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I'm planning a vacation for next summer and I'm looking for the best place to stay in Key West, somewhere nice but won't break my bank account. I've never been donw there before so any help would be appreciated.

UAHparrothead wrote:I'm planning a vacation for next summer and I'm looking for the best place to stay in Key West, somewhere nice but won't break my bank account. I've never been donw there before so any help would be appreciated.

Go to floridaykeys.com and you will find all the info. you need.

If you like diving go to Looe Key Reef. It's a national marine sanctuary. There is a dive shop in Big Pine Key that will take you there. They have half and full days.

You can snorkel or scuba.

It's at mm 39 or soemthing like that. Going west it is on the left hand side of the road.

Also they have agreat seafood restautrant in town.

If you are going with you're girlfriend or wife got to Little Palm Island for dinner (800-get-lost). She'll love you for it.

More later.

Go to floridaykeys.com and you will find all the info. you need.

If you like diving go to Looe Key Reef. It's a national marine sanctuary. There is a dive shop in Big Pine Key that will take you there. They have half and full days.

You can snorkel or scuba.

It's at mm 39 or soemthing like that. Going west it is on the left hand side of the road.

Also they have agreat seafood restautrant in town.

If you are going with you're girlfriend or wife got to Little Palm Island for dinner (800-get-lost). She'll love you for it. The sunsets are beautiful and the food is fantastic. They only way to get there is by boat. You will need to make reservations. The boat leaves Little Duck Key on the half hour I think. It's at mm 33. I think. Get their an hour before your dinnier tiem to make sure you get across. It's 2-3 miles of shore and is 20 mimutes by boat. The ride but not dinner is free. The last boat back is at 11pm.

In Big Pine Key you will find a trail where you will see the Key Deer.
Around the same area is a great hangout in the back country that reminds me of Capt. Tonys.

They have a pig roast every Sat. night int he backyard. Ask a cabbie for directions most of them know where it is. It's a beautiful area.

If you are driving in from Miami stop in Islamorda and jump on a wave runner. You can rent them for about $35 a half hour. I like the Atlantic side. Have a rum runner and go. You will have 3 miles of open ocean to ride the waves.

In Key West you will have to go to Mallory Sqaure for the sunset and buskers. Just around the corner you will hear the sounds of Salsa music. Go there after or before the sunset and have a cool one.

You wiil want to go Margaritaville Café on Duval Street.

They have lot's of great B&B' in Key West. The website will be a great help in selecting where you stay.


Hope this helps.

There's a B&B on Eaton St. called Westwinds. They have a primo
breakfast, great rooms and the location is perfect. Just about
everything on the island is really within walking distance for a
Floridian, as we are used to, and thrive on, hot weather. If you want
you can rent a bike or motor scooter. Shrimpboat Sound, Schooner
Wharf, Cap'n Tony's, BO's Fishwagon, Pepe"s, Turtle Krawl, (all
JB historical haunts are well within walking distance, as is the
Mallory Square sunset gathering. Blue Heaven, Louie's Backyard &
After Deck, and Jimmy's first residence, are a long stroll.
Margaritaville is well within walking distance, as are all
the interesting spots on Duval St. Westwinds is where
Mrs. McKay & I have been going to two, to three times a year,
for 5 or 6 years, and prior to that we've stayed all over the island.
Now we've " Found Us a Home". As always, G.M.,Jr.

Check out the Blue Marlin...nice motel with a pool and local store to load up on Coronas

sorry , just re-read your message....best place and won't break the bank..seems like an oxymoron....The name may not be the Blue Marlin, I think it's the Southernmost motel won't break the bank though..Now I'm confused

im staying at the southern cross motel, when i go on labor day...its very basic in terms of accomodations, but its in a primo party location if thats your thing (across street from sloppy joes) and does have a jimmy buffett reference, well not really but either way....
the blue marlin is a nice place, so is L'habitacion on eaton street, if your driving down,say from miami or something stop at robbies pier at mm80 and feed the 200lb tarpon, its quite a site.

UAH, just got back from Key West on our first trip. My wife and I went down for our anniversary. We stayed at the Casa Marina (Wyndham) and loved it. Check the various online travel sites: Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity. Also check the individual resorts and hotels. For example, when checking, I called Conch House and they offered me a better rate than posted on their website. I actually booked our room as the Casa through Wyndham. They have pretty good web rates. We chose the Casa based on the private beach (which we didn't use). But they do have nice pools and some very good food. Next trip down we will stay at either the Hyatt, Hilton, or Pier House. They are in the heart of Old Town. We enjoyed Turtle Kraals, Conch Republic Seafood House, and Antonias. There are plenty of places to chose from.
I asked similar questions before our trip. Here is the thread http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewto ... t=key+west

Last but not least:

GO VOLS!!

Thanks for the info guys. I'm definatly ready to hit the beach and my first visit to a Margaritaville.

UAHparrothead wrote:I'm planning a vacation for next summer and I'm looking for the best place to stay in Key West, somewhere nice but won't break my bank account. I've never been donw there before so any help would be appreciated.

Southernmost on the Beach[/url]!!! You'll also have to trust me when I say "You will not regret it!!!" It's like a 2 minute walk to the corner of Duval Street (the best street in Key West) and Truman Avenue (also known as US-1). The hotel is right on the water!! I'm not 100% sure on this but I think that the hotel was built like in like October or November of 2001. The price is good and the rooms are awesome!!! Here's some pictures of the place... I'm kinda wasted right now and becuz of that it seems like a lot of work to put captions up with the pictures. When I get up tomorrow I'll do it. Maybe... TRUST ME!!!! YOU GUYS WILL LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!

We loved The Curry Mansion Inn on Caroline, right next to Duval. Includes a great poolside breakfast every morning, and complimentary cocktails and hors d'oevres in the early evening. Great price, great location, beautiful place, wonderful people! GO TO THE GREEN PARROT! It rocks!

St. Somewhere, that was a really great post. I'm not going soon but I am going back and I will definitely stay at this hotel. A recommendation based on personal experience, is always appreciated. You actually made me want to leave to today. Thanks

I knew I could depend on my fellow p-heads. Thanks again.

OK...So far Southernmost On the Beach is in the lead. Here is my deal:
10th Aniversary with wifey
Must have Beach
Must have decent room service (he he)
Must be walk to all
Other than that, the stardard wine, women and song works well!!!

What if money is no object, but the above parameters must be met!!

Please keep in mind Key West does NOT have any "real" beaches since it sits on a rock. The closest "real" beach will probably be Fort Zachary Taylor Beach, or check out Bajia Honda State Park..very nice (up the keys a bit). A buck or two to enter. Don't get fooled into thinking Smathers Beach is a beach. It can get very ugly when the seaweed makes its way in and only a few feet of water for several hundred yards.

The Pier House/Galleon Marina/Ocean Key House/Hyatt (all at end of Duval....few steps to the start of the action of Duval Street) are all very nice for accomodations.

^^^^^^^

Bahia Honda State Park
MM37, Lower Keys, 305-872-2353, 305-872-1127
Marina, dive shop, cabins and camp sites. Great spot for birding.

How about the beach at Southernmost? Whats the scoop here? Can one walk out of room onto beach?

THe beach at the Casa Marina is one of the largest private beaches on the island, and we spent about 15 minutes there b/c there is practically no beach. I was told the best beaches were at Ft Zach (I think you must pay admission), but they are not the beaches that most people are used to.

Fins in Low Places wrote:THe beach at the Casa Marina is one of the largest private beaches on the island, and we spent about 15 minutes there b/c there is practically no beach. I was told the best beaches were at Ft Zach (I think you must pay admission), but they are not the beaches that most people are used to.

Fort Zach is definitely the best beach to go to in Key West!! If you drive in, you do pay a very small fee (it's like $1 per person I think) . You can also ride a bike or walk-in, in which case you'll pay maybe 50cents or so. It is absolutely gorgeous there & they have a snack bar and nice bathrooms/showers. You can also rent lounge chairs, snorkel gear and rafts. Granted, it's not your typical beach, with waves, lifeguards, etc, but in my opinion, it is better. It's usually very quiet and relaxing...perfect for a lazy day in paradise!