So, is Key West for you?
Not so great
Why Key West is great
- Key West is expensive - the hotels and B&Bs, especially in peak season (i.e. the season you'll want to come here) charge a small fortune. There are only a few good cheap accommodation options
- Key West is small, really small
- Key West in off peak (August to November) is uncomfortably humid
- There are only 2 beaches on the island and only 1 is good
- Key West is not that geared up for kids
Not so great
- Key West is easy to get around - you can walk everywhere which is relaxing
- The weather is usually great, especially December to April
- It's quite a friendly town
- Really set up for party/fun vacations - dozens of good bars and restaurants
- The flowers, trees and historic houses make Key West beautiful
- It's quaint, tropical, interesting
- Key West is crazy and eccentric
Different people like different vacations, so...
WHAT'S KEY WESY LIKE FOR....?
click below to read more....
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR....?
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR SUNBATHING?
**** [4 out of 5]
It's good but not if you insist on a beach to sunbathe - see below.
More likely around your hotel or guesthouse pool.
But during peak season December to April the temperature is a consistently and reliably in the 80s. Not too hot, and lots of sun. Lovely!
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR BEACHES?
** [2 out of of 5]
Well, surprisingly, not very good.
Yes, this is Florida, and it's tropical and it's hot... but Key West is small and it's a limestone rock basically, not sandy.
There's 2 beaches, the bigger one which is more sandy is not very good. The other one (Fort Zach beach) is less sandy/more rocky, but it's much prettier/nicer/better - it's the "local's secret."
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR KEEPING BUSY AND DOING LOTS OF STUFF?
**** [4 out of of 5]
It's a major tourist destination so there are dozens of things to do. The Conch train tour of the island, walk around the harbor and see the hungry pelicans/tarpon being fed, visit historic houses including the Hemingway House, don't forget the views from the top of the cool lighthouse.
See my recommendations of what to do in Key West.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR LUXURY?
** [2 out of 5]
There are no 5 star hotels but there are 3 or 4 top notch hotels - that charge 5 star prices - which offer amazing ocean views and sumptuous rooms. There are no famous spas.
To get a feel for the best - check out my favorite the Pier House resort.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR KIDS?
* [1 out of 5]
It's a town for adults. In terms of things aimed specifically at kids, there's the small aquarium and a pirate museum (that takes an hour) but that's it.
I would imagine most kids would get bored in Key West and the nearest theme park is 160 miles away in Miami.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR A BUDGET VACATION?
Bad.
The biggest cost is accommodation. Hotels and the better guesthouses charge very high rates indeed (because this is an island with limited rooms and lots of people want to come here).
Here's my guide to Key West on a budget.
I would imagine most kids would get bored in Key West and the nearest theme park is 160 miles away in Miami.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR A PHYSICAL / ACTIVITY HOLIDAY?
* [1 out of 5]
People come to Key West to laze around, eat too much and drink too much.
This is a small island and it's as flat as a pancake. The walks are pretty but hardly long / strenuous.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR A GAY HOLIDAY?
**** [4 out of 5]
Great! 5 gays bars, a gay sauna, gay friendly, a gaggle of drag queens, and 150,000 gay visitors a year. It's fun.
For more on the Key West gay scene - here.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR MARTINIS?
This town has long liked a strong drink, ever since the pirates and sailors. This is a cocktail town.
If your tipple is a martini, this town has 2 fantastic martini places, including - in Virgilio's - one of the best martini bars in the world!
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR SHOPPING?
** [2 of 5]
There are some really fun shops - very eccentric - selling local art, hot chilies, towels, hammocks etc.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR EATING/RESTAURANTS?
**** [4 out of 5]
I think the restaurants in Key West - as long as you choose the right ones, of course - are excellent.
There's a brilliant steak restaurant, and - not surprisingly - the seafood is good.
I hope I've given you a better view on Key West vacations. Feel free to leave a comment in the comments section below.
View some itineraries of what you could get up to in Key West and how long to stay
Planning a Key West vacation
click below to read more....
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR....?
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR SUNBATHING?
**** [4 out of 5]
It's good but not if you insist on a beach to sunbathe - see below.
More likely around your hotel or guesthouse pool.
But during peak season December to April the temperature is a consistently and reliably in the 80s. Not too hot, and lots of sun. Lovely!
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR BEACHES?
** [2 out of of 5]
Well, surprisingly, not very good.
Yes, this is Florida, and it's tropical and it's hot... but Key West is small and it's a limestone rock basically, not sandy.
There's 2 beaches, the bigger one which is more sandy is not very good. The other one (Fort Zach beach) is less sandy/more rocky, but it's much prettier/nicer/better - it's the "local's secret."
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR KEEPING BUSY AND DOING LOTS OF STUFF?
**** [4 out of of 5]
It's a major tourist destination so there are dozens of things to do. The Conch train tour of the island, walk around the harbor and see the hungry pelicans/tarpon being fed, visit historic houses including the Hemingway House, don't forget the views from the top of the cool lighthouse.
See my recommendations of what to do in Key West.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR LUXURY?
** [2 out of 5]
There are no 5 star hotels but there are 3 or 4 top notch hotels - that charge 5 star prices - which offer amazing ocean views and sumptuous rooms. There are no famous spas.
To get a feel for the best - check out my favorite the Pier House resort.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR KIDS?
* [1 out of 5]
It's a town for adults. In terms of things aimed specifically at kids, there's the small aquarium and a pirate museum (that takes an hour) but that's it.
I would imagine most kids would get bored in Key West and the nearest theme park is 160 miles away in Miami.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR A BUDGET VACATION?
The biggest cost is accommodation. Hotels and the better guesthouses charge very high rates indeed (because this is an island with limited rooms and lots of people want to come here).
Here's my guide to Key West on a budget.
I would imagine most kids would get bored in Key West and the nearest theme park is 160 miles away in Miami.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR A PHYSICAL / ACTIVITY HOLIDAY?
* [1 out of 5]
People come to Key West to laze around, eat too much and drink too much.
This is a small island and it's as flat as a pancake. The walks are pretty but hardly long / strenuous.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR A GAY HOLIDAY?
**** [4 out of 5]
Great! 5 gays bars, a gay sauna, gay friendly, a gaggle of drag queens, and 150,000 gay visitors a year. It's fun.
For more on the Key West gay scene - here.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR MARTINIS?
This town has long liked a strong drink, ever since the pirates and sailors. This is a cocktail town.
If your tipple is a martini, this town has 2 fantastic martini places, including - in Virgilio's - one of the best martini bars in the world!
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR SHOPPING?
** [2 of 5]
There are some really fun shops - very eccentric - selling local art, hot chilies, towels, hammocks etc.
WHAT'S KEY WEST LIKE FOR EATING/RESTAURANTS?
**** [4 out of 5]
I think the restaurants in Key West - as long as you choose the right ones, of course - are excellent.
There's a brilliant steak restaurant, and - not surprisingly - the seafood is good.
I hope I've given you a better view on Key West vacations. Feel free to leave a comment in the comments section below.
View some itineraries of what you could get up to in Key West and how long to stay
Planning a Key West vacation
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