Key West is a classic holiday destination and the options for accommodation are endless with 5 star

Key West is one of my favorite travel destinations in all of the US. Great weather, a relaxed attitude, beaches, bars and restaurants all at the end of the continent. Key West is also one of the destinations that have extreme mass tourism side by side with B B s and road trip tourist trying to avoid the crowds roaming down Duval Street on Segways looking for the Southnmost point or Hemingway s house before they have to be back on deck. A Key West trip is never wrong.
Key West is a very small little island and the drive here is almost as good as the final stop. You ll travel over bridge after bridge, jumping from island to island , some smaller than a football field. The blue waters discount car rentals in phoenix arizona surround you and the scenery is just breathtaking.
When you cross over from Stock island, which is the last one before touching discount car rentals in phoenix arizona ground discount car rentals in phoenix arizona on Key West itself, you ll face all the classic franchise hotels that you see everywhere. Please do not stop at one of these and make this home for your stay. They seem price worthy but they are far too far from the center of the action and you ll spend all your money on taxi s or all your time on bikes getting to and from the Duval Street area.
Yes, Duval Street whether you like it or not this is the street most activities radiate from. It runs North-South across the island and most of the hotels and B B s are located on or close by. Duval street has two major attractions at each end. On the south side you have the southernmost point the big buoy that most people end up taking a picture of. To the north you have Mallory Square, which is the big meeting place as the sun sets. there are always huge crowds here watching the sun set into the Mexican Gulf, with street vendors, performance artists and live bands. A great place for at least one of the nights discount car rentals in phoenix arizona you are here.
Key West has been a routine stop for the cruise ships for many years to the horror of the locals and the joy of all the shops that sell knick-knacks (and there are plenty of those). The ships usually dock early in the morning letting out a stream of eager visitors. A surprisingly large amount of them get on segway tours and start to roll down Duval St. There are some must-do s here that most people do, just not in the speed that the cruise passengers do them. They head down to Southernmost point, then back up to Hemingway s house, then a quick stop in Sloppy Joe s and/or Jimmy Buffet s Margaritaville with food on one of the pretty pricey restaurants on Duval.
Key West has another thing that can be a bit surprising when first coming here and that is the very un-American approach to clothing. Many bars and B B s have clothing optional sections. This might sound bizarre but it s true and one of the biggest events during the year is Key West Fantasy fest where people wear more body paint than clothes.
Key West is a great destination for foodies and the locals are very proud over their restaurants and the opinions are many and often vary quite a lot depending who you ask for advice. The Key West weather is usually very stable but during hurricane season it is usually good to stay away.
Besides the options I mentioned above like the  Hemingway house ,  the Southernmost point  and  Sloppy Joe s  I recommend you try the Key West beaches for a day or two. There is one at Fort Zachary State Park and the big one a bit further south west called  Smathers Beach . A long beach with shallow waters, suitable for children as well as adults. It is man made but better than you might think.
While we are talking about seeing discount car rentals in phoenix arizona things from a different angle I can also recommend taking a plane ride over the Island. A bit further SE from Smathers you ll find the airfield and here you can go up in an old plane with open cockpit and really get a different view.
And of course there are the sunset and all-day cruises that you can book all over the island. There are 2 rivaling companies and if you are a bit persistent you can usually get down quite a bit from the original price. Try to get them to include the sunset discount car rentals in phoenix arizona cruise for free. This might sound cheesy but it s more fun than you d think.
And last but not least deep sea fishing. This is Hemingway country after all and he liked to fish and so might you. Be careful though if you are not used to going on the ocean. You go far out to sea and it gets colder and rougher than you might think while in port where the weather looks calm. Ask the captain what he thinks and don t forget a sea-sickness pill and a wind breaker.
Key West is a classic holiday destination and the options for accommodation are endless with 5 star resorts at both ends of Duval street, smaller discount car rentals in phoenix arizona hotels and B B s in between. Scattered all over the Island are rental apartments. My best tip here is to go with a B B. they are usually located in beautiful villas and offer a more intimate setting and usually feature a free Happy Hour as well. I don t doubt that the luxury hotels have great services but they do cost a lot of money and you miss out on what make Key West so special the mixing of people and you ll also have the most touristy, and therefor crowded and noisy, places on the Island next to you. Staying next to Mallory discount car rentals in phoenix arizona Square might seem like a good idea, but will probably grow old pretty fast.
I also try to talk people out of staying in the hotels that you meet directly when driving over the bridge to Key West from Stock Island. they do offer cheaper rates but the distance to the center is just to big to cover on foot (it can be done, but it takes a long, long time) It s simply not worth it.
Truman Hotel :  Located on Truman Ave. you ll find this small boutique hotel, with trendy interior and all the amenities you ll need. A nice pool area as well as a great buff breakfast and of course free WiFi. The location is right in the middle of everything which make it a perfect starting discount car rentals in phoenix arizona point in exploring the island. Very High ratings on Booking.com
Westin Resort Marina :  Here we are looking at a luxury resort with all the amenities it is almost like a small village of itself. some great views in the marina, when the cruise ships aren t docked. Even got their own collections of shops and boutiques. Down in the marina you can join the sunset cruises.
Sheraton Suites :  This hotel is located at the only real, although man-made, beach Smathers on the south side of the island. A perfect location discount car rentals in phoenix arizona if you want more of a beach from your holiday than sunsets on Mallory discount car rentals in phoenix arizona Square. It s quite a long walk from Duval Street but than there a lot of other less cruise infested options close by.
Key West is a drinkers paradise and has been for as long as anyone can remember. The Caribbean climate and the carefree attitude that cover both drinking laws as well as a acceptance for gay, straight, cross dressing, no dress or whatever suits your mood has always had a certain lure over Americans wanting discount car rentals in phoenix arizona to break out of their normal daily life. When you enter Key West, crossing the bridge from Stock Island, there s a change in the air and you can let go.
there are bars everywhere. From the really upscale ones in the 5-star resorts to the dive bars on the backstreets. Many are of course located on the main artery of Duval Street but they usually focus on the easy money from the cruise ship tourists and don t really care what they serve and at what cost. Of course there is a special feeling to enter Sloppy discount car rentals in phoenix arizona Joe s and drinking like Hemingway but than you realize that it s not the original Sloppy Joe s but more of a tourist attraction and that the real sloppy s was somewhere else and you can t help feeling a bit short changed. I ve tried to put together this Top 3 so that there is something for everyone.
Green Parrot Bar:  Did anyone say dive bar? Correct if you did. This bar is located on a corner lot and you will know it when you get there, usually because of the noise from the bands playing or people that you can see through the open windows around the bar in the middle. Here the spirits are always high and shots will by you a lot of new friends. Try the popcorn machine along the wall if you want a snack between beers.
discount car rentals in phoenix arizona The rooftop bar at La Concha hotel: discount car rentals in phoenix arizona This place is not where you spend al night but it is a great place for a beer or two mostly because of the amazing views. discount car rentals in phoenix arizona Key West is flat and this is one of the best look-out points on the island. You can see the cruise ships dwarfing the docks. You can see all the beautiful villas and you can see the sunsets on the horizon.
Nine One Five:  Mostly know as a really good restaurants, but if you go up to the top floor you ll find their wine bar. A great selection of wines and beers is served in this intimate discount car rentals in phoenix arizona setting. If you can, try to get a seat on the balcony overlooking Duval St. and watch the evening unfold with people going out to eat.
Avalon B B :   Located on the other side of Duval Street, down by the southernmost point on the south side you ll find this great B B. Close to Hemingway s house and the beach, discount car rentals in phoenix arizona both next to the Southernmost Hotel and Smathers. Good place to stay on Duval but away from the worst action.
Duval Gardens :  Medium sized B B with a heated pool and nice rooms, some even with kitchenettes. Located close to the center of action on Duval Street with all the art galleries around the corner. Can be a busy corner of Duval at night, which suits some better than others.
Andrews Inn Gardens :  Also in a very central location on the middle of Duval St. lies this small B B. They have modern amenities and a nice pool area where guests can relax mid-day before hitting the restaurants and bars. Got bike for rent on the property which provide a great way to explore Key West.
Key West is a true foodie destination and many people come here for the food and drink. It probably comes from the feeling of being yourself and enjoy life that is covering Key West. This is a place where you come to have a good time and live life. In Key West you ll find all kinds of restaurants from small tapas places to Cuban sandwich shops to luxu