Key West Vacation Advice

jollymon345 · Post by **jollymon345** » November 18, 2003 3:42 pm

A nice little place that I stayed at was a place called Center Court Cottages. I took my 1 year old daughter and my wife and the "cottage" had a fully furnished kitchen, dining area, living area, full bathroom, and a big bedroom with a bookcase divider with 2 double beds. It was 1 block from Duval Street and had a hot tub in the center of the courtyard and 2 swimming pools that were located in the other "areas" (1 was for adults only). The rooms and ground were very clean and the staff was great. We walked everywhere since we were 1 block from Duval Street and the room was about $200 a night. It was worth the price. They have all kinds of rooms and locations all in the area of Duval and Simenton Streets. We rent a car for the drive from Miami and the drive was great. We made a couple stops along the way just to look around. If you do that only rent the car for 1 day to drive to Key West and then again for the drive back. Once you are there you will not need a car.

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » November 18, 2003 3:43 pm

Miami to Key West is about 160 miles.
But that's about a 4 hour drive, unless
you get one of those road-closing wrecks
or if you really want to stop... and you
really should. At too many places for one
four day vacation. Read here to see
what you might miss:
http://members.aol.com/cafemojo/conch.html
(And that's just a beginning. Take more days!!!)

mrmiata · Post by **mrmiata** » November 18, 2003 10:10 pm

FWIW, don't waste your money staying at the LaConcha. There are nicer places for less money. The only reason I chose the LaConcha was because of convenience. I regretted it. Everything is convenient in Key West if you don't mind a little walking.

Suzie · Post by **Suzie** » November 18, 2003 10:31 pm

I have had good luck and have recommended many time to friends hotels from www.vacationkw.com. They have very good rates at most of the places in key west.

Passed-out on Duval · November 19, 2003 10:19 am

Desdamona wrote:The old bridges WERE scarey! Especially when you're
riding shotgun and the driver wants to sightsee!! But
they did have rails... like in True Lies. Oncoming buses
and semis were always a delight.

If you do the drive, which I highly recommend, start it
early in the day. Driving it at night is a big waste of time,
since you miss the whole effetct of "driving out to sea."

And I, too, recommend the Hibiscus. ETP steered me in
that direction, and we were quite pleased. Must've just
missed you, Cayman2. Maybe next year?

The only reason I asked about the bridges is because on the road below 7 mile, there is the old bridge and it has no guard rails...were they removed or something?

citcat · Post by **citcat** » November 19, 2003 12:49 pm

YIKES!

Since we're driving down at the end of Feb., I guess this is definite proof we need a designated driver! It AIN'T gonna be me!

Sailon · Post by **Sailon** » November 19, 2003 2:12 pm

What is the best mode of cheap transportation from the Miami Airport to Keywest.

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » November 19, 2003 2:26 pm

Passed-out on Duval wrote:
The only reason I asked about the bridges is because on the road below 7 mile, there is the old bridge and it has no guard rails...were they removed or something?

I'm not sure when they were removed. I know the scene from
True Lies was actually filmed on the bridge, and there are railings
there for the limo to spark off of, but I'm not sure if the entire
span still had railings then, or just that part. They look authentic
in the movie.

"Guardrails on the roadway are actually salvaged railroad track."

"Today the old Seven Mile Bridge is closed to cars and trucks, but pedestrians can walk along the old bridge to visit Pigeon Key. "

LuvBigFloppers · Post by **LuvBigFloppers** » November 19, 2003 3:03 pm

When can I expect room rates to drop? If if I'm planning a trip in the spring how early do I need to make reservations? What area of Key West makes the bar scene most accessible (hotel selection)?

jollymon345 · Post by **jollymon345** » November 19, 2003 3:49 pm

Usually May 1 the rates go down. I am just trying to finalize my dates to go in either April or May and the rate drops about $50 a night starting on May 1.

kimbug · Post by **kimbug** » November 19, 2003 3:58 pm

Cool, that's good to know about the rates dropping.... We're planning a
trip in May too!

ca_ribbean_Soul · Post by **ca_ribbean_Soul** » November 20, 2003 4:14 pm

Try the Wicker Guest House - they have a website. They are very resonably priced and the place is so adorable. We stayed there and it is on Duval Street right smack in the middle. We walked everywhere!

Check it out!

Emily

mrmiata · Post by **mrmiata** » November 21, 2003 7:16 am

Forgot to mention... Pete and Wayne at Sloppy Joe's is a *must!* We stumbled upon their show and wound up staying for a while, then buying their CDs. They were *hysterical.*

LuvBigFloppers · Post by **LuvBigFloppers** » November 24, 2003 11:28 am

So it doesn't matter the location of your hotel because everything is within walking distance? Any particular hotels to avoid?

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » November 24, 2003 8:14 pm

LuvBigFloppers wrote:So it doesn't matter the location of your hotel because everything is within walking distance? Any particular hotels to avoid?

Well, unless you're into alternate lifestyle/clothing optional
you might stay somewhere besides Atlantic Shores.

(But I hear their restaurant serves a great breakfast.)

chalksoperations · Post by **chalksoperations** » December 18, 2003 7:27 pm

When the new bridge was built, the section of the old bridge was removed to allow larger boats through. The one that was blown up for the movie was a replica, as the section had already been removed just about 10 years earlier.
There are a couple transportation companies that take you from MIA to key west, althought your best bet is to rent a car and drive. By the time you wait for a van or bus you could be in Homestead.
I commute along this route every day, if you want suggestions on which route to take at which part of the day, let me know. Traffic can be hell if you get on the wrong road at the wrong time of day.

mrmiata · Post by **mrmiata** » December 18, 2003 10:33 pm

Just don't take Krome Avenue during tomato season. Truckloads of pickers and boatloads of people stopping to U-pick makes it a stop-n-go nightmare.

I usually just hit the turnpike from Miami and head down into Florida City, taking Card Sound Road once I get there. Of course, usually I'm headed to North Key Largo, but I would still take the same way to get to Key West, just because I have no desire to drive the 18 Mile Stretch.

chalksoperations · Post by **chalksoperations** » December 19, 2003 9:12 am

I take Krome to work every now and then, there has been some widening around the SW 150-250 streets. Something is always being harvested year round here, so don't get crazy trying to avoid the farms. Actually, if you want to see some of the mango, lychee, lime and other growers that is the place to be. One really interesting part of Krome is north of where it intersects with Alligator Alley, or Tamiami Trail. It is a very rural area and the road basically takes you up through the eastern side of the evergaldes...kind of different. It can be reached by getting off of 95 at Griffin Road in Lauderdale, dive east and turn left onto Okechobee (US 27). You can pick up Krome from there.
One cool thing if you come to where I live in Homestead out in the Redlands. If you take Krome down to SW 344th St. (344th Street is also the road that intersects Rt. 1 as soon as you come off the Turnpike into Florida City). Take a right (west) and go about 3 miles. You are heading towards Everglades Nat'l Park. You will see at an intersection a place called Robert is Here. Strange name, but that's another story. You can pick up some tropical fruits to nibble on later, dozens of flavors of home made honey, and in the corner they have a kitchen where you can get a variety of tropical fruit smoothies. They squeeze the fruit right there, as fresh as you can get....they are very good. Also go out back and say hi to the Macaw and the Iguana, the resident pets.

This is kind of wordy and I apologize, but I feel if you are going to come to experience this area, then you will need to get your ass out of the airplane and off the interstates.

My office is at the Watson Island Seaplane Base, and if you want to head over here and see the "mini museum" Jimmy wrote about, let me know.[/b]

tadpole2000 · Post by **tadpole2000** » December 19, 2003 9:22 am

Sailon
I would rent a car but http://www.floridakeysshuttle.com/ is cheep and their vans are nice.

I have found me a home

Joined: 05 Mar 2002
Posts: 156
Location: Regina, SK
Posted: November 19, 2003 1:12 pm Post subject: Keywest

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is the best mode of cheap transportation from the Miami Airport to Keywest.
_________________
GO FAST ENOUGH TO GET THERE, BUT SLOW ENOUGH TO SEE

sd parrot head · Post by **sd parrot head** » December 19, 2003 10:16 am

Atlantic Shores has a great bar. The coldest & cheapest beer in town. Clothing is optional at the pool, but at the bar they ask you to cover up.