The Florida Keys...Have you been there before?

[Mr Mannn]

I'm thinking about a fly/drive vacation to explore the keys.

I have a question: Can you find a nice little quaint hotel/motel without a reservation?
In other words, I just want to drive and end up wherever. I want to just go where the wind takes me.
When I'm exploring, I want the freedom to explore and not have to map out every single step.

[JohnnyReb]

I'm thinking about a fly/drive vacation to explore the keys.

I have a question: Can you find a nice little quaint hotel/motel without a reservation?
In other words, I just want to drive and end up wherever. I want to just go where the wind takes me.
When I'm exploring, I want the freedom to explore and not have to map out every single step.

This time of year...YES. It's a 120 miles from Key Largo to Key West. I would suggest start looking about mid way down, Marathon Key, one side or other of seven mile bridge.....or arrive early in the day in Key West and look for a motel/hotel so if you can't find a place(unlikely) you will have time to head back up the road aways. Sugar Loaf Key MM22 used to have a nice motel/restaurant(Sugar Loaf Lodge) combo that was centrally located to the lower Keys. Sugar Loaf also had the Bat Tower and a small airstrip where you could rent a light airplane to take a flight over the Keys.

Have fun, stay cool.

ETA:     OOOPS! Sugar Loaf Lodge may have changed some.....decide for yourself.

http://www.roomstays.com/hotel/1014429

[jtyangel]

This time of year...YES. It's a 120 miles from Key Largo to Key West. I would suggest start looking about mid way down, Marathon Key, one side or other of seven mile bridge.....or arrive early in the day in Key West and look for a motel/hotel so if you can't find a place(unlikely) you will have time to head back up the road aways. Sugar Loaf Key MM22 used to have a nice motel/restaurant(Sugar Loaf Lodge) combo that was centrally located to the lower Keys. Sugar Loaf also had the Bat Tower and a small airstrip where you could rent a light airplane to take a flight over the Keys.

Have fun, stay cool.

ETA:     OOOPS! Sugar Loaf Lodge may have changed some.....decide for yourself.

http://www.roomstays.com/hotel/1014429

agreed..I lived in far south Miami as a teen(parent worked on Homestead AFB before it blew away with Andrew and Clinton decided to not rebuild it:P). Main thing is to make sure there are no festivals in the Keys--even locals in the area I grew up in often will book hotels overnight so they can enjoy the day and just stay overnight to avoid the drive back. It's really gorgeous. We almost got there last year and intend to stop down on our next trip closer to the holidays but for us its a bit easier since we always have a 150 mile drive back to family if everyone is booked and that's doable if one must drive it. I think you will be good this time of year too and just check on any major festivals in Key West especially. There is some camping there too and plenty of spots, as I recall, that you can pull over and impromptu sleep if needed, but sand fleas and other pests can be a problem so hotels are far more comfortable:-) Enjoy! I can't wait to get home and delayed our usual summer trip so I can spend the holidays with my brothers before my oldest goes her way into adulthood!

[Mr Mannn]

Hate to say, its not gonna be this time of year. More likely January or February. Maybe as late as March 2015.

[jtyangel]

Hate to say, its not gonna be this time of year. More likely January or February. Maybe as late as March 2015.

I think your only issue then is #1-there are more people(escaping the cold) and #2 for the same reason hotels get booked(and are pricier). March I would be wary of too. Spring Break. The number of people who migrate down for whichever week of spring break their kids get off is legendary at times. I've sat in the traffic when we were going to visit family and we made the mistake of going to Disney during that time too(I know hours from where you are, but the college kids often go further south). I'd do research online and pay attention to the feedback on trips and how busy things were. Also, price things out at various hotels for those times(even though you aren't booking) to see availability. Call some of the hotels too and inquire about those times--most often those locals especially at hotels are aware of big events coming their way or can give you some feedback on the heaviest traveling times. For example, sometimes we go to NC(Wilmington) on our spring break and I usually avoid that trip and plan it somewhere else if it coincides with their Azalea festival since the rooms are booked and everything is pricier and packed. The week before and after are usually great though.

Like I said, just check around. Call there and inquire with some of the local businesses who deal with tourists everyday. They should have a good idea for the year you are booking, particularly as you get closer to it, when a good time is or not as far as being able to book on an as needed basis. I know you want to explore but keep in mind the Keys are just 120 miles. Like JR said you could choose somewhere like Marathon Key and book a room there and you will be within 50-70 miles of your room either way--not a bad trip back. Plus many places just require that you cancel 24 hours before to not get charged. Use that to your advantage if you see it is not a busy time you are going. Just a few thoughts:-) You will love it if you choose to do it. It's beautiful and I spent many a weekend as friends at the Tiki Bar and it's accompanying beach but that is college age kid stuff--still a blast and just incredible scenery! Take the time to do exactly what you said--stop and explore as the mood strikes! I love the keys and miss living in Florida because of the bevy of day/weekend trips available in either direction that never get old.

[SaintLouieWoman]

Hate to say, its not gonna be this time of year. More likely January or February. Maybe as late as March 2015.

That's the high season, most expensive time. For example, Sarasota now seems almost empty. The hotels are less expensive, get deals on food at restaurants, which are seldom full. It's during the winter that everyone flocks here for good reason.

I've stayed in the Key Largo area and it was nice---gut that was years ago. Ask wherever you stay and find the local restaurants that won't be as crowded. I remember going to a restaurant in Key Largo in a little strip mall. It didn't look promising from the exterior, but had the best key lime pie in Florida. The seafood was great, too.

[BattleHymn]

Best of luck to you Mr Mannn. 

We're going to head to the keys hopefully sometime next year, and I am enjoying the responses, too.

[JohnnyReb]

Well, that pretty much covers it.

December 1 to April 1 is the busy time and high prices. Halloween week is a good week (Fantasyfest gets wild) but if you don't have a place reserved, forget it. New Years is OK and Saint Patrick's is good too. Off shore boat races usually the first week of November, Octoberfest all month of October but last 10 days is best with [renasance(SP) days/medieval times].

Summerland Key and Big Pine are good places to rent SCUBA gear and make dive trips but then just about every Key of any size has that and fishing/diving/snorkeling.

[BattleHymn]

Mr Mannn, you might also want to consider staying at state park cabins, too.  When we visit the panhandle of Florida, even in season, we can sometimes find a vacancy of a day or two at the various parks scattered along the coast. 

Has anyone here been to Bahia Honda SP?  That's the one I do want to go to down there.

[Fourwinds]

I spent two weeks on Key West in 2009 during mid-tour leave. It was the best vacation I've ever had in my life. Just watch out for the chickens, I almost tripped over one walking in the kmart to pick up some civilian clothes.

As far as motel/hotel arrangements go, they have your standard Days Inn style chain places. But head toward other parts of the key and you'll find small houses people have turned into BnB's. The small tourist traps are fun, but I found more interesting things walking around through the neighborhoods and it's a great place to people watch.

[JohnnyReb]

Mr Mannn, you might also want to consider staying at state park cabins, too.  When we visit the panhandle of Florida, even in season, we can sometimes find a vacancy of a day or two at the various parks scattered along the coast. 

Has anyone here been to Bahia Honda SP?  That's the one I do want to go to down there.

State parks, Long Key and Bahia Honda, are very nice and back in the seventies when I first going to the Keys several times a year you had to start calling at 8 am. exactly 30 days in advance to get in one. Now I am told that they take reservations up to a year in advance. A few years ago when I tried last, they were booked solid for that year.

There is or was a site where you could check availability and reserve a spot in one.....better check now if you think you want to go that way.

[BattleHymn]

There is or was a site where you could check availability and reserve a spot in one.....better check now if you think you want to go that way.

Yeah, it's www.reserveamerica.com.  As far as I know, other than just a walk-in booking (assuming a vacancy), it's the only way to get a spot anymore. 

Sometimes, just sometimes, you can still get a one or a two night stay without a reservation by checking with the park office.  My experience is only with the panhandle part of Florida, though.

[Mr Mannn]

Curses. I was really hoping for a carefree driving vacation.
I've done that before in Colorado and loved it.

[njpines]

I've stayed in Islamorada once and Key West a few times (here: http://www.islandcityhouse.com/ -- REALLY nice place!). Then we drove back up the causeway and across the state and stayed on Sanibel Island for the rest of the vacation(s)

[obumazombie]

Has anyone mentioned the Duval crawl ?

I've been to Duval but managed to avoid the crawl.
It's on a par with the Beale kneel (over the toilet), and
The Bourbon (icewater soaked towel) turban.

[JohnnyReb]

Has anyone mentioned the Duval crawl ?

I've been to Duval but managed to avoid the crawl.
It's on a par with the Beale kneel (over the toilet), and
The Bourbon (icewater soaked towel) turban.

Been there, did that........but not in one night.

[catsmtrods]

I rented a private home on a canal in Key Largo for a week. Its was cheap and there is a motor cycles shop that rent there and I explored the rest of the Keys on the bike. Its was wonderful!