Where to stay in middle Keys?
 

My wife and I are going to be staying at the Fleming Street Inn, Key West in May starting on a Sunday, but flying into Ft. Lauderdale on a Saturday and need a place to stay for the night. Our flight gets in Saturday afternoon and check in at the B&amp;B isn't until Sunday afternoon, so we'll have some time to spend elsewhere. We'd like to keep it under $200. I was thinking the middle Keys somewhere. We have a baby, so we need to keep that in mind. We don't have a lot of preferences, just clean and not too expensive. If we find some place really nice we might stay a couple nights instead. Any idea how long of a drive Ft. L to Key W is? Thanks.<BR>

Islamorada Key has a Hampton Inn that I've heard is very nice. Having been there but heard from friends it looks nice and is on the water, I believe. That would break up your drive pretty nicely....about 100 miles from Ft. L. to Islamorada and another 85 miles from there on to Key West.

Some suggestions in Islamorada: Pine and Palms, Cheeca Lodge (you may be able to get a great rate in May) Chesapeake Resort, Coral Bay Resort. I have also heard good things about White Gate Resort but have not stayed there. <BR>In Marathon try Banana Bay Resort. I like Islamorada better than Marathon.

The Hampton Inn in Islamorada is very nice. <BR>There is an Outback Steakhouse adjoined to the hotel including an outdoor seating area. It is on the water but there is no beach here which was a surprise to my family.

The Hampton Inn is probably the nicest Hampton Inn I've ever seen. More like a resort than a motel. I second the suggestion for Cheeca Lodge. Also give Morada Bay a look.