As I begin writing this post I’m sitting on a houseboat in Key West, Florida. The sun is shining down on me, hubby is sitting right outside the door fishing and I’m feeling very blessed.
It’s difficult to believe that just a couple of weeks ago we were back in rainy old England, huddled indoors trying to keep warm enough to stop our bones aching. The thought of going outdoors and finding things to do is at best dispiriting. Like a lot of people I lose all inspiration and enthusiasm during the dark Winter months. Thankfully, this is a time I have already planned for. A time to get our mojo back and start living again.
The Price of Feeling Good
I’d like to say you can’t put a price on feeling good but unfortunately you can. Not many people can afford to keep following the sun in their retirement but the thought of a well planned break somewhere warm while the UK shivers her way through the bad weather can make life worth more.
Those of you who follow us regularly will know that we value quality over quantity preferring a more enjoyable level of luxury and comfort than your basic package holiday. Not always easy to do on a fixed income but possible with careful planning.
At this point I should probably point out that we’re not rich by the modern standards of today. Our trips take time to prepare for and we like as much quality as possible for our budget.
What We Cover:
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Key West, Florida, Getting There
If you’ve been saving your points you can get flights that are subsidised with Virgin Flying Club Points. This was the way we went, meaning we paid for two economy return flights from Manchester to Orlando but actually travelled here in Premium Economy seats and will fly home in Upper Class. This is invaluable to us. Trying to make the long journey in the cramped conditions called Economy when you are managing health problems can be miserablle. It would only exacerbate our discomfort.
To see how we achieved this click here!
Road Trippin’ To Key West, Florida!
We were already travelling down the East Coast and stopping off at different points along the way. So driving to Key West, Florida was by far the most convenient. When we started planning this trip we were originally going to drive down the West coast. Once in the lovely city of Cape Coral we’d planned to take the Key West Express ferry from Fort Myers Beach and enjoy the 4 hour ride on the water to Key West.
We were visiting family on the Palm Coast on the eastern side of Florida so it seemed a shame to miss out on all it had to offer and the scenic drive through the other Keys. Click here for more information on Florida Keys. If you’re on the west coast then the ferry from Fort Myers Beach is your best option. Look out for the Key West Express sale in November/December time. If you subscribe to their mailing list they’ll let you know when it’s coming up. The normal price is around $140 for the round trip but you can pre-purchase during the sale for $100. You have two years to spend the voucher with no restrictions on dates and times, even at Christmas.
Miami to Key West
For flying fans a round trip from Miami to Key West airport is roughly $269. But from Fort Myers airport it’s an eye watering $860. Prices from Orlando vary between $280 and $470 return depending on the time of year.
With fuel prices ranging from $2.11 to $2.69 per gallon (heaven for us Brits!) driving was the better option for us. But we will be using those ferry tickets when we visit Cape Coral at Christmas. A word of caution: If you tire easily spend the extra money taking the ferry or flying. You can easily forget how great the driving distances are compared to here in the UK.
Harborside Motel & Marina, Key West, Florida
Always with budget in mind we had booked into the Harborside Motel and Marina. Like many independent travellers we prefer a home away from home. Here you can book your very own houseboat a with boat dock and experience life on the water. We loved it and we’re sure you will too. Inside consisted of an open plan living, dining kitchen. A large bedroom with 2 queen size beds and a spacious shower room. Plenty of hot water and all the fluffy white towels you could want.
Everywhere was pristine. Not a speck of dust or dirt to be found. Anything else you need is available at the very friendly reception desk. In our case a hairdryer and a kettle (it’s all about the coffee machine over there!). The easy going Southern charm of the ladies on reception made us feel like we’d truly come home.
We were fortunate getting the houseboat at the very end. No-one was walking past our window giving us complete privacy and views of the water from the living area. This location was perfect for us and we could watch the sunset over the water from our window. Key West, Florida is only a mile wide so we were still close enough to Duval Street and Mallory Square.
If you prefer a hotel or guesthouse environment price start from around $147 US per night rising accordingly depending on the star rating. To browse a selection of accommodation including hotels and Key West Resorts click here.
Things To Do In Key West, Florida
The beauty of Key West, Florida is that whatever style of holiday you prefer you won’t be disappointed. You can get around very easily and we treated ourselves to an Uber from the houseboat.
For those who are fitter bike rental is very popular on the island and costs around $20 dollars a day. Scooter rentals start from $45 and golf carts seating up to six people from around $90 upwards. Before renting a scooter check your travel insurance documents as may companies don’t cover you for scooters!
Recommended
I would recommend the bike option or walking simply because parking is horrendous. If you have a rental car you may find it difficult to stop anywhere and this is also the reason we used an Uber.
Places To Visit In Key West
You can take a nice gentle stroll down Duval Street where Key West really comes to life. This the main street stretching 1.25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, North to South. You’ll find it packed with bars and restaurants such as the Hog’s Breath Saloon on the corner of Duval and Front Street.
Sloppy Joe’s
Sloppy Joe’s is almost a tradition when it comes to visiting Key West. Particularly if you’re a Hemingway fan. They have live music from noon everyday and you’ll find it full of atmosphere.
Hemingway Home & Museum
Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway spent 10 years of his life at this house writing and the museum welcomes thousands of visitors a year. There are guides to answer any questions you have so enjoy a step back in time. Then you can visit Sloppy Joe’s for food, drink and entertainment to round off the Hemingway experience. Click here for the home and museum website.
Mallory Square
We used Mallory Square as our starting point and explored from there. People were already gathering nearby to watch the beautiful sunset that Key West, Florida is famous for. We were lucky to find a seat at a restaurant looking out over the water. Be sure to take a fleece though as it can be quite breezy.
The Shops At Mallory Square are situated in the Naval Building, the US Coastguards old headquarters. You can feel the history as you walk in the door bringing cool relief after wandering in the sunshine. There are plenty of opportunities to stock up on holiday clothes and souvenirs.
A stones throw from Mallory Square you may well come across the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. It’s always a delight to have butterflies fluttering around you and you’ll also see flamingos, turtles and beautiful birds.
Out On The Water
Like all the Florida Keys getting out on the water is a must. We were lucky to be living on the water. Hiring a boat for the day will set you back around $500 to $600 dollars for 8 hours but the rates get cheaper the longer you hire for.
You only need a full regular driving licence to be able to hire a boat in Florida. There are lots of hire companies to pick from such as boatrentalskeywest.com. I can’t recommend TripAdvisor enough for research purposes and booking. They are your most valuable tool when planning your travels.
Not everyone is confident enough to hire and skipper their own boat and the alternative to this a cruise on the water. Key West, Florida offers everything full day cruises to lunch cruises, snokelling cruises, dinner and sunset cruises and glass bottom boat tours. Lots of choice and worth the investment to glide through beautiful clear water.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is a boat ride away and it’s a great way to spend a day on the water. It’s quite an epic day lasting around ten hours but at almost $200 each you’ll get your monies worth. After exploring, swimming and snorkelling hitting Duval Street in the evening to chill and dine will end the day perfectly.
Southernmost Point
No visit to Key West is complete without seeing the Southernmost Point. A large beaconlike structure is brightly painted and declares that Cuba is a mere 90 miles south. However that isn’t really the case. The true Southernmost Point is actually a radio mast just a little further along and it’s actually 98 miles to Cuba. But no matter. It’s a great photo opportunity if you don’t mind the long queue.
Having done your queueing in the hot sun you can take a short stroll to Southernmost House, Grand Hotel and Museum. It has a typical decadent deep south feel to it and a huge shaded bar area. The service here was excellent even though we weren’t staying there. I’m happy to say we spent some time there sitting very comfortably sipping margaritas and mojitos to celebrate David’s birthday. It is possibly one of the most idyllic locations to celebrate any special event with first class accommodation. We’ll definitely be heading back there on our next trip.
Rounding the day off with a visit to Outback restaurant we tucked into bloomin’ onions and filet mignon. Our time in Key West was coming to an end and the next day we would be moving on to Cape Coral for some more R&R.
Accessibility
You should find it fairly easy to get around in Key West, Florida. The size of the island means taking an Uber doesn’t break the budget and it’s super convenient. If you need to rely on WiFi to book your journey back then Starbucks are a good bet. You’ll find them located at 508, Virginia Street, just off Duval Street and closest to the Southernmost Hotel. Another branch is located at 430 Duval Street so you can book your Uber from there.
Most of Florida recognises the Blue Badge for disabled drivers but we didn’t get a chance to test it out due to the busy parking situation. Click here to find out more.
Opinion
This was our first time in Key West, Florida and we would definitely go again. It has as much or as little as you want although it was more expensive than the other keys. Because of this I wouldn’t recommend staying for long Winter breaks there, only short ones. You can stay in some of the other keys for much less where accommodation isn’t at such a premium price. This said, I still can’t wait to return there as it somehow managed to steal a piece of my heart.
