Really Florida!

There are lots of resorts in the Florida Keys, and seemingly more springing up all the time.  But what are some of the resorts in the various areas?  In this post, let’s check out resorts in the Key Largo area.

Mariner’s Resort Villas & Marina

This is one of the smaller of the resorts around Key Largo, with just 60 guest apartments.  Yes, apartments; at the Mariner’s, they range from 1 bedroom 1 bath to 3 bedrooms 3 baths.  Still, in the low season (like now) you can get some amazing deals — I was stunned at some of the offers I saw a few minutes ago, which you can see here at the Mariner’s Resort.

Marriott Key Largo Bay Beach Resort

David and I have stayed here, and we did enjoy it.  Lots to see and do, including a private beach (bayside) with plenty of “toys” to rent.  Be forewarned, the property is pretty sizable so getting from your room to the car and vise-versa can be a trek.  Still, the rooms were lovely and one thing I really appreciated; the beach was divided into an “active” end and a “quiet” end.  Once again, it’s the low season and rates are good! Check here for Marriott Key Largo rates.

Holiday Inn Key Largo

Now don’t expect luxury here, but do expect a good time.  Excellent for those who want to go diving and/or snorkeling, as well as families with youngsters (”kids eat free”).  Lots to see and do — close to Pennekamp, so go over there for the day.  Glass bottom boat tours and sunset cruises can be arranged from the marina…all kinds of things!  Prices are pretty good right now, with some interesting specials to look at. Check out the rates and specials for the Holiday Inn.

Resorts in the Florida Keys — Next Up is Islamorada

The next posting about resorts in the Florida Keys will feature properties in the Islamorada area.

Key West resorts aren’t exactly cheap; even the cheapest are triple-digits a night. So while Key West may not be a cheap place to stay, you still don’t need to pay more than you have to. Here are some tips for getting the best price you can when planning your Florida Keys vacation.

First, consider the time of year. Between the beginning of May and through to about Thanksgiving is the “low” season in the Florida Keys. Partly because it’s hot and humid, partly because the risk (small, but there) of hurricanes, partly because the tourists are crowding Orlando then. But Summer is a great time to find a Key West resort bargain.

There’s one caveat — don’t try to book a resort stay the last Thursday/Friday/Saturday in July — it’s lobster mini-season. And lobster mini-season means that hotels, motels and resorts all up and down the Keys will be packed to the gills (so to speak).

Next, find out if there are either price breaks for booking online - or - check out some of the places like TripAdvisor that get the prices for you all in one place (and you’d be surprised at the differences sometimes).

Also check and see if the resorts have special packages. It might be that they have a package that overall looks like it costs more — until you see all that you get. Then it can many times be a cost savings.

Some of the big Key West resorts make you pay for parking, and it doesn’t tend to be cheap. Granted, it’s a small island and space is at a premium, but if you plan to drive down — ask if you have to pay to park.

How far away are you from the Old Town and Duval Street? Usually the farther away from the Old Town area, the less expensive it becomes, but not always. And you have to weigh the hassle of driving your car around in the crazy Keys traffic against being able to walk to the major tourist areas.

Consider a B&B or inn instead of a resort. There are many small inns that give you a good amount of privacy, plus a nice amount of TLC.

Here are some Key West resorts that you might want to consider, when planning your Florida Keys vacation.