Miami or Key West?

[adamak]

Or both? Thinking about 1 week vacation. Should I split?

I love the hip vibe in Miami. But I also like to relax and snorkel.

Where would you recommend me to stay in either place?

 

[WillyJ]

Having been to both, I would say head for Key West. . . Miami is an interesting and exciting city, but it's not that much different then any other big coastal city. Key West on the other hand is one of the few totally unique places in the country, and it's a heck of a fun place to hang. .

I'll add that you have a pretty sweet choice either way. . .

 

[bsnyder]

I'd split it up! A few nights in South Beach, and then head down to Key West.

As for where to stay, there's such a variety, it really depends on your budget.

We stayed at an awesome resort in Key West this summer, but we were with someone who had a very deep company discount, otherwise it would have been too expensive for us.

Awesome pool and pool bar here, and you're literally steps away from all the action on Duval Street.

http://www.oceankey.com/

In Miami, you can find some pretty good bargains on Miami Beach. The closer you get to South Beach, the more expensive the properties.

 

[WillyJ]

Cool Bet!!! That's where I stayed last time I was down there, and it is a great place. . .

The bar on the bay there is very cool. . . if you sit at one end you're on the Atlantic, and if you sit at the other end you're on the Gulf of Mexico because it's right where they meet.. . . And yeah, you can't beat the location. . . .

 

[adamak]

Looks really good. Reminds me of Disney.

To be honest, I'm spoiled by DVC, so I've been saving up money for a good vacation (ie, no motel 6 this time). This place looks good.

So, should I stay with Duval street in Key West then?

 

[Pin Wizard]

Key West

 

[catsrule]

Key West. Stayed at a B&B there, and they had kitties running all around it. I felt right at home.

 

[bsnyder]

WillyJ, that is cool that you stayed there! I absolutely loved the place!

Adamak, the Billyfish Bar at Ocean Key is really neat. Part if it is a long pier (I think it's the oldest pier in Key West, or something like that). They serve meals out there, and DH and I had breakfast there one morning.

Also, Mallory Square is right next door. The view from our room was of the Square (and the beautiful ocean beyond) and the Cruise Ship pier. It was so cool to wake up one morning and see the DCL ship docked there!

And the pool is awesome. The "pool boys" circulate every so often with mister sprays, and little cups of frozen sorbet, to cool you off. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven, it was so darn relaxing!

Check out the pictures of the rooms, on the website. They are done in those bright colorful tropical colors and furniture. We had a junior suite, with a separate living room, and a jacucci tub. It was heavenly!

 

[WillyJ]

Yeah adamak, Duval St. is the main drag. . not everything is on it, but almost everything is near it. . .

A couple tips. . they have a little trolley called the "Conch Train" . You can catch it on Duval right near the hotel Bet and I mentioned. It costs like $6 and it takes you on a guided tour of the island. It's a great way to get orientated, and you can jump off if you see something interesting and get back on the next one. .

One place I'd reccomend checking out is "Captain Tony's Saloon". . it's right off Duval, and it's a cool little bar that was the site of the original "Sloppy Joes". . . the bar there is where Hemingway stood and wrote parts of a couple of his novels. .

Have a great trip!!!

 

[Bob NC]

Originally posted by bsnyder
I'd split it up! A few nights in South Beach, and then head down to Key West.

As for where to stay, there's such a variety, it really depends on your budget.

We stayed at an awesome resort in Key West this summer, but we were with someone who had a very deep company discount, otherwise it would have been too expensive for us.

Awesome pool and pool bar here, and you're literally steps away from all the action on Duval Street.

http://www.oceankey.com/

In Miami, you can find some pretty good bargains on Miami Beach. The closer you get to South Beach, the more expensive the properties.

This place is awesome. The address is Zero Duval St, and it's right in the middle of everything. The rooms are MOSTLY large suites, but they do have a certain number of regular hotel room type rooms available.

 

[Steve H.]

If you go to Miami, I highly recommend this place:

http://www.best-miami-hotels.net/hotels/beach-house-bal-harbour.html

It's a little farther up north from South Beach (in Bal Harbor), but the rooms, location, service and atmosphere can't be beat!

 

[Poohbear123]

Key West---I LIVE in Miami and Go there to get away from it all!

 

[Ted and Holly]

I would split it up. I'm guessing you'll fly into MIA anyway. It's only a 4 hour drive. We did a day-trip to Key West when we were in Miami in July. It was ALOT round-trip for one day, but Key West was nice.... I don't know if I could have found enough to do for an entire week, though. And when we were there, the water was ICKY.... full of garbage and seaweed and grimy slime. Is it always that way? Key West was certainly not how I pictured it! A must-do in Key West is to eat at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville!

Have a great time, whatever you choose! I'm jealous!

Holly

 

[adamak]

Are there any cheap seafood digs in Key West that we can indulge ourselves in oyster, crabs...etc? DH is really into eating tons of fresh seafoods.

Looks like I'm going to split between the 2 cities.

 

[bsnyder]

adamak,

This should be just what you're looking for:

http://www.halfshell-rawbar.com/his.php

It's the real deal - a Key West dive - but it's got awesome seafood.

There's also Hog's Breath Saloon:

http://www.hogsbreath.com/

more atmosphere and entertainment here. The food's pretty good too!