We had a really nice stay at Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada. The resort is beautiful, peaceful,…read moreand offers so many amenities that you do not really need to leave the property to have a great time. When we arrived, we were welcomed in the lobby with a glass of champagne, which was a lovely touch. I also liked that valet parking is included in the hotel fee. You can simply drop off your car keys, and the staff will park your car for you. Self-parking is also available if you prefer. One of my favorite areas was the fireplace in the front ocean-view area. At night, there was live music, making it a wonderful place to sit, relax, and enjoy the view. The resort has a lot to offer, including oceanfront family pools, an adult relaxation pool, a swimming beach with loungers, kayaks, paddle boards, fishing rods and reels, and a beautiful 525-foot fishing pier for catch-and-release fishing. There is also a 9 hole executive golf course, tennis courts, pickleball courts, sports courts, and beach cruiser bicycles. Families can enjoy the kids' game room and Camp Cheeca, which provide fun activities for children. Adults can relax at the full-service spa, fitness center, sunrise yoga classes, and water aerobics. The resort also offers Wi-Fi, concierge service, in-room coffee and tea, bottled water, EV charging stations, and shuttle service within 2 miles. Some areas of the resort could use a little restoration. For example, the jacuzzi next to the family pool looked like it needed some maintenance. We also noticed a slight seaweed smell near the beach, but this may be normal during the high season and can depend on the weather and ocean conditions. On our first day, we ate at Nikai, the resort's sushi restaurant. Guests can sit outside and enjoy the view, which I really liked. There is also indoor seating, but the restaurant is fairly small. We ordered the Salmon Aburi, Dragon Roll, and Matsuri Roll. The outdoor seating was definitely my favorite because we could enjoy our food and drinks while taking in the beautiful surroundings. Cheeca Lodge has several dining options besides sushi. Atlantic's Edge offers oceanfront dining with beautiful views and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mia Cucina serves Italian style dishes in a relaxed setting. Tiki Bar and 25South are great places for drinks, snacks, and casual meals. Guests can also visit Morada Bay Beach Café for a relaxed beachside dining experience. Pierre's is another popular nearby restaurant, known for its elegant atmosphere and beautiful waterfront setting. At night, the front ocean view fireplace area with live music is a great place to enjoy a drink after dinner. The combination of the fire, ocean view, and music creates a very relaxing atmosphere. Having so many restaurants and dining choices nearby makes the resort very convenient. You can enjoy sushi, Italian food, casual drinks, beachside meals, or a more elegant dinner without traveling far. The resort has a beautiful Florida Keys atmosphere and offers plenty of activities for both adults and families. I especially liked having so many options in one place, including the beach, pools, water activities, fishing, golf, tennis, pickleball, spa, restaurants, live music, and our comfortable ocean-view room with a fireplace. It is a great place to relax, enjoy the water, dine, and have everything conveniently located at the resort. The champagne welcome, included valet parking, ocean views, fireplace, and live music were also nice extra touches. Although a few areas need a little restoration and there was a slight seaweed smell during the high season, these issues did not ruin our stay. I would definitely recommend Cheeca Lodge & Spa if you are planning a trip to the Florida Keys and want a resort with plenty of amenities, beautiful views, comfortable rooms, great dining options, and a relaxing atmosphere.

Disappointing Experience at Cheeca Lodge -- Poor Service, Missing Property, and Unprofessional…read moreStaff For a resort that positions itself as a luxury destination and charges accordingly, I expected a much higher level of professionalism and hospitality. Unfortunately, my recent visit to Cheeca Lodge left me extremely disappointed. First, my Melin bucket hat went missing and I believe it was stolen. When I raised the issue, nobody had apparently "seen" it. I understand that things go missing, but the lack of concern or meaningful assistance was disappointing, especially at a property of this caliber. What bothered me even more was an unpleasant encounter with a pool employee who apparently decided I was doing something wrong. I had a YETI dry bag with me -- not a cooler -- but this employee seemingly assumed I was bringing outside alcohol to the pool. Rather than simply approaching me and asking a question, she went so far as to involve security, who performed one of the least inconspicuous drive-bys I've ever witnessed. It was painfully obvious what they were doing, and frankly, insulting. For the record, I wasn't sneaking in alcohol. I was happily purchasing the resort's approximately $25 cocktails, just like everyone else. The assumption that I was somehow violating resort policy, followed by what felt like retaliatory treatment from an employee, was completely unnecessary and unprofessional. There's a difference between enforcing resort policies and making paying guests feel like suspects. At Cheeca Lodge's price point, guests should expect attentive service, respect, and a staff that knows how to handle situations with discretion and common sense. Instead, I left with a missing personal item, an unpleasant interaction with staff, and the feeling that hospitality was the last thing on anyone's mind. Beautiful property, but a luxury resort is only as good as the people running it. Based on this experience, Cheeca Lodge has a lot of work to do.

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 price, perfect location and walking distance from the lorelei. Hard to find a better bargain…read more We were able to get three rooms last minute. I would recommend having a ATM in the lobby.

Sunday night stay- it was nice. Here is what we liked-…read more* Rooms were clean * It appears it has had a recent face lift. * Close to a couple places we wanted to visit- walking distance to Islamorada Brewery and next door to Mangrove Mike's * Cute little pool area- water was quite warm * Mini fridge has some basics in it but priced reasonable, What could of been better: * It has had a facelift but it has the feel of a flipped house. Floor tiles coming unstuck and lifting. Just little things. *Bed wasn't as comfortable as I would if liked - but that can be subjective. Liked it, price was reasonable and we would stay again

I wish I could live here! My husband and I took a trip to Islamorada, and stayed at the Moorings…read moreVillage (because we are Bloodline fans, duh ;)). Bloodline scenes aside, this is one of my favorite places ever! We got to stay in the Orchid house, and had the most amazing time. Such a perfect little house for relaxing and getting away from our crazy daily routines. There was ample space on the private beach, since they have such a large piece of land, and not a high capacity of sleeping space. (More than once we saw others who were not staying on the property try to sneak on, but they were always kindly informed by one of the staff that it was a private area for people staying on the property.) Lots of loungers and some hammocks to enjoy the beautiful water and scene. So peaceful! Their walking-distance restaurant was great as well, and a great place to catch the sunset upstairs on the balcony as you eat! We would've loved to have stayed longer and hope to be back very soon. Definitely recommend to anyone who is able to stay here... you will not regret it!!

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.

This was our second year staying at the Amara Cay, and what an enjoyable experience both times. We…read morewere allowed early check in which is such a nice amenity. Check in was quick, and very friendly with recommendations. Our room was on the second floor again, this time an ocean front and wow - it's worth it. We had the courtyard view last time and it's also a very pretty view - you can't lose. The pool area and bar is so wonderful - very scenic, and the service at the bar is great. They have a great menu for lunch options that they bring out to you. The room was very clean, modern, and spacious. You can request a microwave if you need too! There are bikes, paddle boards, and kayaks for rental for free. Lots of things going on in between the three resorts - we wish we'd had a chance to try the yoga! We will be back for years to come.

I have been staying at Amara Cay for more than a decade, going back to when it was still a Hampton…read moreInn, and it has always been one of my favorite places in the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, this experience was extremely disappointing. The day before my trip, I came down with a cold and decided not to travel. At the same time, I accidentally dropped my phone in the pool and could not make calls. I immediately used my tablet to email both Booking.com and Amara Cay to cancel my reservation. Despite my efforts, the cancellation was not properly handled. When I finally got a replacement phone and called 24 hours later, I was passed back and forth between Amara Cay and Booking.com with no resolution. I was ultimately charged for both nights as a "no-show." Even more frustrating, according to the stated policy, a no-show should result in a charge for one night, not two. Amara Cay later emailed me twice saying they would look into the matter, but no one ever followed up. After more than ten years of being a loyal guest, I am very disappointed. Unfortunately, this experience has caused me to cross Amara Cay off my list. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend this hotel to others.

I've been coming to this resort regularly for many years, and it has always been one of my favorite…read moreplaces. I've recommended it to so many people because our stays were consistently close to perfect. Unfortunately, our last few visits have felt noticeably different, with enough recurring issues and changes that they no longer feel isolated. Housekeeping and room maintenance have become inconsistent. Across recent stays, we've encountered dirty mirrors and sinks, hair and dirt left behind, a stained towel, clogged sink, broken door lock, and missing room amenities that used to be consistently provided. During another stay, housekeeping loudly knocked between 8-9 AM asking about checkout two mornings in a row when we weren't checking out. Most recently, our mini fridge was essentially a freezer, freezing my dog's food and eventually causing a seltzer to freeze and explode around 6 AM, blowing the fridge door open and waking us up scared. Dining has changed considerably too. Calusa has closed at 9 PM instead of 10 PM due to lower occupancy, which makes enjoying dinner after sunset difficult. The dinner menu could use more variety and consistency, although the braised short rib is AMAZING! Bread service has also disappeared, as has one of my favorite amenities, ordering food directly to Hammock Beach. Breakfast may be the biggest disappointment. The old menu has essentially been replaced by a $40-per-person buffet. During our stay, the limited alternative menu went from being available upon request to suddenly not being offered at all. We, along with several other parties, left the resort for breakfast instead. The buffet itself also feels like a downgrade from the breakfast experience we used to love. Another concern is that more things cost extra while fewer extras seem to be included. Overnight parking now costs extra, as do kayaks and paddleboards. I completely understand charging day-pass guests for activities, but overnight guests are already paying for their room AND a resort fee. Charging those guests again for basic resort activities while other included amenities disappear contributes to the feeling that we're paying more while receiving less. Even little touches have changed, like sunset champagne going from acrylic flutes to basic plastic cups. Individually these things may sound insignificant, but together they affect whether the experience feels like a luxury resort or simply a nice hotel. There is still so much I love. The property and sunsets are beautiful, and I LOVE how dog-friendly the resort is. Peter, Stacey, Tashana, Valdez, and Miguel at Calusa have also consistently been wonderful and deserve recognition. I'm writing this because I genuinely love this resort and know how great it can be. Lately, though, we find ourselves leaving the property to eat or find experiences we previously enjoyed right here, which starts to defeat the purpose of choosing a resort (and paying a resort fee). For me, five stars represents the luxury experience we consistently received here in years past. I'm giving four because there is still so much I love, but our recent stays simply haven't been at that same five-star luxury level. I truly hope it gets back there.

Seeking a little extended weekend to celebrate my fortieth birthday, my husband and I decided to…read morehead to the Florida Keys and soak up a little sun and sand. We booked a three night stay at Bakers Cay Resort and found it to be an overall good experience. VIBES - This resort had a boutique resort feel. Loved all the lush tropical plants growing throughout. Everything was bright and airy and really leaned into the Florida Keys vibe you'd expect. At Dry Rocks, the Mexican-inspired beach restaurant, there's even swings and couches to dine al fresca! POOLS & BEACHES - Hammock Beach was particularly neat because it was more of secluded spot with mangroves covering the majority of it. This gave little hideaway type areas to relax without feeling like you were right on top of other guests. Loved the waterfall at the family pool. Lounging there in the morning before the sun was bearing down was definitely the way to go. The main beach offerd up a tiki bar and plenty of louge chairs. AMENITIES - There's a wide variety of activities to do. After you check in they will ask if you want alerts about the happenings at the resort. From movie nights, to morning yoga, to champagne toasts - there's a little something for everyone. There's also self scheduled activities like kayaking and paddle boarding. BONUS - It's dog friendly! So bring your behaved furry friend. They have plenty of waste stations throughout the resort and everyon seemed to do a great job cleaning up after their pet. Loved getting to see all the furry friends. Even if it made me miss our girl. There were a couple drawbacks unfortunately that kept us from giving Baker's Cay Resort the full five stars. Everything was super expensive. Even counting our food and beverage credits it felt like everything had been priced to ensure that truly made no difference. I mean it was $100 for us to eat at a self-service breakfast buffet that I swear said it was included in our stay. Yikes! Next, the adults only pool was undergoing maintenance during our stay. Luckily it wasn't too crowded at the family pool. Lastly, someone brought a dog that just wasn't the best behaved and barked incessantly when it was down near the water at Hammock Beach; which unfortunately for us was right under our balcony. Baker Cay Resort definitely fit the bill for a fortieth birthday celebration splurge. So if you're looking for boujee with solid amenities Bakers Cay is for you - just call ahead to verify if the pool is open and save your pennies to ensure you can afford the room charges at the end.

This was a delightful resort hotel on the bay, with comfy beds, cute decor, and great personable…read moreand helpful service. Beautiful views of the bay from the beach (and some of the suites). Saltwater pool and hot tub were a relaxing treat following some time kayaking (complimentary available). The insides of the cabins all seem recently refurbished. This is a small place compared to the giant resort down the block, and I like it much better for it.

We concur with the online consensus... Kona Kai is one of the best! Great location in Key Largo!…read more Super friendly staff ... Kathryn was da bomb! So helpful with insider, local info! Our room was newly remodeled, everything first-rate, super comfy. Lush, tropical grounds, fun gallery in the office, botanical gardens Lon grounds! We needed a late check out, no problem! An awesome place to stay, reasonably priced, great staff! Highly recommend!

This resort did not live up to its "exclusive" reputation. The property is entirely non-smoking,…read morewhich was not clearly disclosed at check-in, and there is no designated smoking area at all. The tiki bar does not have a liquor license ( margarita was made with wine), and the food was subpar for the price point (delivered to you in to go containers only with plastic forks). The atmosphere felt chaotic with children running and screaming throughout the property, yet staff were quick to police adults - even interrupting us for quietly playing cards on our own balcony after 7pm. Water sports were another frustration: staff were unfriendly, offered no guidance, and only appeared to yell at guests for touching equipment without a waiver, rather than having someone present to assist when guests of any kind are on the beach. Nothing on the property is open past 7pm, and guests are pushed out of the hot tub before 9pm. Overall, the experience felt overly restrictive, poorly communicated, and not worth the cost. We will not return. I recommend if you are going to spend THAT much money on a property in the keys, book your stay literally anywhere else. Edith is the only member of the staff that's pleasant and worth talking to. Thank you for making this awful stay at least somewhat worth one star

As I think with all the "resort" type places on Islamorada you really don't even know they are…read morethere driving down US-1. This is especially true for this place as its entrance isn't even on the highway. Coming through the gates you enter your own special quiet world. I had the pleasure of staying in one of the villas and outside of the stairs just to get off the ground floor, and never mind to your bedroom, the place was gorgeous. (Yes, I know this is Florida, it is the coast, and you don't want to have living space on the ground floors) Otherwise, everything was quiet in November. Few people at the pools, almost no one at the beach, and even fewer at the bar. The bar doesn't serve hard liquor (since it doesn't have that kind of license), but it has a good selection of other drinks and some interesting mixes to get around the limitations -- like a sake piña colada. Only staying for a few days and looking for more quiet than adventure I did not take advantage of any water sports or other activities. The "beach" here is okay, but it is the Keys. I don't think you are coming here for world-class beach access.

The resort was very welcoming, staff are all gems and definitely will be coming back…read more Great location, a bit of seaweed but it was not affecting the amenities. You have paddle boards, kayaks, bicycles, plus several other activities on site. Coming during school time also makes it even better since no influx of kids will be on the premises. This will definitely allow for a better relax time.

From the moment we arrived at Islander Resort, we knew we were in for something special. While our…read morefirst night didn't go as planned, what truly stood out was how quickly and genuinely the management team stepped in to make things right the very next day. That level of care and accountability speaks volumes. This resort is truly a slice of paradise, beautiful oceanfront views, gorgeous rooms, bungalows facing the pristine private beach, multiple pools, lush tropical grounds, on-site dining, and endless activities that make it impossible to get bored. Whether you're lounging by the water, enjoying a cocktail at the bar, biking around the property, or just soaking in the peaceful island vibe, there's something for everyone. It's a slow pace ñ, relaxing feel; like you're on your own private island. Although we weren't able to kayak or fully enjoy the beach due to sargassum during our stay, it just gives us the perfect reason to come back and experience it all next time! But what made our stay unforgettable was the PEOPLE. A huge heartfelt thank you for superb customer service and for being such a kind, dog-loving resort family; it meant the world to us traveling with our pup. Angela, Dolce, Vanessa, Josh, William, your love for animals and leadership clearly shines through your incredible team; your attention to detail, warmth, and friendliness elevated our entire experience. Charlene, our incredible server at the Tides; you have a wonderful future ahead, thank you for all the love and attention you poured out to us and Bane! You didn't all just meet our expectations; you exceeded them. We truly could not have asked for a better way to celebrate our special day, and we are already looking forward to coming back. Food for thought; the yellowtail snapper fish sandwich at the Tides was incredible and so was the smash burger. The pina coladas were fantastic too. We weren't a fan of the Drift restaurant although it was pretty; the food at the tides bar was much better; think of elevated Bar food but freshly curated. Most importantly they are dog friendly ( no breed or weight restrictions) ; make sure your dog is well trained. We took our big boy and he felt like a prince with his complimentary Islander Bandana and fire hydrant poop bag dispenser; but he is a quiet boy and well behaved . The resort will not tolerate bad behaved dogs or barkers. So please don't ruin it for the rest of us that have well behaved, big dogs, get banned because others don't know how to control their own four legged children.

My husband and I were so impressed with this resort! The…read moregrounds were immaculate. It had a welcoming feel. You can tell that they really take pride in every area of the property, rooms, pool and grounds. What a joy!! It was a fantastic experience where we could forget about work and enjoy each moment. We had room 4 which was a kitchen, dining area, king size bed, and bathroom located near the dock. It was clean, up kept and we enjoyed our entire time there! The bed was comfortable and it had a nice TV. My husband brought fishing tackle so that he could fish from the dock and was extremely happy!! Next time he plans to bring his small boat so that he can dock it there. Upon our arrival we were greeted and checked in quickly and efficiently. Our questions about the area, restaurants, etc. were answered and he said he was only a text away if we had any questions at all. This was impressive to me and I was grateful. The sunsets were gorgeous and we were happy we brought our camera. We did not use the pool or the many hammocks and chairs on the grounds but we're happy they were there. We enjoyed the dock and porch area just outside our room and we are looking forward to coming back next year! This resort does not charge for parking or a resort fee which we appreciated and is located 10 to 15 minutes from a Publix in case you would like to purchase items for the kitchen. CVS is near the Publix too. This is a wonderful old style Florida resort that doesn't nickel and dime you for everything. We already have reservations for next year!

Everything from check in to leaving was excellent . This is like stepping away from the day to day…read morerush we all live in . The staff was almost unnoticeable and the rooms are clean and well maintained . Of you want a quiet keys vacation this would be the one . We are going back next year hope to see you you there .