Key Largo versus Islamorada - Where to Stay?

[michaelp68]

I'm planning a trip in July with my wife. We're trying to figure out whether to go to Islamorada or Key Largo, and where to stay.

My wife is a diver, but she's not diving on this trip because she's pregnant. So, while I'm diving, it's important to her that there's a nice pool area and some beach options.

It's important to me that she enjoy the place we're staying at, and that it's convenient for my diving.

I've pulled a bunch of names of dive operators from other SB threads and from recommendations of some friends.

I'm interested in some advice on a place to stay that will be convenient for my diving and will make my wife happy with a nice pool, hopefully a beach and some nearby food.

I know there's a Marriott, a Sheraton, a Holiday Inn and a host of other places in Key Largo. I'm open to suggestions and information.

I am also aware of The Islander and Holiday Isle in Islamorada. Same thing, in that I'm open to suggestions and information.

Thank you very much for any thoughts.

Michael

 

[Mrs.Prages]

I am going to key largo again in August. I just used www.vrbo.com and found quite a few rental condos and houses that had all that you just described included with them and a lot of them were actually cheaper than the hotels in that area.

If you have not been to key largo before, make sure that the place has beach and not just canal marina, if you are looking for beach access. Many say waterfront but they are on a canal.

Have fun

 

[616fun]

We were in Key Largo in May and booked the Best Western thru Horizon Divers for $99 a night. I believe the normal rate was $170.

The room was a two floor suite with an economy kitchen,balcony, and two full baths. It overlooked one of the inlets. The Best Western is right next door to Horizen Divers. We walked over to pick up the boat.

 

[KeyLargoBrent]

I'm planning a trip in July with my wife. We're trying to figure out whether to go to Islamorada or Key Largo, and where to stay.

My wife is a diver, but she's not diving on this trip because she's pregnant. So, while I'm diving, it's important to her that there's a nice pool area and some beach options.

It's important to me that she enjoy the place we're staying at, and that it's convenient for my diving.

I've pulled a bunch of names of dive operators from other SB threads and from recommendations of some friends.

I'm interested in some advice on a place to stay that will be convenient for my diving and will make my wife happy with a nice pool, hopefully a beach and some nearby food.

I know there's a Marriott, a Sheraton, a Holiday Inn and a host of other places in Key Largo. I'm open to suggestions and information.

I am also aware of The Islander and Holiday Isle in Islamorada. Same thing, in that I'm open to suggestions and information.

Thank you very much for any thoughts.

Michael

Check out the Moorings in Islamorada... beautiful oceanside beachfront accommodations, centrally located, and much more laid back than Holiday Isle, which can get rather raunchy and rowdy on the weekends. Lots of great restaurants and art galleries are within easy walking distance of the Moorings. But don't limit your diving to Islamorada. Key Largo diving (just 20 miles up the road) should not be missed. Enjoy!

 

[michaelp68]

Thanks to all of you for the thoughts and information so far.

Michael

 

[mike_s]

it's important to her that there's a nice pool area and some beach options.

It's important to me that she enjoy the place we're staying at, and that it's convenient for my diving.

I'm interested in some advice on a place to stay that will be convenient for my diving and will make my wife happy with a nice pool, hopefully a beach and some nearby food.

I know there's a Marriott, a Sheraton, a Holiday Inn and a host of other places in Key Largo. I'm open to suggestions and information.

The Holiday Inn in Key Largo is nice. http://www.holidayinnkeylargo.com/ I'd definately stay there again. We got rooms at $99/night "walk up" but I suggest reservations. Many of the dive shops can do a package and save you a few bucks. It's nothing fancy though, as most Holiday Inn's aren't. It's an "old style" Holiday Inn where you have a perimeter of buildings with the parking lot on the outside. The rooms on the outside of the building face the parking lot and the rooms on the inside face the pool section. They've added a "newer" "inside hallway" building in the back of the complex since the original was built. The rooms are pretty standard but are nice and were clean. The A/C was very cold and worked great. The rooms also had a mini fridge in them. They have two pools in the courtyard area with a Tiki thatch bar between them. Inside is a regular restuarant which wasn't bad either. They are located right on the Key Largo marina area which is host to several different dive operators, some within walking distance which was nice since you didn't have to drive to catch a dive boat. Also convienent within walking distance is a McDonalds, Wendys, gas station, an Eckerd drugs (which is now CVS or RiteAid I think), an grocery store in the shopping center next door which included a coffee and donut shop, a laundry-mat and the Worldwide Watersports super size dive store. So this location can pretty much cover it all almost. However, there is not a beach at this hotel. For the most part beaches in the Keys are few and far between anyway.

The Marriott in Key Largo http://www.marriottkeylargo.com/does sorta have a beach. It's on the bay side, so it's not an "ocean" beach, but it does have a sandy beach area tha leads into the water, which is about all you get at most keys locations that have a beach. It's also has an onsite dive operator. The Marriott of course is a little fancier than a Holiday Inn, but it costs more also.

We are staying at the Bayside Resort this summer on our trip there. I can let you know about it sometime in July.


Down in Islamorda there is a place that looked like it had a nice beach from the road. I can't remember a name of it but a friend has stayed there. They have a bar that can be seen from the road with "Tiki Hut" or something similar on a big sign and a huge model "scuba tank" that must be 15 or 20 feet tall. Maybe someone else can say the name of this place, but it might be worth looking into. (This might be Holiday Isle, but I'm not sure)

hope all this helps.

-mike

 

[Mitchell]

Lime Tree Motor Inn

Food next door. Lower Keys mile marker 69?
Nice Pool, Ocean Deck, Boat Rentals next Door whirlpool. Nice People. Quiet
Diving off of the beach

 

[DivePartner1]

. . .The Marriott in Key Largo http://www.marriottkeylargo.com/does sorta have a beach. It's on the bay side, so it's not an "ocean" beach, but it does have a sandy beach area tha leads into the water, which is about all you get at most keys locations that have a beach. It's also has an onsite dive operator. The Marriott of course is a little fancier than a Holiday Inn, but it costs more also.

I stayed in the Marriot in January and was dissappointed. The price was high end the facility was not, although they did provide an ozone machine to mask the smoke smell in the "nonsmoking" room. I made reservations with the dive op weeks in advance. They weren't ready for me and pawned me off on another dive op, requiring a last minute death ride to get to the boat on time (what I try to avoid).

Further down the road, the Key Largo Sheraton looked like more of the quality you'd expect at that price range.

I'd try Islamorada and get away from Key Largo is you can. It's more of a vacation.

 

[michaelp68]

It's all helpful. Thanks again.

 

[Foo]

I stayed at Holiday Isle in Islamorada in early June 4 years ago, and had a blast. I was not a diver at the time, however. It has a great pool and there is a beach, several on-site restaurants, a convenience store, maybe even a dive shop? And a kick-butt Tiki bar, where they rock into the wee hours of the morning, along with other, more sedate hang-outs available. They had poolside entertainment (reggae singers, etc.) and swim up bars, etc.

We didn't stay in the "hotel" area, but rather in a more remote section with kitcheonette rooms in small groupings. That was nice, as we were out of the people traffic area and could park right in front of our condo, plus it was much quieter. The entire property is very easy to just walk from area to area, it sounds huge, but everything is easily accesible.

If you like to party a bit, you will be happy there. If you like to party a LOT, you'll be ecstatic. If partying isn't your bag, you might want to pick another place to stay. Ahem...did I mention that I had a BLAST? ;o)

Foo