Hello, we just returned from a lovely mid-October vacation in Key West. We would like to go back in the early spring. When is the best time to go after the "spring breakers" have gone? Thank you. (No offense to anyone, I was a "breaker" myself many moons ago.)

Do you mean families or college kids? If you are trying to avoid families don't go President's Week or the weeks before and after Easter.

If you mean college kids I was under the impression they didn't really go to Key West because it's too expensive (better deals elsewhere), the drinking age is strickly enforced, and the hotels don't rent to anyone under 25.

There are other reasons it's not popular with college kids.

Even though the drinking age is strictly enforced there, Key West is VERY popular with college spring breakers.

No it is not, Key West is not a destination for spring break... it has never been.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. I went to Key West in college during Spring Break twice(from Miami Univ in Ohio) and it was PACKED!!! The streets, restaurants, and bars were all crawling with drunken spring breakers. Key West was THE most popular destination for spring break at my school. Things may have changed (though I doubt it since I haven't been out of college that long) but to say it has never been a spring break destination is completely incorrect. Perhaps that was meant to be a joke and I'm not getting it?

snowrooster, how long has it been since you were out of college?

Key West isn't Spring Break friendly.

I know people that went back in the late 1980s when they didn't enforce the 28 day rental minimum but that has been at least 15 years.

I went to Key West for Spring Break last in 1994 so that was ten years ago. Everyone I know stayed in hotels and there was no "rental minimum." It was definitely THE hot spot to go at the time, but like I said, that may have changed. However I know for a fact first hand that it was indeed a very popular spring break spot ten years ago.

snowrooster, for a house or condo there is a 28 day minimum rental requirement unless you have a transient license.

Again, I don't know anyone who rented a house or a condo. Key West was packed w/spring breakers when I was there ten years ago and we all stayed in hotels.

Dancer - We always go to Key West the last week of April and the first one or two weeks of May. If you wait that long, you won't have a problem.

Though I'm sure the nicest hotels, inns and B&Bs don't accommodate spring breakers, many of the less expensive ones do. After a quick google search, I saw spring break packages for the Sheraton Suites, two Holiday Inns (Beachside and La Concha), the Comfort Inn, Days Inn, and last but not least the notorious Atlantic Shores In other words, there's a little something for people of all ages.

Dancer - Here's an update from someone who lives in Key West. She says that spring breakers start arriving the end of February and stay pretty much all of March. Another smaller group of graduating seniors arrive the end of May. Plan accordingly and have fun!!