Located at the tip of the
Florida Keys, the
city of Key West is known
as the continental United States'
southernmost city. Once quite isolated, the Florida Keys are now accessible
via the Overseas
Highway that connects the Keys to mainland Florida.
Performing its duty as the USA's gateway to the Caribbean,
and located only 90 mi (144.84 km) north of Cuba,
the city's unique culture is heavily influenced by its neighbours to the east
and sourh.
The numerous accommodation
options in Key West range from economy to luxury and suit the needs of business
and leisure travelers. The information that follows is an accommodation overview
for visitors who are planning a trip to Key West.
Helpful Links
- Accommodation
Directory—This is a complete Key West accommodation directory containing
detailed information about hotels, B&Bs, luxury resorts and more. With links
to accommodation websites and interactive maps, this directory is designed
to help visitors find the right place to stay based on their personal preferences.
- Secure
Room Reservations—Check for Key West room availability and then make
secure online room reservations for participating properties with this convenient
link.
- Maps—The
Key West map can assist visitors in choosing where to stay by not only indicating
where accommodations are located, but also where they are in relation to attractions,
restaurants, shops, tours and transportation.
ACCESS/TRANSPORTATION
Getting There
By Road
Driving is probably the easiest way to access Key
West. The 127.5-mi-long (205.2-km) highway, known as the Overseas Highway,
is a continuation of US Route 1, which provides road access to the Florida Keys
from mainland Florida, and features Key West as the road's end point. It was
built along the foundation of the former Overseas Railway, which was partially
destroyed in 1935 by a hurricane. Drivers on a schedule should keep in mind
that during the busy winter season the highway becomes quite congested.
By Air
The Key
West International Airport (EYW) is located on the island's southeast
side, quite close to the city of Key West's downtown. Direct and connection
flights to EYW are offered from a variety of Florida
airports.
By Sea
For visitors who prefer the fresh ocean breeze while they travel, taking a ferry
from the mainland is an option. Dry
Tortugas National Park Ferry, Key
West Ferry and Key
West Express are ferry companies that provide year-round service between
the mainland and Key West.
Shuttle Services
There are a variety of shuttle services available from Florida's mainland to
Key West. Greyhound
Lines offer bus transportation between Miami International Airport and
the Keys with a few stops along the way. Keys
Shuttle features a daily service that makes six trips between the Keys,
Miami
International Airport and Fort
Lauderdale International Airport. Also able to accommodate individual
and group travelers on a daily basis between Orlando,
West Palm Beach,
Fort Lauderdale,
Miami and Key
West, is TransFloridian
Luxury Motocoach.
Getting Around
The city of Key West is relatively small and provides a perfect setting for
walkers and bicycle riders, as the terrain is mostly flat. Thus, many locals
use a bicycle as their primary mode of transportation. For tourists, bicycles
can be hired from rental
shops such as Bike
Rentals Key West––which will also rent out mopeds and scooters. The
city transit is comprised of several bus routes that are conveniently color-coded
and provide transportation around the island. As well, taxi
services are efficient ways to get from point A to point B.
Although it might be easier
to take advantage of the alternate modes of transportation, travelers who are
adamant about driving will find parking spaces scattered around the city. Chain
hotels in the newer district are likely to have their own parking facilities
while accommodations in Old
Town are not. However, metered parking is available along downtown streets.
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Bike
Rental 2 |
ORIENTATION
The Overseas Highway enters
the island of Key West from the northeast, splits in two and subsequently becomes
Roosevelt Boulevard north and south. Divided by White Street, the city of Key
West is organized into east and west sections in a grid pattern. The west side
is known as Old Town, because it was the city's original neighborhood. Containing
architecture from the late 1800s and early 1900s, this area is home to characteristic
bungalow and guest mansions. Popular tourist attractions within the district
include Bahama
Village and the Ernest
Hemingway Home & Museum.
The east side of the city
is referred to as New
Town. As its name suggests, this section of the city was developed more
recently and is a popular residential area for locals. The area contains the
Key
West International Airport and a number of chain hotels, as well as
a variety of shopping centers and strip malls.
WHEN TO VISIT
|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Rainfall |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
65.2°F
(18.4°C) |
75.3°F
(24.1 °C) |
2.22
in |
| Feb |
65.7°F
(18.7°C) |
75.9°F
(24.4°C) |
1.51
in |
| Mar
|
68.8°F
(20.4°C) |
78.8°F
(26°C) |
1.86
in |
| Apr |
72.1°F
(22.3°C) |
81.9°F
(27.7°C) |
2.06
in |
| May
|
75.9°F
(24.4°C) |
85.4°F
(29.7°C) |
3.48
in |
| Jun
|
78.7°F
(30°C) |
88.1°F
(31.2°C) |
4.57
in |
| Jul |
79.6°F
(26.4°C) |
89.4°F
(31.9°C) |
3.27
in |
|
Aug |
79.2°F
(26.2°C) |
89.5°F
(32°C) |
5.40
in |
|
Sep |
78.5°F
(25.8°C) |
88.2°F
(31.2°C) |
5.45
in |
|
Oct |
75.7°F
(24.3°C) |
84.7°F
(29.3°C) |
4.34
in |
|
Nov |
71.9°F
(22.2°C) |
80.6°F
(27°C) |
2.64
in |
|
Dec |
67.3°F
(19.6°C) |
76.7°F
(24.8°C) |
2.14
in |
|
|
Climate
data from the
rssWeather.com |
|
Weather-wise in Key West,
the year can be divided into two seasons—the wet winter season and the dry summer
season. Year-round, Key West experiences moderate temperatures, thanks to the
cooling sea breeze that sweeps over the island due to its location between the
Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The wet season (receiving 53 per cent
of the year's precipitation) occurs in May through November. Showers can be
expected in the early morning on a daily basis, and the average temperature
at this time is 80°F (26.7°C ). The dry season (receiving less than 25 per cent
of the yearly precipitation) occurs between November and April, and is characterized
by an abundance of sunshine. Temperatures are pleasent at this time of year
and the daily averages range between 75°F - 80°F (23.9°C - 26.7°C). The end
of December until mid-April is the city's busiest time, however if visitors
want to take advantage of the low season, the fall and early December provide
moderate temperatures and good deals. Hotels offer discounted rates and packages,
making it well worth visiting at this time of year.
DISTRICTS
Old Town Accommodation
Encompassing the west side of the island, Old
Town is the historic heart of Key West. Having attracted artists, song
writers, musicians and members of the gay community throughout history, visitors
are likely to spend the majority of their time in this upbeat and lively area.
Though some say Old Town has been consumed by tourism, the district
offers an array of dining
and accommodation
options and is a great place for visitors who want to experience a vacation
unique to Key West.
Guesthouses and Bed &
Breakfasts
In Old Town there are many historic homes that have been transformed into exquisite
guest accommodations, making Bed
& Breakfasts a popular alternative to staying in a hotel. These
quaint guest homes give visitors a chance to get to know the proprietor and
perhaps experience the local Key West way of life.
High-End
Those looking for high-end accommodation in Old Town will find it at the luxury
resorts located nearby and on the ocean shore. Located by Mallory
Square, the Ocean
Key Resort & Spa provides guests with a vast amount of top quality amenities.
Residing further down Duval Street is the 1926-built Crowne
Plaza Hotel. Though not on the waterfront, the Crowne Plaza features
many amenities and is within walking distance of the beach,
major tourist attractions
and restaurants.
 |
| Westin
Hotel & Harbor Walk3 |
|
Constructued in 1920 and
listed in the National Register for Historic Places, the Mediterranean-inspired
architecture of Casa
Marina Resort & Beach Club adds to the resort's relaxing and luxurious
atmosphere. Another posh property situated on the waterfront is the Westin
Key West Resort & Marina. Guests can appreciate the hotel's ideal location
and appealing ambiance as they meander along the oceanfront promenade and discover
the Marina shops.
New Town Accommodation
Mid-Range
Accommodation options to the east of White Street differ from what is found
in the historic downtown. More recently developed and primarily a residential
area, lodgings found in New Town are newer and are likely to be well-known American
hotel chains. Although not located in the heart of the hip downtown, New Town
hotels offer more reasonable prices, and transportation to the city's core is
readily available. Fairfield
Inn & Suites by Marriott Key West enjoys a convenient location 2 mi
(3.2 km) from Duval Street and just minutes from Mallory
Square. A bit farther from downtown, Holiday
Inn Beachside Key West is located on North Roosevelt Boulevard and provides
guests with many amenities including an outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, tennis courts
and more. If driving to the island New Town accommodations offer an additional
bonus––ample parking facilities accompany most of the chain hotels.
Campgrounds and Budget
Accommodation
Though the majority of accommodations range from mid-to-high-end, there
are a handful of campgrounds and budget accommodations that visitors can take
advantage of. The closest campgrounds
to the city of Key West are located on nearby Stock
Island. Situated at the island of Key West's entrance, Leo's
Campground is at mile marker 4.5. Transportation to downtown from Boyd's
Key West Campground is made easy as the site is found on the city transit
route. Boyd's has a variety of hotel-like amenities such as wireless Internet
access, laundry facilities and more. For those on a tight budget, though not
wanting to camp, the Key
West Youth Hostel & Seashell Motel provides cheap accommodation at an
idea Old Town location.
ATTRACTIONS
| |
 |
| |
Duval
Street4 |
Most of Key
West's must-see sights are located in Old Town. The main drag and Key
West's business district is called Duval
Street. Chock full of unique island pubs
and wild bars,
it is hard to find time to explore them all. Attending a pub crawl by Key
West Promotions is a popular way to pack as much of Duval's cool nightlife
as possible into one fun and unforgettable evening. For a more relaxing nightout,
visitors can head down to Mallory
Square to watch the sunset while enjoying the antics of quirky street
performers.
Highlighting the culture
of Old Town Key West, guided
walking tours are an interesting and informative way to explore the
city. From the Trails
of Margaritaville to the Ghosts
& Legends of Key West, there are a number of excursions that may spark
the interest of visitors.
During many of Key West's
various annual festivals,
an overflow of people flood the city looking for some added entertainment. Though
the city has tremendous gay pride all year-long, PrideFest
is a popular festival held annually in June. Celebrating achievements of
the gay community and promoting respect and tolerance, activities at PrideFest
are fun and entertaining. Another notorious event, bringing visitors to Key
West in the low season, is late October's Fantasy
Fest, which combines Halloween and Carnivale festivities.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Overseas Bridge; Key
West, FL, USA
- Bike Rental; Key
West, FL, USA
- Harbor Walk &
Westin Hotel; Key West, FL, USA
- Duval Street; Key
West, FL, USA
