Resorts in the Fla. Keys

[Buckeroo]

Never having exchanged for any resorts in the Fla. Keyes, could anyone share their experiences from any of those resorts. Thanks.

 

[cpnuser]

The Galleon- Key West

We stayed at the Galleon(short dated week) in Key West- May, 2010. Please check the reviews. I wrote a very descriptive review of the resort. If you go, I would suggest going anytime but the hot humid months. Cooler months make for a much more pleasant stay.

 

[timesharejunkie4]

We stayed at Topsider in Jan 2011 and I submitted a review.

 

[Cathyb]

Tough exchange

Never having exchanged for any resorts in the Fla. Keyes, could anyone share their experiences from any of those resorts. Thanks.

If you are thinking Jan-Mar timeframe in Key West, it is a tough exchange! We tried for two years and finally gave up and used our Westin starpoints and stayed at their beautiful resort for five nights.

We also stayed at Marathon -- I believe that location has several timeshare resorts. The location was good -- close enough to travel either direction to visit the different towns.

 

[Sea Six]

We tried for two years and finally gave up and used our Westin starpoints and stayed at their beautiful resort for five nights.

We did the same thing - the Westin is really nice! Except for their policy of allowing small dogs. It was cute until some brain-dead owner thought it was OK for their dog to crap in the pool.

 

[rapmarks]

we stayed at hammocks at Marathon and Galleon at Key West , both november or December time frame.

 

[STEVIE]

They allow dogs to swim in the pool?

 

[Sea Six]

They allow dogs to swim in the pool?

The dog didn't swim in the pool.

 

[theo]

My $0.02 worth...

...resorts in the Fla. Keys, could anyone share their experiences from any of those resorts.

My own limited but direct personal timeshare experiences and observations in the FL Keys follow:

1. Florida Bay Club, Key Largo. Very spacious units with very dated interiors. Just about a mile from John Pennekamp State Park. This facility is now under new management (fortunately --- it was long overdue).
Aside from John Pennekamp Park and a few good restaurants, the Key Largo area is a real "snooze", imho.

2. Coconut Mallory, Key West. Relatively spacious units, but as far away from Old Town and Mallory Square (about 4.5 miles away) as you can possibly get and still actually be in Key West. The most hostile and unhelpful desk staff I've ever encountered anywhere in several decades of timeshare experience, but my week-long stay was several years ago; maybe things at CM are better now. Docks on site and available if you have a boat to bring along. Pool area is very nicely surrounded by attractive tropical vegetation.

3. Hyatt Sunset Harbor, Key West. Great facility, great location. Close to Mallory Square (also very close to the cruise ship docks, although that is not to suggest that this is a problem). Studio units here are too tiny and too oddly laid out to even adequately describe; any and all other units are wonderful. Guests here have access to the fitness facility at another Hyatt property which is located within easy walking distance.
No parking on site; guest parking in the nearby, almost adjoining garage costs an extra $45 per week.

4. The Banyan, Key West. Great location, units all different from one another. No guarantee of a parking space if you have a car, however. It's "first come, first served, limited availability" as far as parking goes.

As mentioned above already, the odds of exchanging into any facility in Key West during the winter months (more specifically, January to April) are very slim indeed. My own experiences (all during winter months) in the Keys were as either a now-former owner (Coconut Mallory, Florida Bay Club) or as a renter (Hyatt Sunset Harbor, The Banyan).

 

[ronparise]

We did the same thing - the Westin is really nice! Except for their policy of allowing small dogs. It was cute until some brain-dead owner thought it was OK for their dog to crap in the pool.

Crap aside. do they allow the dogs in the pool. If so, Westin goes to the top of my list of favorite resorts. My dogs love to swim and I love to watch them

By the way, I doubt that the owner thought it was OK; but poop happens; clean it up and go on with your life. The pool was chlorinated; wasnt it?

The no pets allowed policy at most resorts is, to me, the biggest turn off about timeshares. Its nice to know that there is one close to home that I can use....Thanks

 

[mwwich]

We just returned from our first ever vacation in Key West and loved it. We were at Hyatt Windward Pointe and enjoyed it, not the best ever but certainly good enough. Agree w/others that getting in there peak season is tough, we booked 12 months out using our Hyatt points. I occassionaly see Windward Pointe and Hyatt Beach House units in II using our Marriotts, but they have been summer weeks only.

 

[Sea Six]

If you're going to Key West, I've got some coupons for you:

Crazy place, isn't it! These are in the same building, just on different floors. Right in the heart of Duval St - can't miss it!