I spent 6 nights at the Westin Sunset Key in Key West during February 2007 on an award stay. This vacation was booked in the summer of 2006 using 100k Starpoints, which is a steal by current standards. This was my first time in Key West, and I was traveling with a total of 4 other family members. The resort definitely exceeded my expectations, and that is saying something since my expectations were quite high.

Prior to arrival, I was happy to note that my reservation was pre-upgraded to a partial ocean view cottage about 1 week prior to arrival, although I was hoping for a full ocean view. Upon arriving at the front desk at the West Key West (you check in at the sister hotel prior to taking a complimentary ferry to Sunset Key) I inquired about an upgrade to a full ocean view. The check-in agent called over to Sunset Key and inquired about availability of an Ocean view cottage for "Mr. Snow Goose, a Platinum member". Within 30 seconds we were confirmed in an ocean front two bedroom cottage. Everyone we met during check-in was extremely professional and courteous.

The ferry crossing takes 10 minutes including loading and docking. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the Sunset Key concierge and escorted to our cottage, including a tour of the grounds and facilities along the way. The cottages are absolutely beautiful in a simple, non-pretentious way. They all have stunning wrap-around verandas with outside chairs / rocking chairs and a picnic table. One of our favorite activities was eating breakfast on the veranda, looking out at the serene ocean that was literally 15 yards from our veranda. The cottage consisted of two ample bedrooms, each with a full bath, plus a third full bath in the hall leading to the combined living room/dining room/ kitchen area. The kitchen was relatively small and a little dated, but it met our needs sufficiently (we cooked our own meals all week and only ate out twice during our trip). An LCD television, stereo system and DVD player are also provided, which is a nice plus. A second t.v. is also provided in the master bedroom.

The grounds of the resort are immaculate and filled with flowering plants. The pool area is stunning – relatively small by resort standards but intimate, exotic and surrounded by palm trees and flowering plants. It is a zero entry pool, which was great for our kids. There are also two jetted hot pools near the main pool which are equally stunning. The beach area is not huge, but the sand is quite nice (all imported from the Bahamas) and it is superior to anything else available in Key West. Beaches in the Keys generally don’t compare well with the east cost of Florida. However, it was a very pretty beach and our kids enjoyed playing in the sand. True to its name, you can also experience some beautiful sunsets from the island.

The best part of the vacation was the feeling of seclusion and unpretentious pampering we received. The resort was near capacity, but it felt almost empty. Most days we were unaware of our neighbors and the pools never felt crowded (in fact, we had them all to ourselves on many occasions). This was partly due to the season and timing of our trip, but I doubt that this resort ever feels crowded. With only one exception, the staff we met were extremely friendly and we encountered none of the typical attitude that sometimes accompanies high-end hotels and resorts.

I would love to go back every year. The resort is not inexpensive, but considering that you are getting a fully contained 2+ bedroom cottage with a kitchen it actually competes well with the Westin Key West for larger groups. Rather than paying for two rooms at the Westin Key West, you would be much better off upgrading to a cottage on Sunset Key for a similar price. Unfortunately, from a reward perspective, the resort is no longer competitive at 70k Starpoints per night. Sigh….

The Westin Sunset Key comes highly recommended for anyone looking for a relaxing first-class experience in the Key West area.