help first timer

Planning a trip to key west second week of november for 5 days for a suprise 50th birthday. Need advise on a nice resort. small beach if possible and in walking distance to all food shops. Can someone please list resorts. Having a really hard time to where to pick at a great location!

Thanks so much

Donna

help first timer

Dear Donna

We have just returned from Key West (we are in the UK) and stayed at Simonton Court, Simonton Street.

This is only one block from Duvall, where all the shops and restaurants are, and only a short walk to Mallory Square. The setting inside the hotel is breath taking. There are four swimming pools, complimentary breakfast every morning in the gardens, and the room we were in had it%26#39;s own roof sun deck.

For your information is was room SC3 (and it had a gorgeous double shower!)

It did have its own parking but this cost $20 per day. The hotel is quiet and restful and we would not hesitate in staying there again.

You can look them up on the internet.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Have a lovely stay.

Anne and Howard Taylor, Leeds, England

help first timer

I personally prefer a hotel to a B%26amp;B and would recommend the Pier House. You can find out about it at pierhouse.com and if pjk, a local expert for KW, happens to come to this thread, he can provide you with much more info. The Pier House and the hotel directly accross Duval from it, Ocean Key, have perhaps the best location on the island. I understand that the Ocean Key has great rooms, but the grounds (small private beach, beach bar, etc.) are nicer at the Pier House. I don%26#39;t think you can go wrong with either.

I like the Pier House for the small beach that allows you to actually swim in the ocean, and the grounds just off the beach and which surround the pool and hot tub area. These are really a garden with many flowering plants. There is a small topless beach to one side, and a very good resteraunt on the other that serves very good food. And there is a nice, second level deck where you can have breakfast under an umbrella.

The suites that face the ocean IMO are too expensive. But you can get a garden view room on the first or second floor for approx $255.00 / night, plus tax. These have either a king or two queen-sized beds and a large bathroom. They have their own sunset pier, the Havana Docks, and as soon as you walk out the door you are on Duval Street. They have ther own parking areas, but I have never thought to find out if they charge for parking. I usually fly in and then take a cab from the airport.

Look at their web page, but it doesn%26#39;t show how nice the hotel is.

Pjk

Thank you so much for all the information, it will be useful in making a great choice. Now I trying to find a good air fair from philadelphia to key west! all of us love the beach and water.

Does it matter what end of Duvall Street you are on?? I would hate to rent a car if we don%26#39;t have to, because we will only be there 4-5 days.

I will check out the Pier House Rates!

Thanks again

The Gulf (Bay) side of Key West is generally more popular because it%26#39;s the center of the sunset celebrations, most tourist activities, and lots of great restaurants. If you love to walk, you won%26#39;t care which side of the island you%26#39;re on. I%26#39;m partial to the Gulf because I love sitting on a balcony and watching the boat traffic.

Key West isn%26#39;t really a resort town. We used to be able to recommend the Casa Marina - which was the closest thing Key West has to a resort - but it suffered lots of damage in the hurricane, has been sold, and isn%26#39;t getting very good reviews at the moment.

When you say ';small beach'; I hope you realize that the beaches in Key West are tiny! Really tiny! It%26#39;s definitely not a beach destination, but it has so much more to offer, we%26#39;ve all gotten used to what is there - not what isn%26#39;t :) Have fun!

a -

There are 234 photos in this gallery, many of the Pier House and a lot of the various sights in Key West as well as a snorkel trip on the Stars %26amp; Stripes...

鈥mugmug.com/gallery/588958/10/25331477

Pjk

do not rent a car... duval is like a mile long. you really should need a car and it costs a lot to park it.

Do your research - some beaches have been closed due to high coliform counts (recently, Higgs Beach). ';Walking Distance'; isn%26#39;t so much an issue because there are bikes and motorbikes you can rent if the hike a couple of blocks to the action is too much.

RE: accomodations - it comes down to ';Keys flavor'; vs. ';resort experience';. If you want flavor, go with small hotels or B%26amp;B%26#39;s or even rental properties which should be a bah-gain at the time of your travel.

If you want resort....I have no input. I%26#39;ve done the Keys for 30 years and wouldn%26#39;t stay in a hotel or resort unless it was free.

Have found the staff at Divers Direct on Greene Street to be particularly forthright about where, what, how, to do. You might want to give them a call.

A bad day in the Keys beats a good day anywhere else! Enjoy!

D2

I%26#39;m afraid I have to disagree with EtTuD2 regartding the ';Keys flavor.'; Staying at a hotel (as opposed to a B%26amp;B) in KW is not a negative thing. BTW, something that is not mentioned too often, you can get a AAA discount at the Pier House.

eyeliner