trade to Hyatt Sunset Harbor in Key West

[dznyacct]

My DH really, really wants to go to Key West for our belated 20th anniversary trip next summer (our 20th anniversary is next month). Our one day stop there on the DCL cruise last summer really got him hooked. I've been doing some research and think that a trade to the Hyatt Sunset Harbor looks good. Does anyone have any experience staying there? Was it difficult to do a trade for a summer stay? We will probably want to go in late June. Is that considered low season or mid season? Where did you fly into, Miami and get a rental car or Key West? We would want a one bedroom. How does the size of that compare to a one bedroom at OKW (I know that I've been spoiled!)? Our 16 yo son will be going too, along with his best friend. Thanks for any first hand accounts you can offer!

 

[problemchild718]

Hi! we love Key West as well. The Hyatt is very nice. Go for it! Unless you like long drives, don't rent a car-it is several hours from Miami to the Keys-a nice ride, but long-parking can also be an issue there. We fly into Miami then take a puddle jumper to Key West (the airport is tiny) Once, we flew into Tampa then switched planes. It is a short trip from Miami to KW by plane and the taxi was maybe $10-12. Be sure to take the ghost tour and check out the strange stones in the cemetary-some of them are a hoot! We also really enjoyed renting wave runners and touring around the Key from the gulf side to the Atlantic side. The sunset cruise is nice too. Have fun!!!

 

[spiceycat]

this area is hot in the summer time.

for a direct trade I go post on tug (points or flor) and find a few people who own at this resort. then send them a email asking if they would like to trade.

You can't post a direct trade on tug - they have classifed for that - of course you could also go look in the classifed.

 

[gppnj]

I've never stayed at this resort, but I have been to Key West, and I know that this location can't be beat. Key West is not a car-friendly place for a variety of reasons (parking, DUI, etc.). I know Hyatt Sunset Harbor is not the only resort in Key West we can trade with, but it's the only one I'd consider staying at because I'm not about to drive back and forth between Old Town and my resort.

Have a great time. Key West isn't someplace I'd bring kids to, though many people do. I consider it a great vacation spot for adults.

I echo what problemchild718 said aobut takign the ghost tour. It's great fun.

 

[DVCLiz]

Can't answer your question about the resort, but we went to Key West last week for our summer vacation and had a great time!!!! We stayed at the Hilton on Mallory Square for three nights and then went out to the Sunset Key cottages (on the little island just where the cruise ships dock) for two nights. It was wonderful!!!! But extremely hot!!!!

We flew into Atlanta from NC, then directly into Key West. I didn't want the hassle of a car. We took a cab or walked everywhere we wanted to go.

Try Blue Heaven for dinner one night - DD11 was enchanted with the roosters all over and the food was fabulous. Lobster, anyone?? The Hog's Breath Tavern and Sloppy Joe's were fun for a touristy lunch. We were there for "Lobsterfest" and Duval Street was blocked off one night for a street festival and yummy food!!!

I did take children, ages 11 and 16, and we had a ball. Of course, just like New Orleans, you'd want to pick your activities and times pretty carefully to avoid a big bar scene. We went to the Hemingway House and the aquarium, shopped and swam in the pool. It was a really fun trip, and I think next time we will explore some of the other Keys.

 

[dvc_john]

I've stayed at this resort twice (using Hyatt points). Just a few observations:

I'm not sure what season June is considered in II or DVC for this resort, but in Hyatt, it is the lowest possible season.
While it's a very nice resort, as for quality, I would put it a little lower than DVC. This is Hyatt's first timeshare. It's in a U-shaped setting, with a central pool/courtyard area. There are two irregular shaped units, and I stayed there both times. The lockoff was actually the master bedroom/bath. The bedroom/bath that went with the 1-br was a rather ordinary room, with the bath off the hall. (Not a suite as DVC). The living/dining/kitchen area was very similiar to OKW, with a nice balcony overlooking the pool. Not exactly sure of the room setup of the rest of the units (which would be most all the units). There is no washer/dryer in the unit, but there are 2 laundry rooms (pay). There is no parking, but the resort is adjacent to the Hilton hotel, and Hyatt guests can park in their ramp for a nominal fee ($20 per week when I was there). By parking in a ramp, you can keep the car in the shade, which is a big deal at that time of year.
The location can't be beat. Near Duval street and Mallory Square. There is a marina adjacent. The waverunner tours from here were a lot of fun. Trip to the Dry Tortugas was also a lot of fun, and included snorkeling. Nearest beach is a short drive, modest bicycle ride, or fairly decent walk away.
As for resorts, I prefer Hyatt Windward Pointe, which is every bit a nice as DVC, probably even nicer. But Sunset Harbor has by far the best location.

 

[JimMIA]

Is that considered low season or mid season?

I'm not sure about timeshare seasons, but it is definitely the lowest tourist season.

Where did you fly into, Miami and get a rental car or Key West?

As noted above, you can fly either to Key West, or fly to Miami and drive.

Depending on the day of the week and the time of day, a drive from Miami to Key West can either be easy or gruesome. If you are flying into Miami, definitely get a morning flight. MIA is almost downtown and by 2-3 PM on a weekday, the traffic really starts to build. Your drive will probably take you a full hour longer if you arrive after 2 PM.

Try NOT to arrive on a Friday. Friday, starting about lunch time, there is an endless stream of cars heading from Miami into the Keys, and most of them are pulling big boats. The same is true coming back on a Sunday afternoon, only worse. US 1 into and out of the Keys is two-lane, and it's a parking lot on Sunday afternoon.

The drive from Miami to Key West is +/- 160 miles, but plan on four hours. If you arrive in the morning and traffic is light, you might make it quicker. It's expressway in Miami until the very start of the Keys, then a mix of two-lane and four-lane (mostly two) to Key West. The roads are good, but don't get impatient on "The Stretch" between Florida City and Key Largo. It ain't worth dying for. (You'll see a lot of little round "Drive Safely in Memory of..." signs along The Stretch.)

The early part of the drive, through Miami and the Upper Keys, is nothing to write home about. However, once you get below Tavenier, you will find the Middle Keys very pretty, all the way down to Big Pine. That's 50+ miles of beautiful "Overseas Highway." Personally, I think the drive is worth taking, but I'm obviously biased. The Lower Keys are about like Key Largo, really not much to see because the islands there are larger.

It's hard to tell from the goofy address that Hyatt uses, but I believe that property is just off of Mallory Square. That's very convenient to Duval Street, the Mel Fisher Museum (worth a stop, on Whitehead), and Hog's Breath.

As mentioned, Key West will be hot in the summer, but there is usually a nice breeze and it's a place where you'll be wearing shorts and a tank top most of the time (if that), so it's not uncomfortable.

There are several required activities in Key West. The most important is the sunset celebration at Mallory Square. Music, food, jugglers, weirdos of all descriptions -- not to be missed. Applause for the sunset is mandatory. (Local knowledge - We usually bring a little cooler with stone crabs and a bottle of champagne, but conch fritters and Red Stripe will suffice)

The quintessential Key West souveniers are 1) a Conch Republic flag, and/or 2) a Hog's Breath teeshirt - hog logo with the text, "Hog's Breath is Better than No Breath at All!" Once you've seen the Hog's Breath Saloon, you may question the truthfulness of the slogan, but it's an institution nonetheless.

As mentioned, Sloppy Joe's is another must - it's "Papa" Hemingway's bar. Jimmy Buffet has a restaurant on Duval Street (Margaritaville), but the bar at the La Concha Hotel is a better place for a sandwich.

Two very good places to eat are the Raw Bar (on Caroline Street) and Louie's Back Yard. Louie's is great for a nice dinner - make reservations and ask to sit outside if the weather is nice. Great food and service. When Louie retired, the employees bought the restaurant because they didn't want to see the legend die.

The Raw Bar is casual...which in Key West, means homeless-shelter casual, flip-flops optional. Good food, reasonable prices, lots of beer. They don't take reservations, so if you have to wait, walk over to the Turtle Kraals and look at the turtles. It's a restaurant too, but don't eat there. Just go look at the turtles -- everybody does, they're used to it.

Things to do - The Conch Train is a good way to see a lot in a short time and get a flavor of the place. As mentioned, Mel Fisher's Museum (Spanish treasure galleon loot!) is well worth the price of admission.

For snorkling/scuba, don't do that from Key West. Go back up the Keys 27 miles to the Looe Key Resort, and go out on a half day snorkle trip to Looe Key. It's the best place in the Keys for snorkling/scuba, but it's five miles offshore, so you have to go by boat.

For history and a beautiful trip, there's Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park, 70 miles west of Key West. Among other things, Ft. Jeff is famous as the prison where the infamous Dr. ("Your name is...") Mudd was incarcerated. Absolutely beautiful place. You get there by boat or seaplane, and it is just incredible. You go by (or over)Jimmy Buffet's oft-mentioned Marquessas on the way out. For details, see www.nps.gov/drto

Have a great trip!

 

[DVCLiz]

Wow, JimMIA!!! That really makes me want to go back again - thanks for the descriptions!!!! We stayed directly across the street from the Mel Fisher museum, but never made it this trip, so we'll add it to the next trip!! And both girls came home with a Hog's Breath T-shirt...

 

[DaveT1]

We love Key West. They Hyatt is near the Hilton where we also stay and as said the location is perfect. It looked nice.

Blue Heaven is also great for breakfast, also the Rooftop Cafe for a cheap breakfast. BO Fish Wagon has a great fish sandwich. Too many places for dinner. The Hilton has a place you can eat outside over on Sunset Isle if you make reservations and take their shuttle boat over. Michael's has a nice steak and chocolate volcano dessert.

I actually like the drive out, usually from West Palm. We like to stop part way through at Islamorada and eat lunch at Islamorada Fish Company out on the deck, take a break and stretch legs next door at the Worldwide Sportsman store, lots of bathrooms around.

Also if you get a chance charter a boat. We went out on the Giggling Tarpon and Capt Bill was great. Left it up to him and he took us snorkeling, to a gorgeous sandy beach island, and fishing. It was a super half-day. He has a web site the name of his boat above. Very low key.

 

[dznyacct]

Thanks everyone for all your great Key West info. I knew that my DIS friends wouldn't let me down! I think I'm going to "give" this trip to my DH on our 20th anniversary next month. He still thinks I've got our plans set to go to Vero and then a week at WDW next summer. He is not the Disney nut that I am and has been moping around and grumbling about HAVING to go go to WDW next summer and wanting to go to Key West instead. My son's friend was going to join us at VB/WDW, so now I think I'm going to talk to his mom about moving the WDW trip to Spring Break. I know it's a real "sacrifice", but that's just the kind of person I am!!

 

[pirateparrot]

I own at one of the other Hyatts on the island and go there pretty frequently. We usually fly into Fort Lauderdale (Southwest) and drive down. I guess it is about a 4 hour drive but I save hundreds of $$$ by going this way. I flew into KW one time and the flights were really expensive.

The Sunset Harbor is definitely close to Old Town and I would like to stay there sometime. Definitely within staggering distance of the bars in Old Town.

We usually go on a sunset cruise on the Caribean Spirit each trip and have a great time. Just kick back and relax.