Car Rental in Key West
 

We are staying at a hotel that's 2 miles from Duval Street. The hotel has free parking. Should we rent a car while we're in Key West?

Skip the car. If the hotel is served by the Bone Island Shuttle, that's the way to travel. If you have a car, you'll have to deal with the cost of parking in Old Town.

The other alternative is using a bike. That really is the best way to get around the island.

On what street is your hotel located?
Key West is built to be walked. Plus, parking is at a premium. We usually drive into Key West. We stay closer to Duval (at the Gardens) and we park the car the first day, and we don't use it again until we leave.

Bikes are great but keep in mind that Key West during the summer can be miserable with the heat and the humidity. Bike riding on that island during the summer can be unbearable if you are not use to the heat. We learned that one the hard way. I would not suggest it if one was one in shape.

That's a good point about the summer, when are you going? More inportantly, how long are you going for? If you are only going to be in KW for 2-3 days you might not feel the need for a car. Anything longer and you might want to mix it up by driving a bit up through the lower keys. Also, if you are going to be in KW mid-week the parking issue is not nearly so difficult as it is during weekends/holidays.

Ditto on skipping the car and using the Bone Island Shuttle.

Parking near Duval street is a big PIA because it can be hard to find and expensive.

Plus, who can have fun bar hopping when you have to stay sober to drive the rental car back to the hotel?

My wife and I found the Bone Island Shuttle to be a very convenient way to get around the island without a car. You can get passes for a different # of days.