www.booking.com/Marathon-Hotels

lots of good options

hawksnest-marathon.com my fav

an oldie but a goodie

Thanks for your quick reply.
We are travelling from Australia and have found it a little difficult trying to get info for this section of our trip.
We are booked into a B&B in Key West that sounds fantastic and want to make sure we get a nice place for this stay.
The problem I have found is that many places have a 2 night minimum.
I will check out your sites and Hawks Nest.
Donna

Look at the Hampton Inn in Islamorada.

I will check out the Hampton Inn.
Thanks again
donna

The drive along the Keys is only 4 hours total... I would stop to eat along the drive, and push on to Key west for the additional night... much more fun than stopping and driving two hours in the morning...

We stayed in Key Largo at a Holiday inn once, just because we were a day early for the reservation at Key West. They have the original African Queen there . . used for dinner cruises and such

We live in Islamorada and consider it the gem of the Florida Keys. Key Largo and Marathon are much more commercial. The Hampton is oceanfront and next door is Breezy Palms. It is much cheaper but clean. We recommend both to visitors. Cheeca Lodge is the finest resort but expensive. There are lots of excellent restaurants in Islamorada and if you want a taste of the real Florida Keys, this is my suggestion. One person mentioned "Hawk's Nest". It's Hawk's Cay outside Marathon. We love Australia, been there many times!

It's been many years since we stayed at Cheeca Lodge, but it was very nice when we did. Would you mind telling us which B&B you've selected for Key West?

Thanks MJT for your recommendations. Where do you suggest for lunch? We do not have fancy tastes and like anything excpet seafood and spicy foods like Indian.
Where was your favourite place in Australia?
We are about 45 minutes from Melbourne by the bay.

SusanCS we are staying at the Mermaid and Alligator B&B in Key West. It has outstanding reviews on trip advisor and all rooms look great.
Thanks for your help
Donna

Hi Donna,
For a good burger, try the Lorelei, very Keysee. Also, you can't go wrong at Morada Bay. Both are bayfront. I would suggest Islamorada Fish Company but not if you don't like fish. The Green Turtle is excellent but not on the water.
As for Australia, we have been all over,including Melbourne a few times. We enjoyed the Great Ocean Drive! We like every where we have been and eat oysters kilpatrick every day for a starter!!!!

I'm sure you'll enjoy Key West but for me, Key West is a day trip. We used to go every year and stay in Islamorada and just go to Key West for the day - and sunset - and drive back after dinner.

So, I'm one of the ones recommending that you don't just "push through" and go directly to Key West. Stop and enjoy the drive and some great things along the way.

I've stayed at the Holiday Inn and the African Queen is indeed sitting there behind the hotel. But, it's not in the water, is not seaworthy and would only work for a "dinner cruise" for two or three if it were. You can stop at the Holiday Inn and walk over to the African Queen if you want. That will take about 5 minutes.

If you like to snorkel, Pennekamp State Park is a great place to take a snorkel trip.
http://www.pennekamppark.com/snorkeling.html

The keys aren't known for beaches so if you want to experience a beach while you are there, stop and enjoy Bahia Honda for a couple of hours -
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda/

At least slow down a little bit and stop at Robbie's to feed the tarpon -
http://www.robbies.com/tarpon.htm

If I could zip anywhere to enjoy a sunset dinner, it would be at the Zane Grey Lounge at the Bass Pro Shop store in Islamorada. I know that sounds strange, but the food is great and the view is amazing. Before sunset, check out the amazing store -
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&appID=94&storeID=21

Captain Anne Baxter docks there as well. We would always go out with her at least once for an eco-tour or snorkel trip. She's a former national park ranger and knows the area inside and out -
http://www.easyadventures.net/captain/index.php

You won't have time to do that if you are just driving through, but it's a great experience. I enjoy it more than any boat excursion I've taken out from Key West.

One of the best things about driving through the Keys is ENJOYING the drive. There's nothing else like it. Slow down and enjoy the view - don't race the dark to get to Key WEst.

Just the road (roads - two for both direction) = engineering marvels = connecting coral dot to coral dot to create a route over the ocean to Key West. ENJOY it!
http://www.google.com/search?q=key+west+highway&hl=en&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS436US436&prmd=ivnsm&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=9tMUTvvdKc_UgAeNn6X-BA&ved=0CB8QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=448

A picture of the African Queen (behind the Holiday Inn) -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:African-Queen-Key-Largo.JPG

Poor thing must have given up the ghost . . we rode it about 6 years ago

You took a DINNER cruise? On the African Queen? SIX years ago?

Are you sure? I saw it for the first time in the early 90s and it wasn't in any shape for a dinner cruise. It was completely dry-docked then too.

I can't imagine a dinner cruise on the African Queen...

Thanks everyone again for your great suggestions.
We will certainly have plenty to do.
We plan to get off the cruise and head to the Keys.
My husband had already booked into the Holiday Inn and Suites in Marathon in a King suite with pool and water views. ) Hopefully this is ok )
We will be taking our time and having regular photo and stops. ( I had a blood clot a couple of years ago and have to get out every hour and a half )
We will stop for a coffee and then lunch before arriving in Marathon.
I do want to check out the dolphin research centre. Does anyone have any info on this?
We can spend time in Marathon , Islamorada etc before going to Key West. ( We may not get there until the afternoon, so will have time to check out the surrounding areas )
Our plan for Key West is to relax. We enjoy the beach, eating out and having a few drinks. We plan to see the sites and do a bit of shopping. We are in our 40's and love travelling. We
are lucky to have seen a lot of the world. ( I am a teacher and am on 2 weeks holiday at the moment, so thought I would do some research )
Thanks Starrs I will definitely check out your sites.
Thanks MJT for your lunch suggestions. They sound great.
The Great Ocean Road is a lovely drive.
As I said, we are 45 mins from Melbourne ( Bonbeach which is a bay side suburb. We have a river view and have a 5-10 min walk to the beach if you follow the river path )
We have been to Miami, FL,Sarasota, Everglades, Naples and Orlando before but did not have a chance to do the Keys etc.
We have an extra 3 days at the end of Key West before we need to end up in Miami.
Where do you suggest we go?
I was thinking of the West Palm Beach area orvsomewhere similar???
You have all been very helpful.
Thanks again
Donna

We did not do the dinner cruise . . just a short run around the harbor, but the sign was advertising dinner cruises then.

Any ideas about the other 3 days?????
Thanks
Donna

Islamorada. See above.

Thanks Starrs. We have already planned a couple of days in Islamorada. ( I should have said this earlier )
This 3 days is aftter we leave the Keys and before we have time in Miami and FL.
Thanks again
Donna

If you don't have any budget restriction and want a very special place to spend an evening with your husband, look at this place:

www.littlepalmisland.com

Very expensive but it's an experience you won't forget.

Thanks AAFrequent Flyer.
I will check out the site you gave.
Thanks for your suggestion.
Donna

Hi again, we are still looking for places on the way back to Miami now. What about any suggestions for Key Largo or surrounds, Miami, read about a Hardrock casino resort somewhere? and perhaps West Palm Beach area?
We have stayed at Fort Lauderdale before - Hilton on the water which was nice. Have about 6 nights before we fly out to LA. We will have 2 nights in Miami area before we leave.
Any suggestions would be appreciated we will be staying in Key West, Islamorada, Marathon etc beforehand.
Thanks again
Donna

Look at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. It is a membership resort but you can usually get a room at the Inn. it's a splurge, and they have a fairly strict dress code at restaurants (walking length shorts, no "short" shorts, etc) but the place is really beautiful and the pool is outstanding. We've stayed there a few times and love it.