Ocean Key Resort & Spa

With an elegant design and stunning garden features, this upscale, waterfront hotel primarily attracts couples for its unbeatable location and modern amenities. Stylish decor and sophisticated rooms only add to the appeal. From the gorgeous, vine-covered driveway, guests traverse paths lined with a screen of bushes, flowers, and hanging plants. Outdoor hallways look over a spectacular carpet of vines covering the street level, while tall palm trees reach up from the green bed. Inside, the lobby has a light, airy feel with solid browns and wood trim serving as a jumping off point for a beautiful, tropical color scheme of lime, turquoise, and azure blue. Decorative touches throughout, like wire birdcages hanging from trellised hallways and all manner of artistically rendered birds, contribute to the island atmosphere of the resort.

Ocean Key Resort is a waterfront hotel, just off Mallory Square on the western shore of Key West, Florida. It is ideally located for sunset views and exploring Duval street -- chock full of restaurants, shops, and bars. There are numerous sites nearby, too. Mallory Square is a one-minute walk away and is the receiving ground for many cruise ships, plus home to two playhouses. It is a three-minute walk to Key West Aquarium and a trolley tour of the island, and a four-minute walk to Ripley’s Believe It or Not. The island can be heavy with traffic, and getting around by car is often slower than opting for a bicycle. A five-minute bike ride, or a seven-minute drive, will bring guests to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, where the writer once lived. It’s a seven-minute bike ride -- or 10-minute drive -- to South Beach, a nice, but crowded spot near the southernmost point in the continental United States. Key West International Airport is a 15-minute drive from the hotel.

Rooms are lovely and spacious, starting at 300 square feet, and continue the color scheme from the rest of the hotel. Tropical greens and blues against natural wood and shades of brown create an elegant and relaxing space with an island feel. Tile or wood floors have area rugs, and those with separate bedrooms have a carpeted space for a cozier feel. Local artwork and hand-painted furniture -- like colorful armoires with toucans and pineapples -- adorn the space, and the headboard is a whimsical cutout instead of a traditional frame. Furnished balconies look over the vibrant city or have a romantic ocean view, however, the latter can sometimes be obstructed by cruise ships. Additionally, many guests have complained of noise from the bar, ships, and traffic.Queen- or king-size beds are plush and comfortable, while queen-size sleeper sofas are available for extra guests. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, minibar, coffeemaker, safe, and robes. Upgrades include options for separate living areas, one or two bedrooms, and suites with two bathrooms. Sleek, expansive bathrooms have a glass-enclosed shower stall and a separate whirlpool tub. Hairdryers are provided and free toiletries include soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.

This beautiful resort has a solid list of features, all of which are well-executed. Food here is delicious, whichever of the venues guests choose. Hot Tin Roof is an elegant restaurant with a Caribbean flair overlooking the pier. Breakfast and dinner are served daily, in a space with a beautiful combination of dark wood, cool-blue fabric, and deep-green jungle accents. Sunset Pier is a casual bar and restaurant over the ocean past the hotel. At night, music and dancing accompany a seafood-rich menu. The pool is an alluring spot, right on the waterfront along Sunset Pier. There’s a large hot tub, and the bar has a menu of light meals and drinks served to guests’ shaded lounge chairs. Still, the area is small can get crowded, so it’s not necessarily conducive to relaxation. The spa is a lovely place to relax, with a range of services from massages and facials, to a range of skin treatments and beauty services. The fitness room is tiny, but has a few cardio machines, weights, and a TV. A mini-market with clothing and sundries is available. The only parking is by valet, which comes with a fee. There’s also a daily, per-room resort fee which covers the Wi-Fi, pool towels, in-room coffee, and other such services that one might expect to be covered in the advertised rate.