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OK, so I need some help. I'm having trouble sorting out through all the web-sites to see what hotel would be best to stay in if my family goes to Key West for this spring break. What hotel would be best for a family of four, my parents, me (17) and my brother (14)? We're looking for quality/affordability.

Also, what's the best way to get to KW? We'd be leaving from Newark Int'l... fly to miami then drive down??

Thanks for any help

TikiTom wrote:OK, so I need some help. I'm having trouble sorting out through all the web-sites to see what hotel would be best to stay in if my family goes to Key West for this spring break. What hotel would be best for a family of four, my parents, me (17) and my brother (14)? We're looking for quality/affordability.

Also, what's the best way to get to KW? We'd be leaving from Newark Int'l... fly to miami then drive down??

Thanks for any help

Okay when my phamily and I went down, it was in the middle of August, so keep that in mind.

We stayed at the Reach resort next to the Casa Marina (and Louie's Backyard and Jimmy's old house). It's at the other end of Duval Street, and pretty quiet, but still walk/bikeable from all the Duval St. "attractions"

I would suggest going out of a smaller airport and flying into Ft. Lauderdale. I flew Southwest out of Islip-MacArthur on Long Island into Fort Lauderdale, and it was pretty easy; maybe Stewart Airport in Westchester might be a little more viable? Ft. Lauderdale is about an extra 20 minutes north of Miami, but it's no biggie.

Another thing, make sure you're rental car has a CD player in it. No doubt you'll want to listen to Buffett and Buffett-style music on the drive down, and if you're car only has a tape deck (like my car did), it will be that much less enjoyable.

Have phun!

La Concha is kind of in the middle of both ends. There is also a place called Ambrosia Too. We thought it might be nice to stay there. It is just down Fleming from Margaritaville Offices and La Concha and really quiet.

If Ambrosia Too is a bad recommendation for some reason, someone please speak up. It just looked nice to us.

http://www.ambrosiakeywest.com/ambrosia ... akfast.htm

By all means DRIVE from Miami and drive down Card Sound Road to Alabama Jacks.

If you are looking for something nice but affordable. Try the Fairfield Inn.
Nice people and clean and well taken care of.
also if you plan to get a rental car...Do not fly into miami. trying to find the rental car return is almost impossible, all of them are far off site and
you can drive around for an hour trying to just return the car.

I personally think the drive down the keys is overrated. The stretch from Miami to Key West just isn't worth it. 3 1/2 to 4 hours of driving, depending on traffic (maybe even more) when there's really only about 30 minutes to an hour worth of real scenery, mostly in the last hour of the drive. Card Sound Road was horrible to drive on, no scenery, and the only reason to drive it is for Alabama Jacks. If you're not stopping there, don't take the Card. Most of US1 roadside blocks your view of the water, so it's not like you're staring at bluish green water your entire drive.

However, if you do drive through, the must stop place (imo) is Mangrove Mama's

Sorry, I have no real input on hotels, only stayed in B&B's. I guess I would go with La Concha, good location. Staying at the southern end of Duval, I wouldn't recommend. It's a pretty decent walk to get to the action, so you'd better be in relatively decent shape. I absolutely loved the convenience of walking out of my B&B and be at the bars/attractions within a block or so.

We went to KW last August with my 12 and 17 yr old boys. We stayed at the Southermost Hotel which is at the opposite end of Duval from Sloppy Joes. Good for famalies and kids (good pool). They have a bunch of motels all owned by the same owner, the Southermost on the Beach hotel was our first choice but also being from the shore area I didn't need to stay near the ocean (seen it before, ha ha) so we changed to the Southermost Motel and it was a good choice about $75/nite cheaper. We paid around $75-90 per nite , but not exactly sure, but that was the best price for what you get. It took us about a half hour to walk to Malery Square, so we were in the quiet section of Duval but not far enought that you couldnt walk anywhere you needed to. BTW, be sure to go to Blue Heavan for breakfast since it was the best in town. After we found it we wnet there every day. Be sure to eat outside under the trees w/ the roosters. Word has it that they have photos of jimmy playing there a few yrs ago no by the water tower. Lastly ENJOY!

cfisch wrote:BTW, be sure to go to Blue Heavan for breakfast since it was the best in town. !

Too funny. Blue Heaven Rendevous just played on my random mp3 list

I never have made it there. The B&B I stay at has an awesome breakfast, so I never bothered going to pay for it. I'll try it one day though

Wife and I went this past summer, and I have to recommend staying at the Southernmost Hotel.

Couple of good pools, access to the beach if you want it, on the quiet end of Duval Street (but still easy to get to the nightlife.) Price wasn't too bad, either.

We flew into Ft. Lauderdale, then drove down in a convertible. Very cool, but the drive did get long in spots, and if you have "expectations," much of the scenery on the drive may disappoint. That being said, I'd still do it again.

How could a Parrothead not like looking out at numerous islands and beautiful water?
I myself think the scenery on the drive from Miami to Key West is great and a must!! but maybe that's just me

We've stayed at the Tucker Inn Oceanside Cottages twice.
www.tuckerinn.com
It's about 20 miles north of Key West on Cudjoe Key, right on the water, and is very nice. Pretty good prices too

sonofabeach wrote:How could a Parrothead not like looking out at numerous islands and beautiful water?
I myself think the scenery on the drive from Miami to Key West is great and a must!! but maybe that's just me

We've stayed at the Tucker Inn Oceanside Cottages twice.
www.tuckerinn.com
It's about 20 miles north of Key West on Cudjoe Key, right on the water, and is very nice. Pretty good prices too

because 2/3's of that drive, you can't see the beautiful water.....all trees

Though I'll admit, the 7-mile bridge itself just may be worth the drive

IrishG wrote:

sonofabeach wrote:How could a Parrothead not like looking out at numerous islands and beautiful water?
I myself think the scenery on the drive from Miami to Key West is great and a must!! but maybe that's just me

We've stayed at the Tucker Inn Oceanside Cottages twice.
www.tuckerinn.com
It's about 20 miles north of Key West on Cudjoe Key, right on the water, and is very nice. Pretty good prices too

because 2/3's of that drive, you can't see the beautiful water.....all trees

Though I'll admit, the 7-mile bridge itself just may be worth the drive

wrongo my friend
Sure up around Key Largo but after that it opens up, hence the multitude of bridges

sonofabeach wrote:

IrishG wrote:

sonofabeach wrote:How could a Parrothead not like looking out at numerous islands and beautiful water?
I myself think the scenery on the drive from Miami to Key West is great and a must!! but maybe that's just me

We've stayed at the Tucker Inn Oceanside Cottages twice.
www.tuckerinn.com
It's about 20 miles north of Key West on Cudjoe Key, right on the water, and is very nice. Pretty good prices too

because 2/3's of that drive, you can't see the beautiful water.....all trees

Though I'll admit, the 7-mile bridge itself just may be worth the drive

wrongo my friend
Sure up around Key Largo but after that it opens up, hence the multitude of bridges

yeah, there's a lot of bridges....but the view lasts a total of like 30 seconds in a lot of areas

Thanks for all the suggestions... keep 'em coming if they're any more out there!! Any help is appreciated.

It seems we've picked one of the more expensive times to go to Key West, I guess it's peak season in April b/c there aren't any hurricanes???

We'll be planning the trip, if we end up taking it, around X-mas. If it gets too expensive we probably won't do it We need to find some good airline rates.

So is flying into Ft. Lauderdale really a better idea??? I've heard a couple ppl mention it and say how it's a hassle renting a car in Miami.

Thanks all

We flew into FLL last yr and it was great. We took Spirit Air out of AC which might be a trip for you but Jet Blue has like $99 filghts out EWR and the rental car areas is right in the terminal and I had no problems at all. Drive there to KW its's not that bad and you can stop at Mangrove Mamas which I hear has the best by far conch fritters on in the keys.

Check this out. We have stayed there and it is quite nice and it may especially work for you with your family.

http://www.travelerspalm.com/catherinestreet.htm

Regarding getting to Key West, we like to fly into Tampa, drive down, then drive back to Ft. Lauderdale to fly out. If you are not in a rush, driving from Tampa to Sanibel Island and spending the night before heading south through the Everglades is a lot of fun. Sanibel is one of the few places in Florida you can collect shells on the beach. However if you want to spend less time on the road, in and out from Ft. Lauderdale is probably better.

PS. If you are driving down, don't miss the cracked conch sandwiches at Mangrove Mama's at mile marker 20.

IrishG wrote:yeah, there's a lot of bridges....but the view lasts a total of like 30 seconds in a lot of areas

It's not just about the view. It's about stopping at all the little shops and pullouts along the way. Driving down to Key West is an adventure all by itself.

TikiTom wrote:Thanks for all the suggestions... keep 'em coming if they're any more out there!! Any help is appreciated.

It seems we've picked one of the more expensive times to go to Key West, I guess it's peak season in April b/c there aren't any hurricanes???

We'll be planning the trip, if we end up taking it, around X-mas. If it gets too expensive we probably won't do it We need to find some good airline rates.

So is flying into Ft. Lauderdale really a better idea??? I've heard a couple ppl mention it and say how it's a hassle renting a car in Miami.

Thanks all

snowbirds. The prices drop in May when the yankees head back North to escape the summer heat.

IrishG wrote:

sonofabeach wrote:

IrishG wrote:

sonofabeach wrote:How could a Parrothead not like looking out at numerous islands and beautiful water?
I myself think the scenery on the drive from Miami to Key West is great and a must!! but maybe that's just me

We've stayed at the Tucker Inn Oceanside Cottages twice.
www.tuckerinn.com
It's about 20 miles north of Key West on Cudjoe Key, right on the water, and is very nice. Pretty good prices too

because 2/3's of that drive, you can't see the beautiful water.....all trees

Though I'll admit, the 7-mile bridge itself just may be worth the drive

wrongo my friend
Sure up around Key Largo but after that it opens up, hence the multitude of bridges

yeah, there's a lot of bridges....but the view lasts a total of like 30 seconds in a lot of areas

I guess it's what you're into.
I like to take my time and stop to look at things.
I used to hurry up and get to Key West but now I like to explore more.
But then the last couple of times that I rode down there it was in a Jeep with the top and doors off so it was nice.
Heck I live in Florida, so driving there is what I do anyway.

Renting a car in Miami is no big deal if you rent with the big guys. It's off-site, but you pull out, turn left on the main road, right on the highway and follow the signs to the turnpike. No biggie.

sonofabeach wrote:

IrishG wrote:

sonofabeach wrote:

IrishG wrote:

sonofabeach wrote:How could a Parrothead not like looking out at numerous islands and beautiful water?
I myself think the scenery on the drive from Miami to Key West is great and a must!! but maybe that's just me

We've stayed at the Tucker Inn Oceanside Cottages twice.
www.tuckerinn.com
It's about 20 miles north of Key West on Cudjoe Key, right on the water, and is very nice. Pretty good prices too

because 2/3's of that drive, you can't see the beautiful water.....all trees

Though I'll admit, the 7-mile bridge itself just may be worth the drive

wrongo my friend
Sure up around Key Largo but after that it opens up, hence the multitude of bridges

yeah, there's a lot of bridges....but the view lasts a total of like 30 seconds in a lot of areas

I guess it's what you're into.
I like to take my time and stop to look at things.
I used to hurry up and get to Key West but now I like to explore more.
But then the last couple of times that I rode down there it was in a Jeep with the top and doors off so it was nice.
Heck I live in Florida, so driving there is what I do anyway.

I live in FL too, but it's an 8 hour drive to get there. By the time I'm down there, I really don't want to be driving around longer than I have to