My best friend and I are interested in the Keys/ West. We booked reservations at Southernmost on the east end of Duval for the tiki bar, but are considering changing to Eden House on Fleming St. cause they have a free snorkeling package. Is it far from southernmost to main drag with bikes? Is the snorkeling worth the trouble in KW? Should we just wing it and get rooms as we go, stopping in Islamorada and such? All advice greatly appreciated!!

The main drag isn't that far from Southernmost...you're just at the quieter end. And congenial bars are not hard to find.

Never snorkeled, but Eden House sounds like a plan. Do a snorkle Key West search on this US forum and get some hints.

I feel you can wing it getting rooms on the way down (though I'm occasionally in the minority on this.) In Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon, there are Welcome Center. You can stop there and find out who's got special room rates. Just about all the lodging folks belong to their own CofC, so you don't really need to worry about being inappropriately steered to a particular property. They might steer you to one that's an exceptional value, though. I like that kind!

The Eden House is much more further away from the main drag than the Southernmost.

I don't know anything about either place but it sounds like The Southernmost is better located with Duval Street.
I want to add if the snorkel trip Eden House is offering is on a catamaran it is not worth it. We did the Floridays and it is worth every penny. The catamarans get very crowded and very uncomfortable. We did it once and that was enough! Second trip down we went out on the Floridays and the difference was like night and day. Enjoy!

I'd stick with the Southernmost if I were you. Though the Eden House is in a better location and closer to Mallory Square, it looks a little ratty to me. I've walked by there lots of times and just haven't been impressed with it. And the above post is correct about the snorkeling. Those catamarans pack folks on like cattle cars...Floridays is much nicer. It docks at the Hyatt.

You asked about maybe stopping (overnight?) in another Key. If you have the time (more than 2-3 days), then I would stop overnight in another Key. Personally, I prefer the reef trips out of Pennekamp (Key Largo) and out of Looe Key to be superior to the trips out of Key West.

To me, and many others, the teef off Key West has been too abused, i e, overly visited, and some areas are dying back (or are dead).

Have fun in the Keys.

Key West is a lot of fun with much to see and do. I have only heard good things about Floridays so I would also suggest them. FYI - the reef is the same reef in the Upper Keys as well as in Key West. It is a beautiful site and worth a visit in any location.

I have to put in a good word for Eden House. (It is anything but ratty!) We stay there every year in January when we are in town. I have never stayed at the Southernmost, so I cannot compare the two properties to each other. But I can tell you that Mike Eden and the Eden House staff are friendly, guest-oriented and incredibly helpful when it comes to the island and activities.

Eden House is a brisk walk from Duval (I would say 5 blocks) which is about 10 minutes max on foot...or a quick bike ride. Not on the main drag, but for us close enough to walk and quiet enough to not hear the noise from Duval.

We always get a poolside room upstairs which affords a bit more privacy than the rooms on the pool level. You can get a basic room with double bed for $125/night or larger rooms, suites or the entire adjacent conch house if you need more space.

Here is a link to their site:

http://www.edenhouse.com/edenhouse.htm

Have a great trip!

S

I'm glad to have the first hand information about Eden House. Apparently the outside isn't a very good reflection of the inside!