Best Western Hibiscus Key West

This is my third installment about Key West, Florida hotels. And, believe it or not, I am writing very positive things about a Best Western! From my experience, Best Westerns are usually cheaply appointed hotels that are good for nothing else for a bed to sleep in at night. I’ve had some bad experiences at Best Westerns in the past – so many, in fact, that I completely swore off the hotel chain about 4 years ago.

To my pleasant surprise, the Best Western Hibiscus in Key West, Florida is a completely different bird. It’s new-looking, has a large pool that’s a common social gathering (think people sipping drinks poolside), has very large, bright and exceptionally clean rooms, and it’s within walking distance to fun Duval Street. There’s a good, free Continental breakfast too. Honestly, when I first walked in my first thought was “This is a Best Western?”

Here’s the thing. The hotel staff is not enormously helpful. You’ll probably come across an older gentleman at the front desk, with a beard, sort of looks like a sailor, who’s pretty grumpy and not at all forthcoming. That aside, though, our experience was excellent.

Prices are anywhere from $85-$199 a night (really!!), depending on the time of year you book. Definitely not your run of the mill Best Western, and I will for sure be back.

NOTE: Don’t confuse this hotel with the Best Western Key Ambassador, which is farther away from town. That one is nice as well, but a bit more expensive I think, and the rooms aren’t as nicely appointed.

Photo Credit: Best Western Hibiscus website

Duval Street in Key West

Looking for an amazing value for a hotel in Key West, Florida? Check out The Inn at Key West! I was researching hotels for my wedding next year and came across this one. I happened to get an amazing deal of $109/night due to a pricing mistake on the website, but I also just booked a room for $89/night for a scouting trip next week (stay tuned for updates about how the hotel actually is). Here’s what I know so far, which is why I’m so excited about this hotel:

It’s cheap!

Good-quality, cheaper hotels are pretty tough to find during high season in Key West, and this hotel starts out with rooms for about $130/night in high season. That’s very reasonable. If you book during summer, you can snag rooms for as low as $89/night like I did. And, many rooms come with two Queen beds, so you can accommodate two couples easily.

Away From Duval Street Craziness

The Inn at Key West is about 3 miles away from downtown Key West, which can actually be a good thing. Duval Street can be nuts, so if you’re looking for a quieter retreat, you’ve found it.

Largest Freshwater Pool in Key West!

Yep – check out the pics on the website, the pool looks amazing.

Great Food and Drinks Poolside

You can grab breakfast and lunch poolside. Rumor has it that the pina coladas are must-haves.
So there you have it! I’ll report back next week after my stay to see if this hotel lives up to the hype.

Photo Credit: Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar