beth48

We're planning a trip to the Keys in late February. Where can we stay mid-way between Miami and Key West? We prefer a mid to larger size hotel, preferably under $200/night. Also, when do spring-breakers arrive--we want to avoid that time!

JackOneill

Pls do a search on this site. These topics have been discussed many times.
Check out www.fla-keys.com.

stellaluna

last year we spent the last week in February at Hawk's Cay resort on Duck Key, pretty much midway between Miami and Key West. we flew into Miami, rented a car and drove down. Hawk's Cay is a what i would consider a mid to large size hotel, with plenty of amenities and lodging options. check out their website: www.hawkscay.com
i was able to get a room for under $200 per night by booking on Orbitz. it was a nice room in the main building. i imagine that any time during February is a peak time in terms of crowds. and i'll bet that March and April are busy also. the first time i visited Hawk's Cay was over Mother's Day weekend several years ago and it was quieter, but not by much. there are a lot of groups here and a lot of children. it is not peaceful and serene by any means!
hope this helps.

clairelong

Please don't book a room through anything other than the hotel itself whether that be online where i am sure you can find it through a search and the price will be much cheaper. Spring breakers are more like March

travelinfamily

Hi!! I am not sure if Islamorada is mid way between Miami and Key West but we stayed there a few years ago and loved it. We stayed at the Holiday Isle. We had a huge room on the top floor, our balcany wrapped around one corner of the building and we had a great view of the ocean!! Plus it was reasonalby priced!! Great beach, a tiki bar, and water sports all right there. Have fun!!

GoTravel

You may want to skip Holiday Isle late Feb as it is spring break central.

Morada Bay, Pines and Palms, Cheeca Lodge would all be in Islamorada. Islamorada has a lot going on and is a great little area. World Wide Sportsman (Zane Greys is a must), Loreli, Marker 88, Islamorada Fish Company, tarpon feeding at Robbies are some must do's.

scs

We have stayed at the Cheeca Lodge and really enjoyed it. When we went it was off season - summer, and we got a great deal through GoGo Tours. My son caught a yellow tail snapper fishing off their pier, and the chef cooked it up as fish fingers for the boys. Seemed like a waste of a great fish to me, but they absolutely loved it! We liked being in Islamorada because of the location on the Keys. The fried shrimp at the Islamorada Company is to die for!

clairelong

The shrimp and food at Islamorada is excellent!

Larry1

Hmm- Cheeca Lodge in February for under $200 a night? I guess you might get lucky, but I wouldn't count on it. I do agree that Islamorada would be a good place- but not Holiday Isle, that resort has a well-deserved reputation for a party atmosphere and the OP seems to want to avoid those types of people. Something fitting the description of a "mid to larger size hotel" for around $200 in Islamorada is the Hampton Inn. Do a search, I believe a few posters have stayed there and I don't think I remember hearing anything bad.

turn_it_on

We stayed on Long Key last March at the Lime Tree Bay Resort and we loved it. It's about halfway down the Keys, and it's a very laid back place, right on the water with a boat hut and a little pier and an awesome little pool raised up so you can see the water. It is a smaller hotel, kind of rambling and a little rustic but the room was super clean and bright and well decorated, and a standard hotel room was $129 through hotels.com. Also, we had zero trouble with spring breakers, and we were there on my boyfriend's spring break!

Check out my trip report for more info about the hotel and the trip in general at http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34410787. I think the hotel's webstite is www.limetreebayresort.com.

love
roxy