My wife and I are planning a trip to Key West in May and are interested in recommendation of small hotels in Old Town. Also, any recommendations on bars/restaurants would be much appreciated. Is May a good time to go? We know it will be hot, but would like it to be less crowded than the high season. Thanks!

We went July 4th weekend and it was intensely hot but tolerable by the water. I think May should be okay and KW is lively at any time of the year. Our lodging was in a small, quaint guesthouse that was very moderately priced (by KW standards) but not for folks who wish to meet others at their acomodations for socializing etc. - it was strictly a good place to stay.

As for restaurants, my pick is Blue Heaven. It's a block or two off Duval. It's eclectic, fun,relaxed and has GREAT food - a bit non-traditional but top notch cuisine (and not cheap but you get what you pay for).

Brian--my daughter is standing here, who has lived in Key West for 21 years says: the Palms Hotel on White street is a great place to stay (May should be relatively inexpensive), and May is ONE of the better times to see Key West. Should be in the 80's, and not iffy on weather. Food: Mangia, Mangia (Italian) Southard & Margaret; El Siboney on Margaret & Catherine--good Cuban food; new, opening soon The Conch Republic Sea Food Company, at Key West Bight-631 Greene St. (old Singleton packing house); sushi-on Anne & Greene Kozuchi-cheap & good sushi. Pat can also recommend good diving and fishing guides/tours. Email me for her phone #. Also try these sites: www.keywest.com or www.fla-keys.com Bars: Green Parrot (Southard & whitehead); Schooner Wharf (ft. of Williams St.-Key West Bight) The Bull on Duval. Have fun

Ditto: Mangia Mangia and Schooner Wharf
The Iguana Cafe is neat 'cause you can sit basically on the sidewalk right at the main corner and people watch. Try Courtney's Place, nice moderately priced guest houses and rooms.

If you go to the Schooner Wharf at Key West Bight, do yourself a favor and do NOT get food at the Half Shell raw Bar which is located neraby across the parking lot. We ate there when leaving on a Sunday 'cause we had a hankering for conch salad and couldn't find any other place open that had it. Not only was the conch salad mediocre, but the conch chowder was barely passable and the fritters were awful. You should try the conch fritters from the stand near the entrance to the aquarium. IMHO, they're the best in town.

We ate at the Half Shell Raw Bar more than once during our stay. Cheaper prices and great food, so we kept going back. We didn't try the conch salad, conch chowder or the fritters though. We ordered the seafood combo. The shark bites were to die for.