Florida Keys Hotels: Where to Stay

The Florida Keys stretch from Key Largo to Key West along the Overseas Highway. This guide covers hotels in the Florida Keys we could confirm are open now: five resorts across Key Largo, Islamorada, Little Torch Key, and Key West. We checked each one against the property site and at least one other source. We flag every detail we could confirm only once. We do not quote rates because rates change daily. Call or check the booking page before you pay.

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Best Hotels in Florida Keys: Five Open Resorts

Playa Largo Resort and Spa in Key Largo

Playa Largo Resort and Spa, Autograph Collection, stands at 97450 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037. The phone number is 305-853-1001. The resort sits on 14.5 acres of shoreline and has a private beach.

The resort site lists an outdoor bayside pool, the Ocean Spa, a new Pilates studio, and four places to eat or drink. These are Sol By The Sea, La Marea, Las Olas, and the Sand Bar. A marina offers slips for guests who arrive by boat. Guests can snorkel from the shore, book fishing charters, rent kayaks and paddleboards, and join glass bottom boat tours. A sunset event called Eventide features live music.

A second listing confirms the address and the three restaurants. The same listing says a resort fee covers parking, Wi-Fi, fishing poles, and sports courts. Ask the front desk for the current fee and what the fee includes. We could not confirm check-in times or the pet policy. The second listing mentions a dog exercise area and food bowls, but we could not read a full policy. Call before you bring a pet.

Choose Playa Largo if you want a beach resort close to the first stop on the Keys, with a marina and plenty of water activities.

Cheeca Lodge and Spa in Islamorada

Cheeca Lodge and Spa stands at 81801 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036, at Mile Marker 82. The phone number is 305-664-4651. The resort site describes an oceanfront property on 27 acres.

The resort site lists a signature spa, a sushi bar, an Italian restaurant, a tiki bar, and the Atlantic’s Edge restaurant. Activities include fishing charters, golf, tennis, pickleball, snorkeling, kayaking, and scuba. A meetings directory lists 243 guest rooms, a 525-foot fishing pier, and free snorkeling, kayaking, biking, and scuba equipment. We found those figures in only one source, so treat them as unconfirmed.

The same directory lists check-in at 4:00 PM and check-out at 11:00 AM. We could not confirm those times on the resort site. The resort site mentions a resort fee but does not show an amount, so ask for the total before you book. We could not confirm a pet policy.

Islamorada calls itself the Sport Fishing Capital of the World, according to the Florida Keys tourism board. Choose Cheeca if fishing is the point of your trip.

Little Palm Island Resort and Spa near Little Torch Key

Little Palm Island Resort and Spa uses a mainland address of 28500 Overseas Highway, Little Torch Key, FL 33042. The resort sits on a private island and the site says guests arrive only by sea or sky. A seaplane arrival is one option. A 2020 press release says motor yacht transfers run from the mainland.

Reservations run through 888-413-0560. The hotel direct line is 305-684-8341. The 2020 press release listed a different toll-free number, so use the numbers on the current resort site.

Hurricane Irma damaged the resort in September 2017. Travel trade reports say the resort was the last Florida Keys property to reopen. A soft reopening took place on 1 March 2020. The resort now belongs to the Noble House Hotels and Resorts collection. Trade reports describe 30 thatched-roof suites on about four acres. The resort site lists four suite types: Island Premier, Island Grand, Island Romance, and Island Escape.

The press release says rooms and public areas have no televisions or telephones. The SpaTerre spa, the Dining Room, and the Palapa Bar are on the island. The resort also offers a marina, a boutique, and private dining. We could not confirm check-in times or an age policy. The press release quoted rates from 2020. Rates have probably changed, so ask the resort.

Choose Little Palm Island if you want a quiet private island and you can plan boat or seaplane transfers.

Ocean Key Resort and Spa in Key West

Ocean Key Resort and Spa stands at the foot of Duval Street. The resort lists the address as 0 Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040. Reservations run through 844-330-3852 and the hotel direct line is 305-809-8072. Noble House operates the resort.

The resort site lists guest rooms, resort suites, an oceanfront penthouse, and accessible rooms. Dining options include the Hot Tin Roof restaurant, the LIQUID pool bar, the Sweet Bird Bar, and dining on Sunset Pier. SpaTerre Key West offers Balinese and Thai treatments.

A travel retailer listing says the resort has 100 rooms on five floors, check-in at 4:00 PM, check-out at 11:00 AM, and a 2021 renovation. The listing also says the resort sits next to Mallory Square. We found those details in one source only, so confirm them by phone.

Choose Ocean Key if you want to walk to Duval Street and the sunset crowds at Mallory Square.

The Marker Key West Harbor Resort

The Marker Key West Harbor Resort stands at 200 William Street, Key West, FL 33040. The phone number is 305-501-5193. The old guide placed this resort in Key Largo. Key West is the correct location.

The resort site and Time Out both place the hotel in the historic seaport, about three blocks from Duval Street. The site lists 96 rooms and suites with balconies, Starboard restaurant, and Starboard Bar. A meetings directory also lists 96 rooms and shows check-in at 4:00 PM. The directory lists a build year of 2014. We found check-in and the build year in one source only.

Sources disagree on pools. The resort site says three pools. Time Out says two courtyard pools. A meetings directory lists one outdoor pool. Ask the hotel how many pools guests can use today.

Choose The Marker if you want a harbor setting in Old Town and a short walk to restaurants and bars.

Cheap Hotels in Florida Keys: What We Could Not Confirm

Every property above is a resort. We did not confirm any budget motel or inn for this update. Many Keys visitors still look for cheap hotels in the Florida Keys, so we say so plainly. We will not guess at a lower-cost property we have not checked.

To compare cost, ask each resort for the total with taxes and fees. Compare the total on two booking sites and by phone. Ask what the resort fee covers. Parking, Wi-Fi, and equipment can differ by property.

Dates also shape cost. Check the property site for current offers. Use the Expedia link at the top of this page to compare other hotels in the Florida Keys, including smaller properties we have not reviewed.

Where to Stay in the Florida Keys by Area

Key Largo is the first destination in the Keys, an easy hour drive from Miami, according to the Florida Keys tourism board. The board calls Key Largo the Diving Capital of the World. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the Christ of the Deep statue, and the Spiegel Grove wreck sit among the dive sites. Other attractions include the History of Diving Museum and the African Queen. Playa Largo is the Key Largo pick on this list.

Islamorada sits between Key Largo and Marathon. The tourism board describes a village of six islands with flats fishing for tarpon, bonefish, sailfish, permit, and snook. Divers can visit coral reefs and the San Pedro shipwreck. Cheeca Lodge is the Islamorada pick.

The Lower Keys run from the Seven Mile Bridge to Stock Island. Key deer roam the area and Bahia Honda is a main attraction for nature lovers. Looe Key is one of the most vibrant reefs in the Keys. Little Palm Island sits off Little Torch Key in this stretch.

Key West is the end of the road. The tourism board points to the Southernmost Point, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Duval Street nightlife, and sunset performers at Mallory Square. Ocean Key and The Marker both sit in Old Town.

How to Choose Among Florida Keys Hotels

Anglers should start with Cheeca Lodge. Divers and snorkelers should look at Playa Largo, then add a day trip to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Check the park site for hours and fees before you go.

Couples who want seclusion should look at Little Palm Island. Plan the transfer in advance. Travelers who want nightlife on foot should pick Key West. Ocean Key sits at the foot of Duval Street and The Marker sits three blocks away.

Families should call each resort and ask about children, pets, and activities. We could not confirm family policies at every property. Anyone who needs an accessible room should call and describe the room needed. Ocean Key and Little Palm Island both list accessible suites, and a listing for Playa Largo mentions accessibility features.

Before you pay, confirm the property name, the cancellation policy, parking, the resort fee, and front desk hours for late arrivals.

What We Checked and What We Could Not

We took addresses, phone numbers, and amenities from each property site. We checked Little Palm Island history against two trade press reports from 2020. We checked The Marker against Time Out and a meetings directory. We checked Cheeca Lodge and Ocean Key against meetings and travel listings. We took area facts from the Florida Keys tourism board.

We could not confirm current rates, pet policies, age rules, or most check-in times. We found room counts for Cheeca Lodge and Ocean Key in one source each. Phone numbers and policies change. Confirm each detail with the property before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Hotels in the Florida Keys range from a private island off Little Torch Key to a harbor resort in Old Town Key West. Playa Largo suits divers, Cheeca Lodge suits anglers, Little Palm Island suits couples, and Ocean Key and The Marker suit Key West visitors. Call ahead, confirm the current policies and the resort fee, and ask for the total cost before you book.

Where else to stay in Florida. Every guide we have for the region.