My wife and I will be spending a few days/nights in the upper Florida Keys in mid-September. Can anyone recommend good inexpensive lodging? We're looking to be within a reasonable drive of Pennekamp for snorkeling, in a hotel/motel for $50-100 per night. Obviously at this price we're not looking for luxury, just decent, basic lodging; we're not picky, just want working a/c, not *too* much road noise, and not to be overrun with bugs.

So far I've tracked down Popp's Motel and the Key Lantern Motel/Blue Fin Inn by researching online. Does anyone know anything about these places, or have other ideas in the Key Largo/Islamorada vicinity?

Thanks in advance.

I have never heard of either of these hotels and I have been going down to the Keys for over 20 years. You have to be very careful with "buget" hotels down there as some could be real roach traps and right next to the Overseas Highway where you will hear traffic noise all night long. I would suggest the Hampton Inn/Islamaroda.

RJ-You had five replies to your previous post on this question. Why did you ask it again??? I topped the other thread so you could see it.

To Topper (and all):

Well, I certainly feel like a boob. I lost my original message and never saw any replies, and couldn't find it by searching, so I assumed something had gone wrong and it had vanished into cyberspace without being posted. Thank you for bringing it back, and thank you to all who replied!

RJ,

If you are looking for those accommondations in the upper keys, here is a few websites that you can search & find some lodging of this sort. Beware tho, Some of these places can be very chesseeeeeeeee! Also, there is a websit for John Pennekamp State Park!

http://www.floridakeys.net/

http://www.thefloridakeys.com/

http://www.floridakeys.com/

http://www.flkinfo.com/

http://www.keysdirectory.com/

http://www.insiders.com/florida-keys

http://www.florida-keys.fl.us/

http://www.visitfloridakeys.com/

http://www.seefloridaonline.com/_keys/

http://www.johnpennekamp.com/general.htm

Let's stick to the point here.

For anyone looking for this kind of info, the listings at:

www.insiders.com/florida-keys

are the most thorough and helpful that I've seen yet.

Quick question re: snorkeling - Pennekamp is the clear favorite, but now I'm seeing references to Looe Key. Is it worth a trip down from the upper Keys to see Looe on our second day? Or should we stick with Pennekamp?

Thanks!

Yes! Its been rank very high for many years. Its worth the trip. You will not be disappointed. Here is the website if you don't already have it & its near Ramrod Key:

http://www.floridakeys.net/