Key Largo
Howard Johnson Resort
Mile Marker 102,
Phone: 305 451-1400
A pretty decent place to stay if you want to visit John Pennecamp State Park or dive the Northern sections of Key Largo. I would agree with the hotel rating system that's given this hotel two stars. It's clean and neat but not fancy. If you decide to dive with Capn' Slates, he's close by and offers special dive and lodging rates.
Thumbs Up: Close to Captain Slates, some rooms have a nice canal view
Thumbs Down: Location is not that great if you plan on "after dive" activities
Rates: Rates are around $90 and up for two people.
Calusa Camp Resort
325 Calusa Street, Key Largo, FL 33037-2699
Phone: 305-451-0232
A little further south and closer to Tavernier Key is Calusa Camp Resort. If camping is okay with you and you want to dive sites off Tavernier Key and Key Largo, this campground is pretty convenient if not nice.
Thumbs Up: Proximity to two good dive areas, it sits between Key Largo and Tavernier. Has a nice little convenience store on-site. Tent sites have electricity, price is affordable.
Thumbs Down: This is mostly a RV campground. Tent camping is crowded, noisy and a little run down. Bathrooms were very smelly, information on-line is scarce.
Rates: Tent camping is around $20 a night
Tavernier Key
Island Bay Resort "Outdoor travels pick of the area"
Mile Marker 92.5
Phone: 305-852-4087
Wonderful clean little bungalows with a mini-kitchen and their own little deck and charcoal grill and its own beach. My favorite place to stay in the upper keys.
Thumbs Up: Very affordable for the amenities and location. Beach is very nice and sports wonderful shaded hammocks. It's nice to have a little kitchen and a grill too. Proximity to dive shops in Tavernier and a grocery store and drug store. Dairy Queen accross the street. Owners are very nice, knowledgable and helpful.
Thumbs Down: I really can't think of any, unless you are looking for a very posh surroundings..
Rates: Around $90 a night
Marathon Key
Ramada Inn Marathon Florida Keys
13351 Overseas Highway
Phone: 305-743-8550
Thumbs Up: Affordable slightly above average accomodations. A good value for general hotel accomodations. Friendly staff was quick to point out discounted rate-saving coupons in a flyer in their lobby. Proximity to several dive shops and retail stores. Denny's, Pool.
Thumbs Down: It is a Ramada Motel - those looking for something fancy will be unhappy while those looking for budget lodging will be too.
Rates: Around $90 - $100 a night
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key Motel
Mile Marker 30.5
Phone: 305-872-9090
A real shit hole of a place. I've stayed here on several occassions (only once by actual choice) and it never got better. One time they had actually "remodeled" the rooms. It looked only marginally better, which is to say a donkey turd isn't as repulsive as a cow pile. Camping at the KOA on Sugar Loaf Key is cheaper and more enjoyable if you don't mind camping. If you don't mind paying an above average rate for a seriously sub-standard room, then you'll enjoy its location.
Thumbs Up: Across the street from Underseas Inc. Dive Shop and KD's Big Pine Steak & Seafood House which are both very good in their own fields of service.
Thumbs Down: Sub-par rooms for the rate. Pool that I would never think of swimming in (and I'm not a fussy pants).
Rates: Around $60 - $90 a night
Sugar Loaf Key
KOA Resort Campground
Mile Marker 20
Phone: 1-800-562-7731
KOAs must be thought of as hotels without a hotel. This one is no exception. If you don't mind camping and saving a little money to be near something you want to do, this is the place.
Thumbs Up: This KOA has clean bathrooms,playgrounds, a hot tub, pool and most importantly a pretty good bar and restaurant. Also, laundry facilities, descent campsites, marina with rental boats & canoes, private sandy beach, game room and a little convenience store.
Thumbs Down: Fire ants attacked us every night. Although the management is willing to come out and spray, they didn't tell us this information before the ants came. KOA life isn't for everyone.
Rates: Around $45 a night for a tent site
Key West
Jabour's Camp & Lodge
223 Elizabeth St., Key West
Phone: 305-294-5723
Camping at its worst and finest. Pitch a $60 a night tent on gravel in a large parking lot doesn't sound like fun, but throw in the fact that it's $60 a night for a spot a block or so away from fun Duvall Street and several fine restaurants and bars right beside it and it doesn't seem so bad.
Thumbs Up: Location, location, location! Two blocks from Party Central Duval Street and a short drive to Sub Tropic Dive Shop. Groceries, good bars and restaurants are all within 100 yards of the campground.
Thumbs Down: The most I've ever paid to camp anywhere. Resident drunk ass wierdo bugged us on several occassions.
Rates: $60 a night for a tent site
Key West Youth Hostel
718 South Street, Key West
Phone: 305-296-5719
A hostel is a hostel - people either like them or hate them. This one is just a few blocks form the quiet end of DuvalStreet, which is to say, is a descent location in the heart of Key West.
Thumbs Up: Rate of $15 for members a night gets you a bunk in a good location. For around $70 a night they offer 10 private rooms which are akin to a cheap hotel room. Brekfast is served for a very reasonable price. Close proximity to many shops and restaurants. Bike rental on site. Interesting lodging mates make for good conversation.
Thumbs Down: Hostels are not for everyone. Bunks are not co-ed, couples will find the bunk accomodations to be inconvenient for more than a night. Private rooms are clean, but are seriously spartan and old for the money. A few more dollars can get you a better room in a better location (like Angelina's below). Although its location is very close to Duval Street, it's actually close to the quiet end of Duval - this is okay if you don't mind renting a bike to get around to the bars.
Rates: $15 - $22 a night for a bunk around $70+ a night for private rooms
Angelina Guest House
302 Angela Street
Phone: 305-294-4480
This is an old historic in that offers clean and modest rooms in a great location for a comparatively modest price.
Thumbs Up: Location, location, location! Two blocks from Party Central Duval Street and a short drive to Sub Tropic Dive Shop. Good value for the location. Nice porches and pool provide good locations to hang out and unwind.
Thumbs Down: Some rooms are modest in this historic place and won't suit everyone. Shared bathroom in some rooms may also be a turn-off to some. Books up fast especially during the busy season. They have cats that hang out in the rooms if you let them. My wife is allergic so she had asthma problems while in our room and was actually forced to sleep outside in a hammock on night.
Rates: $60 + a night
Florida Keys Lodging Review
By Dana Farnsworth
Before anyone takes my opinion on lodging and listens to it, you must understand my personal ethos on lodging. I have a few rules that I stand by, and they are:
1. Rarely will I pay for or need expensive lodging. I travel somewhere to do something that doesn't include sitting in a hotel. I need only a clean place to sleep.
2. Camping is always an option. If there is an affordable campground that offers a good value, I'm there. I'll spend the money I save on more fun and beer!
3. The best value is a clean and comfortable room in a good location with friendly staff at a rate that is 10% or more less than other comparable rates in the area.
4. I will not pay extra for amenities I won't use.
5. If I were single I would always stay in hostels that are part of the International Youth Hostel Association when possible. Since I'm married, I look for hostels that have private rooms. Often these represent the most affordable room in a the best location available. But beware, hostel quality varries wildly. A hostel that is a member of the International Youth Hostel Association means they live up to certain standards. Oh, and you are not required to be a youth to stay in a youth hostel.
