Heading off there in April - my thoughts favour my usual ad-hoc arrangements of finding places to stay whilst on the road - Anybody ever done this in the Keys ? Is there a shortage of accommodation there especially at the time of year I intend to travel.
Any must see things ??
Cheers.
Edited by Pugugly on 28/09/2009 at 23:39
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PU, let me recommend a novel, but a good recent historical novel, called Killing Mr Watson by Peter Mathieson. It's about the Caribbean side of Florida but it's really rather good. About the late 19th and early 20th centuries there, stuff that can still be found. Almost the last US frontier.
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It's quite a while since we visited the Keys, but it's a marvellous experience, especially driving across all those 42 bridges.
At the time we were touring all round Florida and stayed in various Day's Inns, booking ahead from each one before we set off.
There's so much to see in the Keys that it's not possible to recommend any particular attraction, but don't miss the sunsets especially in Key West. Lots of activities there to enjoy for a start.
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Lud,
Thanks for that - ordered a second hand version - bizzarly Amazon wanted £128.95 for a new copy but I got it for 95p + 2.95p&P second hand. Look forward to that.
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I've stayed in Key West for a week in March for the last 4 or 5 years, but I always pre-book accommodation. There are plenty of B&Bs in the side streets of Duval St, and it is very compact. Having stayed at www.keywestbandb.com I can recommend it, also the Crowne Plaza In Duval St is expensive but very nice. You need to be at Mallory Square at sunset to see the (free) street entertainers, and atop the Crowne Plaza is also a cool place to be as the sun goes down.
Other than that, I'm not sure that there's a lot to see in the Keys really, but I am not much of an expert as my day time in the Keys as much of my time is spent in bars in the evenings and through the nights: day time is for sleeping it off!! Start the evening early at the Hogs Breath then drift up Duval until you reach the Green Parrot for late night rocking blues to the very early hours. Most of the bars are free (i.e. no cover) and host very good live music.
In Key West you have the Southernmost point of the USA, Hemingway's house (lots of cats there), overpriced fishing trips, some interesting buildings and a place where even I have never dared venture to the upper floor as I understand it's a clothes free zone.
Which reminds me that Key West hosts Fantasy Fest which is in November I think - and anything goes (google it if you aren't faint hearted - avoid the official site to see the best of the painted bodies). Your choice whether to go or avoid that time!
The drive from Miami across the Keys (approx 150m IIRC) is pleasant enough to start out, but
gets a bit tedious if you are caught on a busy day.
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btw I think March is regarded as Spring Break and is busy. Not sure about April.
And if you like your bikes you should bring your holiday forward to take in Bike Week in Daytona - fantastic (but very busy) - early-ish March IIRC
Edited by smokie on 29/09/2009 at 01:04
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>>to take in Bike Week in Daytona>>
But nearly 400 miles north of the Florida Keys...:-)
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We stayed in Key West for 2 weeks, found loads to do and see. During the day theres all the Key West stuff to do, plus beaches, and you can go up and down Highway 1 to see some of the sights/tourist attractions like Dolphin rescue centres.
The most interesting thing we did in KW was to go on an organized kayaking trip aorund local mangrove swamps.
The only downside was the long driive from Miami after the hop across the pond.
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We're flying into Orlando - overnighting there for two nights there, then on to St Petes and then a little hazy on the planning. Plan sort of A is to drive to Key Largo and maybe fly back to Orlando or Miami.......then home. Option B is to drive the whole lot as we are both enthusiastic drivers.
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Heading off there in April >>
events listed by month, maps, and live webcams:
www.fla-keys.com/calendarofevents/index.cfm
The keys are a pretty small place, and easy to get to Key West from Key Largo (90 miles).
You can visit all the Key West points of interest, including Hemingway's house and cats, with a leisurely stroll. Don't forget to take your white long beard to Sloppy Joe's.
www.hemingwayhome.com/HTML/our_cats.htm
sloppyjoes.com/history.htm
If it floats your boat, sunset sailing trips at Key West are a popular tourist activity!
Option B is to drive the whole lot as we are both enthusiastic drivers. >>
My own preferred option.
Edited by jbif on 29/09/2009 at 14:31
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Not swimming with Dolphins though, they're responsible for all this.
Thanks for the tips so-far. Great for winter planning. Stuck with April (got the last two seats on the plane !!) ideally I'd like to know whether April is so busy that I'll have to book ahead. We will have wireless stuff !
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Spring Break - when students descend in their thousands on Florida (mainly Orlando, Daytona and parts of Keys, but the Gulf coast areas may not be immune) - normally runs from the 2nd week of March through the end of the 2nd week of April.
Edited by jbif on 29/09/2009 at 14:47
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Oh well, I'll avoid them - been spotting them around the Pot Noodles in Tesco last couple of weeks so I know what to look out for !
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Walk in hotel prices were not as competive this year (July and August) as they were 3/4 years ago. Booking ahead via the net can give a more favourable price. Both my son's were in the keys this year and one of them got a price from the desk, went back to his car found a local wireless connection with his laptop and did an online booking for $20 less. Who are you using for car hire. I use Dollar through carhire3000.co.uk best price and full insurance, noexcess, and remember to join Express Dollar so you do not have to queue to collect your car. Mid July this year I walked passed a queue of some 80 to 100 people at Orlando International at 6pm at night to go straight to the Express Desk, free uprade and I was out of there. My son was with Alamo and waited 1 1/2 hrs to get his car. He choose Alamo as they offered a lower charge for under 25 year olds. Regards Peter
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Cape Canaveral is do-able from Orlando..
www.ksc.nasa.gov/
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Thanks, did that in 04 and was lucky enough to be there for a night launch (by chance) both of us have been there before...
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Thanks did that in 04 and was lucky enough to be there for a night launch (by chance) both of us have been there before...
Not relevant to your question, but just wanted to say that I also saw a Shuttle Launch on a completely clear night in December 2006. One of the most amazing things I've ever experienced.
If you fly into Miami it's worthwhile spending a night in Boca Raton just to look at the mansions on the sea front, try the excellent sea food (especially the tuna dishes) and ogle the ladies in miniskirts in the bars. Oh, and I've never seen so many Lexus and Mercs with gold plated radiator grills in one place.
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Not relevant to your question but just wanted to say that I also saw a Shuttle Launch on a completely clear night in December 2006. One of the most amazing things I've ever experienced.
Hope you was wearing a hard hat. What goes up must come down, and not always as planned :(
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In the past i did a Florida trip and just booked the first night in advance so Mr Grumpy would have somewhwere to head for after a 9 hour flight and airport shenanigans
tootling off after that and checking in ad hoc was aboslutely fine and dandy EXCEPT over the public holiday weekend....now that got a bit stressful, as hotel after hotel was booked (Clearwater Beach ish).
I'd strongly recommend investigating their national holiday timetables and booking that weekend in advance, if you're over there during one of them
other than that I prefer the ad hoc arrangements, if you find a good spot you can stay a bit longer if you want, if not move on, it's normally very easy.
the other thing is buying an American map for your portable Satnav, on more recent trips that's taken the hassle out of large towns or cities
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Thanks WP - My TT went over to New England last year and was actually better than it is in the UK (you get a current speed limit display) - mind you the Ozzy Osbourne voice I chose raised and eyebrow when stationary in one little town. Will have to re-map it for Florida I think.
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>>In the past I did a Florida trip and just booked the first night in advance so Mr Grumpy would have somewhwere to head for after a 9 hour flight and airport shenanigans.
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I too would book the first night.
At the start of our trip to MIA / The Keys we got a nine hour delay ex LHR due to an unusual sequence of airline events.
I had to deliver a sleeping family to our little hotel half way down The Keys at something like 2am their time.
Was I glad we had a bed to aim for.
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I too would book the first night. >>
IIRC, the anti-terror laws now mean you have to have pre-booked some accommodation.
tip for Pugugly:
Have a leisurely drive down from St Pete to the Keys via routes 41 and 45 to join I1 at Miami, rather than the faster I75.
re. Dollar Express, google for it, and it brings up the tripadvisor thread.
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/
ShowTopic-g34515-i19-k3084082-l20873782- Dollar_pre_pick_up_info-Orlando_Florida.html
and from there this one:
www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=4030010
Edited by jbif on 29/09/2009 at 17:28
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Excellent, thanks - the person going with me works for HMG so we'll get a good discount on hotel rates as well. Had a quick scan of the website looks good. How do you join the Express Dollar ?
(directed at PeterD by the way !)
Edited by Pugugly on 29/09/2009 at 15:29
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Excellent thanks - the person going with me works for HMG so we'll get a good discount on hotel rates as well.
If you're referring the the "Government" rates that hotels offer then you're only supposed to use those if you work the US Government - and the rates usually aren't that good anyway. If you're an AA member you can use the AAA (Triple A) rates.
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Hi Pugugly. You join on line on Dollars web site.co.uk You get a paper confirmation on line followed by a plastic card a couple of weeks later. I have used then quite a lot and just booked a car for Christmas out of Dulles Airport Vienna ( Washington DC ). The insurance is comprehensive and no excess so all covered. I have had them try and sell me 'RoadSafe' breakdown but you do not need it, if it breaks they turn up with a replacement car. They even paid for a puncture. My trip to Florida in July was 28 days and the car hire was £528 for a Dodge Charger, they do charge for a tank of fuel on collection but you can take it back almost emply. Plus airport tax restricted to $12.50. Regards Peter
Edited by Peter D on 29/09/2009 at 17:33
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I spent a few nights in the Keys last October as part of a fairly hectic family ten day trip to Florida; Miami, Keys, Orlando, Miami. Highway 1 through the Keys offers spectacular views and mostly pleasant relaxed driving but maybe isn?t a motoring holiday in the usual sense. At that time there was no issue with availability of rooms and we checked in on spec and negotiated a reasonable discount on the rack rate at independent operators, we particularly liked Banana Bay resort at Marathon Key. In April, coming out of peak season there may be more need to book in advance.
Not sure that they are many must see attractions more a chill out and take your time place, beaches, kayaking, tours kite surfing take your pick. Lots of bikers when we were there and looks a great place to hire a Harley.
One note despite regularly driving non stop between SE England and north of Inverness I found driving Marathon and Orlando a long haul especially with a slow drive down the Keys single lane road most of the way. Id suggest it would be better to stop en route.
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We had an excellent trip to Key West in Feb 2008. I would definitely spend the first night at MIA airport where there is plenty of reasonable accommodation. We used La Quinta MIA West which was very well priced and had a free shuttle bus back to the airport for car pick up.
In Key West we stayed at the Best Western Hibiscus Motel. This is pretty well regarded on Tripadvisor and we would definitely go back. At the quiet end of town but still easily walkable to the centre of things. Have a look on their web site. There is free but basic breakfast at the motel but we liked walking to Sarabeth's and having a superb leisurely breakfast with the papers.
I would recommend visiting the Audubon house and for men of a certain age a trip to Hemingway's house is a must. Key West has plenty of decent eating places and bars but Duval street can become a bit too much.
A canoe trip through the mangroves with Lazy Dog canoes (www.lazydogkeywest.com) was terrific.
I would second the comments about the long slow drive as the road is only two lane and we were considerably held up when some one flipped their car on a bridge.
With winter approaching I am more than somewhat envious. Have a great trip.
alfalfa
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I would definitely spend the first night at MIA airport >>
Isn't the OP going to Orlando airport?
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>> I would definitely spend the first night at MIA airport >> Isn't the OP going to Orlando airport?
He certainly appears to be doing so but it wasn't in his first post. Must pay more attention.
alfalfa
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>>I would second the comments about the long slow drive as the road is only two lane and we were considerably held up when some one flipped their car on a bridge.
>>
I was warned not to undertake, at any speed, on the gravel hard shoulder, anyone waiting to turn across the oncoming traffic. An instant ticket if caught doing that.
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And if you are planning to do much Interstate driving the Sunpass is a boon - sail through the tolls virtually without slowing, and discounted rates too IIRC. I think the rental companies will sell you one. Might have been a thread on them recently.
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I think one thing to bear in mind from a trip I did there about 12 years ago is that while you see alot of sea over the bridges the main road seems more or less to go down the middle of each key...so that means the road u drive along is fringed by the "backs" or entrances to a lot of motels/hotels complexes. This was similar to my experience of Hawaii - the development model seems to be that all the land between the road and any beach is predominantly in private ownership (and developed) right down to the beachm meaning practically no access to the shoreline to the public except for the odd hidden laneway even if the beach once u get there is public. The US at least in more touristy does not often do the seaside road by the sea thing that is more common in Europe/UK. So I found the drive alot duller than I expected. We saw very little beach from the car and instead saw an endless parade of gas stations, t shirt shops, tent and caravan parks, mobile home parks and holiday developments through each key.
Key West was pleasant enough but a bit full of cruise ship passengers and cheap t shirt shops. Hemingway house was worth touring - very much of an era.
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