Middle / Lower Keys and Naples / Marco / Everglades recommendations?

[Hilary]

Part of our trip next Easter will include a few days in the Keys followed by a few days in the Naples area before we head up to Orlando.

Can anyone recommend any hotels / condos / apartments in these areas? We're hoping for something with kitchen facilities, not necessarily on the beach (but harbour-side would be good) and available by the night, rather than per week (don't have that long in each location!).

I'm up to my eyes in web-sites and now have far too much choice!

We like the sound of the Middle to Lower section of the Keys - athough I'm sure we'll visit Key West, I don't fancy staying there.

The whole of the Naples / Marco / Everglades area sounds good, but we would probably prefer to be out of the main centres and somewhere quieter.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

 

[KayleeUK]

No ideas, but a little bump and a big wow!!!

 

[stal]

In October 2003 we flew into Miami and drove to Key Largo, stayed the night, then drove down to Key West and stayed a night, then drove from Key West to Naples and stayed 2 nights, the Drove to tampa for 1 night, then Orlando for 7 nights, then to Fort Lauderdale for 1 night and then back to Miami.

The only hotel we booked before we left was the Orlando one.

This was useful, because we wern't too impressed with the Keys. We were intending on staying a bit longer, but moved onto the next destination.

We used the Room Saver discount vouchers that we printed on the website and we could book and check in late in the day using them with no problem.

In Key Largo and Key West, i think we just stayed in Days Inn or Holiday Inn. In Naples we stayed at a Best Western. Very nice hotel, 2 pools which we had to ourselves. Computers to use in the reception area with internet connection and you could rent films out for free from a large selection to watch in for room. I have some pictures of it somewhere i can scan if you would like.

On the drive from Key West to Naples we got lost and ended up in Miami , we soon were on our way and on the drive there are many places to take air boat rides. We stopped for a bit and had a personal Air Boat ride.

Thats all i can remeber for now...

just read it through and it doesn't make much sense but i hope you can understand it

 

[Mickey_UK]

We stayed 6 nights at the Residence inn Naples in May this year and it was great. 1 Bedroom was $61 and a 2 Bedroom $84 inc buffet breakfast,Mon thro Thurs free beer and wine from 5pm till 7pm and a Weds BBQ all included.The rooms were very clean and spacious,You can also get this hotel on the roomsaver.com site or the Marriott hotel web site

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for the suggestions so far

I'm checking out the hotel websites, and like the look of them all !

 

[kazzie]

Hilary,we stayed in a conch villa on Hawks cay resort on Duck Key ,it was fantastic

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Hi Hilary. Can't recommend any hotels with kitchen facilities, although on Marco I have been told the Radisson Suites are excellent. For non-kitchen facilities, couldn't recommend the Hilton on Marco enough - it's great (must be if we're going back ).

Marco is very quiet (called the Gateway to Heaven cos that's where a lot of the more mature Americans retire to ). Naples again is very select and not too touristy.

We stayed on Islamorada on the Keys - whilst I wouldn't recommend the Cheeca Lodge (wish I'd booked Hawks Cay where Kaz went now ), there were loads of condos/resorts with self-catering, the place seemed to be full of them. It's again a great place for unwinding.

Have fun choosing . . . once you've stopped pulling your hair out

 

[Hilary]

Thanks, Kazzie and Annie

Hair standing up quite well, but mouse-button finger is in danger of dropping off from excessive web-browsing