Sorry that posted 2x.

For a nice decent restaurant, Antonia's, right on Duval street. Owners are from New York and feels like a NY bistro.

Anyone have suggestions for a condo in Key West for 6 girlfriends? We'll share rooms, but will need 6 beds. Price is not a huge concern.

annieladd - You might try the Galleon, but it's VERY difficult to book. Other than that, it's hard to rent condos because of a newly enforced regulation that requires property to be licensed in order to rent for less than 30 days.

In other words, if you find a condo to rent, be SURE it has a transient license.

Check out Courtney's Place, their largest cottage has two bedrooms, plus a loft with multiple beds. Not very expensive either, once you divide the rate by six. I haven't stayed there, but have walked by numerous times. It won't be fancy, but it gets decent reviews and the location is good.

Jean

I am a very frequent visitor to KW.
My suggestion would be to drop the Hampton and look into something closer to old town. You might now find a room for 4, but you should be able to double up and pay about the same. Try Key West Bed and Breakfast aka The Poplar House or Angelina's Guest house.
Staying in old town, you will not need a car, but you can find a place and leave it...just do not park in spots marked Residental.
Duval is where the action is, but the really best places are not on that street. Check out Schooners Wharf and Conch Republic Seafood down by the harbor. Eat at Pepe's and B.O.'s Fish Wagon. These are all w/in walking distance to the above B&B's

Im posted this before:

Im late 20's now, me and friends went to KW two years ago for spring break-late Feb. We stayed at the Sheraton Suites-reasonable priced, nice pool, and right across the street from Smathers Beach,the best beach and the "spring break" beach. The hotel had a shuttle that ran till 11pm it was real easy to use. It was a cheap taxi ride back after the bars when the shuttle stopped. The north side of Duval is the best tourist bars, the south side is the Gay section, the bars off Duval are for the middle aged and the locals. Dont eat at Papa's, the worst service Ive ever had, the bottle opener they gave us put metal in our beers and then the waitress could care less.
Late Feb is the start of Spring Break, but you wont see many until after the 1st of March.
Sloppy Joes and Irish Kevins were our favorite bars.
Dont go for the beach!!!! Cant compare to cancun-go if your a drunk, the best drinking town in the U.S.-you can drink in the street legally!!!

In Key West, public consumption of alcohol outdoors (not in an appropriate restaurant venue) will earn you a quick citation. With the exception of a few carefully-defined situations--New Year's Eve, Fantasy Fest, etc.--boozing in public isn't legal. The local law enforcement comes down heavy on DUI, as well.

illegal to drink in public!!!! Tell that to the cop who let me and my friends lean against his patrol car and take a picture while chugging beer.

Jpaw- you were there during spring break. As Bookhall pointed out, public drinking during certain "Party" events (which includes spring break) is largely ignored by local law enforcement. During other times of the year, while perhpas I can't call enforcement of the rules draconian, you do take your chances.

I hate to continue this thread but I must clarify something. Public consumption of alcohol is perfectly fine as long as it is in plastic cups. It is also not allowed in the public parks and a few other areas. I know this because a nice young officer explained this to us a few years back. So now whenever we are leaving a bar we always make sure to pour our drinks in plastic cups before continuing on. Its the glass bottles that they object to. Also when it is in plastic even the Officers do not know what you have. Public displays of drunkeness are not tolorated and is a whole other topic.

Sorry Suzie, but it only took 5 minutes on the City of Key West's website to find the ordinance that prohibits possession of and drinking from open containers of alcohol in public places. While we can quibble over the enforcement (or lack thereof) of the ordinance, it does exist, so it is not legal to "drink in the street" as one poster above put it.

I hate to get in y'alls disagreement but it just may be that the establishment has an ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Commission) On/Off License. That means you can legally carry alcohol off premises but it is illegal to have an open container in Key West.

What Seaplane outfit only costs $129 to Dry Torguas?? What I've seen on the Internet is twice as much. Please advise.

To my knowledge, the least expensive trip to Dry Tortugas by seaplane is $179, and that's for a half day excursion.