I AM INTERESTED IN A FLORIDA VACATION WHERE I CAN GET AROUND WITHOUT RENTING A CAR, AND WHERE THERE WILL PLENTY OF SHOPS, SITES , AND RESTAURANTS. POOLS AND BEACH ARE NICE TOO. THINKING OF STAYING AT THE HYATT KEY WEST. HAVE READ SO MANY VARYING REVIEWS ON KEY WEST AND HYATT THERE - SHOULD I GO? ARE THERE A LOT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE ON THE BEACH AT THE HYATT? ONE PERSON ON THIS SITE SAID THERE WERE. IF YOU HAVE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A FLORIDA RESORT W/O A CAR PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANKS!

I love Key West! If it's the Hyatt Resort and Marina on Front Street you're talking about, I've stayed there several times and like it a lot. Having said that, I prefer the rooms that either overlook the pool/Gulf or the ones on the side facing the Galleon (which also have Gulf views). There is a small public beach on the other side of the Hyatt where some homeless people sleep and kids occasionally hang out. Those definitely are the least desirable rooms. That's the only disadvantage of the Hyatt I can think of...the location is great and the rooms are nice.

I just got back from 5 days in Key West and thoroughly enjoyed it. There were a few homeless people walking on Duval street but I never saw any hanging out at the beach. I've seen worse in many other cities.
You won't need a car since the island is so small. There are tons of taxis around if you can't walk it.
I can't say how good the Hyatt is since I stayed at a B&B but it looked nice. The resort I would avoid is the Hilton since you've almost always got a cruise ship parked blocking any view of the ocean.

By the way: CAPS LOCK IS YELLING. SOME EVEN CONSIDER IT RUDE.

You could manage without a car in downtown Naples (Gulf coast)w/o car. There's a nice Marriott in Delray Beach which is at the end of the "main drag" Atlantic Ave. Not suggesting these because Key West isn't good (haven't stayed at the Hyatt), just options.

thank you for your responses everyone! i appreciate your input.
dweebe, relax - i certainly wasn't yelling or trying to be rude with the caps lock.

mclaurie,
do you have any hotel recommendations for Naples downtown? I know Ritz is nice but it is a little too pricey for me. thanks!

I've stayed at the Hyatt and there were no homeless people on their "beach", nor did I see any hanging around the property. They would have to walk through the property and by staff and guests to get to the beach, then would stick out like sore thumbs. However, the beach is just yards long...even 10 yds might be stretching it. Key West is not a spot for beaches. It is a spot to go without a car, however, where everything is close...shops, restaurants, bars...whatever, everything except for beaches.

I'm another Key West lover. Don't let a few negative comments stop you from visiting, I sure if you look you will find many more positive remarks than negative ones. Yes, there are homeless people but not near what you would find in most major cities. But I have never found it a problem. As far as the Hyatt, I am sure a lot of posters will tell you that they prefer the charms of the smaller hotels and B&Bs. I stayed at the Heron House the last time I went and thought it was great, with a really nice tropical feel. So go! Enjoy! Make up your own mind. If you start just listening to the negative comments, you may never end up going anywhere.

Olive - the beach in question is not the one that belongs to the Hyatt...it's one on the side of the Hyatt property. As far as I know it's public, but some of the Hyatt rooms overlook both the Gulf and that little beach.

Susan...our room overlooked the pool, then straight out from that, Hyatt's beach so we weren't aware of anything else around there and didn't see them as we came or went. There did appear to be some waterfront to the left of the property as you face the water. Is that where you mean? I sure wouldn't choose that location or hotel for its beach! It had pretty white sand with a little water lapping, but that's about all I can say about it. Teeny. LOL Key West is a pool lover's haven and we never have been much of that...but have beautiful beaches where we live year round so didn't go for that aspect anyway. Love the atomosphere there.

karebare: wasn't trying to get on your case: just an FYI.
If you want a very good long beach you can take a cab down to Smathers beach. It's a manmade beach on the southeast end of the island down by the airport. It has to be at least a half mile long. Went there 4 of the 5 days when I was in Key West. The beach out by Fort Zach Taylor is also pretty good but costs $2.50 to get to.

If you don't necessarily have to be near the beach, there is a very nice Marriott - we stayed there last October. Rooms and staff very nice.