"Key West lodging to enjoy!"

I regret to inform you that Key West lodging is rather limited when it comes to both luxury and to good cheap places. There is, however, a broad selection of places in between those two ends of the lodging spectrum. Keep in mind that Key West is a tourist destination city and all of the rooms are priced accordingly. The most expensive time to visit is between Christmas and Easter. During the times of special events, such as Fantasy Fest, you can expect minimum stay requirements.

The town was created and developed many decades ago as a working community, not a resort. It was isolated from railroad traffic until 1912 and vehicle traffic until 1938.

You don't find the beach-side high-rises like you see in Miami Beach. Even the larger Key West lodging facilities are low on the horizon.

Let's start by mentioning some of the larger hotels and resorts. Such places have at least a hundred rooms and suites, good beach frontage, one or more swimming pools and spas, and onsite dining facilities, either a restaurant or snack bar or both. These include the historic Casa Marina Resort and Beach Club (236 rooms, 71 suites), Doubletree Grand Key Resort (216 rooms), Sheraton Suites (180 rooms), the Westin Key West Resort and Marina (178 rooms), Crowne Plaza Key West (La Concha) (160 rooms), the Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa (126 rooms, 16 suites), Southernmost Hotel (127 rooms), the Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa (110 rooms, 10 suites), the Inn at Key West (105 rooms), and Ocean Key Resort and Spa (100 rooms).

The next group of hotels have fewer than a hundred rooms but still offer you many amenities. They include Hyatt Windward Pointe (93 rooms), Hyatt Sunset Harbor Resort (92 rooms), and Parrot Key Beach House Resort (74 rooms).

There are real treasures in the smaller Key West hotels. Some of the finest include the Gardens Hotel (12 rooms, 4 suites, 1 cottage), the Santa Maria Suites Resort (35 rooms), the Sunset Key Guest Cottages (37 cottages), the Marquesa Hotel (14 rooms, 13 suites), Southernmost on the Beach (47 rooms), and Banana Bay Resort (48 rooms).

Key West lodging includes many familiar national brands that won't cost you as much. They include the Courtyard Key West Waterfront (68 rooms), Fairfield Inn and Suites Key West (100 rooms), Best Western Key Ambassador Resort Inn (100 rooms), Best Western Hibiscus Motel (61 rooms), Days Inn Key West Inn and Lodge (133 rooms), Travelodge and Suites Key West (64 rooms).

You can find some cheaper discount rates at some of the smaller independent hotels and motels that do not have a national brand name. Since they are not franchisees, they set their own standards of service and cleanliness. Some of them probably are very suitable. You pay your money and you take your chance. You might be a winner. I have never stayed at any of them and choose to name only one here. The Harborside Motel and Marina may interest the deep sea fishing crowd.

There are dozens of Key West bed and breakfast places. At a bed and breakfast your breakfast, either continental or full, is included in the price of your room. A bed and breakfast usually is a smaller place with fewer rooms than a hotel or motel. The building often is someone's former personal residence. Some rooms have a private bath. For other rooms you will be sharing a common bathroom with other guests. An owner or manager frequently lives onsite. The emphasis is on personal service. These places have a loyal following among visitors who require less privacy and prefer some community.

The Key West Youth Hostel is the only place of its kind in the city. Such places with common dorm bedrooms and baths are popular in Europe but rare in the United States. For the cheapest Key West lodging rates you need to make advance reservations to get one of the 92 beds. If it makes a difference to you, keep in mind that no alcoholic beverages are allowed on the premises.

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