I’m finally back and recovered from my 3 and
I want to share this guide with you all and give you tips that will make your trip seamless and fun. Although I was on quite a budget this trip, we still had a great time and saw some amazing sites.
WHERE TO STAY
Where you stay is not only about comfort and amenities but also about location and how far you are from where you will be spending the most time.
We stayed at the Best Western Key Ambassador because it was the most affordable option when booking this trip. Because we flew out of San Diego, the flight was pretty pricey so we wanted to try and save some money when it came to our hotel.
That being said, I wish I would have stayed a little closer to the main strip of Key West.
Here are some things to consider when booking a hotel:
- Where will you be spending most of your time and how far is that from the hotel?
- Does the hotel offer a shuttle?
- How close is it to the airport?
- What are
must have amenities?
STAY OPTIONS
These are in order from furthest to closest to Duval St. These are also the most affordable options I found. I would have loved to have stayed at the Merlin Guest House. It’s really close to Duval, has a pool, bar, and is super cute. Next time! 😉
- Best Western Ambassador
- Havana Cabana
- Sheraton Suites Key West
- Lighthouse Court Hotel
- Key Lime Inn
- Merlin Guest House
Airbnb is another great option and sometimes cheaper than a hotel. All of the Airbnb’s I looked at were super cute and cozy. They’re usually close to downtown and Duval St. which means you’ll be saving on ride share costs. Definitely do a quick search on Airbnb to see what options there are. I really love the more “homey” feel of Airbnb’s. So if you can pass on some of the amenities this would be a great option.
If you’re thinking of taking an Uber or Lyft in Key West, be prepared to pay double of what it would normally cost. We spent close to $30 per day using Lyft. I highly recommend finding a hotel with a shuttle especially if you’re farther than 3 miles away.
WHAT TO DO
There is so much to do in Key West! Bike, eat, drink, snorkle, site seeing! The list goes on and on. Here are some things I did while I was in Key West and some things I wished I did.
Fury Island Adventure Eco Tour
**First off I want to thank Fury Key West for inviting us to do this tour. We had such an amazing time seeing some beautiful backcountry and learning about
Fury Key West offers a bunch of different tours and rentals. We did the Island Adventure Eco Tour that includes snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding. They even include light breakfast and an amazing lunch and beverages after snorkeling.
I loved learning about the unique ecosystem out here in the Keys. Paddling through the dense Mangrove trees was probably one of my favorite parts.
If you head to Key West be sure to find a Fury booth and check out all the tours they have to offer.
Butterfly Conservatory
If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with butterflies so this place was heaven for me. This is one of the best butterfly conservatories I’ve been to, and I’ve been to quite a lot.
The Ernest Hemingway House & Museum
This is a must see not only because it’s a beautiful home but there is so much to see and learn about Ernest Hemingway. I definitely recommend taking the free tour they offer. The tour guides are super knowledgeable and funny!
Other things to see & Do
- Southernmost Point of the Continental US
- Mallory Square Sunset (get there early because it gets crowded)
- Sunset Cruise
- Shop on Duval Street
- Key West Aquarium
- Do a Ghost Tour
- Eat Key Lime Pie
- Watch the Tarpon Feeding at Robbie’s
- Sun Bathe at Smathers Beach
Where to Eat
This is a toughy because there were so many good restaurants in Key West.
Here’s some of the restaurants we checked out:
- Conch Republic Seafood Company – We were in Key West for a wedding and the reception was catered by Conch Republic. The Crab Cakes and Conch Fritters are so good and also the Key Lime Pie.
- Commodore Waterfront – Andrew and I went here on a day we had to ourselves and I’m so glad we did! We shared a seafood platter and some honey bbq wings that were amazing. The mojitos were really good too.
- Amigos Tortilla Bar – We ate here the first night we were in town. They had really good Mexican food and margaritas.
- Fogarty’s – We had a huge group and the staff was so friendly to get us all seated together. I had the tacos and they were huge and delicious! I’m not gonna lie, they were even better than the tacos from Amigos Tortilla Bar.
We had such an amazing time in Key West and I wish vacation wasn’t over. But that’s a wrap! I hope you guys enjoyed this guide and if you have any recommendations to add, I would love to hear them in the comments below.
xx // christine
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