traveldk.com

A true find in sometimes overdone SoBe. Very laid back and super-friendly, the place feels more like it’s in the islands somewhere remote, yet you’re just a block away from the beach intensity. The rooms have great character, and there’s a tranquil garden to relax in. Book well in advance.

Unpretentious, understated, and above all comfortable, this period hotel (1929) has been tastefully, and warmly, refurbished and is a cozy hideaway with a European air.

All rooms have French doors that open onto the sunny courtyard and garden, and are nicely renovated and decorated with appealingly upholstered wrought iron furniture. Each accommodation has a full kitchen.

A European-style inn built in 1926, during the Merrick heyday (see Merrick’s Coral Gables Fantasies). Each room has its own unique personality, accented by carefully chosen antiques.

This small, charming resort is smack bang on the beach, but it is also close to shops and restaurants. The 48 rooms have been recently renovated and there is a choice of rooms or suites, most of which have a kitchen.

Excellent value and loaded with charm, with its leafy courtyards and splashing fountains, right on the beach. Extras include free parking, bicycle use, chaises longues, tennis, barbecue, and a heated pool.

Tucked among towering palm trees on a white sandy beach, this is an intriguing Caribbean-style home where leisurely breezes prevail. Unique furnishings in each room. Breakfast is served in the atrium overlooking the ocean.

In a serene, shaded world of botanical gardens, this plantation-style property is certainly Key West’s grande dame among guesthouses. Five buildings comprise the hotel, including a Bahamian “eyebrow” cottage. All rooms have garden views and most have Jacuzzis. All in all, sumptuous.

Built in 1884, the extravagant compound of four exquisitely restored “conch” houses is now set amid lush greenery. All rooms and suites have marble bathrooms.

One of Key West’s very finest, a 1904 beauty, with colonial Caribbean décor and wonderful gardens. Rooms have period furnishings, and they feel private and deeply cozy. Full breakast is served by the pool; wine in the afternoons.