brushed my leg on something getting in at the hotel and wound up with an infection. Put a big damper on the trip for me to say the least....

One restaurant I can recommend is Louie's Backyard. Same one mentioned by Jimmy in the song, and the food is excellent.