Hello, I'm looking to go in April for my Hubby's 40th. Where should we stay, what part of Key west? I'm so confused..I see Marathon,Islamadora area...? I'm looking for something where we can walk to bars, restaurants etc..and a great beach. Thanks : )

You will get better information than this, but for a start, the best places for bars, restaurants and a scene are in the town of Key West itself. If you stay in town rather than on the edge, everything is in walking distance.

However, the beaches in Key West are not as good as the beaches on some of the other islands -- like Islamorada and Marathon. So you may not be able to get both from one location.

I'll leave specific recommendations to other, preferably younger, people.

You want to go to Key West. There are many types of accomodtions. B&Bs, small hotels, and then resorts. The B&Bs are cute, some even have a pool. Most are in walking distnace to Duval Street. Thats where the action is. There are 2 hotels at the end of Duval that are on the beach (but these beaches are tiny,) but right on the pier where the sunset parties are held each night.
They are http://www.pierhouse.com/
and http://www.oceankey.com/oceankey_home.aspx
These are great locations.
I know there is a Hyatt close by to here as well. http://keywest.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
If you want to stay at a b&b
look at this site
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/key-west-florida.html and find what you like in your price range, remember the west end of Duval street is where all the bars, restaurants, and shops are located.
Good Luck and eat at My Blue Heaven
http://blueheavenkw.homestead.com/Bl..._Key_West.html
very yummy, funky, and fun!!

You definitely want Key West because all the other keys are along the highway and not really walking locations. In Key West you want to stay in Old Town, where you'll be within walking distance of tourist attactions, sunset celebrations and lots of restaurants. The hotels on the gulf are the Westin, the Pier House, the Ocean Key Resort and the Hyatt Resort and Marina. The Pier House has been undergoing renovations, so if you decide to book there you might ask about their progress.

Two perfectly beautiful other options are the Gardens Hotel and the Marquesa Hotel. Neither is on the water, but they're great nonetheless.

In a less expensive category are the Best Western Hibiscus and Southernmost Hotel. Both are on the quiet end of the island (near the Atlantic) but they get great reviews.

Two B&Bs that are very popular are the Island City House and Ambrosia, though they're both very family-friendly so may not be great for hubby's birthday.

Please take note, though, that the keys' beaches are nothing like white sand beaches you'll find in other parts of Florida. The keys are coral and all beaches are man-made and most are very tiny. If you're looking for a true beach destination you'll be disappointed.

I second the Gardens in Key West. Perfect location and a complete wonderful place to stay!

Casa Marina and they have a sort of sandy beach.

We stayed at the Marquesa and loved it - really charming hotel and nice pool area, very close to Duval, but still quiet with great service and a nice restaurant. We didn't find the beaches in Key West to be all that great, but we still loved staying there.

For location, the most central place to look is Old Town in KW. Islamorada and Marathon aren't as colorful and lively as KW--much more laid back, more geared toward fishing and relaxing. Both are a good drive away from KW on a 2 lane highway. I don't think anyone would call the KW beaches great, but they are lovely in a low key way (no pun intended). We started staying in hotels in KW when our kids were in high school about 10 years ago. Depending on how many friends or kids are going with us, we now rent either a condo or house. They're generally cheaper than (or at least comparable to) hotels and you get a lot more room to spread out and don't have to go out for every meal. You can find agencies on the web. We've used several and they've all been reliable (and I'm VERY fussy!!). Our last apt was a studio. It didn't have a pool (which is what I love about renting a house), but had a wonderful balcony overlooking the water. Heavenly!!

Location-wise, you'll want to stay off of Duval (if you plan to sleep), there are lots of places off Simonton, a block off Duval. The Heron House & Marquesa come to mind. It IS cheaper to stay near the Southernmost Point, but the walk will be significant. I'd stay on the other side of Truman, clsoer to the action (as it were). There are NO great beaches in Key West, but there are 'some' beaches. Marathin, Key Largo, etc are all other islands & little would be 'walkable'.

The Pier House and the Hyatt are the two hotels on the north side that have beaches - the Pier House has a small one and the Haytt an even samller one. The Ocean Key has the Sunset pier but no beach. Renovations at the Pier House are due to be complete 10/08.

Pjk

My favorite place to stay in Key West is Simonton Court. It is right off Duval, close enough to the action, but far enough away from the noise. Their garden area makes you feel as if you were a world away.
http://www.simontoncourt.com/
We have also stayed at Eden House and really like it. It is a bit farther off Duval and a little less upscale but still very nice.
http://www.edenhouse.com/

KathyH

FWIW I always stay at the Pier House (except twice) because I need the beach and to be able to swim in the ocean.

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/336556091_VsApS-M.jpg

Pjk

I also agree with the above posts. If a beach is not a make or break deal, I would suggest the Gardens Hotel. My husband and I have been staying here every time we vacation in Key West. I actually just booked our 4th return stay there.

You definitely can't go wrong: www.gardenshotel.com

We LOVE this place!! - Susan

I would say the best place to stay would be near Mallory Square! My favorite place is Weatherstation Inn. The pool is so nice, and the beach is located so close! That you have plenty of options of things to do whether it is having fun doing watersports, or hanging out in Mallory Square. I found all the information about Weatherstation Inn prior to my stay at keywesthistoricinns.com. I hope this helps! I know you will have an awesome time in Key West!

I can hihgly recommend The Heron House (not Heron House Court - haven't stayed there). We're late 30's/early 40's and have stayed there on two different trips. Very laid back, no children, beautiful grounds (where you can enjoy the excellent complimentary breakfast and happy hour), nice pool and central location. No complaints.

By far the best place to stay in Key West is Truman Annex. My family and I rent a cute little Key West cottage there every year for a week. It is a gorgeous community located in Old Town and it's only 2 blocks away from duval, 2 blocks from Mallory Square and there is even a beach located in the community (Fort Zachary Taylor State Park). I say renting a place is the best bet since most sleep 4-6 people so it's a great value!

We always stay at Casa del Sol at miamitokeywest.com. The place is amazing and it is just how you would picture a cute little key west cottage! The owners are great and we rent from them every year. Hope this helps!

There are several Guesthouses in old town that have pretty low rates; such as Alexander Palms Court, Blue Parrot Inn, and Author's Guesthouse. They are all located in old town and each have very different atmospheres. Check them out on tripadvisor, great reviews. If that's not what your looking for then give the Key West Visitor Center or the Innkeepers Association a call they will help you find the perfect place and the right price anywhere in Key West.

bookmarking

saving for future travels. thx

I can also recommend the Ocean Key Resort and Spa. We loved it.