Best hotel in the Keys? help
 

Help!

We just learned our boat racing friends from the UK will be coming to Florida in early June. They called and asked us to come spend 3-4 days with them and go snorkeling, scuba diving and relaxing on the beach. They haven't made any reservations yet -- just told us to, "Find something in the Keys".

I'm so excited, but I've never been to the Keys and have no clue what to search for. If anyone here knows where we'd have the most fun, I would appreciate any tips. Thanks!!!!

Also -- between the two couples, we will have five kids tagging along - all five are between the ages of 6 and 11. So a hotel with kids activities or baby-sitters would be really cool too :)

Here ya go. Pick one of these four and you won't go wrong.

www.hawkscay.com/ Real nice, a pool and a natural pool. For the kids, there are dolphins in their own pool.

www.keylargoresort.com/ On the bay side, nice kiddy pool next to the adult pool. Close to John Pennicamp state park.

www.littlepalmisland.com/ Never been there, I hear it's the nicest place (and most expensive) in the keys.

www.cheeca.rockresorts.com/ Super nice Rock resort. A bit on the pricey side, right on the ocean.

No kids are allowed at Little Palm Island.....

Isn't there a race down there about that time???

Where are the race people staying???

Thanks Ron! I'll check those out!


Marc,

I wish there was a race!!!! We've been trying to get our friends to come back to the states for years, and we've suggested meeting them at boat races, but I don't think his wife is too keen on that idea. When he raced on the UIM circuit, I don't think she went to any of those races.

This trip is her idea - she is coming over to visit with her sister in Florida for a few days, then spending the remainder of their vacation with us.

They want me to plan this trip out, which is odd since the first time they came over I rented a 3 bedroom condo in Havasu that was absolutely HORRID! LOL!

When they came over for our wedding 12 years ago, they went on our honeymoon too - and we stayed in a "rustic" cabin along the Grand Canyon and went on a rafting trip :D The cabin wasnt as romantic as I had hoped. But I didn't mind them hanging out with us at all - they are really a blast! (when we can understand what they are saying ...lol)

A few years later they paid us back by getting married in Cancun picking a low budget hotel for us to stay in ;) The entire grey colored high-rise hotel had big black polka-dots painted on it - I knew we were in trouble right away!

This time I want to opt for something a little bit nicer, and reverse this trend ;)

Ive been to cheeca lodge and hawks cay. both are great. Cheeca is more secluded, hawks is more of an inclusive resort. depends on what theyre looking for.

You wanted a boat race?

JUNE 11, 12, 13 Fountain Powerboats
Super Boat International's
Grand Prix
Marathon, FL
www.superboat.com

Cheeca Lodge and especially Hawks Cay are close by. Honestly, if you have kids, Hawks Cay would be hard to beat. Scuba boats leave right from the marina in the complex.

Thanks again Ron!

Hawkes Cay looks awesome and they have so much for the kids to do - they'd be in heaven!

I'm sending a few of these links to England and will let our friends check them out first (thank God for the Internet). I hope they pick Hawkes Cay. But since they have 3 kids, their price for a four night stay for five people + water activities is going to be $$$$$. :eek:

The Westin may be more in line with the $$$ we all had planned for. They have a beach & water sports too, so we'll have a great time there too!

Thanks so much for this help - I wouldn't have known what to do otherwise.


Sad news - we leave 4 days before the Marathon races start. So once again, I will miss seeing Florida offshore racing. :(

I was at Sanibel Island back in 1992 when a race was happening at Ft Myers, but we were there for a magazine boat test --- we were busy all weekend at Sanibel and missed everything! But we did drive over there for a quick look - I rememeber pulling up alongside the Gentry Eagle in our 18' racer....I've never felt so dwarfed! :)

http://www.boats.dt.navy.mil/pg2/PHO...F/gentry_L.gif

Don't go solely on the rates on the internet......call Hawks Cay and/or Cheeca direct because they may be going into their summer rates soon and you can keep checking.
If you want to do Key West as a day trip, Hawks Cay (actually located on Duck Key about 7 miles east of Marathon), is approx. an hour away, depending on traffic and Key Largo would add another hour.

Ron is right.....for kids and variety of activities, Hawks Cay has it all.
And CAVelocity is also correct....no kids for Little Palm Island.....but if the adults can get a sitter......dinner and the boat ride to it is as special as you can get here.
Pat, Marathon
(p.s...... I wish I was LostinBoston...I miss it)

try Islemorada or specifically Holiday Isle. I see kids there all the time running aroung, lots of shopping, the sandbar where everyone parties, and lots of little bars. It's holidayisle.com Good Luck!!!

Hawk's Cay
 

As far as things go if you don't mind my .02 cents. Hawk's is the greatest.
The hot tip is arrange for one of the Villas off the South/Back Boat Basin.
They have a couple of different sizes. Two and three bedrooms with Convertible Study's that can hold another couple or some kids.
Hawk's caters to families and kids and have all water sports, fishing, spa, etc. right there.
Call me spoiled but whenever Angela and I think fun we think Hawk's. Especially when taking an extra couple or two or three.
Best,
Robert Shin
a.k.a. Rice Hauler
P.S. This photo was taken during last year's Miami Boat Show Poker Run as us and a group of 5 other boats came into Hawks for the day. And had a blast.

You all are the BEST!


Thanks for all the great info.

As of now, we are leaning toward Hawks Cay w/ an excursion to Little Palm Island for dinner one evening. :) (If we can find a sitter).

I showed my husband the website for that place, and he said "Wow. We're going there!". Yesss!

I just have to wait to hear back from England and see what they think.

Thanks again everyone! I'm so psyched!

Some side advice on both of those choices.....if you want to have a swim with the dolphins at Hawk's Cay, book ahead early.......and you will need a dinner reservation for Little Palm for both the restaurant and the boat shuttle.
Enjoy!

Wife and I stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Key West Center Court Guest houses. Nice off the main Strip so quite but very walkable to all the spots.

Re: Best hotel in the Keys? help
 

Ron, Pat and Ricehauler,

Ohmygod. We just got back from our LIttle Palm Island dinner a few minutes ago and all I can say is WOW, what a place!!! We just had one of the most magnificient evenings we've ever experienced. Like a living dream. :)

Thanks so much for all your advice!

Our Hawks Cay Villa is awesome too...will post some pics when we get back home. TOmorrow is the scuba/snorkel trip - need some shut eye for another fabulous day. I'm sure going to hate leaving this place. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to meet some OSO'ers out here....Maybe next time!

Thanks again to all who gave us tips on a great Keys :drink: vacation!

BK

Re: Best hotel in the Keys? help
 

You can fly into Marathon for the race next week. Florida Coastal Airlines is the only scheduled passenger air service to Marathon. Florida Coastal flies from Ft. Lauderdale into Marathon with flights most days of the week for around $100.

For more info: www.flyfca.com or 1-888-I FLY FCA (1-888-435-9322)