CASA MARINA IN KEY WEST
 

My husband and I are heading to Key West in September. We are thinking about staying at the Casa Marina Resort. Has anyone stayed there since their renovation? Is it too far from the restaurants etc to walk? Thank you.

The Casa Marina is a very nice resort property at the opposite end of Duval St from Mallory Square... it is more typical of a California resort than Key West... True Key West flavor is found in the many small Inns and boutique hotels sprinkled throughout Old Town... as far as restaurants, Louies Backyard is just outside the gates and the entire walk down Duval can be done in less than 30 minutes... that's without stopping at the dozens of galleries, shirt shops and food places... Marquesa and the Gardens are the nicest properties, however everyone has their favorites... have fun..

Casa Marina is very nice. We've been there twice. I would not stay anywhere else in KW. That's just me. And they actually have a beach. The busy part of town is a bit of a walk but there are plenty of cabs.

We had a lovely room right on the "beach" at the Casa Marina - separate living room w/ balcony. The beach, however, was full of seaweed and had a rancid odor - not at all what we normally call a "beach" - but you must know that you don't go to Key West for the beaches. We rented bikes to ride into the town of Key West b/c the Casa Marina is on the opposite end of the town from most of the "action". We also spent a few nights at the Marquesa - it was actually much nicer (also fewer children running around and screaming).

You might take a look at tripadvisor.com. The reviews of Casa Marina before, during, and after the renovations have been spotty.

We stayed at the Casa Marina Resort during their renovations and had a very pleasant time.

Something to note: unless it's changed, they charge a high parking fee and a resort fee. Make sure to check on that prior to check-in because I remember it added up quickly to our final bill.

We rented bikes to get to Duval St, which was cheap, efficient, and fun!

Have a great trip :)

Two words of advice. If you decide to book find out about any "hidden" costs associated with the hotel, hidden in the sense that they will be in addition to the quoted room proce. IIRC there is a $15.00 / day Resort Fee which, they say, covers using the beach and facilities, parking, etc. And there was a .50 / day cost for having a newspaper waiting outside your door in the a.m. Finally add the 11.5 % tax per day. It adds up.

But if you stay there one of the nicest walks in Key West in the morning is to go east into the rising sun along Smathers Beach, as far as, say, the East Martello Tower.

hth
Pjk

Thank you for your responses. We decided to go with the Marquesa Hotel.

Good going with the Marquesa.

We stayed at the Casa in March. We had a suite, which was nicely decorated in that sparse Miami look. The walls of our room were paper thin. My husband had a good laugh from the amorous night next door (lots of hysterical comments which I cannot repeat here), and then in the morning I could hear the couple next door (same ones from the night before) fighting and swearing at each other (a definite "love/hate relationship!!). I had to turn the TV on extra loud to drown out the fighting.

The pool area is nice. The service was good. There was just something missing about the hotel.

Next time I would opt for the Marquesa, the Gardens or the Ocean Key is we want something larger.

The best accommodation in Key West has to be the Ambrosia, one street from Duval but nice and quiet. Fabulous rooms with best breakfast ever, in the price. Two pools, quiet and very relaxing but in the heart of Key West. Go to the Blue Heaven restuarant, very atmospheric, you eat outside or in, if outside its all lit up with lights, a bar, and chickens wandering around, fantastic food. Its a bit hard to find but its worth it.Very rustic.