Cindy - Sorry you didn't care for Key West. I do admire your appreciation for travel - for being able to experience so many things.

But I just have to say, anyone who really researches Key West knows that there is a large gay population there and that there aren't any great/good beaches. I'd say it doesn't take much research to find either one of those things out. Just amazes me you didn't come across that info.

Just have to let you know that my husband and I also did not care for Key West. We stayed at a very nice place and tried to enjoy ourselves but it juist didn't work out. Been there, done that. Will not return.

Suggest you look a bit cloer to home when assessing your recent adventure in KW. Paradise? Hmmmmm. Six nights too many? Hmmmmm. Your B&B selection? Beaches? Hmmm and more hmmmm.

Seems to me you arrived full of misconceptions. That's not a blast by the way, just an opinion.

Probably you folks are simply not a good fit with KW. Being well travelled is hardly conclusive. Perhaps you'd have had a better time remaining with your family in Tampa ... a more traditional town, as you no doubt know. Ybor City could have been a better fit than Duval Street, and the beaches (real beaches) were just 30 minutes away.

Anyway, sorry your time was spolied.

I'm guessing I don't have much to add to this discussion, but will say that Key West is my favorite place in the continental US. Real estate prices have certainly gone through the roof, but it's supply and demand, I guess.

We always stay at small hotels or B&B's while there. We've never had a bad experience in terms of noise or cleanliness at any of them.

Taking my adult children and husband for five nights over Thanksgiving. Can't wait. Wish we could stay longer.

Jean

I think Cindy's experience in Key West is similar to my one (and definitely only) Branson experience. I just felt out of place the entire time!

Oh my gosh, Dan!!! You couldn't pay me to go to Branson!

Hi Cindy
Just had to write again after seeing your latest post. I agree with you--I'm glad I went to Key West rather than not having gone at all. My week wasn't bad but just wasn't, as another poster said, "a good fit." If nothing else, I'm so happy I had the chance to snorkle (for my first time) and visit Hemingway's house.

I agree about Key West being expensive. From a travel standpoint,I felt like we were asked to tip someone every five seconds--and that was just walking down the street! (ha, ha!) We thought most restaurants were high, even though we stuck to what would be considered moderate types of places.

I also saw some unusual people in KW. One that I'll never forget is the very old man walking down the street wearing only a diaper. Weird...Anyway, I love this board and all the travel-talk that goes on here. I certainly learn a lot--it's just up to me to apply it!

Susan, I wouldn't go back to Branson either! My dad had this great idea of a "country" family vacation a few years ago, so we DROVE from Miami to Branson. That was hellish enough, or so we thought. We spent six days (yes, six) in a place where NONE of us liked the music, the shows or the buffet food. We laugh about it now AND we're wise enough to stick to places we like, such as Key West, South Beach, New Orleans, San Diego, Santa Fe, etc.