Key West trip report
 

Wanted to thank everyone for their responses to my post last week and let you know how it went! Overall, a GREAT trip. My fiance and I loved it and had a wonderful relaxing time. That said - here's the specifics.<BR><BR>We stayed at the Wyndham Reach Resort. We hadn't heard anything particularly good or bad about it, but we thought the service was great, the rooms good, and the atmosphere very good. The Beach was beautiful, as was the pool, and the beachside bar! Nice people all around too. Someone mentioned that they nickel and dime you there, and for the most part that was partially true. However, the only "fee" was the parking/resort fee ($10.75 per day). I have been charged this fee before at other hotels, and find it a common enough practice. The Wyndham's concierge, however, wasn't particularly helpful, while the head bellman was. As at any hotel, drinks and food were overpriced, but you can't beat the beachside service.<BR><BR>As for restaurants and bars. My fiance and I love good food - we live in NYC and eat at some of the best, and enjoy doing so. We went to some of the touristy ones, some of the classics, and some of the local ones - here's what we thought.<BR>Michael's - delicious food, and not as expensive as we thought. Lived up to its reputation, but has a very northern atmosphere.<BR>Seven Fish - awesome food, great small atmosphere, great service. We actually tried to go back for lunch one day, but it was closed (sunday).<BR>Mangoes - avoid it. Sub par food and way too expensive for what it was.<BR>Conch Republic Seafood COmpany - a tourist spot, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. Good food at ok prices.<BR>El Siboney - SOmeone (flex) mentioned this here on Fodor's and it was GREAT. THanks for the recommendation! Small, local, out of the way Cuban fare. Nice people, genuine atmosphere, delicious food, and cheap as it gets!<BR>Green Parrot - a more local bar, I guess. It was probably the most fun we had the whole trip. There were some other tourists there as well. But they had a funk band "pocket chang" that rocked the place. We had an awesome time there, although we _heard_ you have to be careful leaving there because it is near a questionable neighborhood.<BR>Be careful about breakfast, too. We are somewhat late risers, and had trouble finding good breakfast after 11 twice!<BR><BR>As for getting around - hoof it. I had posted about whether a car would be required, and for staying in old town, none was needed. The reach was at the opposite end of the very busy area (near the bars and Mallory square), but even that was a manageable walk. We walk a great deal where we live, so that might have something to do with it, but we enjoyed the walks.<BR>Overall a great trip. In general, it seems like KW is past its prime and getting pretty run down, but still was a great time. Thanks!<BR>

KJK,<BR><BR>thanks for the trip report--especially your opinions on the restaurants.

Nice report. How were the rooms? I have heard they look like someting out of K-Mart - cheap plastic patio chairs, etc....

This is totally off the topic and I expect a lot of flack.....but twice I have tried to post NEW messages to this board and they never end up where I want them. I want them in this forum, under Key West, FL, but they always end up just under U.S. I click on "Post a new Message" but there is no option box to allow me to input Key West. HELP!!!!!

How 'gay' was the atmosphere in Key West? I want to visit .........my hubby is paranoid about that aspect of it. We've heard from some friends that the couples are pretty blatant. How did you find it?

The gay presence is certainly there. Not particularly overwhelming, as long as you stay in neutral ground. Skip Alice's at La Te Da, the 801 Club, and any establishment that displays the Key West Guild affiliation. <BR><BR>Basically, a straight couple can be comfortable there as long as the male half is not hunting for problems.<BR><BR>It is a good question, and not often addressed on this board.

Well, don't mean to be "politically incorrect" but I want to know as much as I can about an environment before I go to a city. That's the best way to judge whether you'd want to go or not, right? I'm not commenting on what is good or bad, just what we might or might not be comfy with! Thanks so much for your answer!

Allisa.....your poor, poor husband. Is he afraid he might have to fight temptation?

Why skip Alice's? I was there this year and didn't notice it to be a gay restaurant.

Alice's is a wonderful place to eat! LOL!!! I gotta laugh at the Business Guild comment. Many business, straight and gay owned belong to it.

The gay thing is not a big deal in Key West, as long as you don't get an attitude about guys walking holding hands. Just avoid the gay clubs. You will see more gay couples there than in many other places, but my husband had no problem with it.

I've been to KW on repeat occasions over the past five years and have rarely seen gay couples holding hands. Not sure if I've even seen this at all. It is a popular destination with gay travelers but the predominant tourist population is straight hetero Caucasians, the younger ones all congregating around the Duval Street bars at night to get loaded and whoop it up. With the exception of a couple drag queens standing at the door of one club to get folks to come in for the femal impersonator show (which plenty of straight folks attended including me), I saw very few people who appeared to be "obviously" gay and I can't even be sure about those folks since I didn't ask (had no reason to do so). I spend much of my free time in NYC and see far more gay couples there holding hands or walking with arms entwined than I ever have in KW.<BR><BR>KJK - Glad to see at least one person besides me was not wowed by Mangoes. I had a lukewarm reaction to it in the KW trip report I posted a year or two ago and was blasted by a number of people who just love the place. I can't say it was bad but was unmemorable. have to agree on Soboney's - what a gem. My girlfriend is Cuban and agreed wiht me that it was excellent (and she knows Cuban food). Breakfast is a surprisingly narrow window in KW - almost no place except Denny's is open before 8 AM yet breakfast at most ends by 11 even on weekends. I notice you didn't mention Blue Heaven - if you go back you really have to have breakfast there - it's fantastic.<BR><BR>Also suggest that if you return i'ts worth giving up the beach area and staying in a nice guesthouse - it's really the classic KW experience. I find the "run down" aspect of some KW areas and structures to be part of the charm - it's not picture perfect and never has been but the laid back vibe is hard to top.

My hubby and I wen tthere for our honeymoon 3 months ago. Our hobby is going to eat at fine restaurants, we just love to eat great food and find little ecclectic places. I wanted to add my 2cents!<BR><BR>Cafe Des Artistes - Pricey - but great service and great sommelier. Good food.<BR><BR>Blue Heavan - Breakfast there is great.<BR><BR>Croissants de France - the BEST breakfast on the island. Outrageous, we went there 3 times in one week. <BR><BR>Kellys on Duval - not so hot, nice atmosphere, we sat on the porch. But botht the service and food was not great.<BR><BR>Cafe Marquesa - top notch tuna. nice wine selection. all in all, delicious.<BR><BR>Luoie's backyard - great place to sit back and have a martini under the stars.<BR><BR><BR>

ttt for Lynn

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Went to Key West for the first time in May. (two single girls 25 & 27) Loved it! Everyone was so friendly, great atmosphere. Stayed at LaPensione on Truman. The rooms were comfortable and affordable and the owners were fantastic! They went out of their way to see that you didn't want for anything. I would highly recommend it to anyone. They outdid themselves on breakfast (incl. homemade breads and blueberry waffles). We stumbled across New York Pizza Cafe on South side of Duval (just across Truman.) The food was fantastic and the portions huge!!! Also enjoyed the Fort Jefferson day tour on Yankee Freedom. Have a great time!