This is a gem!!! I am a Floridian native and my husband as well. We have traveled to the keys all…read moreof our life. We have stayed in the most upscale places such as Cheeca Lodge, Pines & Palm Resort, Pelican Cove just to name a few. I found this place with short notice (two days) before check in date. I called the number listed and spoke to "Mark", what a delightful man. I indicated to him I was celebrating my husbands 40th bday, he was very helpful with planning my husbands special day. And to top it off, he gave me a discount!! Un- heard of during "summer season" in the keys. Once we arrived, we were greeted by John, who was just as friendly and helpful as Mark. The home was better than I expected, everything at hands reach to keep the family busy. Boat, Kayaks, Snorkeling gear etc. The home is situated on a private island on the gulf side...AMAZING sunset views! I read one negative review on Pretty Joe Rock, the person complained about bugs and huge insects. This is on an island with nature surroundings, expect bugs, insects etc.!!! The experience and memories built, were Priceless!

Cost is WAY too much for what you get. Back deck is…read morefalling apart and steps to the water boarded up. No easy or safe way to get in and out of the water from the Island. Most of the shower in master bedroom is rotted. Outside door in second bedroom does not lock (yes, we were told we didn't need to lock doors, but you should be able to if you aren't comfortable leaving your belongings and sleeping with doors unlocked!). It was just my husband and I staying here for 2 weeks, and before half of the first week went by we ran out of toilet paper and paper towels. We were treated like we were really imposing on them to request enough for our stay. We also requested the linens be changed and the cottage cleaned after one week which created a complete uproar. Were told we would need to have the "dog" sheets put on the bed if we wanted them changed. These are sheets used by people who rent with dogs. The boat does not have a bimini top as pictured, or a ladder to get in and out. We had to purchase an umbrella and ladder. Kitchen is not even stocked with basics such as wraps and foils etc. First Aid kit is stocked with items that expired in 2005, or earlier. Plan on doing alot of shopping for items you would expect to be there There are lots of really nice places for rent in Marathon. Don't waste your money. Look around!

The guesthouse was clean, at a quiet and safe neighborhood, within the walking distance to a lot of…read morerestaurants and the Duval Street. Daily happy hours 4:30 to 5:30. The bartender was great and the pool was clean. We had a descent sized room.

This place is a an all Inclusive Haven it's like the show…read morecalled cheers , "everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came ",please go to this wonderful place . My wife and I come every year , we have fostered new friendships here that have become like family , I can't overstate how exceptional the experience is. Be sure to check out the daily happy hour, every single day without fail .

Every aspect of my stay was amazing. The staff were very attentive and courteous. Our room was…read morelovely and in close proximity to the pool area. Food and drink were spot on. I would recommend this place for those really looking at a relaxing experience.

One of the most beautiful places in the keys! A must if you want to live the life of luxury!…read more Everyone & everything so accommodating to every need! We had a gender reveal for our new puppy and they went all out to make it the best! Already booked for next year. Btw this is where "Bloodline" was filmed! The actual house is available for accommodations!

I'm so reluctant to give this place the seven stars that it deserves. It's already hard enough to…read morebook this hidden gem. If you want an older Florida experience, in five star cottages on a quaint property with its own dock and mini harbor, bikes and paddle boards and kayaks available for use, and a ton of tranquility, this is your destination.

The best resort in Islamorada. Why is it the best? Three reasons. First its Family owned. This…read morefamily puts the customer first. Second the grounds are beautiful and amazing. Pool area is like a tropical paradise. Third, the resort rents a 23 foot contender boat. This boats is well maintained. The renting process is smooth and hassle free. Excellent fishing and snorkling just a short boat ride away. The boat owner Lou will show you the spots and put then in the boats gps for you. Also if you have your own boat you can dock it at the resort.

Great Stay With Some Service & Logistics Gaps…read more Overall, we had a genuinely great experience as first-time visitors traveling without kids but with service animals. The property shines in many areas, especially if you're looking for a relaxing resort atmosphere with beautiful water views, pet-friendly accommodations, and a fun, laid-back vibe. That said, there were a few frustrating misses that held this back from being a 5-star stay. THE GOOD * Beautiful beach & lagoon area - Easily one of the highlights of the property. Relaxing, scenic, and fun overall. * Salt + Ash is a must - Exceptional food and one of the best dining experiences on property. The wine selection was top-notch and the beef tenderloin was outstanding. Easily our favorite restaurant. * Incredible staff throughout the resort - Bell staff, valet, oceanfront servers, housekeeping crew, and pool staff were consistently kind, personable, and welcoming. * Staff who go above and beyond - Huge shoutout to Joshua, who helped us secure chairs near the adult pool, and Danielle, who took time to chat, swap stories, and made us feel genuinely welcome. Hospitality like that sticks with you. * Captain's Suite is worth the upgrade - Strongly recommend spending the extra money if budget allows. The added space made the trip: dining area, living room, fridge, two toilets, large balcony, and beautiful water views overlooking the pool and lagoon. It elevated the experience tremendously. * Extremely pet & service animal friendly - This place deserves serious praise here. Few resorts feel this comfortable and accommodating for travelers with animals. Staff were respectful, welcoming, and there were no awkward restrictions or friction. If you travel with pets or service animals, this property stands out. * Tiki Grill - Great atmosphere for drinks and relaxing. Perfect for unwinding poolside. * 20% off dining on property helped offset costs - Appreciated perk considering resort pricing. THE NOT-SO-GOOD * Front desk communication & housekeeping logistics need work - This was our biggest frustration. We stayed in a Captain's Suite and requested both a room cleaning and balcony cleaning (bird droppings had accumulated on the balcony) around 10 AM. The front desk wrote down our room number and assured us it would be taken care of. When we returned around 3:30 PM, neither had been done. By after 4:30 PM, the room had finally been cleaned, but the balcony still hadn't been addressed. When you pay extra for a premium room and oceanfront balcony experience, this feels disappointing. There also seems to be a mild pigeon issue, and balcony maintenance should really be part of a regular checklist. Some simple bird deterrents or more proactive cleaning would go a long way. * Concierge/text support didn't materialize - We were told we'd receive a concierge-style welcome text shortly after check-in for support/questions. Unfortunately, we never received it. To make matters worse, the room phones didn't work, meaning concerns had to be addressed in person while waiting in the front desk line. * Food quality was inconsistent - Salt + Ash was phenomenal, but not every dining experience matched that standard. Tiki Grill: Great drinks and atmosphere, but the food was forgettable, under-seasoned, and not something we'd order again. Fine in a pinch. Angler & Ale: Beautiful waterfront views and exceptional staff, but the food leaned heavily fried and felt more like average bar food than resort dining. Fish and chips were disappointing. Oddly enough, the banana split ended up redeeming the meal. * Convenience store prices were shocking - Convenient? Yes. Affordable? Not even close. A few sodas and snacks escalated to $60+ surprisingly fast. I expected a slightly easier option versus restaurant pricing, but the markup felt extreme. * Parking costs add up - Valet runs about $40/day and self-parking is roughly half, but expect around a 10-minute walk with luggage, making valet feel almost mandatory. FINAL THOUGHTS Despite some communication breakdowns and uneven food experiences, we truly enjoyed our stay. The Captain's Suite, peaceful balcony views, fire pit at night, lagoon, beach access, pickleball, and pet-friendly atmosphere made for memorable moments. My advice: upgrade to the Captain's Suite, eat at Salt + Ash (seriously, get the beef tenderloin), enjoy the tiki drinks, walk the grounds, soak in the sun, and be selective about food choices elsewhere. Use the convenience store sparingly. Fix the housekeeping/communication gaps, improve how guests can raise concerns without standing in line, and clean those balconies consistently--and this place could easily become a 5-star destination.

June 11 - Arrival, Villa 7083 Upon entering our original…read morevilla, it was immediately obvious that the unit had not been properly cleaned or maintained. Among the issues we encountered: Cockroaches running on the walls Large dark brown stains throughout the carpets, including significant stains in the master bedroom and on the staircase Cracked tile on the flooring and carpet that clearly hadn't been vacuumed Dirty men's socks left behind in the closet of one of the bedrooms A strong mildew odor throughout the villa Water-damaged furniture in the master bedroom that appeared to be rotting from prolonged moisture exposure. I immediately reported the issues to the front desk. What was equally disappointing was the response. The manager on duty never came out to speak with me personally. Instead, the front desk employee repeatedly walked to the back to consult with management and returned to tell me there was nothing that could be done because the resort was sold out. As a result, my family was forced to spend the night in a villa that should never have been assigned to guests in the first place. I have photographs and video documenting every issue described above. June 12 - Second Villa, Same Problems 7086 The next day, we moved four adults, two children, luggage, and approximately $450 worth of groceries into Villa 7086. Shortly after settling in, we discovered the air conditioning was not functioning properly. Maintenance responded and measured the villa at 78 degrees. The temperature later climbed to 84 degrees. We were told management would be notified and the issue addressed. That never happened. On top of that my son had bugs crawling all over his bed. Comes to find out they were termites! Not, one or two but dozens - in the pillow cases, sheets, etc. The only reason this issue ultimately received attention was because later that day the Director of Engineering Danielle happened to ask how our stay was going while I was in the gift shop. Once she heard what had occurred, she immediately stepped in and began working to resolve the situation. Danielle deserves recognition because she was one of the ONLY employees during our stay who demonstrated urgency, professionalism, and a genuine concern for guest satisfaction. Later that day, Danielle arranged for us to move yet again--this time into two connecting rooms in the main hotel while also securing a third room for my brother and his girlfriend. When I asked what we should do with the groceries and supplies, she advised us to leave them in the villa and stated that the villa would be taken out of service until the air conditioning could be repaired. At that point, we had spent a significant portion of our vacation packing, unpacking, relocating belongings, coordinating food storage, and dealing with issues. June 13 - More Service Failures The next morning I took my daughter to breakfast at the café. We sat for approximately 10-15 minutes while multiple employees stood nearby talking among themselves. No one greeted us. No one acknowledged us. No one offered menus. No one checked on us. Employees walked by our table repeatedly and even cleared nearby tables while completely ignoring us. Eventually, I got up and left. A female staff member who was cleaning a nearby table noticed me leaving and hurried over to ask me to stay, but by that point we had already waited far too long without any service. I am confident this entire interaction would be visible on the café's surveillance footage. The café provided some of the worst service we experienced during our stay. The staff the works there barely speaks English and had zero sense of urgency to serve guests. Additional Concerns I also learned that my brother was repeatedly approached by staff members in the room that Danielle had assigned to him and questioned about him, receiving knocks on his door multiple days during the trip even when the Do Not Disturb sign was displayed. While I understand security procedures, repeatedly questioning a registered guest made him feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. What was especially troubling was that a male staff member knocked on his door and asked, "Are you supposed to even be in this room?" That type of interaction is completely inappropriate. Treating a paying guest. Treating a paying guest as though they don't belong there are accusing them of basically being a squatter was embarrassing, disrespectful, and is 100% classified as harassment vs. hospitality. Perhaps the most disappointing part of this experience is that Danielle informed me that the GM Bob L. would be contacting me directly to set up a in person meeting regarding the issues we experienced. When that didn't happen she said he would call me- he never did. When that didn't happen I emailed him 3x and never got a response.

Perfect location. Easy bus access, walkable to most things. Steps so not handicapped accessible…read morethat I can tell. Room is super clean with art Deco features. Bathroom has been remodeled and is new. Kitchen comes with pretty much anything you'd need. No TV! (In my case a very good thing.) Not that there is fast wifi so bring a laptop for viewing. Manager and staff are charming and helpful, along with the three cats that are greeters. So sweet. There's a cute lobby and beautiful garden by the back to sit out and enjoy the evening. Looks like an oasis . Note that there is road noise. Yes there are lights on at night, yes you can hear people above you. It is an older building, charming and with large rooms. All that said it was perfect for us and I could easily stay here for weeks.

Really enjoyed a stay. #1 is location it is a five minute walk to the beach and you are just blocks…read moreaway from dozens of restaurants. Secure entry, clean, rooms are quaint, European hostel style, bed was comfortable, room included a fridge, kitchen sink, dishes and utensils. Will use again on our next trip to Miami Beach

Jane & her husband were fantastic. When we arrived she had lots of information pamphlets for us to…read morelook at, tourist suggestions, restaurants etc told us where to see a beautiful sunset just a short walk down the street. She showed us all around the apartment downstairs and how the lights, fans, air con works etc. Although there's no kitchen, there a coffee machine, toaster oven, microwave with a bagel toaster in the side, plenty of tea and coffee and heaps of snacks. There were some beers in the fridge that we were welcome to have too! There were plenty of beach towels to use and a drying rack put out so we would hang them up after using them. There's a little jetty out the back that you can sit and have a coffee in the morning or a drink at night. There was also a fire place out the back & wood. She warned us that sometimes great big iguana's hang out in the garden. She made us feel very welcome. Her husband even gave us a great trip for lunch (Chad's) that was close by and fantastic. The bathroom is small but complete with toiletries and a good size for two people to share. The rest of the apartment is quite large. Lots of toys and things to use as well. Although it downstars from someone's house, it was very private and comfortable. We left our iPhone charger behind and forgot to get our souvenir hat which she happily posted to us as well. All round a great experience.

Our staycation at Barnacle Resort was everything we expected. A little escape for rest and…read morerelaxation, which was much needed. Quiet and tranquil, with the perks of having Key West just 45 minutes away for dinner and a great time! Will definitely be coming back!

We've stayed at the Barnacle six times over the years and loved it. It was full of various colors…read moreand interesting knick-knacks that helped create a wonderful "Keys funky" atmosphere. It sits on its own beach and is very quiet and serene. Breakfasts were an "event" with hot egg and meat breakfast dishes, fresh fruit and a variety of breads along with juice and bottomless coffee served in an atrium that was open to the skies and full of rocks and plants. The Barnacle is now under new ownership and the atmosphere has changed dramatically. We recently stayed there for six nights, from a Tuesday to the next Monday. Gone are the varied colors, rocks and plants. The atrium is now roofed over and has all the charm of a high-school cafeteria. The color is primarily beige as is the experience. Breakfast is now serve-yourself cold continental. Saturday and Sunday were "special" because, without any warning, explanation, apology or compensation, there was no breakfast at all. Not a scrap to be found nor anyone from management or staff to provide it. We were left completely alone to our own devices. Good luck. There are some other changes to the Barnacle as well, specifically the posted warnings "This property is under 24-hour surveillance" with cameras to boot. There's even one on the rooftop sundeck which seems not only intrusive but not a little bit creepy as well. All this was ours for the premium price of $450 per night. They get two stars because it was clean, the AC in the room worked and the bed was comfortable. But that's where the "good news" ends. Over the years, we've recommended to many people that they should stay at the Barnacle. Now, and it pains us to say this, we have to recommend you don't.

Honestly the most enjoyable stay of any location I've ever had. This is not the ritz, just basic…read moreand clean. You are right on the water. What more can you ask for or desire??

We booked our room here to be close to key west. It offered up everything we needed and nothing…read moreelse. Everything was functional, but things were starting to fall apart. The screened in porch was nice, but the view of the parking lot was not quite Florida like. The front door locked, but didn't seal up all the way and felt like it had some wood rot going on. We used the oven to cook a frozen pizza and it stank up the place due to not being cleaned. Room air conditioners kick on and off all night making sleep difficult. For the money, I felt we could have done better. I didn't realize we were in the front row of a busy marina parking lot. After closing down, the marina was quiet and the porch was good. We got up early and sat at a nice bench to watch the sun rise and were glad we stopped to enjoy it.

Perfect Dog-Friendly Sandbar Adventure in Marathon…read more Emily and I booked a sandbar excursion with Salty Pup Adventures while visiting Marathon, Florida, and brought our two dogs with us. It turned out to be one of our favorite experiences in the Florida Keys. Captain Katie was friendly, accommodating, and made sure that both we and our dogs were comfortable throughout the trip. The boat ride was relaxing, the water at the Marathon Sandbar was beautiful, and we had plenty of time to swim, play in the water, and enjoy the surroundings. Seeing manatees during the excursion made the day even more memorable. What really sets Salty Pup Adventures apart is how genuinely dog-friendly the experience is. Our dogs were not simply allowed on the boat--they were part of the adventure. That made the trip much more enjoyable for us. We highly recommend Salty Pup Adventures for couples, families, dog owners, or anyone looking for a fun private boat tour or sandbar cruise in Marathon and the Middle Florida Keys. We had a wonderful time and definitely plan to do it again.

We had an amazing time with Captain Katie. We had 2 couples along with our 2 beagles, Maudie and…read moreMabel. The boat was extremely comfortable and spacious, Katie was an excellent guide and the sunset was beautiful. I highly recommend this during your trip to the Keys.