Miami to the Keys
 

Hi<BR>I am coming over from Scotland with wife and 2.5 yr old daughter in Jan/Feb 2002 for a (warm?) break. Probably stay in Miami Beach and then down to Key West - any suggestions for accommodation?<BR>Hojo seem to have a good 'Spirit of America' promotion, but what are their accommodations like?<BR><BR>Any other comments for things to do around that area welcomed - never been to Florida before.<BR>

Hello Kiltie,<BR> <BR>My family & I just adore the Keys. We were there a few years ago but in July. The weather in Jan & Feb in Miami can be anywhere from just above freezing to the 80's so be prepared by bringing some jackets. Keys would be warmer since they are further south. You probably won't need reservations, so just pick up some of those travel promotions books at the visitor centers and go wherever you like. We stayed aton Islamorada and Sugar Loaf Key-one upper and one middle. Enjoy and let us know how you do.

Some people hate the drive from Miami to Key West but I love it, especially the farther south you go! In Key largo there is a nice Best Western with suites that have full kitchens. In Key West there are some lovely small inns (may or may not take children) and many chain hotels, some of which are not in old towne so have less of a Key West feel. Be aware that the keys do not have long sandy stretches of beaches as they are coral. There are some nice state parks that your child might enjoy as you head south.

Kiltie,<BR><BR>It's about a 2-1/2 to 3 hour trip from Miami to Key West. After the 1st hour the views become more beautiful!<BR><BR>Hojo (Howard Johnson) are basically a motor lodge, a place to sleep. Miami Beach is noted for it's Deco buildings-many are refurbished high rise hotels @ the infamous South Beach(Glitzy with a Latin Beat). I am not suggesting you stay their just giving a little note about what it's famous for.<BR><BR>I don't have any suggestions for Accomodations in Key West, maybe someone else can help! <BR>A few things I enjoyed while I was there<BR>1.Snorkling off Bahia Honda <BR>2.Trimaran off Stock Island,Isle N of KW<BR>3.Louie's Backyard Restaurant<BR>4.Frozen Fruit Smoothies - Street Vendor<BR>5.Gathering for Sunset at Mallory Square<BR>6.Kino Sandals - local leather sandal<BR>7.Renting Mopeds to scout about.<BR>8.Ernest Hemingway House<BR>I think we stayed at Hojo. A place to sleep, nothing fancy. <BR><BR>Sylvia<BR><BR>

There are great hotels in Key West but they can get pricey in the winter. Best to stay near old towne, Duvall Street. Cheap websites and see if there are any specials. It's usually pretty crowded year round but that's the fun of Key West. with a toddler you'll be a little restricted at night but go for it...I can't think of any Howard Johnson in Miami that you should stay at. Avoid any hotels downtown or near the Omni. What are you planning to do in Miami? Parrot Jungle is nice for your daughter, take a camera. It's in the Pinecrest, suburb area.

Are you able to access Priceline.com.?<BR><BR>I was able to get Sheraton Suites Key West for $55.00 a night for 3 nights in December (Dec. 10 - 13). You can easily pay $120 - $200 through conventional methods - even HoJo).<BR><BR>Also, you might want to consider Ft. Lauderdale - just north of Miami Beach. It's an easy drive to get to Miami from there and Ft. Lauderdale is a beautiful city.<BR><BR>j<BR><BR>

You might try priceline, but don't expect prices like the above post implies. Those are for a mid week, pre-high season stay. As for HoJo's I can't speak for the ones in Miami and Key West, but the one in Key Largo seemed nice (my parents stayed there on three different week-long visits), it is right on the bay, with a small sandy beach, waverunner, canoe, and kayack rentals. I noticed lot's of UK accents there.

I've been there a few times and one of the places I liked was the Southernmost Motel...I had a room on the 2nd floor overlooking the pool...the Marriott was very nice...lots of wicker, ceiling fans...I thought Ernest Hemingway would be walking in any moment...it was on the Atlantic side right on the ocean...other times I've stayed at various chains on Roosevelt Blvd....I think the Howard Johnson's is the one where a very nice family rents jet skis...again, I think that's where they operate from...Roosevelt Blvd. is very busy now...lots of hotels, motels, restaurants, strip malls, K Mart, etc...I was at Sloppy Joe's one Memorial Day weekend and there was a fantastic blues singer and guitarist there...browse through Fast Buck Freddy's.

All I can contribute here is to WATCH YOUR SPEED! I got a ticket on Deer Island (or something similar) last year and it was not swell on the pocketbook! Enjoy your trip, Kiltie.

Geez - thanks for all the replies, what a great board.<BR><BR>I think I will book fairly soon as it looks like jan/feb is pretty high season there for you guys, whereas its low season for us!!<BR><BR>Hojo looks a good bet in Miami Beach at $65 on their special, and Holiday Inn in Key West are doing 2 nights for the price of 1. But I will try priceline as well.<BR><BR>ps - it's just started snowing over here in Scotland brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr<BR>

Plan on 3-4 hours drive from Miami to Key West. Once you hit the keys, most of it is a two lane road. Big Pine Key is where the deer are and the cops are always looking for speeders there.<BR>It is a good idea to make reservations before you travel. The weekends especially fill up even during slow months. We don't have a HoJos in Key West anymore (it is now a Marriott). There are a couple of Holiday Inns - One is called Beach Side which is just about as far as you can get from everything and it is also at the entrance to the island. The other is a Crown Plaza which is on the main street and a much better hotel. Basically you want to make sure you find something in Old Town and not New Town. Old Town is where most of the sites, bars, restaurants and other tourist activities are based and it is very easy to walk to just about any of them. You will need some means of transportation if you stay in New Town and even if you have a car, parking can be expensive and sometimes hard to find in Old Town.

A couple of stops you might not find otherwise:<BR><BR>Lorelei in midtown Islamorada. One of the keys' best tiki-bar waterfront restaurant bars.<BR><BR>Robbie's Marina (immediately on the right as you cross the waterway coming out of Islamorada) has a Feed the Tarpon pier. You'll see a school of 100 pound + Tarpon dance for a $2 bucket of bait fish. <BR><BR>Faro Blanco Light House & Marina 1 mile south of Marathon Airport. One of the better marinas in the Keys. Beautiful boats, interesting fish below the pier. Just a good place to walk and enjoy boat life in the keys.<BR><BR>Seven Mile Cafe at the southern most tip of Marathon. A landmark counter-diner for a fish sandwich, cup of conch chowder and a beer.<BR><BR>Mangrove Mama's MM21 in SugarLoaf Key. One of the best restaurants in the keys.<BR><BR>Definitely do Mallory Square for Sundown. An educational experience for visitors of any age.<BR><BR>Raw Bar at Turtle Kraals. Authentic pirate dining.<BR><BR>Have a great January visit. I'm jealous already.

Thanks very much grglnswsh and SS - great tips.<BR><BR>BTW grglnswsh - I had considered the Holiday Inn Beachside as I can get two nights for $189 - is it so far out???<BR>We will have a car of course !<BR><BR><BR>ps - we don't really wear kilts all the time ;)<BR>

It is as far out as you can be on this island. You literally are at the entrance of the island with nothing around you of interest. Stay somewhere in "Old Town" and not "New Town", you will enjoy it more and save a bundle on parking alone. The "beach" (as the hotel calls it) at The Beachside is nothing more then a small patch of sand of which one side is on the Blvd. Look at Ambrosia House and The Island City House.

ps - we don't really wear kilts all the time ;)<BR><BR>But you all are so cute in them. :)