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The
Florida Keys and Key West are home to some of the finest and
diverse hotels in the world. Hotels are part of a much larger
category referred to as accommodations. Accommodations include
resorts and spas, hotels, guest houses, private villa rentals,
motels, cottages, camp grounds, and bed and
breakfasts.
KEY LARGO
Key Largo is the closest of
the Keys to the mainland and is home to an abundance of hotels
that cater to the diving sector of tourism. Here you will find
laid back motels that reflect the "old Florida Keys" way of
life and eagerly welcome divers as guests. Many are
conveniently located near the multitude of dive shops that
supply all the specific needs to divers and snorkelers alike.
For the more timid, there is a wonderful glass bottom tour
available nearby at the John Pennecamp Coral Reef State
Park.
Key Largo also features an undersea
hotel that is often the dive site for tourist couples getting
married underwater!
Many large resorts and
spas are also located in the Key Largo area. These properties
cater to those who seek to paper themselves in world class
luxury. Many of the larger hotels are set up to accommodate
corporate events and meetings. These hotels have the ability
to provide Commercial Billing Invoices for those requiring
itemization of expenditures for taxes
purposes.
The larger hotels also feature
exquisite dining facilities. The chefs are experts at creating
tropical dining experiences reflecting the many varieties of
fresh caught local seafood.
Often, just a
short walk or drive from your hotel are the many local
restaurants that offer family dining and feature seafood
smorgasbords!
Although there are many more
chains and deluxe resorts than there used to be, small
cottages and eccentric lodgings can still be found. Many
families stay for weeks and bring their own coffee pots,
cooking up the fish they catch and eating on eclectic plates
found in the cupboards. There's always a little boat
that the kids can use, and the swimming pool is most often the
bay
itself!
ISLAMORADA
Islamorada is often referred to
as "The Fishing Capitol of the World." It's no surprise then
that most hotels here cater to the sports fishing enthusiast
and Islamorada has a wealth of accommodations to choose from.
The majority of hotels are positioned toward the more well
healed travel crowd who enjoy their days renting charter boats
for fishing expeditions. One resort in particular is a
favorite of a recent United States president who's hobby is
fly fishing for bonefish such as tarpon, wahoo, barracuda and
many other types of game fish. Islamorada is also home to the
annual Redbone Fishing Tournament.
In addition to
accommodation rentals, Islamorada hosts one of the largest
charter boat fleets in the world. And don't forget the
numerous kayak and jet ski rentals.
What could
be better than to spend your days fishing and then have the
chef cook up your catch that evening? Islamorada boasts many,
many fine dining restaurants, some located right on the
hotel's property. There are are dozens of bars and restaurants
that offer spectacular sunset views and are just steps away
from a world class resort.
Islamorada
has many upscale villa rentals that are also very popular.
Several are located on their own private island and provide
unsurpassed privacy.
In spite of Islamorada's
reputation for being a playground for the upscale tourist
there are still several hotels that cater to young couples and
families. Many feature activities like parasailing, boat
rentals, snorkel trips, in addition to charter boat
fishing.
There are more art galleries in
Islamorada than any other key in the Florida Keys other than
Key West.
In Islamorada, you're either on the
water, in the water or near the
water.
MARATHON
Marathon is commonly referred to
as the "Heart of the Florida Keys." There are many affordable
hotels, motels and resorts and spas to choose from.
Additionally, because Marathon caters primarily to families,
there are many private homes that can also be rented,
completely furnished and ready to enjoy.
Conveniently centered within Marathon is the Marathon
International airport. This makes air travel to Marathon a
breeze. While car rentals are available, often times there's
no need because there are many cabs available to take you and
your family directly to your hotel.
Located near these accommodations are fantastic family
attractions. You can swim with the dolphins, go snorkeling and
fishing, even take an aerial sightseeing trip in a biplane or
helicopter.
Marathon has many events
throughout the year to choose from. One of the more popular
ones is the Seafood Festival. Enjoy unlimited seafood by day
and retreat in the evening to your resort, motel, villa or
cottage or campground by the sea.
Marathon has
a little bit of the best of each of the Florida Keys and Key
West. Shopping, Arts, Boating, Fishing, Dining, Diving, and
Living. With a wide variety of accommodations to choose from
in Marathon it's easy to see why it's such a popular family
travel destination that feels like the
Caribbean.
BIG PINE
Home to the endangered
Key Deer as well as several other species, Big Pine is a
favorite destination for eco-travel visitors.
While there are no large hotels to choose from in the Big Pine
and Lower Keys area, there are many cottages, private homes
and campgrounds. Some campgrounds are located directly on the
beach and offer spectacular sunsets as well as
sunrises.
There are camps in Big Pine for
children and adults that include reef trips and back country
kayaking eco-tours as well as some of the best reef snorkeling
in the Florida Keys on Looe Key, which is home to the annual
Underwater Music Festival. There's even a miniature gold
course and a sky diving center! Private charters for back
country flats fishing is also very popular in Big Pine and the
Lower Keys.
Located several miles off shore is
the world famous Little Palm Island Resort and Spa. Accessible
only by boat or resort launch, you will discover what appears
to be a Tahitian Island transported into the crystal clear
waters of the Florida Keys. Expect world class cuisine from
the chef as well as impeccable service and accommodations from
the resort. Small sailboats and kayaks are available for use
by guests and cell phone usage is forbidden. No televisions or
radios are on the tiny island but there is a daily supply of
world newspapers for reader to choose from. The island is
dotted with rope hammocks to lounge in by day and then enjoy
freshly ironed sheets in your air conditioned bamboo suite by
night.
Big Pine also hosts the famous
Bahia Honda State Park. Voted as one of the top ten beaches in
the continental The United States, it includes fabulous
seaside campgrounds for both tents and RV's that are just
steps away from the water's
edge.
KEY WEST
Perhaps the most visited
island of all in the Florida Keys, Key West hosts a diverse
selection of travel accommodations to choose from. Located
only 90 miles from Cuba, and featuring year round tropical
weather, there are world class resorts and spas, hotels from
small to large as well as inns, guesthouses, bed and
breakfasts plus private homes and guest
cottages.
The resorts and spas feature
attention to detail that is second to none. Many have been
newly renovated and offer extensive creature comforts with
resort spas that include massage therapy, steam rooms, gyms,
and much, much more. Beautiful swimming pools with swim up
bars and beautiful beaches create a tropical experience that
rivals the Caribbean. These hotels also boast wireless
internet services, as well high definition cable TV with
premium channels.
Every resort hotel has
multiple dining facilities to choose from, casual to elegant,
continental to waterfront.
The large Key West
properties also welcome corporate events and meetings. The
provide support with in-house audio visual equipment, fax
machines, computers, and have meeting planners to help
coordinate off property excursions. These include,
Airport Meet & Greet, Catering
& Local Dining, Eco Tours & Kayaking, Floral &
Decor, Fishing & Tournaments – Deep Sea, Light Tackle,
Flats & Fly Fishing, Music & Entertainment, Golf &
Instruction & Tournaments, Local Color! – Female
Impersonators & Mallory Square Sunset Performers,
Photography & Videography Services, Key West Tours, Spouse
Programs, Watersports, Parasailing, Jet Ski’s and All Day
Watersports Parties.
Key West also includes
many national hotel and motel facilities that cater to family
travelers as well as budget minded tourists. These properties
feature the standard amenities that you would expect to find
in a national chain hotel and many are located just steps from
downtown Key West's famous Duval Street. Here you will find
attractions like The Hemingway House, Sloppy Joe's Bar, Jimmy
Buffet's Margaretville, The Key West Aquarium, The Mel Fisher
Maritime Museum plus local theaters, exhibits and numerous
other attractions.
Key West guest houses are
extremely popular and plentiful in Key West. Many are
authentic antique style "Conch" houses that have been lovingly
restored into charming guest accommodations. Suites with
kitchens as well private rooms all can be found these guest
houses. Some even feature private guest cottages complete with
clothing optional outdoor Jacuzzi spas and pools. Some guests
houses are skewed toward the gay and lesbian community and
feature properties that host gay events and
festivals.
Additionally, Key West welcomes
it's travel visitors with inns and bed and breakfast
accommodations. Here the locals open their doors to share
local cooking and traditional "Conch" style
living.
Key West private homes, available to
rent on a monthly basis, are nestled in amongst charming
restaurants, bistros, bakeries and coffee shops. Many
restuarants feature local Cuban cuisine as well as other
ethnic dishes. Key West caters to every taste in food, from
fine dining to casual off the sidewalk restaurants. Many are
open air and celebrate pet lovers as well as the free range
local chickens and roosters that walk the streets and lanes of
Key West.
Key West's legendary nightlife
begins at its' world famous Sunset Celebration at Mallory
Square. Several large hotels surround the waterfront sunset
celebration area and you can enjoy all the sights and sounds
right from your balcony or terrace. Here sailboat cruises take
tourists on sunset sails with complimentary drinks and food.
On land, street performers of all types entertain the large
nightly Key West crowds with feats of juggling, fire eating,
tight rope walking, and unique magic and animal
acts.
After the sun goes down stroll along the
many Key West streets and enjoy the exciting, legendary
nightlife. Bars, live music, restaurants, gift shops, fine
jewelry, shopping, drag shows and people watching are just
some of the attractions to see and do.
And
while you are staying in Key West, be sure to take in one of
the annual events and festivals that will surely be going on.
Fantasy Fest, Conch Republic Days, The Parrot Head Convention,
The Songwriters Festival, The Cuban American Festival, The
Poetry and Literary Festival, The Key West Sailing Regatta,
The Offshore Powerboat Races, Sculpture Key West,
The
Hemingway Days, Womenfest, and many more.
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