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[16HD117]

My wife and I are planning a bike trip to Flordia in April.  We're planning on following the east cost down and the west coast back home with a four night stay in Key West.

It's been 30 plus years since my last trip to the Keys (yes, I'm that old!).  Can anyone recommend a hotel/motel in Key West?  Also some good places to see/stay when we come back up the west coast.

 [smiley=divers009.gif]

[HogBreath]

There's a Holiday Inn just as you get into Key West. I'm planning a similar trip in March. I think our plans are to stay in Islamorda, ride to key west and back one day and stay in Islamorada again.

[DCFIREMANN]

The Raddison (I think) and you must go to IRISH KEVINS! Beware if he is on the stage keep walking and wait till he finishes the show. Then go back in sit down and wait for his next show. He is great. Very hard on the people thiugh. It is all in good fun.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

[Chief]

My wife and I are planning a bike trip to Flordia in April.  We're planning on following the east cost down and the west coast back home with a four night stay in Key West.

It's been 30 plus years since my last trip to the Keys (yes, I'm that old!).  Can anyone recommend a hotel/motel in Key West?  Also some good places to see/stay when we come back up the west coast.

 [smiley=divers009.gif]

If your wife is anything like mine, you might want to look into staying at one of the many B&B's in KW. There are a number of them, and they are generally closer to "ground zero" than the big hotels, allowing you to walk to, and more importantly, home from Duval Street after a night of "touring".

The B&B's are quaint, and the keepers are usually a great source of local information, if you want to get off the beaten path, especially helpful for restaurants.

Have a great trip!!!

Even tho it looks real cheesy, the Conch (CONK) Train is the best way to learn about the island.

Sorry, I can't be of much help on the west coast trip. I'm an East Coaster. April is a good time for Sailfish, and the King Makerel should be around too if you're into getting a line wet.

Chief

[MJZ]

I agree, the Conch Train was really informative and beat the hell out of all that walking. My favorite was the walking ghost story tour, the people that led the tour were New York stage trained and were incredible. I did it for the kids, but both me and my wife were very pleasantly surprised, I'd do it again. We stayed at The Hyatt and The Pier House, both were fine. On the way down the first time we stopped in Islamorada and stayed at The Cheeca Lodge (filthy and over priced), would never make that mistake again. There are hundreds of great places to stay from Key Largo to Key West, you will not be disappointed. There is one on the southwest side of Islamorada (across the hwy from a marina) that feeds hundreds of tarpons on the gulf side beach and has a big saltwater pool filled with amazing fish. Man I envy you, it is a great ride.

[16HD117]

If your wife is anything like mine, you might want to look into staying at one of the many B&B's in KW. There are a number of them, and they are generally closer to "ground zero" than the big hotels, allowing you to walk to, and more importantly, home from Duval Street after a night of "touring".

The B&B's are quaint, and the keepers are usually a great source of local information, if you want to get off the beaten path, especially helpful for restaurants.

Have a great trip!!!

Even tho it looks real cheesy, the Conch (CONK) Train is the best way to learn about the island.

Sorry, I can't be of much help on the west coast trip. I'm an East Coaster. April is a good time for Sailfish, and the King Makerel should be around too if you're into getting a line wet.

Chief

Thanks Chief, I like the B&B idea!  

Funny you should mention fishing.  We have a sailfish charter set up for day 2.
 [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[Chief]

Thanks Chief, I like the B&B idea!  

Funny you should mention fishing.  We have a sailfish charter set up for day 2.
 [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

Now you're talking [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] Remember to leave the  [smiley=banana.gif] [smiley=banana.gif] [smiley=banana.gif] on the dock. Not many captains like them on the boat. It's bad juju.

Chief

[RedFXR2]

There is one on the southwest side of Islamorada (across the hwy from a marina) that feeds hundreds of tarpons on the gulf side beach and has a big saltwater pool filled with amazing fish.

That would be Robbie's Marina.  It's famous for the hundreds of huge Tarpon that hang around the docks waiting to be hand-fed bait fish.  As far as the saltwater pool, you may be thinking about the Theatre of the Sea, across the bridge and a few miles to the East.  Robbies is open water--the Tarpon leave at night to hunt on their own.

Robbie's also is good for breakfast.

I was down there in December and stayed at La Siesta in Islamorada.  It's been sold and is under a complete makeover to condos but seems to have stopped halfway.  I got the impression that maintenance is a bit borderline due to impending demolition of the remaining hotel buildongs.  The Islamaroda Fish Company is a good place to eat on the way down or back, schedule depending.

We have children so we're not much out barhopping  ( :-/  ) so we typically stay north (east?) of Key West.  Since you will be able to take in things fun for grown-ups then you're on the right track to stay in KW and walk.  For a bit of old Florida go find the No Name Pub on Big Pine Key.  Turn off of US1 on Key Deer Boulevard on Big Pine Key then immediately right on No Name Key Road.  It's been there since the 1930's.  http://www.nonamepub.com/


Edit:  You may already know this but it's highly adviseable to use the Fla. Turnpike instead if I-95.  Get on the Turnpike about Stuart or Jupiter and stay until the end at Florida City.  You don't want to go through all the construction and crazy drivers from West Palm to Miami.  The tolls on the turnpike are far preferable, IMO.

[HogBreath]

hmmmm, whereever did I get my nickname? Yep, it's a honda.

[HogBreath]

one mo

[greglyon]

Robbie's was great for breakfast or lunch
We stayed in I believe a Sheraton on the water's edge while in Key West. Pricey but beautiful

[Coolbreeze]

If you are Military....    current or retired or disabled, get a hold of the Navy MWR unit down there.  Back in the early 90's we stayed in a fully furnished, guite clean, fully equiped mobile home, just off the main drag, for $12 a day.   There are about a dozen trailers in a little park that are Mil use only, and really neat.  (not a hotel for sure, but still really cool for a base of operations...)   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[jachin72]

Also in addition to what Coolbreeze just said, if you are retired military, the Fly Navy Bachelor Quarters is $26/night.  I just went there last week [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]  78 degrees and beautiful every day [smiley=drink.gif]

[Midnight Rider]

T...don't know anything about Key West, but coming  back up the West Coast, Sannibel Island is a beautiful place, and further up, well off the beaten path, is Cedar Key...there's an old Inn there thats a cool place to stay.  If you turn West a bit, St. George Island is also nice.

[bigdog257]

We always stay at The Garden House. It's a little BB about 2 blocks from Duval and The Bull.



Bigdog