Looking for a reccomendation for a hotel in Key Largo in October on the way down to KW. Trip Advisor has really bad reviews of both the Marriott and the Sheraton (formerly Westin) so I'm looking for a smaller property. A pool is a must. Thanks for any help. Martha

Try the Holiday Isle, about mile marker 80 (about 20 miles south of KL). Nice resort and the world famous Tiki Bar, probably the most famous place outside of KW. 2 pools and they aren't any more expensive that the two hotels you mentioned.

Thanks but we're travelling from Seattle and don't wish to go another 20 miles that day. It's quite a long travel day as it is. Still looking for a Key Largo hotel..... if anyone knows of a good one. Thanks much.

I take it you're on the AS flight to MIA? If so, depending on your interest in architecture and nature, I would recommend you head to South Beach to have dinner (Puerto Segua on 4th@Washington for Cuban is my personal recommendation) and take a look at the neon-lited art deco hotels and buildings as you'd be stuck in rush hour traffic headed out of Miami otherwise if you do arrive at 5pm. After that, just head back on the highway and head for Homestead/Florida City to stay at the Hampton Inn at the end of the turnpike (acceptable place as long as there's no stock car races then). Next morning, go to the Royal Palm visitor centre in the Everglades NP (highly recommended just after sunrise - nice cool quiet and lots of animals, birds and fishes to see before they're disturbed by loads of tourists) before heading downt to Key West. Scenically, the drive down the keys is disappointing for the most part (70% and up) and seems to be bordered by strip malls more and more these days (comparing drives in 1991-2 and 2000).

My sister stayed at the Sheraton earlier this year and thought it was o.k. (she is quite fussy). I might have stayed there years ago when it was a Sheraton (if it is the same hotel).

Thank you... sounds lovely but we are still looking for a hotel in
KEY LARGO. Anybody out there who can reccommend one?

Are you looking for cheap, reasonanble or price doen't matter?

Are you just looking for somewhere to stay for one night on the way down? You may actually have a bit of a problem finding somewhere... most places are resorts rather than hotels, and most seem to insist on a minimum of two or three nights. We found this out earlier this year when we had to break our journey into shorter chunks because one of us (me!) was cycling. Unless there is a pressing reason to stay in Key Largo I would say that Homestead is your best bet.

Reasonable price would be nice, do not want cheap motel type. As I posted we are traveling all day from Seattle and Key Largo gets us one hour out of the Miami crush. We'd like to have a swim that night, a good dinner and a place to stay on the water, and wake up to a leisurly breakfast and start the journey down. Same thing on the way back before we head to Miami airport the next am. We are traveling in October which is "low season" so any place will gladly give us a room for one night. We don't like the big huge sprawling places. I'm really looking for a "little gem" that someone knows about. Has anyone stayed at The Bayside Resort in Key Largo?
Thanks again for all the help. I appreciate it. Martha

The only low season I know of in the Keys is June, July, Aug. I think you'll be hard pressed to find a nice place under your terms.

Sept and Oct are low season in the Keys because of hurricanes. Has anyone stayed at The Bayside Resort? It used to also own Marina Del Mar.

Martha,

When I lived in Miami and would go to Key Largo for the weekend I'd stay at a friend's house, so I can't recommend hotels! However, if you're still looking, I can suggest that you check out the Miami Herald's online travel guide... they would know. The link is:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...ccommodations/

There's a link on there for "Top hotels in the Florida Keys" so it should help (you'll need to do the free registration for the paper to view it, though).

Good luck!

If money doesn't matter, check out the beautiful Ocean Reef Resort & Yacht Club. It is a wonderful resort in a beautiful area (it is a gated community/resort/working city [fire dept, schools, etc.]/yacht club). October is the low season, so you might find good deals.

Holiday Inn Key Largo, in Oct won't be many kids as there is during the high season and rates are cheap. Nice pool. IN Key Largo. Have stayed many times.

Many thanks to all who responded! martha

Years ago, ~ 1994. It was OK, not something special. Catered to scuba divers then.

If you make it to Key Largo, depending on the time, I'd be tempted to keep going, at least to Marathon, if not all the way to Key West.