KEY WEST - which tour
 

We will be spending one evening and a day in Key West. During the day, we are considering a tour. Any comments on which we should pick? The choices are:

*Conch Train 22.50

Discovery Underwater Tour $35

Old Town Trolley $22

The Conch Train is a AAA Gem so I am leaning towards it.

Will we be able to buy tickets for any of them when we arrive or do they tend to sell out?

Debbie

My husband & I just returned from Key West. We didn't do any of the tours you listed, though I overheard others complimenting the Conch Train. We found the guided tours of the Hemingway House and Truman's Little White House incredibly informative & enjoyable - much more than anticipated. We also took a sunset sail on the Jolly Rover II schooner, which is BYOB and much less expensive than the "booze cruises." It was heavenly - www.jollyiirover.com

We did the Conch Train Tour years and years ago and thought it was great. On the other hand, I met someone who's currently giving the trolley tours and he was perfectly charming, so you'll be fine either way. The tours tend to fill up early on the days when cruise ships are in port, so if you can reserve tickets online, you might want to do that.

Without too much trouble you could take the 10:30 a.m. Discovery glass bottom boat out to the reef (my choice) and still have plenty of time for one of the land tours in the early afternoon.

Then it's off to Alonzos at the Key West Bight for 1/2 price drinks and 1/2 price appitizers, except oysters, from 4:00 - 7:00.

Pjk

The conch train tour is a "must-do" during your first day on Key West. It provides a great overview of the island & you'll see places you'll want to return ... and you'll see places you don't need to return to, saving time later.

Conch train is the "quintessential" Key West tour. Although, I'm sure the Trolley services do a fine job too. You do not need anvanced reservations, even if a cruise ship is in town, they have their own trains that will meet the boats passengers.

milemarker - I was thinking of the thousands of cruise passengers that flow off ships docked in front of the Westin. I've seen them head straight for the tours...

We were actually one of the thousands of cruise passengers that took the conch train tour. Had no problem getting a ticket and they have multiple runs. I have actually been to Key West many times and decided spur of the moment to take the tour since we were coming in from a cruise and didn't have our own transportation for once, and it was GREAT. We learned all kinds of things we hadn't gotten a glimmer of on our previous visits when we just wandered around. The guide was fantastic.

If you've not been there before either the Conch Train or trolley should be fine. I believe on one of them you can actually 'hop on & hop off' which would be even better. (The trolley maybe)

I would suggest the trolley tour as you can get on and off at one of the 10 or 12 stops so you can actually spend some time walking around or doing some of the neat shops or the photo op at the Southernmost Point. You can purchase tickets on line and while there may be rush if you get on at Mallory Square the trolleys run every 20 to 30 minutes so it should not be a problem. There is a lot less people getting on at most of the other trolley stops.

We did the Conch Train and really liked it. We also liked the tour of the Hemingway House and the museum that showed all the treasure pulled up in the area - can't remember the name of it. We really didn't enjoy the aquarium - small and dark and a bit depressing. We also did a snorkeling tour, and it was amazing. Have fun!