I know I have asked about lodging already, but I now have it down to the Gardens Hotel or the Paradise Inn. This is for Fantasy Fest and both are very expensive, but we have found very few rooms available.
Which one is cleaner, better, friendlier, etc.? Which one is located better?
Thanks,
Lo

I love the Gardens and have stayed there several times. The rooms are great, but some are larger (slightly) than others. Nice garden area and pool, though on the small side.

I've never stayed at the Paradise, but have heard good things about it. I think it's on the same "wave-length" as the Gardens, i e, very, very nice.

I hear that the Pradise has more on-site parking which is a plus if you have a car (plus it's durig Fantasy Fest, so finding a parking spot will be nearly impossible). The Gardens parking is very limited (maybe 4-5 cars).

Oh, and as to location, they are both very near one another. (block apart maybe. The Gardens is on Angela and the property backs up to Simonton, which is where the Paradise is. About a block down the road, I think.) So, it's six of one, half dozen of the other as far as location.

Thanks,
Both places only have one room left as of today and the Gardens Hotel is a little less pricey. We were leaning towards the Gardens but Paradise Inn was exceptionally better,we would have chosen it. We are flying and are not planning on getting a car. Will a car be necessary?
We were hoping to walk everywhere since it will be Fantasy Fest and figured traffic would be heavy.
Also, must not miss restaurants? We figure we had better make reservations if we even can at this point. We like nice, but not so stuffy as to feel uncomfortable, good wine, italian one-night?
Thanks.

no, you will not need a car. we go every year and walk everywhere (we like to walk anyway). we arrive the wednesday prior to the final saturday night. we used to fly to miami and rent a car but for the last 3 years, and this year, we will fly from miami to key west, that way we can be having our first drink with lunch by 2pm. on wednesday night they close close upper duval due to the people on the street. same for thursday night. duval is pretty well shut down from about truman ave north to the gulf friday and saturday. friday night and saturday (after the parade) it is almost impossible to walk duval from caroline to green sts (the bull and whistle to sloppy joes) best spot to see the parade on saturday night is on whitehead street. as for places to eat. our preferances include (but not limited to) the rooftop cafe (front st and fitzpatrick), pepe's on caroline, el siboney (sp), half shell raw bar (we go fishing for a half day-usually the monday after the big saturday night-bring your catch to the half shell and they will prepare any way you like along with side dishes for $5 per pound-best fish ever), alice's at la te da's-fancy menu, great wine list, we did not have reservations and did wait approx half an hour but worth it-wearing shorts and t-shirt!, lots of people like seven fish but reservations is highly recommended (we did not care for the attitude of the staff), even though some people consider it a tourist trap, we like margaritaville + they make tasty margaritas (on the rocks with salt) plus the wife says the tom collins using boodles gin are the best. lots of other places, we usually find a new place or two every trip.