Slow Down, This ain’t the Mainland: Your Guide to Getting Around Key West Without A Car

Getting around Key West isn’t too difficult, after all it is an island. Speed limits are low, people are friendly and you’ll probably see a few bumper stickers with the tagline “Slow Down, this ain’t the mainland.” At Last Key Realty, we’ve come up with a guide – for those vacationing without a vehicle or for those that want to ditch their vehicle – to get you around Key West in the style that best fits your island experience.

Ride A Bike

The quintessential mode of island life transportation is biking. Most streets in Key West have designated bike lanes, making cycle commutes safe and easy. However, be sure to keep your wits about you and watch out for traffic. Key West has a long history of being a bike-friendly community. Many locals take pride in dressing up their “conch cruisers” and rig them with distinct character, flair and fabulousness. Just remember to always use bike lights at night, and to lock up your bike when making a pit stop downtown. Renting a home without parking for a vehicle? Bike racks are located all around Key West, and most LKR vacation homes have designated space for locking up your bicycle when you aren’t out cruising around. If your bike won’t fit nicely in the overhead bin or safely under the seat in front of you, don’t worry, our Concierge Team will be happy to help you secure two wheels during your time in paradise. They can even arrange for bike delivery to your Key West vacation home, so that you won’t have to waste valuable vacation time. Not the most confident on a bike? You can always snag a three-wheeled adult beach cruiser for an easy ride around town, plus these tri-cycles feature ample basket space. This set-up is perfect for a “beverage” run or a quick trip to the local grocer, Faustos, for the essentials.

Hop on a Scooter

There’s nothing like scootin’ around town with your hair blowing in the wind. Driving a scooter is quicker than riding a bike, yet more convenient than driving a car. Key West is very scooter-friendly and scooter/moped parking is a breeze – especially in Old Town. Plus, you really get to see more of the island up close when riding a scooter compared to driving a car. Reserve a scooter for your stay through our Concierge Team, who will offer to shuttle you to your scooter pick-up location.

On Foot

Get your steps in! Nothing is “too far” to walk in Key West. At only 2-miles by 4-miles, walking the entire island can be accomplished in a single day. Walking is a safe option (especially after you’ve hit a few happy hours) and it allows you to soak in and marvel the island’s beautiful architecture.

Ride Sharing

Now that Uber, Lyft, and other Ride Sharing Services have made their way to Key West, enjoy the convenience of a quick ride around town just by using your smartphone. Ride sharing is a great option after hitting the bars on Duval Street or for a prompt fast trip to and from the airport. Ride sharing is the perfect option for reaching locations that may be a bit far for a bike ride or a walk without having to rent a vehicle for your entire stay.

Duval Loop

As of August 31st, Key West will offer a circulator bus ride to your favorite stops on and around Duval Street. Tentatively called the “Duval Loop,” this complimentary bus service consists of a sixteen stop route. The Duval Loop is part of the city’s “Car Free Key West” initiative to eliminate cars and ease congestion in the heart of Old Town Key West. Check out the official Duval Loop website for pickup times and stops. You can also search for one of our amazing vacation rentals on Duval Street, or rentals near Duval Street.

Pedicab

Pedicabs are three-wheeled vehicles that seat two passengers in a hooded cab behind the driver, who operates it using pedals. You will see them riding up, down, and around Duval Street constantly, and hopping in one to get from one bar or attraction to the next is a relaxing and fun way to get around. It’s also a great way to see the island while letting the pedicab driver do all the work.

For any other questions, or to find a Key West Vacation Rental, just contact us at Last Key Realty.

July 2017 Review/Photo of the Month

Another month has come and gone, and with it we’ve received a number of excellent reviews and fun photos from our guests from their adventures in Key West. Each month we select one of these memorable guest reviews and/or photos to win a $100 cash card.

Our July 2017 winner is The Bakewell Family who stayed with us at :: LA BONNE VIE :: and submitted an excellent 5-star review and shared fun photos of their vacation in Key West!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love seeing photos of our guests enjoying their vacations and receiving feedback about the properties they stayed in and the service they received.

For our future guests, send us your photos/video of your time on vacation and/or submit a memorable review for your stay to be automatically entered in our Monthly contest, for a chance to win a $100 cash card.

June 2017 Review/Photo of the Month

Each month we choose our favorite guest Review and/or Photo submission received during that month to win a $100 cash card. Our June 2017 winner is the Shepherd Family who stayed with us at :: VILLA CUBANA :: and submitted an outstanding 5 star review, as well as shared some lovely photos of their time in Key West with us! It looks like they got to enjoy some time on the water…

Villa Cubana Guests Last Key Realty Guests

Last Key Realty Guest Photo

Seeing these amazing moments of our guests’ vacations just reminds us how lucky we are to be doing what we do and to live in such a magical place.

For future guests, send us a photo/video of your time on vacation and/or submit your memorable review for your stay to be entered for a chance to win a $100 cash card. July’s winner might be you!

Neighborhoods of Key West

The Southernmost City of the U.S. is a 2 by 4-mile island, which features distinct neighborhoods that offer their own unique personalities and charm. While the island is very small, where you stay during your time here plays a huge role in shaping your Key West experience.  Knowing more about the various neighborhoods on the island will help you to choose the best fit for your family or group.  Read on to get a feel for which Key West neighborhood is right for you.

 

Historic Old Town

Old Town Key West is the heart of the island and is widely considered by visitors to be the most desirable neighborhood. The world famous Duval Street runs right through the center of Old Town. Here, you’ll find many of Key West’s top restaurants and attractions. If you want to experience what it’s like to really live in the “Conch Republic”, Old Town is where you’ll want to be.

Recommended for groups and families who want to be close to the vivacious nightlife, bars, restaurants and attractions of Key West. Groups looking to ride scooters, bike or walk as their main mode of transportation are perfect for Old Town, as parking is often limited. Enjoy being near the best restaurants, close to beautiful historic architecture and the Historic Seaport.

 

Truman Annex

Truman Annex is an exclusive gated community on the ocean and in the heart of Old Town. President Harry Truman spent his winters here at his home, famously known as “The Little White House” and often joked about relocating America’s Capital to Key West. In Truman Annex, you’ll find impeccably maintained grounds, white picket fences alongside quiet streets and sidewalks. It’s a quieter part of Old Town, but still within walking distance to Duval Street and many downtown restaurants and attractions. Truman Annex is appealing for both its Key West charm and modern comforts. Just out the gate towards the ocean is Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, featuring one of the nicest beaches on the island.

Recommended for groups and families that want to spend a week or longer in a vacation home that is close to Duval Street, yet “away from it all”. Truman Annex is a desirable quiet residence where you are just a couple minutes from Duval Street, the center of downtown, and the Mallory Square Sunset Celebration. However, if you’re a group coming to Key West for the party atmosphere, this may not be the best location for you. This neighborhood closely monitors noise and security issues in order to keep the community nice and quiet for residents.

 

Smathers Beach

Even though Key West is an island, a common misconception is that there is plenty of beachfront property. In reality, there are not many beachfront properties in Key West, as much of the beachfront land is either public beach, Navy land, or hotels. The primary beachfront property in Key West is located near Smathers Beach. Smathers Beach is one of four beaches in Key West, and is located on the north Atlantic Ocean side of the island. The Smathers Beach neighborhood is home to the Key West International Airport, as well as a handful of restaurants and attractions. The accommodations in this area include multiple hotel options, private homes, condos and apartment complexes. The majority of our properties in this neighborhood are located at The 1800 Atlantic Condominium Complex and at The Key West Beach Club.

 

The 1800 Atlantic Condominium Complex is an upscale private community featuring picturesque balcony views, modern amenities and is located within a short bike or Uber ride to many favorite Key West sites. The residence offers a Resort-Style Community Pool, an oversized Jacuzzi, a cabana with restrooms, picnic tables and BBQ grills. When you stay at 1800 Atlantic you have direct beach access and are steps away from Smathers Beach which is located around the corner.

The Key West Beach Club is a quiet residential condominium complex located right on the Atlantic Ocean. This property offers two pools, a fitness center and incredible ocean views. It is in a great location, perfect for biking or walking to town and to restaurants.

Recommended for groups and families who love the beach, sun, value great views, and dig modern amenities. This quiet tropical paradise is perfect for R&R, in a great location that avoids downtown noise. You will only be a short bike or Uber ride from all the action of Old Town.

 

Casa Marina/Casa East

The Casa Marina neighborhood is the southern area of the island running along the Atlantic Ocean. This neighborhood is close to Old Town, but is not technically considered “Old Town” by those who apply that definition strictly. This unique area is laidback, quiet, and beautiful. At Casa Marina, you will enjoy exclusivity – a quiet residential feel with generally larger homes. They often feature more spacious properties than in Old Town. Dog lovers will also love this area for the “Dog Beach” and for the popular community dog park.

Recommended for groups and families looking for a quiet residential neighborhood with spacious homes on typically larger lots all located just a quick bike ride or walk to Higgs beach / White Street Pier and a short Uber ride to Duval.

 

MidTown/New Town

MidTown/New Town is a neighborhood primarily known as home to many locals, although you will find plenty of shopping centers, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. Several canals allow access to open water, something you won’t find – except at the marinas – in any other part of Key West. Over the years, homeowners have updated and renovated these sometimes larger Mid-Century homes which are now upscale villas featuring private pools, larger lots, and private gardens. 20 minutes in a scooter or car gets you to the heart of Old Town.

Recommended for groups and families who have a boat and desire canal access. Great for those interested in homes that can be a little larger offering ample parking, larger properties and are away from the busy streets of Old Town. Not recommended for those looking to stick strictly to walking, as many of the homes in these areas require a car ride to get downtown.

 

Stock Island

Stock Island is located just outside the entrance to Key West and is what you may consider a ‘suburb’ of the main island. It is quickly growing with residential areas and commercial businesses, including many fishing and water adventure companies. Many of our rentals in this neighborhood have the perk of being near the water, whether that is on a canal or with a view of the Gulf or Ocean.

Sunset Marina is private condo complex is about 5 miles from Old Town directly on the Florida Bay. This gated community has a large community pool, a clubhouse and boat slips. All of these two and three-bedroom condos feature balconies with direct water views. The condos are available for monthly rental, many with their own boat slips. If you are renting for a month or more, and don’t mind a 10-minute Uber ride or 20-minute bike ride into town, this quiet, gated, waterfront community is the right place for you.

Recommended for nautical focused groups who have a boat and want to rent a slip. Sunset Marina is great for fishing enthusiasts, couples and families who like peace and quiet, boating, and amazing sunset views from your own private balcony.

The Key West Golf Club sits right at the entrance to Key West. This planned gated community offers 24-hour security, with tropical town homes and private residences surrounding an 18-hole 6500-yard Rees Jones golf course. Enjoy one of the largest resort-style pools in Key West and a fitness room. The Key West Golf Club area has an inviting, polished, suburb vibe.

Recommended for groups and families seeking a quiet neighborhood and don’t mind being a 10-15 minute drive or Uber ride from Old Town. This area is ideal for golf enthusiasts and vacationers who enjoy the quiet and local feeling of a less commercialized area.

May 2017 Review/Photo of the Month

It’s that time of the month again, where we reveal our Review/Photo of the Month winner. Each month we select a memorable guest review or photo to win a $100 cash card. We received some really great reviews and photo submissions this month, but we can only choose one winner.

Our May 2017 winner is Kyle Carter, who stayed with us at :: THE SMILING IBIS :: and submitted a stellar 5-star review for his stay! See his review below:

In our industry, there is no better compliment than receiving a 5-star review. We’re thrilled to hear that Kyle and his group received the full Last Key Realty guest treatment, and we look forward to their return!

For our future guests, send us a photo/video of your time on vacation and/or submit your memorable review for your stay to be entered for a chance to win a $100 cash card. You may be our June winner…

Benefits of Choosing a Last Key Vacation Rental

Choosing where to stay is an important part of the vacation planning process.  It sets the stage for the whole vacation. While many travelers immediately think of staying in a hotel, others have discovered the benefits of choosing a Last Key Vacation Rental.  Here are a few of the benefits:

 

  • Ability to cook meals at home – Each Last Key Vacation Rental comes with a fully-equipped kitchen. Although eating out is a highlight of most vacations, it can get expensive.  You’ll actually save money by stocking the fridge with groceries and making a few meals at home.

 

 

  • More Privacy – Enjoy an entire home all to yourself! Our vacation rentals offer a much more intimate setting than you’ll find at any hotel or BnB.  Private features such as porches, balconies, and pools can really make a big difference.

 

 

  • Pets Welcome – A family vacation is not complete without every member of the family. A large portion of the homes in our inventory allow Pets, so bring your furry friends with you to paradise!

 

 

  • Luxurious Amenities – All of our rental homes come equipped with a washer and dryer, towels and linens, flat screen TVs and high speed WiFi throughout.  And a majority of our properties also have a Pool and/or Jacuzzi for guests to enjoy.

 

 

  • More Space – For those traveling with large groups, space is an important factor. Most hotel rooms can only accommodate a few people.  This is not the case for our rental homes, we have homes that can house up to 16 people under one roof!

 

 

  • Enjoy comforts of home – They call it a ‘home away from home’ for a reason. Each of our rental properties has been meticulously decorated in a way that makes you feel like you’re relaxing at home… on an island.

 

 

  • Unrivaled Guest Services – Missing a Front desk staff? Our Guest Services Coordinators outshine any Front desk staff around. They meet our guests at their home upon arrival and are on call 24-7 to address all guest needs. We also have a full-time Concierge Service to set up bike rentals, fishing charters, excursions, etc.

 

 

Experience the benefits of staying at a Last Key Vacation Rental for yourself by emailing us at rentals@lastkeyrealty.com or call our Office at (305) 292-6266 to speak to one of our reservationists!

April 2017 Review/Photo of the Month

Each month we receive so many great reviews and fun photos from our guests. We select our favorite review and/or photo for that month and give away a $100 cash card to the guest with the winning submission. This month, like every month, it was difficult choosing only one winner.

Drum roll please…

Our April 2017 Review/Photo of the Month is the Steiner Family, who were guests of ours at :: THE ROYAL COMPOUND :: for a month. They submitted a glowing five-star review for their stay and also shared some awesome photos of themselves enjoying the vacation home. Thank you Steiner Family!

What an awesome review! We’re so happy to know that these guests were taken care of by their Guest Services Coordinator, Amanda, and that they had an enjoyable month-long stay.

 

 

From the photos below, you can see that the Family had a wonderful birthday celebration during their month in Key West, and really enjoyed spending time together in the pool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing these fantastic moments of our guests’ vacations reminds us just how lucky we are to be doing what we do and to live in such a magical place!

Future guests are encouraged to share their fun photos/videos of their vacation and/or submit a memorable review for their stay to be automatically entered in the monthly contest and for a chance to win a $100 cash card. You could be our May winner…

March 2017 Review/Photo of the Month

Each month we select a memorable guest review or photo to win a $100 cash card. We received so many wonderful guest reviews and photos this month that it made for a tough decision. We have chose the Szymanski Family who stayed with us at :: PILAR’S SECRET :: as the March 2017 Review/Photo of the Month winner. They submitted an excellent 5-star review for their stay, and some great photos of everyone enjoying the home and their time in Key West. Thanks for sharing, and thanks to every guest that participated!

Here is their terrific 5-star review:

Guest Review

And here’s some fun photos of the whole group enjoying their Vacation Rental, a guys fishing trip, and exploring the island:

 

What a compliment to receive such a flattering review about one of our homes and the service that was received from our staff. Also, seeing these amazing moments of our guests’ vacations just reminds us how lucky we are to be doing what we do and to live in such a magical place.

For our future guests, send us your fun photos of your time on vacation and/or submit your memorable review for your stay to be automatically entered for a chance to win a $100 cash card. You could be next month’s winner…

Our way of saying: Welcome to Paradise!

Have you ever hoped to have that perfect vacation of a lifetime? If so, what would you say would be the key to making that trip so memorable? Time and time again, travelers will agree that highly personalized and friendly customer service is the key to a dream vacation. We all want to be made to feel special. At Last Key Realty, that is our mission statement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Key Realty is unique in the world of vacation home management. We maintain the highest level of staffing for guest services of any management company in Key West: Each of our Guest Services Coordinators is limited to managing no more than 20 homes. Their top priority is to make each and every guest always feel welcome, relaxed and comfortable in their new home away from home in beautiful Key West!

A very important duty of each GSC is to get to know our guests as best we can before they arrive. With valuable information gleaned through emails and phone calls we can then provide a personalized and unique welcome gift for each arriving guest. Info and tid-bits such as “It’s our anniversary!” or “Can’t wait to soak up some Vitamin Sea!” or “Celebrating a 50th Birthday!” are used as clues for finding the perfect gift that’s waiting for each guest upon arrival.

As part of our recently implemented a Welcome Gift program, we’ve teamed up with local businesses to offer unique and exciting goodies such as fresh cut tropical flowers, Key West inspired cooking spices, and exclusive offers on spa services and boutique shopping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Champagne on ice, a key lime pie, party hats and balloons for celebrating or maybe a beach bag stocked with sunscreen, koozies and other beach day necessities are just a few more examples of how Last Key Realty tailors the dream vacation for each and every one of our guests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Experience a Last Key Vacation Rental for yourself by booking your Key West Vacation directly through our website, or send an inquiry email to rentals@lastkeyrealty.com. And let us welcome you to Paradise in a way that only we can.

February 2017 Review/Photo of the Month

In an effort to increase guest engagement, we have set up a Monthly contest to reward the most memorable review and/or photo submitted to us during the Month. The Monthly winner of our “Review/Photo of the Month” receives a $100 cash card courtesy of Last Key Realty.

Our February 2017 Review/Photo of the Month winner is Renee Lovejoy! Renee stayed with us at :: LA BONNE VIE :: and shared some delightful photos of her group enjoying the condo and their Key West Vacation. Thanks for sharing!

Nice catch! Looks like they had a successful Fishing Trip…

In addition to sharing these awesome photos with us, Renee also submitted an outstanding 5-star review of her experience staying in a Last Key Vacation Rental.

Seeing these moments of our guests enjoying their vacation and to receive such a flattering review reminds us just how lucky we are to be doing what we do and to live in such a magical place.

For future guests, send us your memorable photo or video of your time on vacation and submit a memorable 5-star review of your stay at a Last Key Realty Rental Home to be automatically entered for a chance to win a $100 cash card. You could be our March winner!